The Samsung University Esports Finals for Overwatch, Hearthstone and League of Legends were held in Sydney this past weekend. This event was organised by the University eSports League (UEL) and sponsored by GradConnection, Hive Gaming and Blizzard Entertainment. The teams competing in the finals were:
- Hearthstone: RMIT Redback vs. Disguised Toast Fanclub
- Overwatch: Failing Uni Kids vs. Brian Piccolo
- League of Legends: QUT Tigers vs. Robmcfreewin
To find out who won and for exclusive interviews with the teams, watch our coverage of the event.
Between games, attendees could take photos with cosplayers, play a range of video games and speak to recruiters from the Business, Finance and Technology sectors. Having recruiters at a gaming event may seem like a mismatch but gaming can develop a range of skills which employers look for in their staff. All three games featured at the event require teamwork, good communication and the ability to perform under pressure. These skills feature regular in the essential criteria of job descriptions. Furthermore, to fully engage with eSports, knowledge of technology and social media is required. For example, the Samsung University eSports Finals were streamed on Twitch and social media coverage used #uel2018. Knowing how to effectively engage with others online may be useful because recruiters are increasingly seeking Marketing and Communication candidates with sound knowledge of social media platforms. So, aside from being fun, eSports may also develop valuable commercial skills.
Entering the UEL is straightforward. Any Australian university student that is enrolled in a university course in the current year is able to join. Players of any level can participate in the qualifying rounds. Just logon on the specified dates and start gaming. The top players from the qualifying rounds will progress to the semi-finals.
To further develop eSports, Hive Gaming Australia has recently announced Project Dojo. Project Dojo will see the construction of Australia’s first ever dedicated eSports training facility. The specifics of Project Dojo have not been made public yet, but we can get an idea of what to expect by looking at international dojos. eSports dojos are the gaming industry’s equivalent of a gym. For a fee, customers can use the custom gaming facilities, try various games, attend workshops, make industry connections and compete in tournaments. Receiving this mentoring and practice should elevate players’ abilities and create a more engaging end product for the audience. It will be exciting to learn more about Project Dojo over the next few months and see how this move helps develop the Australian eSports industry.
