Current Events > Video Gaming Becomes a Scholarship Sport at University of Utah

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Darmik 04/06/17 1:51:18 AM #1:	https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-05/video-gaming-becomes-a-scholarship-sport-at-university-of-utah The University of Utah will become the first big-time sports school to offer scholarships for competitive video gaming, so far the most high-profile entry into collegiate esports. Backed by the Salt Lake City school’s video game development program, Utah’s first varsity esports team will play Riot Games’ popular League of Legends and compete in Riot’s collegiate league. More teams in other games will be announced this year. Utah is the first school in the "Power Five" -- the five richest athletic conferences in college sports -- to offer scholarships for video gaming, lending a high-profile endorsement to the the rapidly-growing industry. "We want others schools to join us," said A.J. Dimick, who will run the new esports program. "Let’s move this along together." Funding for the program will come directly from Utah’s Entertainment Arts & Engineering department, which The Princeton Review named the country’s best video game design program in 2016. Dimick declined to say how big the upfront investment would be. The Utah structure shows a possible road map for other schools to approach esports, which have many of the same structures as traditional sports but don’t have a natural home inside athletic departments. Dimick said he’s spoken with Utah Athletics and for now, the varsity esports venture will happen without financial help or marketing support from the school’s $70 million sports programs. Gamers on Utah’s League of Legends team will all receive partial scholarships at first, Dimick said. The long-term plan is to expand to more games and to make money through marketing and sponsorship deals, eventually offering full scholarships to as many as 35 gamers. --- Kind Regards, Darmik <cite>Darmik posted [p:876637242] in Video Gami... [t:75203849]...</cite> <quote>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-05/video-gaming-becomes-a-scholarship-sport-at-university-of-utah <quote>The University of Utah will become the first big-time sports school to offer scholarships for competitive video gaming, so far the most high-profile entry into collegiate esports. Backed by the Salt Lake City school’s video game development program, Utah’s first varsity esports team will play Riot Games’ popular League of Legends and compete in Riot’s collegiate league. More teams in other games will be announced this year. Utah is the first school in the "Power Five" -- the five richest athletic conferences in college sports -- to offer scholarships for video gaming, lending a high-profile endorsement to the the rapidly-growing industry. "We want others schools to join us," said A.J. Dimick, who will run the new esports program. "Let’s move this along together." Funding for the program will come directly from Utah’s Entertainment Arts & Engineering department, which The Princeton Review named the country’s best video game design program in 2016. Dimick declined to say how big the upfront investment would be. The Utah structure shows a possible road map for other schools to approach esports, which have many of the same structures as traditional sports but don’t have a natural home inside athletic departments. Dimick said he’s spoken with Utah Athletics and for now, the varsity esports venture will happen without financial help or marketing support from the school’s $70 million sports programs. Gamers on Utah’s League of Legends team will all receive partial scholarships at first, Dimick said. The long-term plan is to expand to more games and to make money through marketing and sponsorship deals, eventually offering full scholarships to as many as 35 gamers. </quote></quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
LightningAce11 04/06/17 1:53:40 AM #2:	Darmik posted... Riot Games’ popular League of Legends Why this game? Why not the numerous other ones as well? --- "I'm an atheist too but still believe in hell. That's where you're headed pal." - Mr_Karate_II <cite>LightningAce11 posted [p:876637324] in Video Gami... [t:75203849]...</cite> <quote><cite>Darmik posted...</cite> <quote>Riot Games’ popular League of Legends</quote> Why this game? Why not the numerous other ones as well?</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
GODTIER 04/06/17 1:55:33 AM #3:	How do you even apply for this? Send the school a copy of your K/D/R? <cite>GODTIER posted [p:876637395] in Video Gami... [t:75203849]...</cite> <quote>How do you even apply for this? Send the school a copy of your K/D/R?</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
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Darmik 04/06/17 2:23:12 AM #5:	GODTIER posted... How do you even apply for this? Send the school a copy of your K/D/R? Attached: No-scope headshot highlight reel --- Kind Regards, Darmik <cite>Darmik posted [p:876638375] in Video Gami... [t:75203849]...</cite> <quote><cite>GODTIER posted...</cite> <quote>How do you even apply for this? Send the school a copy of your K/D/R?</quote> Attached: No-scope headshot highlight reel</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
sellerdore 04/06/17 2:32:49 AM #6:	This is awesome. Collegiate Smash Bros Melee is already a thing, but it's super grassroots. A NCAA esports circuit would be the dream --- "Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs..." http://www.last.fm/user/kmal415 <cite>sellerdore posted [p:876638725] in Video Gami... [t:75203849]...</cite> <quote>This is awesome. Collegiate Smash Bros Melee is already a thing, but it's super grassroots. A NCAA esports circuit would be the dream</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Sativa_Rose 04/06/17 3:10:21 AM #7:	It makes no less sense than giving a scholarship for someone to major in communications just because they happen to play waterpolo --- I may not go down in history, but I will go down on your sister. <cite>Sativa_Rose posted [p:876639865] in Video Gami... [t:75203849]...</cite> <quote>It makes no less sense than giving a scholarship for someone to major in communications just because they happen to play waterpolo</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
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Current Events > Video Gaming Becomes a Scholarship Sport at University of Utah (+) Yeah! (+)

Current Events > Video Gaming Becomes a Scholarship Sport at University of Utah