ESports are organized, competitive video game events, including leagues and tournaments, where professional or amateur players compete individually or in teams. They have the chance to play for many different prizes. ESports attracts a large spectator audience, similar to Bismarck High School’s football stands.
BHS’s eSports is run by Ben Paulson, the technology service leader here at Bismarck High School. Meeting Monday through Thursday, 3:45-5:30, Paulson prepares his team for the BSC Winter Bash, the Minot State eSports Tournament, and the Midwest region of the PlayVS league. “The titles that we play depend on teamwork,” Paulson said, emphasizing the importance of working together in the eSports world. To decide who holds which role in the games, eSports allows time for each player to find the role that best suits them.
“We compete in Rocket League and League of Legends.” Paulson says, “we hope to add Smash Bros soon.” Playing as teams of three or five, these gamers work on communication to help progress in the games.
League of Legends, the number one eSports game in the world, is a multiplayer online battle arena video game developed and published by Riot Games. Inspired by Defense of the Ancients, a custom map for Warcraft III, Riot’s founders sought to develop a stand-alone game in the same genre. Last year, the BHS eSports team only missed the end-of-the-year tournament for League of Legends by one loss. This year, they are hopeful to make the tournament.
Rocket League, a fast-paced, arcade-style vehicular soccer video game where players use rocket-powered cars to hit a giant ball into the opposing team’s goal, is BHS’s leading game. “Last year, we won the Rocket League championship at the BSC Winter Bash and took 2nd at a Minot State Tournament,” Paulson said, sharing BHS’s eSports success. “I hope we can win both this year.”
ESports is available to all BHS students and is actively welcoming students. Ben Paulson, BHS’s technology person, advises the group of Esport athletes. Students can join by stopping into the library and consulting Paulson.
