The Collegiate Center for Esports is hoping to break the stigma on desktop and mobile gaming in the country with the establishment of the first tournament for college esports.
Recognizing the rise of the esports industry, CCE wanted to create an organized environment for student-gamers where they could have the opportunity to study while doing their passion for Esports.
“Naisip namin na kailangan nating iorganize itong bagong sport na ito sa lahat, kasi ang esports noon walang nag organize. So kami dito sa CCE, kami yung unang nagorganize ng isang team para maging legitimate sila,” said CCE finance head Stanley Lao in a press conference on Thursday.
The 10 participating schools from the NCAA, namely, Arellano University, De La Salle-College of St. Benilde (CSB), San Beda University, Mapua University, University of Perpetual Help – DALTA, San Sebastian College, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Jose Rizal University, Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Lyceum of the Philippines University are offering scholarships to its collegiate esports players.
CCE president Edwin Chiong believed that this initiative would correct the negative perception about esports.
“Sa ngayon ang tingin ng parents ang esport is demonic violent and all that negative sa tingin ng mga tao, we are here now to transform yung mga ganung pananaw ng mga magulang,” said Chiong.
“Ang esports hindi naman masama, nakakatulong pa sa mga bata especially ngayon nareregulate na hindi na bara-bara yun talaga ang goal ng CCE kaya naming binuo,” added Lao.
Aside from providing an environment for college esports players, CCE is also planning to uphold professionalism and right conduct of players as it tries to veer away from the usual ‘trash talk’ culture in esports.
“We have rules of conduct that we have to follow so one of the things na we look for is yung profanity and hate speech so this falls under yung trashtalkan so kapag may trashtalk na nangyayari meron tayong mga penalties,” CCE project manager Kirs Montales explained
“Guided tayo, ‘yun yung kagandahan nito eh dati kasi walang nagiguide, bahala sila mag away minsan nagsusuntukan pa sa labas. Ngayon guided to nasa magandang environment sila, sabay maglaro at mag aral,” Lao added.
CCE will have its first major event when basketball players from the 10 participating schools test their mettle in the Land of Dawn in the Mobile Legends Varsity Cup which is set to kick off on November 10.