Gamers: Athletes for the Next Generation

Is someone who plays a computer game really an athlete? 

According to the State Department, the answer is yes.

Earlier this year, two young South Korean men were granted athlete visas to compete professionally in their chosen field: video games. 

So what’s driving this new industry of competitive gaming? 

Good Game  follows a team of players and professionals that make up one of eSports’ top American teams, Evil Geniuses, as their Starcraft 2 division competes around the world.  The players practice for eight to ten hours a day, honing their skills and training their bodies in a game that has surprising mental and physical elements.  But like many more traditional sports, it takes much more than a desire to win to make it and a “slump” could mean the end of a career.  Meanwhile, players from South Korea, where Starcraft has been a national pastime for a decade, have started traveling to the United States seeking fame and fortune and to change the playing field. 

Join us for a screening of the film with director Mary Ratliff, followed by a question and answer session.