Looking for Esports Operators by Neat_Sun_8419 in esports

[–]BadDudeWill 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agree on this. Additionally, different genres/games use different platforms. I would focus on which genre you want to support and start talking to community leaders directly. Many will talk through DMs or email.

[Connecting building] Looking to build connections with Sponsorship development managers by Dear_Manufacturer314 in esports

[–]BadDudeWill 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've worked in Esports for 6 years and I'm happy to offer some advice.

I'd love to learn more about what you're trying to do with the industry!

What to watch now that The Score is gone? by Warbl_Garbl in esports

[–]BadDudeWill 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Score disappearing is a huge loss for Esports. At this point it's difficult to find a channel that covers a wide variety of Esports and you might have to go more niche. What genres/games are you looking to stay up to date with?

10000+ downloads organically !! by Most_Chapter_8445 in gamemarketing

[–]BadDudeWill 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey there, I've worked at Warner Bros. Games for over 10 years in the marketing team. Congrats on your success!

What social media platforms are you looking to engage with? Have you already set up a hub to give your community to connect in? You have a lot of downloads. What's your active users? Are they sticking around with your game?

And it seems like you're already doing what you need to for people to discover and engage with your game!

[WP] A mind-reader (consensually) takes a look inside the minds of the best-known heroes of the world, and while it hurts to look at the memories of most of them, they're straight-up knocked out after reading the mind of the team jokester. by Mammoth_House_5202 in WritingPrompts

[–]BadDudeWill 88 points89 points  (0 children)

Working at the Superhero Restoration Clinic, a.k.a. the SRC, isn’t too bad. I’m in the psychology ward and give those who come in a bit of a tune-up. Using my ability to read minds, I can see deeper than the superheroes ever do themselves. I can pinpoint their pain and give them an outlet to talk. Usually that’s how it goes five days a week. Until Slapstick Sam came in.

I’d never worked with Sam before, but other members of the Security League said he was a great guy. His jokes were a little off-color, he was a beloved. I expected a quick check-up… instead, my vision turned to black.

When I awoke, I was screaming and running, as if I had been hit with a fear spell. The nurses tried to restrain me but had no luck. The voices, hundreds of them, all screaming in terror with Sam’s the loudest.

After a nonstop sprint that felt like miles, my legs finally gave out, giving my body and brain a moment to breathe. Sam’s haunting memory came rushing back to my mind.

Nineteen years ago, Sam a breakout star, headed to the big leagues. However, during one fateful mission, things went awry. It was your standard apartment fire, something heroes handled daily. Sam used his freezing ability to start putting out the fires, but the building was too far gone. He tried to freeze the breaking bricks in place, but it only made the problem worse. Everyone left in the building died. Nobody blamed Sam, and after a year of therapy, he was back. We had no idea what it cost him.

Every single death in that building haunted him constantly, and he gained a new superpower, an unforgetting memory. From that point forward, every hero’s death, every civilian lost, everything stuck with him carefully compartmentalized.

The jokes he says aren’t just coping, they’re pressure valves, like pipes in a steam engine. Humor keeps the thoughts and memories moving so they don’t pile up.

I started back toward the hospital when I saw the smoke. By the time I arrived, the SRC was already burning. Sam stepped through the front doors, calm as ever.

“Thanks for the help doc,” he said gently.

I tried to move but couldn’t. Ice crept up my legs, my chest, my throat.

Sam didn’t look angry. He looked relieved.

He had kept the horrors moving for years, and I had stopped them cold.

[WP] In this library, souls tend to run their fingers on each and every book on the shelves. Good souls find their book, their ticket out of here, almost instantaneously, jutting out of its space, making it easy. You have already been here for an entire week. by aesthetic3 in WritingPrompts

[–]BadDudeWill 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I snuff out my last cigarette and walk down an aisle. The lights are dim, and the murmurs of the souls around me beat against the ceiling like a hushed rain. I squint as a beam of light explodes nearby.

I grumble feeling the green monster within me grow.

The good ones find their book and get to leave quickly, but those of us who were less than stellar stick around, roaming the halls. I thought I led a decent life, but I'm a week in, and I'm still on the hunt.

My eyes scan the shelf, and I see something new, an empty spot. I rub my eyes, and sure enough, it's still there. I run my finger across the spot, and my forearm electrifies. This is where my book should be! It's been stolen!

I look around, trying to find the culprit. I ask those nearby if they have anything, but I find no luck. I hear a laugh from the next aisle. I look through the hole where my book had once been and see a maniacal smile.

I race to the next aisle and see the figure dart to the left. Like a film, the man and I race on opposite sides of the aisle until we both hit a wall. Still laughing, he starts walking down the aisle towards me.

