THE DIGITAL ARENA: NWU’S E-SPORTS

Ayola Gqotso

@a.yola_gq

Electronic sports, known as e-sports, refers to competitive video gaming which involves individuals or teams competing against each other in various video games. The North-West University (NWU) currently offers two different video games as part of their e-sports category: FIFA and Beat Saber. 

Günder Regan Williamson, the Students’ Campus Council (SCC) Sports Officer, explained the different video games offered as esports: “Beat Saber is a VR-based game, it’s like a beat and music based game and the goal is to slash the beats. And we also offer FIFA which is played on the PS4 and PS5 console.”

Williamson’s role and responsibility as the Sports Officer is to mainly mainstream the student-aspect, and to enrich the student life through the sports, like e-sports. He also added that this year’s e-sports FIFA league is planning a move to FIFA 24.

“Our office primarily works through students and these aspects are residences and faculties known as chapters. You’ll either fall under your residence or faculty e-sports team,” explained Williamson. 

There is an upcoming  e-sports league in August. The Beat Saber e-sports games will commence on 19 August, concluding on 22 August. The FIFA event will be running between 26 and 29 August. 

Williamson also mentioned that there are no formal requirements to joining e-sports, “Your residences or faculties will usually send a WhatsApp group link for e-sports and send a message on the group inviting any student interested to come for trials on a specific day. It comes down to the trials. You go to trials and, if you are good enough, you make the team.”

Edited by Christinet Zaal