Video games have advanced in our life becoming more normalized creating a community of competition!

Video games have been around since 1958. The first video game was “Tennis for Two” which was a really simple two player game that is similar to the game Pong. It became a very popular game and sparked people to want more varieties of video games. Nowadays, video games have grown into ultra-competitive electronic sports all over the world. Welcome to Esports.

Video games are a way of connecting with people. Video games connect people by their interactive built setup. Because of how interactive video games can be, it has drawn a lot of people in, allowing them to discover a new side of themselves. Mainstream popularity in video games started in the 1970s and is now used as everyday  entertainment. The first popular video games were in-person arcades, then the personal console changed the game. Now video games are more advanced as they are easily found online, to play at your own home, or even on the go.

As people started to understand the game and became motivated to beat it. Competitions started in 1972, with the first video game competition at Stanford University for the game Space War. There were 24 competitors to win the gaming championship.

As this competition grew in popularity,  more schools started to organize such events. This was the beginning of the known golden age of gamers, and how Esports began. In the 2000s e sports started to gain more popularity. More people became interested in competitions with other schools. 

The main reason for why Esports took a major spark in the 2000s is that accessibility became a lot easier for everyone. Because of easier access to technology, it created a more prominent space for the culture. You can play video games now whenever and wherever you want. In 2012 it expanded to not just colleges,  but also middle schools and high school  competitions worldwide.

Esports became a staple club in a lot of high schools. Fremont’s e sports club has taken in a lot of members that have an interest in video games, and competitive events. In Fremont Esports, they compete with schools such as Roy, Weber Innovations , and Weber High on a regular basis. The students seem to enjoy the competition and have an exciting time.

Esports games available in Weber School District are Mario Kart, Smash bros, Rocket league, and League of Legends, and they are continually working on getting more approved games to expand their club. As it is a high school team, some games are exempted from options for the students due to excessive violence or mature content. Fremont’s team  seemed to enjoy the options that they had, but had a few suggestions for future options.

Dylan King, who is a junior, said his favorite thing about Esports is the chill and laid back environment. Video gaming during competitions can become stressful. This is why having a laid back environment is important while having tense members.

 Ike Woodbury, who is a junior, says “Everybody is nice to each other and we just have fun playing video games.” Although there is a decent selection of competitive games for now. The team reflects that a lot of them get repetitive at times, and some club members want to try out new options. Some games that Esport students stated they wish they had are, Overwatch, Rainbow 6 Siege, Call of Duty, and Apex Legends. However, new game approval involves a long process through the district.

Esports is a club that has shaped the culture that we have today. As technology advances, video games become a lot more accessible and intricate. Video games have shaped the community we have today as a newer style of competition and sport.