The Book of Esports: The Definitive Guide to Competitive Video Games

by William Collis

Overview

Read the definitive guide to the modern world of competitive gaming, and The Official History of Esports™.

Almost overnight, esports—or competitive video games—have exploded into the largest entertainment and sporting phenomenon in human history.

The Book of Esports answers:

• What exactly are esports, and how did they become so popular so quickly?
• Why did blockbuster video games like League of Legends, Fortnite and Starcraft succeed?
• Where exactly is all this video gaming headed? What is the future of esports?
• What do gamers and college students need to know to position themselves for success in the industry?
• How do you create a billion-dollar esports business? What strategic choices drive success in the modern gaming industry?
• Can video games really get your kid into college? (All expenses paid, of course...)

Whether you are a lifelong gamer, a curious Fortnite parent, or a businessperson seeking to understand the marketing opportunities of this multibillion-dollar phenomenon, THE BOOK OF ESPORTS charts the rise of this exciting new industry, for the first time ever crafting a comprehensive overview of esports and its implications for human competition—and even the future of humanity itself.

Featuring select interviews from the biggest names in the industry, The Book of Esports weaves tales of trust, betrayal, and superhuman reflexes into predictive frameworks, explaining exactly why our industry looks the way it does, and how all this growth—and more—is inevitable as the divide between man and machine blurs into oblivion.

Detailed and accessible, gaming luminary and Harvard MBA William Collis has painstakingly translated esports’ mysteries into a testament for today. Everyone can enjoy The Book of Esports because everyone should enjoy esports.

So what are you waiting for? Take the wildest ride into worlds unreal, and discover that true human competition is always just a click away.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781948122573
Publisher:	RosettaBooks
Publication date:	08/04/2020
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 6.20(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

William “The Professor” Collis graduated from Amherst College cum laude and Harvard Business School as a Baker Scholar. After working for BCG and Hasbro, William co-founded and sold the esports coaching platform Gamer Sensei, raising over six million dollars in venture capital. William is currently co-owner and co-founder of the pro esports organization Team Genji, ranked as the #1 Hearthstone team in the world. William is the subject of the Harvard Business School case Choosing the Right Esports Business Model, and co-author of the award-winning Harvard Business School case One Game to Rule Them All. He is also a frequent esports contributor to numerous publications, including the Japan Times, with his most popular article “Super Mario Syndrome” receiving wide reprints in Asia. William earned his nickname “The Professor” as co-founder and co-host of the popular Business of Esports podcast, where you can listen to his views on the gaming industry, its growth and its future every week.

Table of Contents

Foreword ix

Prologue: Press Start xi

Part I A Brief History of 1-Ups

Chapter 1 The Bits at the Beginning 3

Chapter 2 Saving the Princess 13

Chapter 3 Guilds and Glory 25

Chapter 4 The Revolution Is Televised 37

Chapter 5 Crafting with the Stars 45

Part II It Has Begun!

Chapter 6 Riot in the Streets 57

Chapter 7 Watching Over Us 73

Chapter 8 Looking for Group 83

Chapter 9 Go for Pro 95

Chapter 10 Ketchup or Mustard? 105

Chapter 11 Visualizing War 119

Part III A New Challenger Appears!

Chapter 12 Flawless Victory 131

Chapter 13 The New Kid at School 145

Chapter 14 A League of Their Own 157

Epilogue: Event Horizon 165

Appendix - Esports 101 173

Acknowledgments 179

Endnotes 181

About the Author 194

Editorial Reviews

"A fantastic and incredibly insightful overview of both esports and the future of human competition. One of the most important sports books of the decade." —Peter Olson, former CEO of Random House and Professor at Harvard Business School

"THE BOOK OF ESPORTS is a fun, funny and accessible overview of competitive gaming and why esports matters to everyone. William's passion and deep expertise make for an enthralling read!” —Arda Ocal, Emmy Award Nominated Esports Caster

"Five stars. A fun, funny and absolutely engaging overview on esports. Easily the best book on competitive gaming I have ever read. Esports is followed by hundreds of millions of people across the world. This is an important, big business. A must read book.” —Mike Vorhaus, Founder of Vorhaus Advisors and the 'Godfather' of esports

"A deeply insightful overview of esports and the trends defining our industry. Highly recommended and easily one of the best books on competitive gaming.” —Chris Chaney, Infinite Esports & Entertainment Founder (Houston Outlaws, OpTic Gaming)

"The Book of Esports is the definitive guide to esports, and a must-read to understand this rapidly growing $27 billion industry. I draw on BOE for my classes at Harvard because it makes esports accessible, fun and engaging for all.” —John Wells, Professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School

From the Publisher