Esports 101 Getting elective credit online may now require a headset BY J O H N M C L AU G H L I N P H OTO S P R OV I D E D BY TH E O H I O S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y
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he lights on the big stage are bright and hot. The tournament has winnowed down to two finalists, and the winner will leave the arena $500,000 richer. Thousands of live audience members look on with painted faces and signage. No, it isn’t a Pay-Per-View boxing match we’re talking about: this is esports. The last decade witnessed a meteoric rise in professional video game culture alongside the explosion of streaming services like Twitch and YouTube. One of the most important aspects of this is the shift in how gaming is currently viewed: once considered a time-killing hobby or even detrimental, esports competitors are finally getting the respect and attention they’ve fought for. Surprising to some is the fact that Ohio is
one of the states leading this change. Not only is it home to a pair of universities (University of Akron and Miami of Ohio) offering athletic scholarships for esports, but the state is also making waves as its landmark schools and universities continue to embrace more and more aspects of serious video game culture. Ohio State is part of this trend, leading the way for competitive gaming. While competitive gaming has been largely relegated to the likes of school clubs or groups in the past, OSU will unveil three universitysanctioned esports teams this semester, competing in League of Legends, Overwatch, and Rocket League. Tryouts were held in early February, and the teams are preparing for their first actual competition in a matter of weeks. According to the school’s esports director
Brandon Smith, Ohio State recognizes that a large percentage of its students are part of the gaming world. The university looks to cater to all of those students, not only the most elite esports athletes. “We realize that a large percentage of our student body connects with esports culture, and we want to make sure we’re engaging as many students who game as we possibly can,” Smith said. “We’re hoping the arena is a place where we students can relax, a place where new people cross paths.” The “arena” that Smith is referring to was opened in 2018 in Lincoln Tower. It features 80 gaming PCs outfitted with Alienware and high-definition monitors, consoles equipped with popular titles, a virtual reality headset, and even an esports broadcasting booth. With the majority of the computers dedicated to •
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