ESPORTS HAS slowly inched its way to become a competitive avenue in collegiate sports as seen from events held by AcadArena, Dark League Studios, and Collegiate Center for Esports.
But with the UAAP officially incorporating esports in its list of events, the push for gaming to be a part of a school's program can lead to numerous opportunities especially for students.
"For esports to be a part of it and for UAAP to accept esports, it's a legitimate evidence that it is really here to stay," started Dark League Studios' CEO, AC Valdenor.
"Big schools are supporting it, big schools are getting into programs to ensure that it gives the right message to the students, that we're doing UAAP, to support their passion into joining tournaments, and to educate them on responsible gaming as well."
It was Cignal TV who pushed for esports to be included and they contacted Dark League Studios, an organization that promotes esports in the academe through their programs like Estudyante Esports, to run the show.
Now with these parties involved, a lot is at stake. Esports is currently a debutant in the UAAP, serving as a demonstration event. Given its status all eyes will surely be on the board.
"We are setting the expectations for people that we are prepared for this talaga. People are not sleeping anymore for the last two weeks for the preparation of UAAP esports to make sure that it's going to be fun, exciting, and it's going to be memorable for being the first UAAP esports that we're having in the Philippines," reflected Valdenor.
Why NBA, MLBB, and VALORANT?
As of now, three games will be the main focus of this season's UAAP esports namely NBA 2K, VALORANT, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.
As to why these three games were chosen, here's what Valdenor highlighted.
"From the perspective of what we can grow from the grassroots program and the games that we can represent outside the country, si NBA 2K we have a Gilas team and we have representatives for MLBB and VALORANT in international tournaments."
"And also from the factor of what is really trending in terms of gaming for the students, what they're playing, these are the factors that made UAAP select on what games to play," he revealed.
These three games will be the first phase for the UAAP on their debut and given the recent events that are shaping the landscape, perhaps more games could arrive.
And the UAAP are hoping to use the league as an avenue to produce the next generation of talent.
"From my perspective we have to touch base with all kinds of game categories because for me, esports is really getting big. It's already coming to the Olympics and we have a lot of talent in the Philippines who can represent us."
"There's a lot of potential and I would suggest that bringing a lot of games for UAAP will get a very good grassroots program and a very good exposure for the potential people who can represent us for the Philippines."
Promoting esports in the academe
While there is a lot of promise for the UAAP's inclusion in esports, there are challenges that await universities and the league in pushing forward with their advocacies on gaming.
There's no denying the negative stigma surrounding video games as seen from the usual phrase, 'Kaka-computer mo yan!' plus there are logistical problems involving esports as colleges and universities could be forced to invest in additional infrastructure.
So how does the UAAP tackle into this discourse? Valdenor admitted that there was a lot of convincing that needed to be done, to push through with this endeavor.
"We've learned a lot from the academe, from the community, from the general public in terms of esports, the support of the older generation is very important. The credibility of them convincing the other older generations who are leading the schools and companies is very important, he emphasized.
For this to succeed, it is important to make the school presidents believe in esports.
"It's very difficult like for example one of our programs, Estudyante Esports, we tend to convince not the students but the school president to participate, said Valdenor. "Because if it's coming from the school president, it's cool for the younger generation that they see their school president support this activity."
Being a responsible gamer
And with the UAAP schools incorporating esports and gaming, comes a different layer of responsibility needed. Gaming can lead to opportunities and careers in the future as seen from game development, esports production, shoutcasting, etc., but there needs to be a clear line that students need to first distinguish.
Working in the esports and gaming scene can be a fun experience, but it is also a career path that needs to be respected.
"It's not about business when you talk to schools, it's about supporting the younger generation, making them understand their responsibility in terms of guiding the students because a lot of us are gamers already," as stated by Valdenor.
And once students understand the value of esports and gaming, comes the opportunities that could grow and shape their careers.
"If they have a program in the school that gives guidance in responsible gaming, for addressing mental health issues in terms of playing these kinds of games, and supporting them that they're not just gaming because they're also opportunities to have a career in gaming, it becomes big."
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