In September, the Sunderland Lit & Phil Society is discussing 'The Future of the Gaming Industry in Sunderland'.
With Academics and E-Sports Educators, Designers and Publishers, this will be a vibrant evening discussing the opportunities here in Sunderland for Games enthusiasts.
This month, we are joined on the panel by:
Gary Tibbett Director of Esports. With over a decade of experience in the video games and esports industry, Gary has been instrumental in advancing esports education globally, including developing the world’s first accredited Esports qualification. As Director of Esports, he fosters global collaborations, bridging institutions, partners, and organisations in the esports ecosystem. A visionary leader, Gary emphasises the potential of esports to enhance cognitive skills, foster transferable abilities, and unite communities. He has worked with industry giants like Riot Games, Tencent, Microsoft, and Dell, contributing to initiatives that shape the future of esports and inspire innovation, inclusivity, and global opportunities.
Dr. Stephanie Farnsworth is a Lecturer in Media and Communications at the University of Sunderland. Her thesis focused on mutant characters and Mass Effect. Stephanie continues to expand her research into Gothic video games and bioethical depictions. Her monograph, Cyberpunk 2077: Cyborg Bodies, Communities and Culture is due to be published next year.Stephanie is the founder of MultiPlay, and one of the network’s chairs. MultiPlay is an academic network which takes a multidisciplinary approach to video games studies. Its first conference, Games and Identity, had over 300 registered attendees and MultiPlay continues to host a plethora of conferences and has an active editorial board with several publications due for release in 2025. Stephanie’s edited collection, Games That Haunt Us: Gothic Game Space as a Living Nightmare is due to be published by Bloomsbury in November 2025.
Sam Elliott,26-year-old aka Pixel Elliott, is a 26yr old livestreamer from the North East of England. He has been livestreaming for 7 years and specialises in a variety of different content. From game marathons, hot sauces, and ordering the world's most expensive honey, all the way to rock climbing mountains in Scotland, all he wants to do is entertain and put a smile on people's faces. He's currently in the midst of a Subathon where he is attempting to be live for 30 days straight!
Sunderland Lit & Phil evenings are about promoting local talent, experts, and visionaries to share their work and ideas with you, and of course, give you a chance to voice all your questions to those in the know. We are a not-for-profit, community-led organisation aiming to get Sunderland talking.
If you'd like to become a member of the society, which includes your event ticket, you can sign up on Patreon.
