Overwatch Funny Moments With My Luck
by | Nov 13, 2020, 7:00AM PDT
Greetings, everyone!
This is Renanthera, Head Coach for UCI Esports' Overwatch team, and today I am here to personally announce our competitive roster for the 2020-2021 collegiate season.
Last year, UCI Esports was one of two collegiate teams to make Open Division playoffs for the first time ever. We were semi-finalists (or top 4) in Tespa's Championship Series. And we did all that with a roster primarily composed of rookies.
This year, we could not be more excited to work with our team composed of some hungry tenacious veterans and new frighteningly talented fresh faces. You may recognize a few of our players from the competitive ladder, maybe from some streams, but we want you all to keep an eye on them as they fight for UCI and that end-of-season trophy.
So let's meet the players!
First up, Stadium, PG1, and Ago are our reliable and experienced tanks who will be leading us on the battlefield. Our tanks last year were arguably our brightest spot, and we've clinched so many important games and series off the back of 4-man shatters, a crucial Matrix eat, or a perfectly executed Sigma Flux.
With Stadium and Ago returning, we keep that mechanical playmaking and clutch-factor while PG1 will be compounding on this strength and lending us even greater depth. No matter what the meta may be—may it call for a genius hamster piloting a war-machine or an astrophysicist gone mad—we will always have the direction we seek with these three players.
Next up, Fade and Danichee make up our inseparable DPS duo, both in and out of game. They became fast friends last year, and with their joined hero pool coverage, excellent synergy, individual aim, and game sense, they won us over again this year. Sometimes, coaches just want to see that our opponents will die over, and over, and over, and over, and over again. These two do that really well, may it be with a bullet (or several), an arrow, a rocket, or even an icicle.
And lastly, our supports: Helljudge, Saffrona, and KapGod. A lot of teams will settle for supports that heal and execute the bare minimum. They make a few calls, and they stay alive. Well, every explorer has a compass; every team has a backbone. But every conqueror carries a weapon, and every champion has an ace up their sleeve. Most supports will make sure we don't get lost and that we keep getting back up—but ours also make sure that our enemies don't.
Our student athletes are amongst the best in the world, and we want to showcase their skills, abilities, and hard work this season. Here at UCI, we are so blessed and privileged to be able to work with such an abundance of talented, motivated, and skilled players each and every year. We take pride in being the first public university to create an official esports program. We have continued to defend our title as the premier esports program on the West Coast and remain the team to beat. You cannot have a conversation about the best esports collegiate programs or teams without us.
Despite a world that has changed drastically over the past year, UCI Esports is equipped, we are prepared, and we will always remain the team to believe in.
Latest Stories
by Ronald Ly | Nov 2, 2021, 7:37PM PDT
The UCI Esports program formally announces our League of Legends scholarship team rosters today in anticipation of the College League of Legends (CLOL) national championship, coming off the heels of the team's victory in the RSAA Fall Warmup as the Shurima Division champions.
Your Irvine anteaters are a formidable team, composed of several challenger players, many promising new additions, and a lively spirit coming into this year reinvigorated to fight for the trophy once again, last hoisted by the team in 2018.
Today, we proudly unveil our official varsity and junior varsity rosters for the year of 2021-22.
Varsity
Top – Erik "Berik" Kim
Jungle – Duong "Duong Pro" Tran
Mid – Ben "Cinnamon Bread" Chang
Bot – John "Sahori" Vu
Support – Ethan "Kim Down" Song
Junior Varsity:
Top – Dylan "Dongha" Chen
Jungle – Lan jie "TacoVaco" Tsai
Mid – Danny "Somesort" Yi
Bot – Andrew "Misterdot" Liu
Support – Dylan "dtro18" Tran
"Our return to campus comes paired with new faces and talent. And we have amazing chemistry between the players and rosters, which I think is our strongest asset in contesting the championship this year. Our players are hard-working, resilient and handle adversity together head on. We aim to represent the best that the school has to offer and hope to make the UCI community proud. " – David "Hermes" Tu, League of Legends Head Coach
Our League of Legends teams have been playing in a handful of leagues and tournaments in practice for Riot Games' official first-party North American collegiate circuit, and our Junior Varsity team currently competing in the NACE Starleague JV West Playoffs. Having come together less than 2 months ago, the team is growing quickly, full of promise, and eager to make UCI proud as one of the premier teams in the league, and as the pride of the west coast.
