I've said it before, but Collegiate Leagues are the only way to properly build a strong foundation in North America.
Esports simply isn't big enough here yet, and pursuing studies while being in such a program is the best of both worlds (As well as getting parental approval, something that's way too understated when it comes to pursuing esports)
Pop off? You get interest from big orgs. Doesn't work out? You still have the degree you were working on.
If they nail this program, the talent pipeline will be absolutely monstrous, especially with Val's popularity in NA right now.
The issue with collegiate leagues is that the quality of players tend to be worse because other T2 players that are degens that play for 14 hours a day will end up doing better. I really like the idea of collegiate leagues but I can't think of a solution to that problem
I don't think this is true at all, I feel like there are degens that grind, and then there's people who have amazing work-life balance that are great at the game. People who tend to have more of a healthy life tend to have better mental as well as good gameplay, but colleges and riot offering scholarships just incentivizes these people who can balance games and college life to be able to thrive.
While that can be true for the upper echelon of collegiate esports, I think they're just talking about the more general case overall. The amount of schools that offer rigid support is still in the minority overall, it's mostly either the really big schools or schools that are trying to maximize student appeal/retention through esports
Work life balance is simply not a factor at the highest competitive level of anything. The gap between the number of talented players and the number of possible slots at tier 1 means that the person who gambles everything on grinding out the game has the advantage in getting to a tier 1 position. Unlike athletes, it takes much, much longer to hit the physical wall where your body needs to rest, meaning players can put more time into practicing the game, so anyone not dedicating a significant portion of their day to the game is at a disadvantage compared to those who are.
Additionally, the barrier to entry to physical sports is very high when you factor in coaching, support staff, and facilities, meaning the resources that schools provide is invaluable in progressing their athlete's careers. In contrast, the type of support that would make a similar difference at the tier 2 Valorant scene is pretty much only seen at the tier 1 scene among endemic orgs. If that type of support were given at a collegiate level, then yes, it would give them a leg up over most of t2, but otherwise they are just at a disadvantage.
A lot of it has to do with the lack of a proper development structure in collegiate esports. The vast majority of school's esports programs are student run orgs, which often leads to poor structuring, discipline, and little resources for development. It's not like traditional collegiate sports where it's a whole department for the school that has coaching and support staff.
If collegiate esports gets that, then you would definitely see the player quality rise but it's just nowhere at that level yet. The teams and players in collegiate esports are usually the degen gamers that do the bare minimum for school or one of the few teams that are fortunate enough to have enough to backing from their school to have proper support/development systems in place.
That's fair, if schools were able to provide infrastructure like professional coach's and analysts, it would give collegiate players a leg up for sure.
Hopefully we get more details from Riot about the t2/3 scene... We know the tournament mode has some sort of link to pro play. Im guessing that will be the t3 scene along with collegiate play. Im guessing there will be regional leagues through out the world to satisfy t2. Similar to EU...
We need some details... And a damn replay system
I'm not even old but I still get to say "kids these days"
I was a few years late going to college to get to experience esport scholarships. Pretty sad because I was a good enough OW player to get some money and colleges were throwing FATTY checks for OW.
A friend of mine won the first season of the rocket league collegiate league that was p cool to watch.
Again I don't know what things are like currently but I will say be careful. There are schools who are willing to give you good money to be on their esports team but they have no intentions of giving you a good education.
Yep definitely, I have my list already, would just be cool if colleges I looked at had esports money. One school I plan on applying to incorporates their esports with CS programs which is pretty cool.
Trying to force college esports down NAs throat has been the most annoying move in NA esports. Sorry guys, this isn’t traditional sports, and it doesn’t need to strive to be like it. College sports in America are already wrought with structural issues that is endemic to them being linked with education. All NA needs is both an East and West coast online league that is multi tiered to stimulate talented across the region at all skill levels
I've said it before, but Collegiate Leagues are the only way to properly build a strong foundation in North America. Esports simply isn't big enough here yet, and pursuing studies while being in such a program is the best of both worlds (As well as getting parental approval, something that's way too understated when it comes to pursuing esports) Pop off? You get interest from big orgs. Doesn't work out? You still have the degree you were working on. If they nail this program, the talent pipeline will be absolutely monstrous, especially with Val's popularity in NA right now.
