U de M opens gaming room to help esports players train
University has pledged $60K over 3 years to help cover costs of travel to competitions
Simon Séger is a competitive gamer who likes to practise fighting games in a "grind session," where esports players gather and compete against each other for hours to improve their skills, he said.
He's already hosted a few of these sessions at the Université de Moncton's new esports room, which is equipped with advanced gaming technology, comfortable ergonomic chairs and high speed internet, Séger said.
"It's very difficult to host a practice session weekly at one's place, especially when everyone is to bring all kinds of consoles and controllers," he said.
The gaming room officially opened on Sept. 12 at the Moncton campus student centre. It's geared toward training the school's esports teams, with the university earmarking $60,000 in funding over the next three years to cover tournament travel expenses.
Before the training facility on campus existed, Séger practised on his home setup. He said he likes the community aspect that the new esports room offers.
"It brings people together of various interests but at the same time a common one, which is playing video games and playing video games together."
It's important to have a space on campus because many students can't afford expensive gaming equipment, said Camille Pelletier, president of UMoncton Esports.
The room is equipped with five top tier, high-speed gaming stations and four computer screens attached to gaming consoles. It will be used for recreational gaming by students and the members of the public, while the campus esports teams will use it for competitive practices and training for tournaments, Pelletier said.
"We want this to be an open space for not only our students but for the community," she said.
Starting in October, non-students will be charged a fee of $5 per hour, while students will pay $2.50 per hour. Access will remain free for those competing on the university's esports teams.
"We do have players that are very skilled that, you know, if they play for us they could potentially be recognized by other teams that aren't university related," Pelletier said. "There are careers as a player in esports and there are also careers as a coach."
Coaches help train the team on the mechanical skills needed to play a game, and help the players improve how they communicate with each other and strategize.
Pelletier said the goal is to train students to compete in major tournaments, like any other sport.
"That's kind of what we are trying to push, is to normalize it as a sport."
The U de M teams train on various fighting, shooting and multiplayer online battle arena games, she said. The current teams play League of Legends, Valorant, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Street Fighter 6.
Séger said he competes in Street Fighter 6 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, training at least 20 hours a week. He said a coach helps a player see "an outsider perspective" and often provides moral support.
He said he has never considered a career in esports but with a training space on campus, students may become more interested in that prospect.
Pelletier said UMoncton Esports will be hosting tryouts to recruit players for the campus teams on the weekends of Sept. 28 and Oct. 5.
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