Issue 23
eSports: more than gaming Did you know that an international
for a while if they prefer to see what it’s
are picking up valuable skills they are
viewers than the American Superbowl
‘Everyone has your back and girls from
Students in Years 9 to 12 competed in the
As captains, the girls are keen to grow
pitting their strategic gaming skills
promote the fun and safe environment
Queensland, playing Rocket League,
balance this with bringing a focused
while the QUT Tiger Academy
competition environment.
competition rounds, rotating across
esports competition will attract more and that universities are now offering scholarships in esports or that in the
future those with the skills that esports develops will be able to get a job faster than anyone can say ‘metaverse’?
You might be a Mario Cart marvel in Year 5 but the strategic, computational, and high cognition problem-solving skills
that esports will develop can lead to jobs with the government in cybersecurity,
online forensics, even ASIO, and a whole host of careers not yet fully crystallised.
Even within the industry itself, there are jobs for graphic designers, animators, voice over artists, coders, music
producers … the list goes on. Some
predict that by 2024, the eSports market revenue worldwide could be 1.62 billion US dollars.
In 2022, eSports enters its third year as a St Margaret’s sport, complete
with inugural captains Eleanor Jewell,
all about.
many different year levels come along.’
against nine other schools across
in which the sport is played, and
Overwatch and League of Legends,
mindset and skills improvement to the
competition involved two full-day
Jessica said one of the key skills learned is communication.
‘Teamwork is an important part of the
game, so you have the chance to practise and hone your communications skills,
which is a really transferable attribute to
all aspects of your learning and your life.’ The girls agreed the other fun thing
about esports was that it’s a great game
to play with your friends at school and remotely.
In 2021, St Margaret’s Dragons esports
teams competed in three competitions. The younger students from Year 5
enthusiasm for it grows.
focuses on the Nintendo Switch platform,
The captains encourage girls to come along and give it a go.
Eleanor said: ‘Some girls think it’s a bit
scary and they have to be experts to join,
but it’s a really chilled environment, a lot of fun, and girls can just observe
Anglican Schools’ eSports competition,
the sport across the different games,
Elizabeth Hancock and Jessica Roberts, who will steer the sport as interest and
probably not even aware of.
competed in the FUSE Cup, which playing games such as Mario Cart,
Super Smash Brothers, Rocket League and Just Dance. ESports coordinator Kerry Daud says this level is a whole
the three gaming platforms.
Ms Daud says that as players mature
in their gaming, the ability to problem solve at a high level is probably the
most profound skill esports enthusiasts develop. She also notes a long list of
production skills they gain, such as sports commentary and hosting; multimedia, lighting, sound, and broadcasting
production; livestream moderation
and social media; officiating esports
events – standards, competition styles
and reporting; and wellbeing and online safety skills.
‘Research has also shown that esports is associated with higher intellectual functioning, increased academic
achievement and a lower prevalence of peer relationship problems,’ Ms Daud said.
lot of fun, students enjoy playing in a team, it’s very user friendly, and they
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