The giant gamer convention E3 opens today, and host David Bloom talks with Seven Volpone, CEO of Big Block Capital Group, about esports, brands, and gamer/lifestyle culture. At E3, Big Block is launching Subnation (link: http://thesubnation.com), which has created a fan-focused series of events, brand experiences and concerts at E3 (and at an afterparty Thursday) celebrating gamers and esports lifestyle and culture.

Brands are jumping in on the game business as it becomes more mainstream, (PwC estimates games and esports generated $23.4 billion in the U.S. last year). Subnation hopes to take advantage of that growing mainstream presence to connect gamers and esports fans with brands that can't reach younger audiences through traditional media.