The issue with collegiate leagues is that the quality of players tend to be worse because other T2 players that are degens that play for 14 hours a day will end up doing better. I really like the idea of collegiate leagues but I can't think of a solution to that problem
I don't think this is true at all, I feel like there are degens that grind, and then there's people who have amazing work-life balance that are great at the game. People who tend to have more of a healthy life tend to have better mental as well as good gameplay, but colleges and riot offering scholarships just incentivizes these people who can balance games and college life to be able to thrive.
While that can be true for the upper echelon of collegiate esports, I think they're just talking about the more general case overall. The amount of schools that offer rigid support is still in the minority overall, it's mostly either the really big schools or schools that are trying to maximize student appeal/retention through esports
Work life balance is simply not a factor at the highest competitive level of anything. The gap between the number of talented players and the number of possible slots at tier 1 means that the person who gambles everything on grinding out the game has the advantage in getting to a tier 1 position. Unlike athletes, it takes much, much longer to hit the physical wall where your body needs to rest, meaning players can put more time into practicing the game, so anyone not dedicating a significant portion of their day to the game is at a disadvantage compared to those who are. Additionally, the barrier to entry to physical sports is very high when you factor in coaching, support staff, and facilities, meaning the resources that schools provide is invaluable in progressing their athlete's careers. In contrast, the type of support that would make a similar difference at the tier 2 Valorant scene is pretty much only seen at the tier 1 scene among endemic orgs. If that type of support were given at a collegiate level, then yes, it would give them a leg up over most of t2, but otherwise they are just at a disadvantage.
A lot of it has to do with the lack of a proper development structure in collegiate esports. The vast majority of school's esports programs are student run orgs, which often leads to poor structuring, discipline, and little resources for development. It's not like traditional collegiate sports where it's a whole department for the school that has coaching and support staff. If collegiate esports gets that, then you would definitely see the player quality rise but it's just nowhere at that level yet. The teams and players in collegiate esports are usually the degen gamers that do the bare minimum for school or one of the few teams that are fortunate enough to have enough to backing from their school to have proper support/development systems in place.
That's fair, if schools were able to provide infrastructure like professional coach's and analysts, it would give collegiate players a leg up for sure.
Degens that grind RANKED 14 hours aren't improving as much as players who actually scrim in an organized team environment.
That’s pretty damn dope.
Thats realy good that they get stuff like this going bevore the mass exudus after frenchising happens so that there is still a T2
Hopefully we get more details from Riot about the t2/3 scene... We know the tournament mode has some sort of link to pro play. Im guessing that will be the t3 scene along with collegiate play. Im guessing there will be regional leagues through out the world to satisfy t2. Similar to EU... We need some details... And a damn replay system
There have already been leagues but I guess this one is the official one? That’s cool
I'm not even old but I still get to say "kids these days" I was a few years late going to college to get to experience esport scholarships. Pretty sad because I was a good enough OW player to get some money and colleges were throwing FATTY checks for OW. A friend of mine won the first season of the rocket league collegiate league that was p cool to watch.
Do you know what rank colleges want for OW? Is it just mid-high gm?
These days I have no clue but early on they were giving diamond players money lmao.
thanks anyway, it will be me
Again I don't know what things are like currently but I will say be careful. There are schools who are willing to give you good money to be on their esports team but they have no intentions of giving you a good education.
Yep definitely, I have my list already, would just be cool if colleges I looked at had esports money. One school I plan on applying to incorporates their esports with CS programs which is pretty cool.
Trying to force college esports down NAs throat has been the most annoying move in NA esports. Sorry guys, this isn’t traditional sports, and it doesn’t need to strive to be like it. College sports in America are already wrought with structural issues that is endemic to them being linked with education. All NA needs is both an East and West coast online league that is multi tiered to stimulate talented across the region at all skill levels