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Video games have been around for the past 30 years. You might have crossed paths with them in the form of Oregon Trail, Mario Cart, or maybe even an earlier version of an arcade video game. Would it be farfetched to hear that students now receive scholarships to play on a competitive gaming team and that by 2024 Esports could be an Olympic sport? Competitive gaming has become a global phenomenon. Esports is quickly growing and currently a $90 Billion dollar industry with collegiate teams on the rise at nearly 80 Universities. Harrisburg University is among that group in partnership with the Whitaker Center, they have created an Esports boom right in Central Pennsylvania.
“Gaming is one aspect of what students are doing with their time. Our athletes are working in fitness time and studying. Our program encourages a holistic approach,” says Chad Smeltz, Esports director in charge of all the Esports programing at Harrisburg University.
Esports is a board term for this quickly growing category of competition that encompasses several different video games including: Overwatch, Fortnite, League of Legends, and the list goes on. Gamers compete against each other, sometimes even internationally while playing these games while spectators take in the action. In what Smeltz describes as a very gratifying career, he has four years of background working in this industry, seeing firsthand the growth and staying power of the sport. Smeltz is excited for the future as he aims to help grow the sports inclusivity and knowledge base in Central PA, with the added legitimacy the Olympics could bring. His number one tip for spectators is to experience the thrills first hand by attending an event. Check Harrisburg University website for upcoming events.
“Astronomical amounts of people are watching games…more than they were five years ago. A larger population of people are playing the games,” says Smeltz explaining how competitive gaming attracts a crowd. In fact, the Intel Extreme Masters World Championship 2017 reached more than 46 million unique views online. To put that into context, Super Bowl LII averaged 103.4 million viewers.
Competitive Gaming Attracts a Crowd:
Intel Extreme Masters World Championship 2017 reached more than 46 million unique views online. Super Bowl LII averaged 103.4 million viewers.
Training to play an Esport is a combination of playing the actual game, VOD (video on demand) which is reviewing film of a player, reflex training, and stretching. Injuries can come down the pipe from this sport like with any other sport so it is important for athletes to take care of their bodies. Colligate players can train anywhere from 10-25 hours a week plus their studies, while professional players train nearly 14 hours a day.
From booming in the arcade business to toping the charts as a top toy for Christmas, video games have had their ups and downs over the past three decades. What once was considered a phase isn’t going anywhere but up as the new frontier for competitive gaming reaches new heights. Harrisburg University leads the charge putting Central PA on the map for this expansion in STEM and exciting growth of a newer sport.