Official CLOL matches will be streamed early next year when competition kicks-off in February of 2022 and local watch parties will commence then for local community members and students to come out in support. For more information on our teams, follow our social medias to keep up with the action on and off Summoner's Rift.
Latest Stories
by Mark Deppe | Oct 19, 2021, 3:06PM PDT
Greetings from UCI Esports,
We have been incredibly fortunate to have phenomenal people walk through our doors and contribute to the creation of our program. As we begin our sixth year, we want to thank the following folks who have left us in the past year, and acknowledge their work and legacy.
Jess Acebes: Original student staff, intern, Girls in Gaming camp co-founder, streaming class teacher, NASEF tournament ops, meat lover.
Erik Bleitz: Strategic planning lead, leadership board administrator, marketing guru, main tank, text-based game entrepreneur.
Milo Dodson: Team psychologist, the Milo of Milo meetings, speaker, celebrity, travel buddy and roommate in China.
Samantha Anton: OCHSEL tournament coordinator, NASEF COO, admissions expert, tour guide, emcee, kombucha advocate, mortal enemy of all Scorpios.
Hillary Phan: Player Support Coordinator, Intern, Girls in Gaming camp co-founder, multi-award winning Animal Crossing island designer, bean.
Damian Rosiak: Original Arena Supervisor, intern, streaming lead, special projects coordinator, Smash Ultimate overseer, NHL tournament overlord, Breakaway world champion.
Kathy Chiang: Fastest typist on the west coast, original Arena Coordinator, TAG founder, role model, collegiate leader, mentor, friend, cat mom.
As we close our chapters with these superstars, we are making a few changes to our current team.
Ronald Ly is transitioning from Overwatch Head Coach to Acting Assistant Director.
"To my mentors and colleagues that have taught, inspired, and encouraged me these last 3 years, know that it has been a privilege to cross paths with such inspiring teammates. Our program has been enriched and made strong by your work, and I'm excited to see what we'll all accomplish in the future, whether it be at UCI Esports, elsewhere, or beyond."
- Ronald "Renanthera" Ly
Michael Kuhns has moved from Assistant Coach to Head Coach of Overwatch to replace Ronald.
"I am excited to take on this new role and to lead our Overwatch team heading into the new year. We have the most talent we have ever had and I am excited for our future."
- Michael "The" Kuhns
In other positive news, UCI leadership is ramping up support for esports and we will have several full-time and part-time jobs available in the coming months. We will be looking for the next generation of hard carries for our small, but mighty, department.
We just opened up the Arena Coordinator Position which will be filled in the coming weeks. Additionally, we are planning to hire an Assistant Director, a Communications Manager, and two part-time assistant coaches in the next six months.
We will miss all of our colleagues who have left and will cheer them on in their next adventures. Please join us in thanking our departed staff and stay tuned for some of the exciting things coming soon.
Mark Deppe
Director, UCI Esports
Latest Stories
by Michael Kuhns | Oct 2, 2021, 2:42PM PDT
Today, UCI Esports is proud to announce our collegiate scholarship team to the public. After an arduous deliberation process, our varsity team this year is composed of 11 members, some old, some new, to play for us in Activision Blizzard's official collegiate circuit.
Formally unveiling the roster for this year, the UCI Esports Overwatch team is composed of:
Tank: Arthur "Mashiro" Tang, Phillip "PG1" Rodriguez, and Sean "Románi" Cook.
DPS: Jonathan "Light" Chao, Eugene "Dash" Tai, Juanwei "Fade" Hu, and Michael "Excal" Kim
Support: Mitsutoshi "Supreme" Sato, Tianyi "Helljudge" Chen, Victoria "Saffrona" Winn, and Bruno "KapGod" Moebest.
