As the varsity season starts winding down and the spring sunlight illuminates the Courtyard fountain again, one could think that there are no more sports to spectate, or even compete in. However, reality lies miles away from a sport-less society; in fact, the most competitive sporting endeavour is a year-round marathon. This sport started  almost a century ago in a predecessor to the modern computer — a simplistic machine that only played tic-tac-toe, and then pong. From such humble beginnings did esports (electronic sports) arise. Even better than the origin story of this worldwide phenomenon is the fact that you — yes, even a sport-averse UBCO student like you — can have the grandest of times. 

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Before you figure out the esport you will try to enjoy, you first have to ask yourself a crucial question. Otherwise, you will be like a chihuahua stuck in the Himalayas; sure, you might be able to survive a couple of days, but it will not be a fun experience. Do you like working in a team? This is extremely important to know, because the last thing you want when pursuing a passion is to feel stuck in an environment where you are constantly stressed. If you like teamwork, games like League of Legends, Rocket League (though this one you can also rank alone), Valorant, Counter-Strike, and Overwatch might be the move for you. They pretty much require cooperation to consistently win, or at least to avoid losing and raging all the time. 

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On the other hand, if group projects have left you scarred and bordering on misanthropy, perhaps it is better for you to engage in esports where the risk and reward is solely contingent on yourself, or at least where you can solely account for more of the final result. While it could be argued that a good enough player could influence the results in the previously-mentioned games on their own, you would be in a position similar to the best players in baseball, football or basketball: even if you have 2 home runs, or 3 goals, or score a 30 point triple-double, you can still lose. Quite frankly, it is a frustrating predicament, so keep in mind this fair warning of what awaits you if you decide to go down the team-based route. 

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If you are committed to playing alone, I certainly hope you enjoy sports or fighting games, for they are the two main categories where solo esports occur. Games like Fifa, Madden, Gran Turismo, F1, StarCraft, Tekken, Forza, Street Fighter, NBA 2k, NHL, and even Fortnite are some of your options. These are the biggest by competitive pool and interest, though even smaller games are bound to have a competitive community that you can find a couple of clicks away. In these games, you can truly foster your skills and competitive spirit alone, which is very alluring in itself. It is akin to tending your own garden from fledgling seedlings to an impressive display of nature, though instead of a sickle or tractor, your creativity is displayed through your skillful execution of gamesmanship.

Regardless of whether you want to practise individual or team-based esports, a great community to start with is the UBCO Esports Association here on campus. They have a Discord server and an Instagram page, through which you can stay informed of their latest events, and also (and perhaps more importantly) connect with other esport aficionados of all kinds. Therefore, it is a valuable resource, with anything ranging from answering questions about video games to finding others to queue up with in your newfound passion. Hell, you might even find a couple of friends while you are at it. So, make sure to pay them a visit and to keep caffeinated — even without esports, at the rate the semester is going, I am certain everyone can use a coffee.

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