Gaming Under the Influence

THE BRIEF

Gaming Under the Influence (GUI) is a high-octane game show where contestants (in-person and online) compete in a video game cage-match competition as viewers influence their fate.

MY FOCUS

In 2012, I went to South Korea to learn about their TV and e-sports community. When I returned to Chicago, I wanted to create a show that had elements of videogames, but with a focus on being more about the entertainment and a heavy focus on viewer interactivity. This strategy quickly gained the interest of advertisers, who were able to integrate directly into the show.

For the next 7 years, I would go on to launch countless shows, build a livestreaming studio and hit massive audiences both online and in-person. Before Facebook Live or Twitch, GUI was (and still is) the pinnacle of livestreaming interactive content. Additionally, it was the first show that connected mainstream audiences to video game content.

In 2018, Sony, Hulu and Verizon offered to buy the franchise and today, colleges in Chicago showcase GUI as an example of innovation in livestreaming.