Esports and Games in Puerto Rico & the Power of Mythology

Today’s guest is Shirley McPhaul from Puerto Rico. She is a speaker, researcher & educator in Web3 & Video Games.

In this podcast conversation, host Tom Leonard speaks with Shirley McPhaul about the growth of the esports industry in Puerto Rico. Shirley discusses the historical and political context of Puerto Rico's relationship with the United States, as well as the efforts made by the Puerto Rican government to promote the video game industry, including esports and game development. They explore the emerging esports scene in Puerto Rico, highlighting major events and the formation of Puerto Rico's national team. The conversation also covers the changing perception of video games in Puerto Rico, with increasing recognition of their value as an art form and a means of social connection. Shirley emphasizes the evolving attitudes of parents, particularly millennials, towards gaming as a potential career path beyond just playing games. The conversation concludes by discussing the wide range of skills involved in the video game industry and the importance of encouraging young people to pursue careers in gaming.

In another part of the conversation, Tom and Shirley discuss the use of ancient mythology in video games, focusing on games like God of War. They highlight the incorporation of legends and lore into game narratives and the fascination it generates. They also explore the importance of storytelling in video games and the potential for games to tell unique stories. Shirley shares her experience playing God of War 4 and the game's seamless integration of Norse mythology. They discuss the challenges of interpreting and reconstructing ancient stories in a modern context.

Shirley also talks about her initiatives in supporting women in the gaming industry, and her involvement in mentoring women and girls interested in gaming. She emphasizes the importance of creating safe spaces and partnering with universities to attract more women to the industry.

The conversation briefly touches on NFTs, blockchain, and Web3, with Shirley recommending YouTube as a resource to learn more about these technologies. She mentions her work with the Puerto Rico Blockchain Tree Association and their focus on education and community outreach.

Episode Webpage: https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/esports-and-games-in-puerto-rico-and-the-power-of-mythology

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Featured in this episode:

Shirley McPhaul

Shirley is the Director of Education and Community Outreach of the Puerto Rico Blockchain Trade Association. She holds two Master’s Degrees in comparative studies, one in cultural semiotics and a second one in narrative and communications. Her research in these topics is focused on game environment design, reception, popular culture and interactive design, fictional worlds, and gender theory. Her theoretical and humanistic background, in addition to her experience in academic research, have allowed her a privileged vantage point and a deep understanding of some of the most complex concepts being discussed today in digital culture.

In 2019 Shirley co-founded the Puerto Rico Game Developers’ Association and has been part of the videogame industry since 2008 but has been a gamer for far longer than that. Through her work at the PRBTA, Shirley advocates for the average person to participate in building Web 3.0 by making the understanding necessary to get started free and easy to access. Her favorite games are "Final Fantasy 9", "Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" and "Undertale".

Email: SNMCPHAUL@GMAIL.COM

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/snmcphaul/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/snmcphaul

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PRODUCTION:

Creator and host: Tom Leonard (USA) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomeleonard/

Producer: Reginald Nsowah (Ghana) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginald-nsowah-09352929/

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.

This is a show about how to build an esports business from literally anywhere in the world where each week we showcase the journey of esports entrepreneurs and others to learn how they solved a particular problem that everyone will ultimately face.

In Season Three our theme is “Building a Business: Esports 101”.

I am your host, Tom Leonard. I have a background in entertainment marketing. After working with many amazing esports entrepreneurs from emerging markets, they inspired me to create a show to tell their stories so that others can be motivated to create their own esports business. Gaming and esports can create jobs tackling the problem of global youth unemployment. Creating jobs from playing games. What could be better than that?

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