Poll of the Day > 50 U.S Colleges now offer SCHOLARSHIPS for Students to play VIDEO GAMES!!!

(+) Yeah! (+)

50 U.S Colleges are now offering "VARSITY GAMING TEAMS" where gaming nerds can earn SCHOLARSHIPS just by competing in games such as Overwatch, League of Legends and Super Smash Bros. Melee!!

Varsity gaming teams are becoming common in colleges as they are tapping into rising popularity of competitive gaming and the NCAA is now considering whether it should play a role which are backed by coaches and game analysts, much like any other college teams

Michael Brooks, executive director of the National Association of Collegiate eSports said "We're talking to at least 3 or 4 new schools every day. We did not expect this this type of reaction"

Competitive gaming, aka esports have become a booming entertainment industry over the past decade with flashy professional events that fill sports arenas and draw millions of online viewers.

The biggest tournaments offer prizes up to 20 MILLION attracting "elite gamers" who wage battle

Smaller private schools have been quick to create varsity programs as a way to boost enrollment numbers.

Many colleges want to copy the success of Robert Morris University in Illinois, a small school that launched the first varsity team in 2014 and has become a "national powerhouse"

The University of Utah, which says its new varsity teams are the first at any school in the 5 major athletic conferences

University of California just opened a new $250,000 eSports arena with financial backing from sponsors including a computer company and Riot Games.

These universities were slow to adapt but have now come to realization that it could benefit from this sham, oopsa a poo, i mean "industry growth". They believe this brings national exposure to colleges at a low cost which is potential to land sponsorships and brings costs even lower.

Are you a "competitive" gamer?

Geeks -

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/1/2017/09/15/15/wire-1347185-1505484253-618_634x437.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/1/2017/09/15/15/wire-1347187-1505484255-334_634x436.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/1/2017/09/15/15/wire-1347189-1505484257-414_634x438.jpg

Super Smash Brothers -

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/09/15/18/4451525600000578-4886648-image-m-54_1505495908654.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/09/15/18/4451526B00000578-4886648-image-a-55_1505495914035.jpg

Overwatch -

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/09/15/18/4451525E00000578-4886648-Overwatch_has_tournaments_with_prizes_of_upwards_of_20million-m-59_1505496347245.jpg

League of Legends -

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/09/15/18/4451526200000578-4886648-League_of_Legends_hastournaments_with_prizes_of_upwards_of_20mil-a-60_1505496356292.jpg
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cool

Why couldn't this have been a thing when I was a kid?
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yutterh posted...

Why couldn't this have been a thing when I was a kid?

I know, right? Although all that competitive gaming would probably my tanked my grades, social life, and everything else. Plus gaming cheerleaders aren't as hot as football cheerleaders.
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I get worked up online and care how well I do, but I'm not competitive in the sense that I want to stream it or go to competitions.
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ughhhh

yutterh posted...

Why couldn't this have been a thing when I was a kid?

this and also why can't i be smart enough for this
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Full Throttle posted...

Are you a "competitive" gamer?

I get more and more casual by the day.
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I've always loved video games but I've never been close to being good enough at a competitive level.
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JOExHIGASHI posted...

I've always loved video games but I've never been close to being good enough at a competitive level.

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Zeus posted...

I know, right? Although all that competitive gaming would probably my tanked my grades, social life, and everything else. Plus gaming cheerleaders aren't as hot as football cheerleaders.

Your school had different cheerleaders per sport? Mine just had the same people and they would go to ask many games as they could.

I play games for their ORIGINAL purpose: Fun, Not to be "The very best, like no one ever was...." and make loads of money off of it, screw that.....
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Kaguya_Kimimaro posted...

I play games for their ORIGINAL purpose: Fun, Not to be "The very best, like no one ever was...." and make loads of money off of it, screw that.....

One would argue that the main objective of games/sports is TO WIN
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used to try to play that way, but now I have a job/'career' which is what you should really apply that kind of effort to.
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Sahuagin posted...

which is what you should really apply that kind of effort to.

yeah but like

what if it IS your career
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Its going to be really interesting in the future. Think professional gaming will ever get to the level of professional sports?

These universities were slow to adapt but have now come to realization that it could benefit from this sham, oopsa a poo, i mean "industry growth". They believe this brings national exposure to colleges at a low cost which is potential to land sponsorships and brings costs even lower.

You shouldn't call it a sham. It runs on the same principle as kids trying to become professional at a sport. Nowadays, you really can make a wealthy living through games, if you're good enough.
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