Electronic sports are making a run at BVU

Buena Vista University alum Max Lee of Denison has always been the one to beat at BVU’s Anime and Gaming Society’s (AGS) Super Smash Bros. tournament since its institution in spring 2018. He came back to campus last weekend for another go.

He made it all the way to the championship match once again but fell just short to BVU senior Tyler Brunner and had to finally step down from his reigning championship position after holding onto it for the first four tournaments AGS ever hosted.

Lee has been gaming since he was three or four years old. At five years old, he was playing fighting games like Mortal Kombat and Fighter Machine on the PlayStation 1, destroying his brother and his cousin who were both older by six years.

Today, his gaming specialties are Halo, Gears of War, and of course, Super Smash Bros.

Gamers battle it out for the win.

Gamers like Lee personify the growing gaming culture around the world. The increasingly popular subculture has since developed into the booming billion-dollar industry of Esports, or competitive videogaming.

According to the National Association of Collegiate Esports, the unique digital sporting industry began in early 2000s and has been growing at a rapid pace. A 2019 Newzoo report stated that the global Esports market will generate $1.1 billion, up 26.7%, and reach 453.8 million people this year.

It’s growing popularity has caught eyes at BVU, and President Josh Merchant officially established a presidential initiative to get the university’s very own collegiate Esports team.

Director of Strategic Initiatives Dr. Annamaria Formi­chella says while there isn’t a specific timeline for its launch, BVU is in the research phases and is looking to launch fall 2020.

Iowa currently sports eight colleges or universities with NACE varsity Esports programs, and BVU is looking to be the ninth.

“It’s a pretty golden opportunity,” says Aaron Pluym, president of BVU’s anime and gaming society. “I know that a lot more high schools and colleges in the area are doing it.”

Pluym is well-versed in gaming as an avid player and viewer. He says one game he likes to play and watch online is Rainbow Six: Siege, a popular one among NACE competitions. Other popular esports games include League of Legends, Fortnite, FIFA, and Lee’s favorites, Gears of War and Super Smash Bros.

Lee says if he was given the opportunity, he would have definitely liked to play on a Gears of War team. “I would compete for a Gears team if possible,” says Lee. “I would stick to my strong suit here.”

Formichella mentioned the university might begin conversations with the students involved in AGS to get a better understanding of the sport and how to recruit for it.

“We might try a pilot program with existing students before recruiting next year’s class, specifically with the intention of being on the Esports team,” she said.

Formichella says like any sport, Esports has its own rules and regulations, including the amount of time students can spend practicing and the GPA required to participate.

“We don’t want a situation where students are staying up all night gaming, and it’s interfering with their academics,” Formichella says.

Tyler Bruner, senior at BVU wearing jersey 85 at right, won the singles tournament.

*Originally published in the Storm Lake Times.

*Photo courtesy: Aaron Pluym