Overwatch games start October 1st, as UCI Esports begins the Overwatch Collegiate Homecoming 2021 preseason.
"This year's team is one of mixed experiences, perspectives, and diversities. Some players have played professionally, others have come from high school scouting grounds, some are pick-ups straight from the competitive ladder. But every player has been ranked amongst the top 500 in North America, every player here has had some sort of overachiever, leader, or exemplar. Our team this year has been the best it has ever been, and we're really excited to show the world how deep their potential goes. We want to make our community proud, so please follow us on our journeys, watch, and root for us as we compete." – Ronald Ly, Player Support Coordinator
Latest Stories
by Kathy Chiang | Jun 18, 2021, 12:00PM PDT
At UCI Esports, we are most proud of our students who enter our university curious, motivated, and ready for their new chapter. In our short time together, we are honored to provide mentorship and watch them learn and grow before they are sent out into the world.
While we are not able to cheer them on in person as they cross the commencement stage, we offer this tribute to the incredible Anteaters who have generously shared their special gifts with us.
Please join us in congratulating our graduating seniors as they level up and prepare for their next adventure!
Arena Staff
Yonael Taye
I have met few people as charismatic as Yonael, who has always been one of the most supportive and encouraging members of our stellar team of arena staff! I remain impressed and inspired by his involvement and passion in his various campus communities, from hip-hop dance to gaming. I know with confidence that no matter where he's headed, he'll leave a trail of friendships and positive energy.
Kathy Chiang
Marcus Wong
It's been a pleasure to get to know Marcus through his involvement in our arena, the VR club, and the fighting game community. I admire his knack for coming up with creative solutions and working with technology, helping him stand out while making all of our lives a bit easier. I look forward to witnessing more of his innovations and the mark he will leave on his various communities as he moves on to his next adventure!
Kathy Chiang
Tony Wu
Who doesn't love Tony? Even when he could be considered a newcomer to our staff team, he was always looking for ways to help and improve the experience of our visitors and other team members. As more staff joined our ranks, Tony was constantly recognized as a terrific role model, demonstrating a certain leadership style that resonated well with everyone in the Esports family. I'll never forget the dedication and care with which he works, and I'm sure he will be successful wherever he lands.
Kathy Chiang
Casters
Spencer Kammerman
Spencer was one of the most energetic casters the program has ever had the pleasure of working with. His knowledge of the professional and collegiate League of Legends scene gave everyone of his casts a professional look and feel. On top of that, his memes and jokes made every viewer omegalul in chat. The value he brought to each stream will not be forgotten and I hope to see Spencer casting in the big leagues one day if he so chooses.
Damian Rosiak
Michelle Tran
Michelle consistently brought great analysis about the meta in overwatch to our streams. Her friendship with the other casters brought a friendly tone to each stream that all spectators took note of. It's safe to say that she had a huge impact on our stream team over the years and we wish her all the best of luck in her future endeavors.
Damian Rosiak
Interns
Nick Gasparyan — Digital Marketing
Few have given as much to the program as Nick has. Since the beginning, Nick has helped shape the foundation for the program's media presence and branding. Fulfilling a myriad of roles, Nick took his vision for the program and led us with his endless well of passion and ambition. Always willing to go above and beyond, we're so grateful to Nick and his years of dedication. The growth he's shown here is only the beginning of his adventure, and I eagerly await news of his next accomplishments.
Hillary Phan
Vivian (Vi) Lam — Social Media
It's difficult to name someone more driven than Vi. With her wealth of experience and go-getter attitude, Vi helped us keep afloat on our social media during our fully remote school year. She's a natural at staying organized and professional, and it's been a pleasure watching her grow from arena staff member to accomplished intern. She's always hungry for improvement, be it in her work or the many creative hobbies she's got in her back pocket. We appreciate all she's done for us and will always be cheering her on.
