For years, video games have been seen in many circles as a mind-numbing, time-wasting sedentary activity that keeps children – and young adults, for that matter – from other things such as physical activities and even their studies.
But Roger Williams University recently opened an e-sports facility and teams of students play students from other colleges and universities over the web. It’s serious business. John King, RWU vice president of student life, spoke with PBN about the new facility.
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PBN: Traditionally, playing video games has been seen as a negative thing. Clearly, RWU sees benefits. What are they?
KING: Our players cite many benefits of the new facility, including the opportunity to practice and communicate together in the same room at the same time. Previously, they had been playing and competing only during the evenings inside the library, because that’s where their gaming stations were located. Playing games at an e-sports level requires students to build strong teamwork skills, apply fast-paced reaction time and high-level hand-eye coordination skills, while constantly analyzing changing situations and making decisions that impact not only themselves but also their team. From a social-engagement perspective, students develop close friendships with teammates they may never have otherwise interacted with, and those friendships grow stronger through practice and competition.
PBN: Please describe the features of the new e-sports facility.
KING: RWU’s e-sports facility features 12 gaming stations and a large-screen TV for playing Nintendo Switch and other portable gaming devices. The gaming stations boast high-performance Origin PCs, turbo-boosted with the high refresh rate needed for game play, and 24-inch curved monitors. Our gamers play on cutting-edge gaming keyboards, headsets and mice, in the comfort of plush gaming chairs.
PBN: Is this an amenity that’s being offered at other higher ed institutions and RWU needed to offer something similar as a recruitment tool? Or is RWU a pioneer in this realm?
KING: At RWU, our club has been active and growing for several years, with many highly skilled, competitive members. Our student enrollment has been growing steadily for many years, in part because we pay attention to the trending interests of high school students and ensure they are able to continue their experiences when they come to Roger Williams. E-sports has experienced a rapidly growing presence at higher ed institutions across the country, driven by high numbers of students who have participated in high school clubs and are interested in continuing to compete in college. For many, this is their sport of choice. RWU is excited to offer this new facility, providing our students the opportunity to fuel their competitive interest in a team-based, skillful sport.
PBN: How many students use the new facility now? Is it just Esports Club members?
KING: The 41 students on our current e-sports teams have access to the facility. Beginning next semester, the facility will be open during arranged hours to all students regardless of whether they are on a team. As members of the Esports Club, students have 24/7 access to practice and better their skills in competitive play. Each team has required practice and game times each week. The club has been highly visible on campus and just this past weekend hosted a Super Mario Smash Brothers tournament that was open to all students.
PBN: Where is this going in the future? Do you foresee a time when e-sports teams are on par with basketball and football teams, with players earning scholarships and such?
KING: First of all, there are already colleges and universities distributing scholarships for e-sports and some programs are considered “varsity” at larger institutions. As a Division III school, RWU does not offer scholarships for any sports. Additionally, the NCAA is not yet willing to act as an organizing or policy body for e-sports for many reasons, including the prize money that teams can compete for. Looking forward, we can expect more dedicated spaces on college campuses, a push for more inclusion and diversity in membership, including recruitment of women, a stronger connection to related majors, and orientation programs for players stressing the primacy of academics and importance of overall well-being.
William Hamilton is PBN managing editor. You can follow him on Twitter @waham or email him at hamilton@pbn.com.
