Girl Got Game

This interesting documentary offers an inside look into the world of professional competitive video gaming, and at the growing presence of women as serious esports contenders. As in any sport, professional gamers go under contract, earn a salary, and participate in marketing opportunities, and they must cope with managerial decisions. But CLG Red, a team signed by the male-dominated company Counter Logic Gaming (in part) to inspire other women to become professional gamers, are considered the pioneering team in female esports. While some of the team members are proud of this, all of them want to be known for their outstanding playing skills, regardless of gender. Some also note that the dominant presence of men in coaching and managerial positions are a result of not having enough female gamers in the overall industry at this time, and not due to a lack of talent or respect for what they do.

If you're looking for any sort of reality show-type drama, you won’t find it here. Conversations between the women are completely focused on gaming. Despite disagreements about how they are playing, and what should be done to improve, they respect and support each other as gamers. Meanwhile, the overall documentary effectively breaks down the esports world and demystifies much of the vernacular associated with it, so that non-gamers can follow what's happening more easily. Not only does this make it more appealing, but it underscores the amount of commitment and skill required to game at this level. Girl Got Game will not only inspire young female gamers, but also help young male gamers become accustomed to seeing women in the esport world as equal players, not outliers. Gamer or not, it offers an excellent example of how women are working hard to rise in the ranks of traditionally male-centered worlds.