ESports

We are committed to a holistic approach to gaming and Esports. That’s why we have incorporated Esports into our existing Computer Information Science programs. We hope that in addition to enjoying the competitive realm of Esports, our students will graduate prepared for careers in technologies, like video game design and development, virtual reality, and computer animation.

We joined the National Association of Collegiate eSports (NACE), which currently includes more than 150 institutions nationally, and encourage you to explore our new program and consider following an eSports path.

A newer professional sport, Esports involves video gaming leagues and teams that compete in organized, multiplayer video game competitions. They often feature games that have risen in the era of streaming internet and include Fortnite, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, Overwatch and Madden NFL. 

Though gamers are not a new phenomenon, the rise of professional gamers in the past ten years has popularized the industry internationally. It’s now a billion dollar industry that has game developers sponsoring events, players, and crafting games specifically for tournaments.

To join the team, start by filling out an Esports questionnaire. We will then invite you to our Discord server to play games with our teams. After a few games, we will offer feedback on our experience playing with you, including on personality, where there’s room for improvement, and on your game knowledge and skill. To maintain good standing in our Esports program, students must have at least a 2.5 GPA.

Once accepted, students will receive personalized and team coaching, homework assignments for practice, tournament, and scrims. They will also receive custom equipment on which to practice, which can be special ordered, and support for streaming and growing their channel by partnering with Barry’s team. Experienced players may be eligible to join the junior varsity team once it is created or act as a sub. Practice hours are set by each team, each semester, based on the availability of the players.

We are making news! Channel 7 News has highlighted our eSports program and its student-athletes, who work tirelessly to improve their skills- while juggling classwork and practice. The program, which brings a fresh take to college athletics, incorporates eSports into our existing Computer Information Science curriculum. 

Since 2018, close to $20 million in esports scholarships have been awarded throughout the country, proving that demand is growing for this fun, challenging, and competitive sport.

Barry not only has a Buccaneer Esports team, it has a brand new, state-of-the-art facility dedicated to gaming that opened in October 2019.

Our Esports Arena will allow our team to compete in multiplayer games at the highest levels.

Barry’s Esports Arena includes 20-top tier gaming machines with I7 processors, 2080 super graphics cards, and 240hz 1ms response time monitors. There is a dedicated fiber optic internet line for the room, RGB mechanical Corsair gaming keyboards and mice, Buc brand gaming chairs, and HyperX Cloud Alpha headsets.

Barry partners with the gaming club and local sponsors to host Esports tournaments throughout the year at our arena, such as with our campus recreation and wellness office to host student tournaments for Fifa and NBA2K.