Hillary Phan
Allison Le — Team Manager
Allison appeared right as we needed a new team manager in October 2018 and quickly blew us away with her leadership and drive. She quickly became an indispensable part of the team, streamlining workflows and solving problems before they arose. Allison is a consistent source of good cheer in the arena, breaking out into song or cracking a joke. It's been an honor to work alongside her and watch her develop into the unstoppable force she is today. I'm so proud of her and will miss her dearly, but can't wait to watch her take the world by storm.
Hillary Phan
Anny Tran — Graphic Design
Anny joined us a year ago, dazzling us with her graphic design style and expertise. During a time where we relied on our graphics department more than ever, Anny rose to the challenge and produced flawless designs, supporting us as we adjusted to operating completely online. Our crispy graphics and media are thanks in large part to Anny and her consistently professional quality work. She's a joy to have around, and we'll miss having her on our graphics team. Wherever she lands next will be lucky to have her – congrats!
Hillary Phan
Yigu Yu and William Poon — Partnerships
Yigu and William came to us in the spring of 2020, looking to help our program and get additional esports experience. As we shut down for COVID, they did an incredible amount of work analyzing arena use, building out our sponsor relation strategy, and building out additional products for the program. They brought energy, initiative, professionalism, and warm personalities to the role. They will leave a lasting legacy and we could not be more thankful for their time with us.
Mark Deppe
Scholarship Players
Youngbin Chung — League of Legends
Youngbin's graduation is incredibly meaningful to our program. Arriving at UCI in the fall of 2016, he was one of our original recruits. He grew from a talented athlete to an incredible student, leader, and mentor. It has been such a pleasure to watch him grow competitively, academically, and personally over the past five years. He has taught me an incredible amount and I am eternally thankful for his contributions and friendship.
Mark Deppe
Daniel Mishkanian — Overwatch
We're going to miss Dani! In many ways, he was the heart and soul of our Overwatch team. He led by example, grinding out solo queue, and keeping up with Overwatch, even when it wasn't fun. His energy and humor motivated his teammates and coaches and we're very sad to see him go. He was the foundation of a wonderful team culture and we are so thankful for his contributions. I can't wait to see what he does next.
Mark Deppe
Evan Phu — League of Legends
Evan joined our JV team in 2016 during his first year and quickly made a name for himself in the top lane. In his sophomore year, he stepped into a starting role for the varsity team and quickly became a star. His growth – from inexperienced rookie to a dominant force – is a major reason why we won the 2018 LoL championship. Aside from competing, Evan was a stellar student with a great sense of humor. We're going to miss seeing him on campus and in the arena.
Mark Deppe
Sean Uehara — League of Legends
Sean was an awesome member of the League team and a great contributor to our program overall. Not only was he a dominant mid Rumble, he was an excellent student and helped tutor teammates and other UCI students. After hearing about a time-intensive data challenge, he wrote up a script to automate the process and saved many hours of staff time. Despite all his talents, he remained friendly and humble. He's got a great future in front of him.
Mark Deppe
Latest Stories
by Ronald Ly | May 7, 2021, 7:00AM PDT
College League of Legends
The UCI Esports League of Legends team ended their 2021 collegiate season early with a 4-2 record in the regular season, unable to qualify for the Western Conference Playoffs.
This year's Western Conference consisted of 49 collegiate teams, with the top two teams qualifying for the national championship.
UCI Esports fell to 5th seed Cal State Fullerton during week 3 of the six-week regular season and to 1st seed University of British Columbia during week 6. This marks UCI Esports' first time not qualifying for the Western Conference playoffs since 2016.
The League of Legends roster underwent a significant overhaul this year, bidding farewell to graduating players Avi Behar and Jeffrey Du and welcoming four new rookies.
"We're going through a building year right now," stated David "Hermes" Tu, head coach of League of Legends. "There are big shoes left to fill considering the legacy we have here at UCI. But I'm confident that with our rookies gaining more experience, we can reclaim the throne as leaders in the Western Conference."
