The Georgia Esports League (GEL) announced the lineup for its Fall 2018 championship Oct. 20 at Georgia State University’s Sports Arena. Teams from Georgia Gwinnett College, Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, Oglethorpe University, University of Georgia, and the University of West Georgia compete to be the state’s best in Brawlhalla and SMITE.
“Video games are turning into the most popular sports of the 21st century,” said Andrew Greenberg, interim commissioner of the Georgia Esports League and executive director of the Georgia Game Developers Association. “Schools know that the desire to make games is what drives many students to want to learn about technology in the first place. An esports team helps them attract even more good students.”
The tournament also includes GSUs’ PantherLAN tournament, with college students competing in a wide variety of esports games. Georgia game developers Blue Mammoth Games and Hi-Rez Studios sponsor workshops on important esports skills like shoutcasting in addition to how to become a professional esports competitor.
Doors open at 8 a.m., with game play starting at 9 a.m. The event is free and open to the public, and will also be streamed through https://www.twitch.tv/georgiastateu and https://www.twitch.tv/georgiagamedevs. The GSU Sports Arena is at 125 Decatur St., S.E., in Atlanta.
GEL combines its tournaments with career fairs to match esports talent with employers. Its first career fair, coinciding with its Spring Championship at Momocon, attracted numerous companies and more than 500 job seekers. “Esports players are the perfect new hires,” said Greenberg. “Technologically advanced, team oriented, focused and passionate, they have exactly the skills employers are seeking.”
Varsity esports provide benefits beyond game play, including student participation in broadcasting, production, marketing, management and game development, a rapidly growing part of Georgia’s entertainment industry.