Students with a passion for video games got to network and get a head start on their e-sports careers at a recent symposium.
The event at the Esports Arena on Nov. 12 saw a panel of four industry professionals share their expertise.
The discussion gave students the opportunity to ask questions about the business.
Participants were also given an exclusive tour of the arena and they were able to test out equipment.
Afterwards, they had a sit-down lunch where students were able to network and have deeper conversations about the business and their favourite video games.
There are a variety of jobs in the e-sports industry and, in 2020, more than 21,000 people had careers in this field in Canada.
The Esports Arena at Durham College opened in 2019. Computer Systems and Networking professor Michael Cameron was one of the guests at the symposium.
He is also the creator of the arena.
“I pitched it in the hallway to the then-president Donald Lovisa. We had some meetings, came over the budget, and then it started rolling from there,” he said.
With streaming came new opportunities and he was able to open it.
“I used my clout as a streamer with Twitch to help make all this happen as well,” said Cameron
Other panelists at the symposium included music composer Felix Arifin, marketing consultant at Play VS, Francisco Tejada, and e-sports manager Chris Lamarucciola.
The symposium, the second of its kind, saw many students networking with industry professionals.
E-sports is an industry that continues to grow. In 2024, the Canadian e-sports market reported 80.2 million dollars in revenue, according to GlobalData.
This is a 12.8 per cent growth from 2019-2024.
Standing out in the industry is difficult for graduates. The symposium let students learn from those who have made it.
Staff organized this year’s event, which was the second of its kind. One of those involved was Owen Goode, a second-year Marketing student and e-sports employee.
He says the e-sports arena fosters community.
“It’s a very easy place to make friends. Just talk with other people about common interests,” he said.
Cameron, who is also a streamer on Twitch, says e-sports helps him engage with his students.
“Being in the loop on that I have better connect with my students,” he said. “I can talk about what’s going on.”
He said he has the language of three generations and is able to chat with them about their favourite games.