From left, Dylan Trull (game name NeoN) and Ahmed Moussaoui (game name RyoshiJi) participate in last year's tournament.
Video gaming has grown massively in popularity over the years, and the face of gaming has grown along with it. Today, esports is recognized as a competitive sport done at collegiate and professional levels, and Oregon State University’s Esports at OSU club has a proven track record of success in competition.
On Oct. 25, members of the Esports at OSU club will be participating in the third annual “Xfinity Run it Back.” The collegiate esports series is a cross-division tournament bringing together 10 schools from across the country. OSU won the competition last year, and will be returning to defend its title. Three of their members will be playing the competitive video game Rocket League, which is an arcade-style soccer game played with cars.
Sunny Winchell, Esports at OSU club president, said the club has more than 400 members, and is entirely student-run. It is one of the biggest clubs on campus, and emphasizes the inclusive nature of esports, including increasing the number of women and nonbinary students in a space which is fairly male dominated.
Winchell said video gaming can be physically isolating, because while players are connecting in the digital world, they’re often doing so in the confines of their own room. The club allows gamers to share physical space for things like competitions and watch parties, and Winchell said that can make a big difference.
“We’re trying to foster a sense of community and a sense of belonging, which can be so important when people are far away from home,” Winchell said.
Winchell started her college career at Arizona State University, which has an esports program, essentially the equivalent of other college sports like football and basketball. Official programs, unlike clubs, often offer things such as physical space for gatherings, scholarships, and other incentives that encourage participation. When Winchell, who was born in Oregon, decided to transfer to Oregon State, she learned that esports was only supported as a club, but she one day dreams of elevating it to a fully recognized program, so that it can gain more support.
“Hopefully esports will eventually be recognized as an athletic program on campus,” Winchell said. “That would help us get a facility, and get us funding to travel to different tournaments. Staying on the club level means we may miss out on good talent.”
Winchell says that participation in the club has academic and career benefits in addition to social ones. As a business information systems major, being club president has given her the chance to reach out to companies and make connections in the esports world, and has given her leadership opportunities she wouldn’t otherwise have. She said esports gives students the chance to build their teamwork skills, step into leadership roles, and learn a variety of other skills including marketing and graphic design.
Winchell hopes that watching esports will help dispel the idea that gamers are insular and antisocial.
“I want people to know that we’re more than just gamers, we’re passionate, driven students who want to do something important with our lives,” she said.
The Pacific Northwest region includes teams from University of Washington, University of Oregon and OSU. Comcast is sponsoring the event, including paying for the access, streaming via Twitch, space, prizes, food, organization of the tournament, as well as covering fees to game title companies for use of their games. The competition starts at noon, Oct. 25, in the Memorial Union Room 109 (open to the public), and will stream live via Twitch. Recordings of the competition will also be made available after the event.
To follow Esports at OSU catch them on YouTube and Instagram.
~ Theresa Hogue
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