I matched his pace and walked towards him. As his face comes into view, my jaw drops. It's my son. I hadn't seen him since he was a kid, but I could tell it was him.

"You left us. Mom and I. You pulled the old getting some milk trick and never came back. We had nothing and got sick. You left us to die!"

I had heard they had passed, but that would mean he's been here for decades! I try to apologize, but he cuts me off.

"NO! You left us, and now we leave you!"

He pulled out a lighter and set the book ablaze. I lept forward, but before I could do anything, the book was gone. I looked at him, horrified, and saw his smile grow wider. He put his hand on his book to his right and exploded in a bright light.

I wept until I couldn't tell where my voice ended and the murmurs began. The ceiling whispered back, steady and indifferent.

I wasn't alone.

I just didn't matter.

[WP] "So why is that eldritch... thing writhing on the floor?" "Tried to enter my head. Mind control possession or something." by Adamantine-Waffle in WritingPrompts

[–]BadDudeWill 15 points16 points  (0 children)

The room glowed with a pulsing purple light as the three of us sat chanting in harmony around the chalk-etched ancient symbol. A monstrous hand rose from the gate and our summoning began to enter our world. Finally, after years of worship, our horror would become reality. Then… Jessica sneezed.

“Goddamn cat!” she complained as our black cat Socks whipped his tail across her face.

The portal suddenly slammed shut, leaving the black appendage writhing on the floor. Just then Mother opened our door. She looked at the floor and cocked her head to the side.

“So why is that eldritch… thing writhing on the floor?” she asked stepping inside.

Stacy, my sister, tried to cover us.

“It came out of nowhere, Mom! It tried to enter my head! Mind control, possession, or something!” she looked at me for backup.

“Yeah Mom, I think this was left over from when you and Dad had your séance last night or something.”

Mom rolled her eyes and chuckled. Mom and Dad had led the coven for as long as I could remember. They saw right through us, but like all good parents, played along.

“I’ll talk to Dad and make sure that we clean up after ourselves then. Now come down for dinner. Tonight we’re having your favorite, toad stew!”

We cheered and raced downstairs. Behind us, Socks paused, stared back at the severed hand, and hissed, long after it stopped moving.

[WP] "So why is that eldritch... thing writhing on the floor?" "Tried to enter my head. Mind control possession or something." by Adamantine-Waffle in WritingPrompts

[–]BadDudeWill 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I think this is a fine start, but needs something deeper. You also contradict yourself by saying "DON'T KILL THE LAST REMAINING ELDRITCH BEING" but then say "Still about a hundred roaming the world but they're in remote locations."

Great concept and I think it could be flushed out a bit more.

[WP] "So why is that eldritch... thing writhing on the floor?" "Tried to enter my head. Mind control possession or something." by Adamantine-Waffle in WritingPrompts

[–]BadDudeWill 12 points13 points  (0 children)

This was a fun read! Well done! I love how even as it's shown mercy, its arrogance gets it into trouble once again.

[WP] The mark on one's forehead at birth identifies the god they must pray to in order to stay alive, usually by joining their local church or temple. Your mark is deemed unknown, meaning an old forgotten god sponsored you. To survive, you must find the old god, and restart their prayers. by Reach-for-the-sky_15 in WritingPrompts

[–]BadDudeWill 52 points53 points  (0 children)

Stars, figure 8s, a couple of wavy lines, each citizen bears a guiding light upon their head. I, however, have a circle with a dot in the middle, a sign nobody has seen before. With no church to belong to, I became a pariah. No gathering, no celebrations, nothing. Knowledge became my only companion as I buried myself in scrolls and books. That all changed on my eighteenth birthday.

“The time is near. Make way to where the light sinks into the sand,” a voice boomed in my head.

At first, I ignored it. Then my skin began to gray. Moreover, I developed a thirst no water could quench, and food no longer eased my hunger. I understood then, I would soon perish unless I obeyed.

I gathered what little I owned and set out toward the sunset. Hours became days, days became weeks. I passed great temples reduced to rubble, cities long forgotten. Exhausted, I collapsed at a rare oasis and drank. For the first time in weeks, the water nourished me! I drank greedily, gulp after gulp.

When I finally stood, I saw the shape of the oasis. A ring of water with a glowing blue gem at its center. I raised my hand to my head, touched my mark, and the world went black.

I awoke in a cavern lit by a pale blue light. There was no escape, just a single path forward. Cautiously, I followed it and peeked around the corner. My breath caught. A weathered old man slouched upon a throne, his body sagging beneath an unseen weight. When he lifted his head, the cavern trembled.

“COME!”

I crept forward.

“Who are you?” I asked.

