{"id":7190,"date":"2024-10-27T08:13:25","date_gmt":"2024-10-27T13:13:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/?p=7190"},"modified":"2024-10-27T08:13:25","modified_gmt":"2024-10-27T13:13:25","slug":"exploring-esports-on-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/?p=7190","title":{"rendered":"Exploring Esports on Campus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last year Texas A&M University – Texarkana (TAMUT) announced an official Esports team, offering students the chance to represent the university through competitive video games. Since then teams have formed, an arena has been built, and students have battled in digital battlegrounds as the program kicked into full swing. The program covers a variety of popular video games, including Overwatch 2<\/em>, Rocket League<\/em>, and Counter-Strike 2<\/em>. And with many Esports programs popping up in nearby high schools, developing an Esports team became a clear opportunity for the university to boost recruitment. So how have students engaged with this new venture into virtual competition?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One student involved with the program, Wes Shaw, competes in iRacing, a realistic driving simulator that has been around since 2008. Shaw is a freshman at TAMUT but says he\u2019s been practicing his game of choice for nearly a decade. While the simulation might not be as physical as other athletic departments he has experience in, Shaw has the same mindset. \u201cThe mental pressure and the pressure to do better and keep improving to win is there 1,000,000%,\u201d he says. And in playing iRacing competitively, Shaw says his real life racing skills have improved. He says \u201ciRacing is the best way to get some seat time and track experience without burning gas and tires and other resources visiting the actual tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sykora Guy transferred to TAMUT to help develop the esports program, or as she puts it “retired from competing.” She shares Shaw\u2019s sentiments on the pressure of competing and the skills that develop through playing. Guy emphasizes the program helps students in other ways. She points to the fact that since Esports are a part of the athletic department, students who wish to compete end up raising their GPA. Furthermore, she explains how the program is a safe space for students. \u201cEsports provides a community for those who typically don’t attend school related functions. Many gamers tend to be shy and not very social, here they can open up and make friendships.\u201d Guy explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amaurie Strickland does not play for the team but says his job is \u201cmaking sure that everything is okay and working.\u201d He likes his position to that of a \u201ccommittee chair\u201d and has a positive outlook on the program. \u201cI love it, I really enjoy being on the team.\u201d Strickland also makes a valid point as to how the program began. He says, \u201cStudents [are] always playing video games, so why not have an Esports program?\u201d Which is true, a recent report said 85% of teens surveyed said they play video games daily. The development of an Esports scene on campus gives these gamers the opportunity to do what they love and also benefit the university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the program already covers a wide variety of games, there is still room to grow. Strickland is a huge fan of music rhythm games, which are not yet represented by the university. Of course with so many genres of video games it is impossible for the program to cover everything, and the largest games like Overwatch 2<\/em> and Rocket League<\/em> are already being supported. However more games could not hurt and would only engage student engagement. With so many gamers out there with their own favorite genres, the reach of the program could be limitless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, the program has done its job of finding competitive students to represent the university in the digital realm. While the obvious benefits are better recruitment and more student engagement, the program on campus has done much more than that. It has given students a reason to do what they already love, and created a friendly environment for its members. Every student interviewed recommended the program. And not just for the opportunity to play video games, but because the team and their coach, Rick Allen, are just fun to be around. Those interested in TAMUT\u2019s Esports organization can check out the program\u2019s Facebook page.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last year Texas A&M University – Texarkana (TAMUT) announced an official Esports team, offering students the chance to represent the university through competitive video games. Since then teams have formed, an arena has been built, and students have battled in … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":139,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[141],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3odG9-1RY","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7094,"url":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/?p=7094","url_meta":{"origin":7190,"position":0},"title":"Esports Day of Play","author":"George Sawyer","date":"December 3, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Gamers take your mark. TEXAS A&M university Texarkana(TAMUT) esports club is hosting its second ever Day of Play. Day if play is a day full of different gaming tournaments which people compete for hundreds of dollars. In the past the event has included Super Smash bros ultimate, Mario cart 8,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Uncategorized"","block_context":{"text":"Uncategorized","link":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/?cat=141"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6460,"url":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/?p=6460","url_meta":{"origin":7190,"position":1},"title":"Profile Feature: George Sawyer & E-Sports","author":"Amber Lewis","date":"September 24, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Houston, Texas - home to over 6.9 million people, the largest city in Texas, and the debut place of a new way of gaming.\u00a0 Esports is a new genre of gaming that allows sports teams to get together and have tournaments. This new gaming platform would spike interest in a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Uncategorized"","block_context":{"text":"Uncategorized","link":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/?cat=141"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6539,"url":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/?p=6539","url_meta":{"origin":7190,"position":2},"title":"Is the E-Sports Lab Becoming Reality?","author":"Amber Lewis","date":"November 6, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"As the esports community keeps growing in the state of Texas, it seemed like the perfect time to check in with a young man who was passionate about changing the status of esports at his soon-to-be alma mater. He put in the time to speak with someone on a city\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Uncategorized"","block_context":{"text":"Uncategorized","link":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/?cat=141"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6989,"url":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/?p=6989","url_meta":{"origin":7190,"position":3},"title":"Red River Innovation Lab for the Humanities: Reboot","author":"Justin Williams","date":"October 28, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"In anticipation of the reopening of the Red River Innovation Lab for the Humanities (RRILH) at Texas A&M University-Texarkana (TAMUT), I spoke with Dr. Drew Morton, the program's director, to learn about the upcoming development. While specific reopening dates are still being finalized, the lab \u2013 located in UC 323\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Uncategorized"","block_context":{"text":"Uncategorized","link":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/?cat=141"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7042,"url":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/?p=7042","url_meta":{"origin":7190,"position":4},"title":"Are You Game?","author":"Mason Smallwood","date":"November 11, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"As announced on October 25th, 2023, Texarkana A & M University Texarkana plans on expanding its athletic programs come the new year. Among the planned additions, Varsity Esports is one that may catch the attention of some students. For the past four years, the Esports club on campus has been\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Uncategorized"","block_context":{"text":"Uncategorized","link":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/?cat=141"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6519,"url":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/?p=6519","url_meta":{"origin":7190,"position":5},"title":"The Future of TAMUT Athletics","author":"andrewcobb21","date":"October 23, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"TAMUT Athletics\u00a0 Texas A&M Texarkana plans to make huge changes to the school\u2019s athletic program next year. The school already has soccer, basketball, tennis, baseball, and softball teams for both men and women. Starting in the fall of 2022, the school plans to add men\u2019s and women\u2019s cross country and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Uncategorized"","block_context":{"text":"Uncategorized","link":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/?cat=141"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7190","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/139"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7190"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7190\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7195,"href":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7190\/revisions\/7195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7190"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7190"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eagleeyemedia.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7190"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}