Introduction

The Well Played Journal is a forum for in-depth close readings of video games that parse out the various meanings to be found in the experience of playing a game. This special issue is uniquely focused on esports as an emerging type of community, largely within the context of colleges and universities.

How do college esports clubs facilitate campus social life?

How do the communication systems within competitive games constrain and enable fan/player relationships?

How do these same systems limit gender equity among players?

These questions and more will be explored in the following pages.