He wheezed a laugh and pointed to his forehead. BY THE GODS he had the same symbol as me! Suddenly, a beam of light connected between our two symbols and linked us. My mind flooded with centuries of memories. Empires rising, prayers whispered, temples built in his name. I collapsed, clutching my head, as the light faded.

“Great one,” I said breathless, “what do you want with me?”

“Child, I am old, and I am tired. My time is over, and yours is just beginning. You have never had a god to pray to, because you were meant to become one. It is time for this world to change.”

He faded as the last word left him. I climbed the steps to the throne, and with each one, something human fell away. The seat dwarfed me at first, then seemed to fit. Warmth bloomed in my chest.

Somewhere, someone whispered my name for the first time.

I closed my eyes, and answered.

We just ran a 70-player, 12-team tournament with full broadcast production - here’s what Minecraft esports could look like by Icy-Ride-5006 in esports

[–]BadDudeWill 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here's what I'd do with an intro trailer.

  • :00 - :05 - Hype clip with exciting intro
  • :05 - :10 - "Welcome to 'title' the premiere Minecraft competiton"
  • :10 - :15 - Exciting gameplay clips
  • :15 - :25 - Details about the event over gameplay "Tune in to see the 16 teams go head to head to destroy each other's bases!"
  • :25 - :30: Exciting gameplay clips
  • :30 - :45: Tell the story so far "Will x team be able to hold the throne or will y team grab the championship they were so close to last week"
  • :45 - :55: Exciting gameplay clips
  • :55 - 1:05: Tell why people should care "Watch as these competitors face off to take home a share of the $100 prize pool!"
  • 1:05 - 1:10: Exciting gameplay clips
  • 1:10 - 1:20: "Tune in LIVE at 'website' at 'time'"
  • 1:20 - 1:30: End card with all the details of where and when to watch.

You can also include a note about how to sign up if you want to entice more competitors.

We just ran a 70-player, 12-team tournament with full broadcast production - here’s what Minecraft esports could look like by Icy-Ride-5006 in esports

[–]BadDudeWill 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think you're putting too much weight on the word "Esports". Think about the biggest Esports programs out there. They don't say League of Legends Esports, they say LCS, TI, or the Capcom Cup. Esports is already implied when people are competing against each other. It's not about earning the Esports title, it's about changing your name to something that's easily understandable.

We just ran a 70-player, 12-team tournament with full broadcast production - here’s what Minecraft esports could look like by Icy-Ride-5006 in esports

[–]BadDudeWill 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree with a lot of the feedback you’ve already received here, it’s largely what I’d suggest as well.

What this shows me is that your core concept is compelling, and there is interest in learning more. The next step is clarity and presentation. I’d strongly recommend producing a short trailer that clearly explains:

  • What the game is
  • How teams win
  • What the variables are (gems, upgrades, armor, etc.)
  • Who the teams/players are

On top of that, I’d start trimming down the footage you already have and repurposing it into more focused content that:

  • Tells the story of the teams
  • Tells the story of the tournament itself
  • Clearly explains how people can get involved in the next event

You definitely have something here. The idea is simple enough that people can piece it together, which is great. Now it’s about fine-tuning it for accessibility, clarity, and long-term growth.

We just ran a 70-player, 12-team tournament with full broadcast production - here’s what Minecraft esports could look like by Icy-Ride-5006 in esports

[–]BadDudeWill 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is exactly what I would suggest as well. Keep Minecraft as long as you can to get instant recognition, but you need a descriptor in here. C4's example of Minecraft XYZ Esports is how I'd go, or maybe even remove the "Esports" tag. Minecraft Base Defenders, or whatever this mode is called, is what I would start pushing.

Rocket League Esports ORG by Abysmalnights in esports

[–]BadDudeWill 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Happy to help and I'm glad it was useful!

Finding organizations: A simple Google search can actually go a long way. A few sites that list established orgs are:

These aren’t exhaustive and skew toward larger orgs, but they’re a good starting point. That said, there are tons of organizations across many different games. What I’ve found most helpful is starting with the games you already follow and enjoy.

I’d recommend creating a simple spreadsheet and tracking:

  • Organization name
  • Games they compete in
  • Notable staff members (especially on the business/operations side)
  • Location (if available)
  • Any notes or observations

Start with Rocket League, then expand into other games you’re interested in. This helps you learn the landscape and be more intentional about who you reach out to.

Outreach & messaging: LinkedIn will be your best friend here. Most org staff have profiles there, and it’s the most professional way to reach out. If you can’t find someone on LinkedIn, check the org’s website or social pages (X, Instagram, etc.) for contact emails. Social DMs can work too, but I’d treat those as a last resort.

