In Episode 13 of Newhouse Esports Update, we look at the familiar world of sports games, a genre that has released hundreds of titles over the decades. Getting its start in arcades with Pong and Punch-Out, sports games have become a staple in casual and competitive play, with yearly releases and new features being added to everyone’s favorite sports and teams. The ability to play and control your favorite athletes or teams is appealing to so many sports fans, so it is no wonder that the esports community has run with sports games and popularized them even more.
Watch to learn more about sports games and their cultural impact, from Tecmo Bowl to The Show!
About the reporter
Andrew MacBeath
Andrew MacBeath was born as a first-generation American in Arlington, Massachusetts.
He attended his first professional sports game at Fenway Park, where he saw his childhood hero
David Ortiz hit one of his 54 home runs that season. Ever since then he fell in love with sports,
particularly baseball, basketball, and football. He played basketball in high school and won the
league championship in his sophomore year.
After visiting the school in his senior year of high school, MacBeath committed to High
Point University in North Carolina, deciding to study Sports Media. In undergrad, he learned
how to write a column, a deadline game story, and a Q&A style interview. He also earned some
experience behind the camera and in the control room, broadcasting High Point’s division 1
sports to their dedicated audience on ESPN Plus. He attributes his love for producing and
creating stories to his professors in the program and the experience he gained in SportsLink.
Following graduation from High Point in May of 2022, MacBeath began his Master’s
degree at Syracuse University, studying Broadcast and Digital Journalism. His ideal career can
be summed up in one clear desire: he wants to tell stories and implement them in a visual format.
Some of his greatest works in undergrad were short-form stories and packages, where he had
creative liberty and could tell unique stories with the people across High Point’s campus. Now he
hopes to use that passion to create the best content he can create for teams, broadcast stations,
and networks.
Aside from sports and production, Andrew also enjoys playing and listening to music. He
has been playing the alto saxophone for ten years and plays jazz and ensemble music. He also
enjoys playing video and tabletop games, both in person and online. MacBeath was also a leader in YoungLife, a Christian organization on campus at High Point. He led events and Bible studies
on a weekly basis, promoting the club and discussing religion with his friends.
