By Victoria Wright
Emily Dickerson is no stranger to the common expression ‘you know they’re an athlete’ when discussing their participation in e-sports.
According to gamequitters, Electronic Sports (e-sports), is organized competitive video gaming. It primarily involves teams competing against each other in tournaments for a cash prize.
The University of Montevallo’s E-sports team is relatively new with three years of operating under its belt. The team’s primary purpose is to offer a competitive e-sports platform at UM to allow students who are passionate about gaming an opportunity to pursue their goals and degrees at the same time, according to the team’s webpage. The team’s current head coach is Dr. Brendan Beal.
Dickerson currently plays on UM’s e-sports team for three years now. But gaming has been a part of their life for as long as they can remember.
“I’ve been playing video games since I was like two. I’m pretty sure I could hold a controller in my hands before I could walk.”
E-sports typically focuses on team-based games, but it is also a chance for students to turn their favorite games competitive, Dickerson said.
Though e-sports does primarily consist of a group of people sitting in a room playing video games, Dickerson insists there’s more to the sport than mashing a few buttons.
“People don’t realize the socialization of it, which can be more taxing than the physical aspect of it.”
Physical health should match mental health, Dickerson said. “It encouraged for us to do workouts, yoga and all those things as well.”
The sport only began in the 1990s when gaming went from a casual hobby, where today, gaming is often referred to as a modern-day gold rush, said gamequitters.
You might ask what makes e-sports so popular? It’s simply according to gamequitters, “Gamers love winning.”
There may not be bleachers filled with cheering fans after a major score or a huge win, like in a traditional sport. Dickerson expresses they are still able to feel that rush of pride after winning, even from behind a screen.
“Just to imagine somebody on the other side of their screen, like absolutely fueling after winning is like experiencing emotions in a real sport but through a screen.”
Gaming itself has had its share of negative social stigma centered around it, esports has its own. Often, the sport is not considered a real sport according to femmegaming.
Dickerson believes this happens because of what some people think a traditional sport looks like.
“The traditional sport is like big men on fields going against each other over a ball or like a disk.”
A lot of it comes from older people they see people can make that amount of money by just being on a computer. They don’t think that’s fair, said Dickerson.
“This could be avoided by doing personal research. We have it at our disposal these days.”
Though all the negatives, there are still positives for Dickerson. The sport is entertaining and fun. However, the people within the team are what makes the experience for them.
“It’s like a sense of belonging for me. I would have been miserable if I wasn’t doing it.”
Even though Dickerson is not playing this season, they are eager for the exciting news in the esports program at UM.
“We’re incredibly grateful this semester, Montevallo officially recognizes us as a sport.”
Before, the organization was just a paid sports club, said Dickerson. “I think it’s a really big step because we’re one of the first college programs in the Southeast.”
As Montevallo continues to grow, Dickerson hopes the esports program will explode with popularity. Students interested in participating can fill out the interest form on the university’s website for the program.
Vallo Vision News 