Esports is more than just a game at UNT
Sure, everyone knows what MarioKart, PacMan and Pokemon are — and if you don’t, you’ve probably lived under a rock your entire life.
But what most people don’t know, is that these video games that so many people play for fun, are actually just the beginning of an era of competitive gaming, known as Esports. Esports requires strategy, skill and patience, as only the best of the best players are allotted the chance to compete in live gaming competitions for a cash prize.
“It’s a big deal now!” said Justin Rojas, the director of strategy and social content for Dallas’ own professional gaming team, Dallas Fuel.
“We created Dallas Fuel, which is part of the Overwatch league — probably the best and most organized franchise in Esports right now” Rojas said. “This is the first Esports league that you’ve seen that is different cities based.”
Rojas is excited to announced that his team, Dallas Fuel is one of the few that was selected to compete in the city-wide Overwatch playoffs in July, which is the first inaugural playoffs for the league.
“Overwatch has been a really popular game, and we got the Dallas spot for that!” Rojas said. “We’re Dallas, there’s New York, two LA teams, there’s a Philadelphia team”
Rojas also mentioned that there is a little Texas rivalry going on within the tournament, as they will have to compete against the Houston gaming team.
The intense shooter video game Overwatch was created in 2016, and it is owned by Blizzard Entertainment. The game is specifically made for multiplayer teams, and is run through a “first-person” screen, meaning that while you are playing, you are seeing whatever your character sees.
Rojas said that he thinks it’s good that college campuses are hosting gaming tournaments and getting involved in Esports because it’s nice for these students to develop support systems and be around people like them.
“I think it’s cool!” Rojas said. “It’s great to know that there is this much talent in local cities.”
Understanding that Esports is growing larger by the minute, The University of North Texas has made accommodations for these students who play competitively and those who enjoy the sport of watching.
As of this spring, UNT became the first public university in Texas to have its own collegiate Esports team, known as Heroes Of The Storm.
“Our library, which is one of several on campus, is provided to students for both academic use and recreational use.” said Erin Miller, the head of UNT’s media library, which is home of the popular lounge area, The Nest, which is dedicated to gaming. “We’ve been gaming here on campus for several years, and it’s been growing since 2009.”
“The Nest is designed specifically for Esports…our game collection includes consuls, VR, and table top games. We are one of the largest circulating game collections in the country” Miller said.
As well as providing a space for students to practice and play, UNT also recently hosted it’s first ever Overwatch tournament on campus.
The event, which had several students competing, took place on Monday, April 16th, inside the student Union lyceum, at 5:00 p.m.
UNT’s intercollegiate varsity team, The Eagles, won the Overwatch tournament, hosted on Monday, April 13th.
The team has been only playing together a short time of eight months, but individually they have been playing Overwatch since its initial first release in the spring of 2016.
“The support has been crazy” said team member and media arts freshman Daniel Stewart, who’s player username is Diggity Dan.
“I think Esports is just getting bigger and bigger” said team member and computer science freshman Joseph Fergen, who’s gamer username is Joe.
The team each met one another at their Freshman orientation, where they all stumbled across UNT’s Tespa booth, and discovered a place where they could find friendship and fun.
“I said “that’s my scene! Do they Overwatch try outs? Where can I play?” Stewart said, as he recalled where he first was introduced to UNT’s large understanding and support of Esports.
This was the first time that UNT has ever held a live tournament like that.
“The turn out was really good,” said team member and computer science freshman Joseph Fergen, who’s gamer username is Joe, “it was really fun.”
“To play on a stage like that is something that I’ve dreamed of for a while” said Stewart, “so for this to happen is really cool, and we really appreciate when UNT hosts events like these!”
“I love the sport,” said freshman William Simpson, who was called out during the tournament as UNT’s “player to watch” under the gamer username, TKP.
Simpson is originally from Las Vegas, and came to UNT to study mechanical engineering.