The University’s League of LSU, a student-run club for the computer game “League of Legends,” (LoL) hosted an online tournament March 28 and 30, following a recent breakthrough in the online gaming industry.
LoL is an online multiplayer video game that pits players against one another on a virtual battlefield, and it saw the gaming landscape change when the U.S. government recognized superior electronic sports players as athletes during the summer of 2013.
Nathan Beard, business management senior and founder and president of League of LSU, said his primary concerns are to help bring eSports to the University, to improve the University’s electronics and to help raise awareness of the game. The group’s chairmen also plan help to improve players’ skills and provide a place where students can relax, enjoy the game and bond with other students.
“It’s the most popular video game in the world, with more than 35 million gamers on it,” Beard said. “It’s carrying eSports and making it what it is today.”
Beard said there were no eSports student organizations at LSU when he arrived, and he knew the potential support he could have for starting one. Beard founded the group in fall 2012, but it did not take off until spring 2013.
With more than 250 active members, League of LSU is now recognized by Riot Games, the creators of LoL, as one of the many collegiate groups in the country that can compete in collegiate LoL tournaments.
Last year, the third floor Capital Chamber Room in the Student Union only had Wi-Fi, a connection Beard said is not good enough for online video gameplay.
The University’s Information Technology Service department has installed one multi-access networking port and donated two port switches that allow students in the room to play the game through a multi-access network. Beard said the League of LSU plans to have individual ports installed on every chair in the Capital Chamber room for the upcoming fall semester.
The group will also host a screening of the LoL world tournament in the Student Union Ballroom this fall. Riot Games has recognized the ballroom as a national viewing spot to host the world tournament because of the room’s capacity to hold more than 1,000 seats, Beard said.
“People from all over the globe will be allowed to view the tournament in the Student Union,” he said.
The government’s recognition of eSports players as athletes means players from across the globe are now able to come to the U.S. to compete in online LoL games, much like how athletes from overseas obtain visas to compete here.
In an interview with Gamestop, Riot Games’ eSports manager Nick Allen said the government’s decision did not happen overnight.
“Eventually, it got to the point where they were like, ‘We have no reason to say no. … Okay, this is legitimate.’” Forbes said.
Riot Games awarded a total of $5 million to players in 105 LoL tournaments around the world last year. Riot also sponsored an online LoL tournament hosted by League of LSU last weekend.
Beard encourages students who do not know how to play LoL to try the game and to attend upcoming League of LSU events.
“When you first jump into the game, take it slow. Don’t let it overwhelm you. Play Bot games [with computer controlled opponents] and bring friends to play with you. There will be toxic players at times, and you just have to ignore them and just have fun.”