Esports Provides Players and Broadcasters Valuable Experience and Scholarships Wednesday, September 18, 2024
"I love the camaraderie and the flexibility of our Esports program. Everyone knows everyone else in the program and no one is a stranger. We all work with a common goal whether you are an athlete, crew member or both. We work to build our portfolios, to put on the best show and to win games."
The Point Park University esports team elevates video games from a hobby to a valuable experience by providing students with opportunities for real-world broadcasting experience and significant scholarship.
The esports program, established four years ago, has three teams—League of Legends, Rocket League and Valorant—that compete against other schools in the National Association of Collegiate Esports.
In addition to the competitive teams, there is a content creation team, which focuses on gameday operations, graphics and animations, and commentary, providing students opportunities to grow in journalism, music composition, photography, cinematography, videography and more.
“Esports provides students with a distinctive experience, promoting teamwork, personal development and professional growth," esports coach Chris Gaul said. "It also offers mentorship and opportunities for building portfolios and resumes.”
The esports program is under the Center for Experiential Narrative Technology (CENT), where Gaul serves as assistant director. “Esports serves as a unique platform to engage with students and enrich campus life through innovative and interactive activities,” he said.
Every student involved with the esports program, whether as a competitor or content creator, is eligible for a substantial scholarship. On average, Esports students receive a 60% discount on tuition when considering all Point Park aid.
Junior Caleb Knox, a sports communication major with a minor in public relations, advertising and social media, has participated on the esports team since he arrived at Point Park. In the Q&A and TikTok below he shares about his experience.
What roles have you had in the Point Park esports program?
I tend to do a lot of different things; I like to jump from project to project. Some of the things I have done are directed, casted and observed games (an observer is similar to the role of a cameraman; you capture all the action in game). I have done basic graphic and motion graphics design. I have also done photography during our games, doing work for recruiting and outreach around campus.
What do you love about being part of the esports program?
I love the camaraderie and the flexibility of our program. Everyone knows everyone else in the program and no one is a stranger. We all work with a common goal whether you are an athlete, crew member or both. We work to build our portfolios, to put on the best show and to win games.
How does being an esports athlete enhance your Point Park experience?
It forces you to grow up and become an adult quickly. If you know anyone who is an athlete on campus, you know how much time they have to commit to their craft. Learning how to make time for practices, gamedays and team meetings while also attending classes and doing schoolwork is a great way to learn time management. It's also an easy way to get to know people around campus and in the program. We have athletes and crew members who are a part of other clubs and majors on campus, which contributes to our program being a melting pot of knowledge.
How can the esports program benefit the athletes and crew members after graduation?
The connections you make from the program will benefit you long after you’ve graduated. We have made connections to other collegiate esports programs and local esports teams like the Pittsburgh Knights. There are also connections you can make with the people inside the program. We have a couple of casters who have done professional broadcasts for RLCS, VCT and VCT Challengers as well as for the PIEA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Esports Association) while still doing work for our program. The Esports program can also benefit you in the long term by saving you money with the generous scholarships for incoming freshmen and transfers.
@pointparku Did you know that you can get a scholarship to Point Park for being a part of one of the @ppu_esports teams? Established in 2020, Point Park's Esports Program has 3 teams—Valorant, League of Legends and Rocket League, which compete against other schools in the National Association of Collegiate Esports. Learn more at pointpark.edu 🎮 #PointParkU #PointParkUniversity #ESports #CollegeESports #Valorant #LeagueOfLegends #RocketLeague #CollegeSports ♬ original sound - Point Park University
What kind of equipment and/or programs do you use for your broadcasts, social media, etc.?
We use OBS and a little bit of Streamlabs along with NDI for our broadcasts. We use an ATEM Mini for our switcher, along with 2 Blackmagic 4K Pro G2 Cameras to capture the live action of the players during the game. Our facility houses the Adobe Creative Suite, and some of the computers include Davinci Resolve. We use Audio Technica headsets to communicate between the director and observer.
Where can we find Point Park esports and when can we watch their games?
The Point Park esports Linktree is here.
You can watch our games on Twitch @PointPark_Esports where we stream League of Legends on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. and Valorant on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. (Rocket League timing is to be determined.) The seasons should be starting around Sept. 20.
Who should we contact to get involved?
Current and prospective students should email Coach Chris Gaul.