UCI's League of Legends team will continue to develop its new talent for the remainder of the 2021 academic year. After the season, they recently competed in the Upsurge Premier League against rival collegiate teams Maryville University and the University of Texas, Dallas.
Overwatch Collegiate Championship
On April 10th and 11th of this year, the UCI Esports Overwatch team ended their 2021 competitive season, finishing strong in the top 4, making it to the semifinals.
The Overwatch Collegiate Championship is Activision Blizzard's official tournament circuit designed and purposed for college teams to compete against each other through a multi-layered tournament spanning the academic year.
In 2021, the tournament had a whopping 304 teams, 2500+ players, and 227 unique schools across the United States and Canada duking it out for their slice of the $48,000 scholarship prize and recognition as the best in North America.
Our team practiced, studied, and competed fiercely from start to end, leaving national swiss with an impressive score of 9-1 and seeding 6th nationally.
During the playoffs, UCI Esports bested 27th seed GMU, 11th seed Boise State, and 3rd seed Bellevue University on their way to the top, meeting 2nd seed Maryville University in the semifinals. Maryville would proceed to play in the finals against Northwood University and win, cementing themselves as the champions of this year.
Concerning the team, their performance, and the season as a whole, this is what UCI Esports' coaches had to say.
I am so privileged to have been able to work alongside such hardworking and tenacious student-athletes. Our players this year truly gave it their best, their hearts were truly in the game and with each other, and that's all we ask for. With a sample of victory, our team was so close to the precipice, and they're hungry to give it another go next year with renewed confidence and the solid foundation we've built this year.
Ronald "Renanthera" Ly
I'm incredibly proud of our players for the resilience they've shown throughout the season. Like any other team this year, life has thrown a lot at us, and we've persevered to be able to deal with it and still push towards being a top collegiate team. I'm thankful for all of their hard work and especially the environment they all help to create. I look forward to every practice and match knowing we're all in it together and propping each other up to succeed as a team.
Michael "The" Kuhns
UCI Esports closed out the season as the #1 school on the West Coast and 3rd-4th across all of North America.
Final Words
Regarding the program's competitive year as a whole, we asked our director for a few words.
I am very proud of the program and our work during this very strange year. All of our coaches have worked tirelessly this year to cultivate a community and a culture focused on caring for one another, playing for their teams, and making those connections palpable despite the global pandemic. Our League of Legends team has gone through a tough rebuilding year, and we've crafted a strong foundation for the next. Our Overwatch team ended the best in the west, but I know our players and staff aren't going to be satisfied with just that either. We're already planning and plotting for what comes next, and it's beautiful to see the teams already hard at work preparing for success next year.
Mark Deppe
Latest Stories
by Ronald Ly | Mar 30, 2021, 12:00PM PDT
Esports can still be considered a young and fledgling global industry. At UCI, we understand the necessity of building cross-cultural tools to address problems of inclusion, communication, and cultural diversity.
On January 27, 2021, UCI International Center, UCI Esports, and Gen.G Global Academy partnered up to run their first International Gamer's Language Workshop. We welcomed 57 registrants in addition to dozens of Gen.G students watching together from their classrooms overseas.
This workshop welcomed students and players from across the globe to share perspectives from their experiences both online and offline in relation to esports. Participants learned Korean, Mandarin, and English terminology from games like League of Legends and Overwatch, engaged with professional coaches and student athletes in a Q&A panel, and learned from each other at this unique international networking opportunity.
Attendees worked together to create a "gamer's dictionary" — defining, translating, and quizzing each other on various words and phrases to bridge a cultural gap together during this 2-hour event.
By the end of the night, it was evident from coaches, students, and panelists that diversity is key to both education and competitive performance. May it be through language, skills, or new perspectives, the International Gamer's Language Workshop showed us that we all have more to gain by working together than apart.
Latest Stories
by Ronald Ly | Nov 13, 2020, 7:00AM PDT
Greetings, everyone!
This is Renanthera, Head Coach for UCI Esports' Overwatch team, and today I am here to personally announce our competitive roster for the 2020-2021 collegiate season.
