E-Sports is on the rise, as more competitions pop up with greater compensation. In fact, in 2022, the E-sports market was valued at 1.8 billion dollars. E-Sports has become so renowned that colleges and universities are administering full-ride scholarships for E-Sports. Thus, many teens spend hours practicing and competing to attain these scholarships. E-sports has become so popular that it has even been given the same value and reputation as physical sports.
High school teams compete in competitions in games such as Valorant, Nintendo Super Smash Bros, Rocket League, and many more online games. U of D has had an E-sports team for a few years, however, over the summer, the team received a grant from the school to improve their new gaming room. The room is located in the old Student Senate office (S-008). The new room includes all-new gaming PCs, gaming chairs, and a fresh new paint job.
The room has given the team a space to practice and congregate to discuss competitions and other E-sports related activities. With the E-sports team on the rise, more and more students are joining the team every year. The room will provide a bigger area for more students to practice and play without being in such close quarters. “The energy when the team is playing together, the speed of our computers and the fact that the team can strategize a game plan is all super positive and we’re off to a great season because of it” stated Mrs. Ward, the E-Sports moderator.
Since the beginning of the year, the E-sports team has been raving about their new set-up. The room gives the players a sense of home, somewhere they can find other students with the same digital interests as them. However, while the team is excited about their new gaming room, they must remain focused on the large task at hand. The E-sports team competes year-round, and just like any other sport, they must practice their craft consistently. “We’ve got a pretty good chance, as long as we continue to practice and put in the necessary work” stated Christian Colbert ‘24 an E-sports member. The room not only provides the team with a safe space, but also provides the team with the confidence to be able to play and better themselves as a team. The team has now gained members they have divided into an “A” and a “B” roster. The “A” roster competes in S-008 on Thursday October 26th.
However, one question arises, what does a E-sport game look like? The E-sports team mostly competes at U of D in their gaming room. Inside the room you hear teammates communicating through sounds of frustration and joy. The “A” roster remains undefeated, thus, each competition arises constant tension. The team remains open to new members all year round and will welcome all gamers with open arms. Thus, leaving the students with one leading question, are you good enough to compete on the E-sports team and bring home a win?
