Immediately when you enter Seattle University’s Esports Room, you’re met with a space that is full of people laughing around each other’s PCs as they play virtual games while engaging in a vibrant community space.
The Esports room is nearing its two-year mark as it only opened in Feb. 2023.
Mordi Giday, a fourth-year finance major who is a staff member in the Esports room, explained that the room is accessible for anyone wanting to play video games. For those who want to get into the sport, recreationally or competitively, the space is available for all levels of gamers.
“The thing is most people don’t really know that this room exists most of the time. So it’s not like they don’t know how to play video games, it’s just more so they never knew there was a space we built to come play video games,” Giday said.
While the Esports room doesn’t hold traditional lessons on how to start playing, as a staff member, Giday ensures they are there to help and walk anyone through the process.
“We always welcome newcomers and we can share tips and whatnot from fellow gamer to wannabe gamer,” Giday said.
The Esports room itself is under Seattle U’s UREC center, but Seattle U’s Esports and Gaming Club (EGC), the largest student-run club on campus, also has strong ties to the room.
Chris Paul, a professor of communication and media as well as the advisor for EGC, talked about the importance of community spaces such as the Esports room. Before it was built, Paul reminisced on how gamers struggled because everyone would play from their dorms and there weren’t any opportunities to create connections or physically play with others.
“We finally have a space where people can play together and actually interact and it makes it better, right? Because then they can actually see each other and spend time with each other and it’s another place where people can get together at SU,” Paul said.
When asked about what advice he would give to newcomers wanting to enter the Esports room, Paul’s strong advice was to bring a friend.
“Walking into a new gaming space is really hard, it’s really difficult, and it’s even harder when you’re by yourself because you don’t have anyone to play with. But if you can find a wing person to go in with you, all of a sudden it’s you and someone else so it’s not as polarizing that all eyes are on you—might be on both of you—but it’s not just on you,” Paul explained.
Starting a new hobby or skill is always an intimidating process, but starting out with someone who you already trust and enjoy each other’s presence makes the experience much more doable. Over time, that allows you to build the confidence to enter spaces such as the Esports room on your own and perhaps start making new friends as well.
Elyza Cabanos is a second-year forensic science major and the event coordinator for EGC. For anyone intimidated by the sport of gaming, Cabanos says you have to just;
“Jump into it and don’t let your fears hold you back because for me I was really scared to just start talking to people but I think you just have to get that confidence and just join in on the events. Especially our social events or just going to the esports room.”
Cabanos expressed encouragement to those looking to find friends or play video games, whether it’s through the Esports room or the EGC.
“It’s a place where everyone, both social and competitive-just anyone who likes games- can go into and make friends. I personally made a lot of friends through the club and through meeting people in the esports room. So I think it’s a great place to just build community,” Cabanos said.
A strong thread throughout all three interviews with Giday, Cabanos and Paul was not to linger on the actual technicality of esports and gaming (though yes, you might enjoy yourself more if you’re interested in playing), but to come with an open mind and expect to be welcomed warmly and make lasting friendships.
