E-sports originated in the early 1970s with the game Intergalactic Spacewar, which was held at  Stanford University. Today, the competition has grown in popularity, spreading throughout the world and offering numerous games to choose from and take part in. Those who rise to the challenge can participate in teams and leagues for multiple games to strategize a win. The sponsor of the e-sports club, Mr. Hadley, explains why he decided to sponsor.

“They have been looking to start an eSports team at North for a while, and I knew that I was as equipped as anyone else here to be the sponsor, even if I am nowhere near an expert,” Hadley said. “I have, at least, had some experience with competitive eSports back in college, although not with any of the games we are competing in. I also thought it would be a great opportunity for students to get more involved in their school community by participating in an activity that they enjoy.”

Hadley talked about how e-sports are played and the methods applied to play video games as a contest.

“There are a variety of ways that eSports competitions take place. Although many of them take place virtually with teams competing from their homes around the world, many also take place on site with dozens, if not hundreds, of computers and consoles all set up for competition, Hadley said. “The exact format is as varied as any other sport and any other video game! Some are team competitions, like what our team is going to focus on, the new popular team hero shooter, Marvel Rivals. However, others can be individual competitions as well, such as many of the competitive Pokémon and chess tournaments.”

Senior James Williams interprets why he decided to join the club and adds some context to what he wants to get out of it.

“I joined the e-sports club because I’ve always been into competitive gaming, nothing too serious, but I like the competitive aspect of playing games,” Williams said. “I’m also hoping to improve my skills when it comes to e-sports.”

Williams continues on e-sports, sharing details of why he enjoys competitive gaming.

“I enjoy playing video games because it’s something you could do to kind of wind down,” Williams said. “It doesn’t take too much physical exertion, and you just do your own thing.”

Senior Arhant Awale speaks on why he has fun competing in video games as well.

“I started to play games when I was really young, at around 9 or 10 years old, and it stuck with me,” Awale said. “Video Games  help me escape from the daily hassle of life and let me submerge myself in a world full of wonder.”

Hadley comes back to cover why the e-sports club is worth the time.

“There are many reasons why sports could be a good time investment. One of the most practical reasons is that many colleges and universities offer substantial scholarships, not significantly different than athletic scholarships, to some of their top competitors. Students whose skill sets might not allow them to get athletic scholarships could earn one through their talents in video games, Hadley said.

“Also, like every other competitive and team environment, there is value in struggling to improve oneself and working with a team. You really have to work as a cohesive team if you want to be successful in any of the team competitions, just like with basketball, football, or any other team sport.”