By Guy Chapman – Navarro County Gazette
With the 2020 fall semester, Navarro College unveiled its state-of-the-art eSports facility housed inside the Computer Science Building on the Corsicana campus. The new complex utilizes funds donated from Community National Bank and Trust of Texas and the Navarro College Foundation.
Converted from two classrooms, the new eSports complex features competition rooms with the most current gaming equipment available running on liquid cooled 240hz Alienware gaming monitors, shoutcast streaming booths, and a common area with monogrammed chairs where people can come and watch the competition on monitors.
The Corsicana campus will have a NJCAA sponsored competitive collegiate team that will compete in games similar to other athletic teams. Navarro College’s Waxahachie, Midlothian, and Mexia campuses will also have club eSports teams that will compete on a recreational level.
Raven White serves as the Head Coach for the eSports league, and is already leading an impressive start for their competitions. The team is playing competitively in games such as Valorant, Overwatch, Fortnite, Call of Duty, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Competition is serious with dedicated players focusing more on the competitive aspect of gaming. Games are played to win tournaments, with competitors exclusively focusing on their featured titles.
“Our fun come from us improving our techniques,” White said. “I think our strategies are better than the rest of the junior colleges.”
As of 2020, the eSports industry is considered to larger than the movie and music industry combined. The new Corsicana complex will allow Navarro College to be on the forefront of higher education adoption and integration.
For those interested in seeing the eSports league compete, fans are encouraged to visit the Navarro College eSports official Twitch streaming channel, and check for recent updates on the NC eSports Twitter account.