Let’s Play - Professional Views on Barriers and Potentials in Digital Gaming and E-Sports

Abstract

Digital games are playing an increasingly important role in today’s youth culture. Related phenomena, such as Let’s Plays and e-sports are consumed by numerous adolescents but are also becoming increasingly prominent as career choices. This paper presents the results of a group interview with experts in the field of digital gaming and embeds the findings in a project that aims to elaborate pedagogical potentials of these practices in a school context. Our participants provide insights into their careers and, based on their experiences, discuss possible barriers to Let’s Plays and streaming in the pedagogical field, but also elaborate on competencies that can be strengthened through the creative, self-determined creation of gameplay-based media.