A New Season In Esports

A recent study within the U.S. revealed that of the 31.four million gaming fans, only 30% are female. As a full-time streamer on Twitch, Autumn Rhodes has made a name for herself in the male dominated gaming world. This Toronto primarily based streamer, who started playing games with her dad at a young age, talks about her experiences in an industry not always open to the fairer sex.

1. How did you get into eSports?

I started taking part in video games at a really younger age because of my father and my brother, and ever since then I've never been able to stop. Once I was launched to the eSports world I was astonished about how it all worked. Being a very competitive individual, I decided it was time to take my love for gaming to the subsequent degree, and after I discovered Twitch.tv and all the superb possibilities I had in entrance of me.

2. What exactly do you do in the eSports area?

I'm a full time streamer on Twitch. I play games such as CS:GO, CoD, LoL, and so many more. I dedicate hours and hours a day to these games, always working towards, and always attempting to be the perfect I can be. I've played competitively in lots of games and I always have such a good time doing so.

3. What do you think of girls in eSports, specifically in your area?

I think the women concerned in eSports round my region, which is Toronto, give a great name for all of us. They know how difficult it may be in this business as a girl, and so they work hard to maintain their image as not only a severe competitive player however as a woman who can play just as well as any man. Because Toronto has such a high population there is a lot competition within the eSports world.

4. What has been a few of your experiences of being in a area that has been dominated by males?

A few of my experiences in this field have not always been nice, however other instances they have been fantastic. I keep in mind being in the Cineplex World Gaming CoD tournament final year, and as I walked into the theater the boys had been just shocked as to why I was even there. The male I confronted was so terrified because he never had to play against a girl earlier than and he didn't know what to anticipate; it made him so nervous. Meanwhile, another men at the tournament figured because I'm a girl that I'd simply be beaten because there is no way I could be good at any games. Being in an industry the place we're told we "can't possibly play video games because we're women" is really disappointing in at this time's society. There are just SO many men who hate on ladies who are involved within the gaming business, and I don't know if this is because society has taught folks that ONLY boys can play video games or if some of them are just too ignorant to realize that our intercourse has completely nothing to do with our capability of being great at something.

5. What's your favorite thing about being part of the eSports community?

My favorite thing about being a part of the eSports community is how well we all understand each other. It's such an awesome feeling going to competitions and events and having a lot in frequent with everyone. We all can relate in a single way or another.

6. What is the most difficult part of being in eSports?

Probably the most tough part about being in eSports as a girl is how so many males look at us. They rarely take us critically and it's quite annoying because we have worked just as hard as them or harder to get the place we're in the gaming industry.

7. Why do you think it's so necessary that girls be represented in eSports?

I think it's very important that more ladies are represented in eSports because we have to break the stereotype that it's only a man's world. SO many ladies keep away from the gaming business because of the fact that so many get harassed and bullied for showing an curiosity in gaming. It is good to see that individuals are lastly starting to shed light on this topic and speak out about it.

8. What are your hopes for girls in eSports?

My hope for girls in eSports is that at some point males won't judge us for being a part of the gaming community and that they will realize we can play games just as well as them and even better. I can tell over the past couple of years more and more persons are opening up to females within the gaming world, which is such a aid because it is not fair to the ladies such as myself who put so much time and dedication into competitive gaming to just be shut down because society says we will not be good at riot games.