She wasn’t alone. The room was crowded with visitors and students eager to use the new facility, which has 25 new gaming computers and other technology.
Funded through student fees and philanthropy, it will be used for both competitive and recreational gaming.
“It’s awesome. It’s nothing short of what I think ISU needs,” said Hardman, who will play competitively on the Valorant eSports team at ISU; her teammates were also on the stage.
There are two others teams, Super Smash Brothers and Rocket League; that’s expanded from one Super Smash Brothers team that competed last spring. All three will play teams from other Missouri Valley Conference schools.
Said ISU president Mike Godard, “Having a venue like this helps us recruit the next generation of students who want to have this type of space, whether or not they are competitive players or recreational players.”
The initiative also will pair up with academic programs, as there are many career opportunities.
Esports has become a global phenomenon and a multi-billion dollar industry, Godard said.
“We want to make sure that we have opportunities for our students who are interested on the production side, the media side, the business side … and those who really like to play and are competitive players as well,” he said.
Michele Soliz, ISU vice president for student affairs, said the new eSports lab “is important to the student experience. We want all students to feel a sense of belonging on our campus. We know students who get involved in gaming have different interests than other students. This is a way to meet all of our students’ needs.”
The idea for the eSports initiative grew out of student interest, she said.
Among those pleased with the new lab is Cam Parvin, an ISU staff member who coaches the Super Smash Brothers team, which played in competition this past spring.
“I’m astounded by the turnout and the reaction,” he said. “We’re hoping it’s a wonderful asset for the students, both for recreation and education.”
The lab also has a production desk as well as Nintendo Switch, Xbox series X and PlayStation 5. It also has some wheelchair accessible desks.
Parvin agreed that “something like this is important for actually giving people a sense of community.”
Luke Kanter, a student and member of the Super Smash Brothers team, said of the new eSports lab, “I think it’s great … I didn’t know how big this would be.”
He’s not surprised by the level of interest “because there are so many people who really like video games.”
Brayton Mier, another student on the Super Smash Brothers team, transferred from Purdue to ISU this year.
“It’s incredible,” Mier said of the lab. “It’s so nice to have a whole new space where you can meet in person with people and meet new friends” who share an interest in gaming.
Also Tuesday, officials announced Indiana State University’s partnership with the Indiana Association of School Principals. ISU will be the main sponsor of the IASP new eSports program.
Todd Bess, an Indiana State alumnus and IASP executive director, spoke at the grand opening.
“We’ve been looking and working to develop an eSports program at the middle and high school level,” Bess said. IASP does many academic competitions.
“Involving ourselves in eSports or digital sports allows us to connect with a another group of kids,” Bess said. “Our first competition will start this spring.”
Students involved in eSports have better attendance and better grades because of their connections to people at school, he said.
©2024 The Tribune-Star (Terre Haute, Ind.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
