Brig has been gracing the staff and students of Stirling University for 55 years now, but the gaming section is somewhat newer. It was started in 2017 by Editor-in-Chief Ross Brannigan and Brig’s first-ever Gaming Editor, Jack Gupta. I reached out to Jack and had a chat about the section’s beginnings in honour of Brig’s 55th birthday.
Firstly, I asked Jack about his experience in setting up the section. He said the decision to start a Gaming and Tech section was “driven by the presence of talented writers already contributing gaming and tech articles”.
“It was incredibly exciting to lead Brig’s inaugural gaming and tech section. Starting from scratch felt like a blank canvas where I could shape its identity. Joining after others had already contributed excellent content before me allowed for a collaborative environment, and learning from fellow editors was invaluable.”
Jack’s early aims for the section and his responsibilities were to foster a dedicated space for writers to continue to explore gaming and tech with an angle on students. Over the last few years, the section has developed into a thriving hub of content covering board games and video games alongside their culture and industry, as well as pressing tech issues like AI and tech privacy. It wouldn’t be possible without the solid groundwork laid by Jack and the other editors at the time.
It wasn’t all roses though, and Jack did face some challenges in the launch. He said that “catering to a diverse audience and balancing niche content with general reviews” was the hardest part of the launch. As is often the case, teamwork came to the rescue. “Collaboration with the team was crucial to producing content to appeal to the majority of students,” said Jack.
Seeing the section in print as the cumulation of his and others’ hard work was the icing on the cake for Jack. “Seeing the hard work and collaboration come to fruition was rewarding, and learning from co-editors played a key part in my personal and professional development at the time.” Personally, the things I have learned from my co-editors and fellow writers have been the highlight of my time at Brig, and it’s reassuring to know that is a trend over the years.
“The experience taught me the importance of collaboration, teamwork, and effective time management. Overcoming the challenges of starting a section from scratch required adaptability to changes in the gaming industry, ensuring that the content remained relevant, up to date, and engaging,” said Jack.
I also asked Jack about his experience with Brig in general, and his response was heartwarming. “Brig was a great part of my student experience, providing a platform for creativity, engagement with various topics, and connections with like-minded individuals. I’d recommend it to any student as there is a section for everyone.”
He then added “Brig provided hands-on experience in editorial work, leadership, and content creation. These transferable skills were beneficial in my post-university career, particularly in roles involving writing, editing, and project management.”
Despite his diminished free time, Jack still plays video games when he can, and has kept up with the industry over the years. “Since 2017, gaming has significantly surged into the mainstream, offering increasingly immersive experiences across diverse genres,” he said.
Jack also mentioned the rise of E-sports and competitive gaming.
“Major tournaments draw large audiences, and professional players are now acknowledged as legitimate athletes, securing lucrative sponsorship deals. Additionally, the introduction of cross-platform play and flourishing social integration on platforms like Twitch and YouTube has not only propelled industry growth but also expanded the user base,” Jack said.
With these changes all happening in just the six years that Brig’s Gaming and Tech section has existed, it’s a fascinating thought exercise to imagine the future of gaming. It’s not unreasonable to imagine that competitive gaming could have followings mirroring that of sports.
To conclude, I asked Jack about his changing taste in games. What was his favourite game back in 2017 when he was Brig’s first gaming editor, and what is his favourite game today?
“In 2017, my favourite game was probably Uncharted 4 or FIFA 18. Currently, I’d recommend God of War Ragnarok, especially after being let down by Assassins Creed Mirage.” As a point of comparison, my favourite game in 2017 was probably Horizon: Zero Dawn and my favourite game from 2023 was Venba.
Featured image credit: Jack Gupta
Student journalist & freelance writer. Check out Quick Play, where I review video games that are 10 hours or less.
