Game On: Simpson Launches its Esports Team

By Ryan Gavin

The Red Hawks press play as they enter the digital arena.

It’s an idea that’s been brewing for a while and has finally been realized; Esports is the latest addition to Simpon’s campus. 

Located in the Owen’s Center on Simpson’s campus, the Esports Hub has been a hotspot for students to unwind, watch TV, or play video games. 

Simpson's Esports Hub located in the Owen's Center

With the addition of the Esports team, the game room has been closed to the public, and the university installed four advanced gaming setups. 

AJ Raffaelli is the Esports team captain. He ensures that the team is fit for competition and getting better at the games. 

“I also coordinate more of the behind-the-scenes stuff. If there’s an issue with the match, I can talk to the league officials and make sure everything’s okay,” Raffaelli said. 

The Esports club has been around for a while. It offered an outlet for students to join on-campus contests and have fun. 

“Last year we did a lot of more fun events, so we would set up a TV, play Mario Kart or Smash Bros. And I really like Esports, so I would show up,” Raffaelli said. 

“What ended up happening is that a few people were consistently showing up and showing interest. We wanted to further it because we wanted to get to a point where we’d be playing other universities,” Raffaelli continued. 

The Esports team plays around two to three matches per week and has already won a few. The games are played in the Esports Hub, where players from both universities sign in and compete.  

Dr. Brian Dawson, Simpson’s Vice President of Student Development, helps the Esports team in recruitment and advising.  

When asked about his role, Dawson said it’s “To find passionate people and get out of their way.” 

“I’m not a gamer. Now, I can play the games and enjoy them, but it’s about reaction, and when it comes to that, an 18- or 20-year-old is in their prime for Esports,” Dawson said. 

The Esports team plans to stream its matches live in the Student Union and on Twitch. These streams need to have a 5-minute delay to avoid giving an advantage to the opposing team. 

With games like League of Legends and Rocket League, there’s plenty to be excited about as Simpson competes in its first full season.