Moody College Video Game and Esports Symposium
Presented by the Karch Gaming Institute
The Karch Gaming Institute is proud to present the 2025 Moody College Video Game and Esports Symposium, a two-day in-person + online exploration of video games, the industries around them, their histories & legacies, convergences with cinema & animation and much more!
Hosted by the Department of Radio Television & Film in historic CMB Studio 6B, state-of-the-art Alienware Longhorn Esports Arena & Lounge and virtualized online, events include an exhibition of student work, a video game (Smash) tournament with prizes, a lineup of speakers from academia and industry, a special screening of video game shorts, an expo of student games -- including the winners of this years Egads Global Game Jam(!), presentations from student groups like Longhorn Gaming, surprise visits by friends of UT, a network mixer and reception + snacks and drinks throughout. Game On!
Thursday, October 23, 2025 Speakers and Networking
Location: CMB Studio 6B
12:00-11:00 p.m. Digital Lounge and Exhibition of student work
1:00-2:00 p.m. Guest speaker Tobias Scholz - Associate Professor for Academic Esports and Company Esports - University of Adgers, Norway
2:30-3:30 p.m. Guest speaker Byron Fong - Assistant Professor in the Department of Radio-Television-Film- University of Texas
4:00-5:00 p.m. Guest speaker Matthew Garcia-Dunn - Narrative Director/Lead Writer | Games/Film/TV/books/comics
5:00-7:00 p.m. Reception and Networking Mixer
7:00-11:00 p.m. Digital Lounge and Screening of selected video game shorts, cinematics and animation
Speaker Bios
Dr. Tobias Scholz, associate professor at the University of Agder
A pioneer in esports research with 25 years of experience, Scholz specializes in academic esports and human resource management. He authored “eSports is Business” and co-edited the “Routledge Handbook of Esports.” As founder of the Esports Research Network and chief scientific officer of metagame, Dr. Scholz bridges academia and industry. His work in Norway focuses on developing innovative degree programs that use esports to teach future workforce skills. A member of the first generation of esports researchers also called the “godfather of esports research,” Dr. Scholz continues to shape the field's evolution, combining academic rigor with practical industry insights.
Dr. Byron Fong, Assistant Professor, Department of Radio-Television-Film
His research examines the global history of computer technologies and their impact on cultures of labor and media. His current book project, Kinetic Control: Interactive Movement in Video Game Aesthetics, historicizes video game aesthetics from 1985 to 1994 through the lens of technology, animation, and industry. He also has experience in museum exhibition design and archival collection assessment.
Matthew Garcia-Dunn
Matthew Garcia-Dunn is an EMMY and BAFTA award-winning veteran of the video game industry. His work is featured in games such as LEAGUE OF LEGENDS, FREE FIRE, Marvel's MIDNIGHT SUNS, SPACE MARINE 2, SILENT HILL, ARCANE, and many others. Character, conflict, and structure create a harmony that powers any piece of storytelling, from video games to episodic content to feature films. He has been writing professionally since 2012.
Rune Andersen
Rune Andersen was once a K12 teacher before migrating to the sector of higher education where he began teaching in the bachelor of engineering program which evolved through multimedia into Academic Esports, game technologies and game didactics. Working with the use of technology and games in education and in pedagogy, Rune initiated, developed and currently runs the first complete and holistic bachelor's program in Academic Esports in Europe. The focus - 21th century and transferable skills from games to other areas of society. Developing the skillsets required for thriving in the workforce of tomorrow. In addition to teaching, Rune is the head of program Academic Esports and Game Didactics (Bachelor program), Assistant head of department of ICT: focus on external communication and innovation and Leader (and founding member) of the international research center for Academic Esports and Game Technologies.
Image of Rune Andersen
Friday October 24, 2025: Xymposium and game eXpo
Location: Dell Alienware Esports Underground
12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Games, student expo student group presentations about their orgs, guests dropping in, rotating cavalcade of games and student content in the air and on-screen always!
Co-hosted by Rune Andersen - Associate Professor Department of Information and Communication Technology, Director of Academic esports Program, University of Adgers, Norway.
Presented by:
