Video

Newhouse Esports Update, Episode 16

By Andrew MacBeath Mar. 27, 2023

After a spring break hiatus, Newhouse Esports Update is back with an all new episode on the widely popular single player aspect of esports: speedrunning! Speedrunning is as simple as completing a game as fast as possible, but the history and methods of the community are deep and fascinating. From optimized routes and movement to game-altering glitches that manipulate the inner code of the game, speedrunners have taken just about every classic single player game and broken it beyond what many people thought was possible.

Next week, get ready for a special episode of Newhouse Esports Update, where we will take you to PAX East, a video game convention in Boston, Massachusetts. In the episode, we will learn about video game culture, the process of game development, and so much more about the wide world of esports and video games as a whole!

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.