Last year, UCI Esports was one of two collegiate teams to make Open Division playoffs for the first time ever. We were semi-finalists (or top 4) in Tespa's Championship Series. And we did all that with a roster primarily composed of rookies.
This year, we could not be more excited to work with our team composed of some hungry tenacious veterans and new frighteningly talented fresh faces. You may recognize a few of our players from the competitive ladder, maybe from some streams, but we want you all to keep an eye on them as they fight for UCI and that end-of-season trophy.
So let's meet the players!
First up, Stadium, PG1, and Ago are our reliable and experienced tanks who will be leading us on the battlefield. Our tanks last year were arguably our brightest spot, and we've clinched so many important games and series off the back of 4-man shatters, a crucial Matrix eat, or a perfectly executed Sigma Flux.
With Stadium and Ago returning, we keep that mechanical playmaking and clutch-factor while PG1 will be compounding on this strength and lending us even greater depth. No matter what the meta may be—may it call for a genius hamster piloting a war-machine or an astrophysicist gone mad—we will always have the direction we seek with these three players.
Next up, Fade and Danichee make up our inseparable DPS duo, both in and out of game. They became fast friends last year, and with their joined hero pool coverage, excellent synergy, individual aim, and game sense, they won us over again this year. Sometimes, coaches just want to see that our opponents will die over, and over, and over, and over, and over again. These two do that really well, may it be with a bullet (or several), an arrow, a rocket, or even an icicle.
And lastly, our supports: Helljudge, Saffrona, and KapGod. A lot of teams will settle for supports that heal and execute the bare minimum. They make a few calls, and they stay alive. Well, every explorer has a compass; every team has a backbone. But every conqueror carries a weapon, and every champion has an ace up their sleeve. Most supports will make sure we don't get lost and that we keep getting back up—but ours also make sure that our enemies don't.
Our student athletes are amongst the best in the world, and we want to showcase their skills, abilities, and hard work this season. Here at UCI, we are so blessed and privileged to be able to work with such an abundance of talented, motivated, and skilled players each and every year. We take pride in being the first public university to create an official esports program. We have continued to defend our title as the premier esports program on the West Coast and remain the team to beat. You cannot have a conversation about the best esports collegiate programs or teams without us.
Despite a world that has changed drastically over the past year, UCI Esports is equipped, we are prepared, and we will always remain the team to believe in.
Latest Stories
by Akil Fletcher | Sep 24, 2020, 7:30AM PDT
Years from now when people ask "where were you in 2020?" I will respond, "online, and I hated every second of it."
2020 was a year filled with strife and changes, as many of the country's issues were placed under the microscope of the COVID-19 pandemic. We were made privy to the fragility of our healthcare system, made to grapple with the mistreatment of our workers, and we saw just how little our government was ready to deal with the unseen threat of a virus. As buildings and campuses became unsafe for congregations, schools and businesses quickly transitioned from physical interaction to remote operations, trading desks for couches, and cubicles for bedrooms. As an academic I soon saw myself writing grants, hosting calls, and meeting with colleagues all through the screen of my computer. Just like that my and many other lives became mediated through digital platforms.
But then came May and the US caught fire as major cities around America erupted in protest after Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin placed his knee on the neck of George Perry Floyd Jr. for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, killing him on camera. The act was such a clear show of police misconduct and brutality that not only did protest emerge in Minneapolis but in cities like Los Angeles and New York. People across America took to the streets to protest what was a vile and malicious act of policing and unfortunately (and ironically) were subsequently met with the very force they went out there to speak against. Agitations flared, peaceful protest turned into physical confrontation, and long-ignored anger and sorrow became the fuel for the flames which burned signs, buildings, and coincidentally an NYPD van.