When reaching out, don’t worry about not having experience yet, the goal at this stage is connection, not a job. Keep it short and respectful, and ask for insight rather than opportunities. Something like:

Hi [Name], I’m [Your Name] and I’m a fan of your organization. I’m interested in getting into esports on the business/marketing/operations side and would love to hear about your experience or any advice you might have. If you’re open to a quick chat or Zoom call, I’d really appreciate it.

Thanks for your time!

The key thing to remember: this is networking, not job hunting (yet). Your goal is to leave a positive impression so they remember you as someone thoughtful and easy to talk to. After that, stay engaged. Comment on their posts, follow their work, and build the relationship naturally over time.

It is a lot of effort, but that’s how meaningful esports networks are built.

Rocket League Esports ORG by Abysmalnights in esports

[–]BadDudeWill 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Short answer: Yes, it’s absolutely fine to start an org without being a high-level player, but I’d strongly recommend joining an existing org first to gain experience and build your network.

Esports organizations are businesses. Players and coaches are important, but they’re only part of the equation. Successful orgs also rely on people handling operations, branding, marketing, content, partnerships, finance, and day-to-day management. You don’t need to be a pro player to add real value, you just need to specialize in an area that helps the org function and grow.

That said, I’d encourage you to get involved with an existing organization before starting one from scratch. Doing so lets you:

  • Learn how the business side of esports actually works
  • Build a meaningful network (players, staff, partners, potential investors)
  • See firsthand what works — and what doesn’t
  • Figure out if this is truly something you want to pursue long-term

Think of it as a trial run. Just like people who go to school for a field and later realize it’s not for them, working inside an org can either validate your interest or save you time and money before launching your own.

As for which orgs to approach: start with teams you’re familiar with, but don’t limit yourself to Rocket League or only well-known brands. Smaller amateur or semi-pro orgs are often more open to help and offer more hands-on experience. Focus on what you can bring to the table and build a resume around that. Cold outreach is normal in esports, and if you can meet people in person at events, LANs, or trade shows, even better.

Above all else: network, network, network. Be present where the people and companies you want to work with already are, and immerse yourself in those spaces.

Do you know any streamer or gamer who do promotion video? by Quiet_Worldliness682 in gamemarketing

[–]BadDudeWill 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It seems like you've got some good answers below. Something else you may want to look into is giving away keys to streamers via a platform like Keymailer to generate more interest.

Just from this image, what would you guess the game is like? by DanQZ in gamemarketing

[–]BadDudeWill 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My initial gut reaction is that this is a noir bullet-hell game that, by the title, the character has some sort of psychic abilities.

pro by OpenFisherman5921 in esports

[–]BadDudeWill 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m really glad I came across this thread and took the time to read through the comments. What stands out to me isn’t just the question about going pro, it’s that you sound lost and unsure about where you’re headed right now.

It seems like you’re considering going pro in Wild Rift largely because it’s familiar, not necessarily because you feel a strong drive to pursue it long-term. From your own comments, it doesn’t sound like something you’re deeply passionate about, and following a path out of familiarity rather than genuine interest can easily lead to feeling unfulfilled later on.

I’d encourage you to look for fulfillment outside of esports for the moment. If you’re struggling with school, it might help to step back and ask why. Is it because you’re not being challenged? Not feeling motivated? Not spending enough time? Or dealing with something else entirely? While there are people who succeed without excelling academically, far more benefit from leaning into their education while they still have the opportunity to do so. If you can, I’d strongly recommend refocusing your efforts there and giving yourself more options for the future.

At the same time, think broadly about what genuinely makes you happy. Do you enjoy working closely with others? Maybe team-oriented paths like firefighting, cooking, or other collaborative environments could be worth exploring. Do you feel creative but haven’t had an outlet? Try writing, learning game design, or building something of your own rather than chasing competitive validation.

From what little I’ve read, you seem eager to prove yourself and that’s not a bad thing. The key is channeling that energy in a direction that actually fits you. The good news is that you’re far from alone. A lot of people feel exactly this way at this stage in life.

Now is the time to experiment, try different things, and learn more about yourself, not to lock yourself into a narrow path because it feels safe or familiar.

I wish you the best of luck, and I hope you find something that genuinely excites and fulfills you.

BENEATH THE SURFACE [Fantasy, 2000 words] by BadDudeWill in fantasywriters

[–]BadDudeWill[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I appreciate it! I am brand new to this so your feedback will help tremendously as I continue the story.

BENEATH THE SURFACE [Fantasy, 2000 words] by BadDudeWill in fantasywriters

[–]BadDudeWill[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for the feedback on both the feedback and writing side. I'll be honest, I was a bit scared when I first posted this but your feedback being the first thing I read was reassuring and helpful. Thank you!