Yet, still, for many, the most heated moments of the protest were not experienced in person but rather were witnessed second hand through their television or through social media online. As the protest raged on, Twitter threads became battlegrounds, YouTube videos spun narratives, and the internet yet again became the hotbed for information and dialogue around the events many were experiencing. With #BlackLivesMatter trending yet again in response to the death of ANOTHER Black person at the hands of the police, the online blurred yet again with the physical. So much so, that social media became the key place where I, a Black man, kept up with the news, contacted friends and family who were near protest areas, and was made to relive the trauma of watching Floyd lose his life again and again as it was shared on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter both as both a form of awareness and as jokes from those craven enough to mock a man posthumously. And, while I donated to BLM initiatives, honked my horn in-vehicle protest, and showed up physically where I could, I—like so many—experienced the brunt of this protest online.
So, it should not come as a surprise when I say that it was not in person or even on Twitter where I got into my harshest debates, but instead, it was within video games like Overwatch and League of Legends where I found the most abuse. In fact, it was gaming spaces like these that became the hardest to occupy during the time of the protest. In an attempt to find some semblance of peace while the world burned, I decided to turn on Overwatch (a hero first-person shooter from the company Blizzard) to try to take the edge off. After some time, I was eventually placed with 11 other players and dropped into a starting zone to wait. However, instead of the typical banter of roles and positions, I was met with a "hello my fellow African Americans, let's go burn and loot some stores because BLACK LIVES MATTER!" from one of my teammates. Reminded that video games seldom work as escapism for black people, I contemplated whether to let the comment go or to make a scene. I chose the latter.
I responded with "do you think that's funny?" which prompted him to say "of course! Because they should not be out there at all, because ALL LIVES MATTER!" and quickly an argument ensued. Shouting in a way I am not all too proud of, I went back and forth with the player, I shouted the names of those killed—George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin—only to have him respond with conspiracies like the FBI started BLM and comments like "slavery didn't matter." It didn't take long for our remaining teammates to mute us with one going as far as to exclaim, "I don't play this for politics." In hindsight I think I would have been better off ignoring the troll—I must admit I was perturbed, livid in fact. Livid that a player used the game as his platform for racism and livid at the apathy of the other players viewing the deaths of Black men and women as simple politics. While the game's very company (Blizzard) was tweeting in support of Black Lives, its players continued to disparage them. With each engagement I grew colder and angrier, each bout of racism striking deeper than the last until eventually, I arrived at simply telling people to shut the… well you can finish the rest.
Unfortunately, what I experienced is nothing new, as scholars such as Kishonna Gray, Andre Brock, Anna Everett, Samantha Blackmon, TreaAndrea Russworm, and many others have written extensively on the experiences of Black players similar to my own. However, as more and more games become spaces for online interaction, I and many others are yet again forced to acknowledge that games and the many who play them are not always aware of the struggles non-white gamers may go through. But, in writing this piece and sharing my experience I do not want this to come off as an accusation of gamers and gaming practices (there are other avenues for such), but instead as an opportunity to engage with perspectives that have been ignored or overlooked.
As many of us face yet another crisis in our communities, where Black life is threatened for simply existing (under the blanket of COVID no less), it is important to remember that games, as peripheral as they may seem, work as powerful sites of cultural creation and expression. I could not escape my pain through games because the same rhetoric, behavior, and trauma that took place in the physical informed and shaped the virtual. That is why this piece is less of an accusation and simply a call to action.
In a time where Black players face constant racial abuse both inside and outside of games, I propose that gamers engage with the history of this country and the writings of Black scholars, activists, and people. In wanting to see a healthier gaming community, I have curated a list of books, short readings, and articles to read in hopes that gamers and the gaming community at large will pick up the call and accept this challenge. While by no means extensive, the list provided will offer introductory reading to familiarize oneself with Black history in the US and the Black experience in areas such as school, healthcare, and most apropos, online spaces. While seemingly unrelated, there is much to be gained by engaging with past and current writers, and only when we have an informed gaming population can we hope to see change.
If you would like to join in on discussing any of the readings from Akil Fletcher's list, you are welcome to the UCI Esports Discord server's #book-club channel.
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by Akil Fletcher | Jan 1, 1970, 12:00AM PDT
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Source: https://esports.uci.edu/tag/overwatch/
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