April 24, 2024
Ferris State’s professional esports production students, faculty monitoring industry’s growth and changes to plan for careers in the field
The electronic gaming industry is growing rapidly and evolving by the day. Ferris State University students are staying on top of the changes to prepare for careers in competition and design.
Magazines, YouTube features, podcasts and word of mouth keep competitive and social gamers wise on the latest demos and video game launches, as robust growth continues in what is an industry rolling quickly past an annual market value of a quarter-trillion dollars.
Revisions of long-played games and new releases from companies based in the United States, Japan and Europe are carefully reviewed by the Ferris State esports team and the students and faculty of the recently established Professional Esports Production program.
Ferris State has one of the top esports teams in the nation, with the program and players finalists for three national awards last year.
Adam Antor is a coach for esports and an assistant professor in the School of Digital Media who points out some popular games were created when many Ferris esports competitors were reaching school age.
“’League of Legends’ has been around for 15 years, and ‘Call of Duty’ is more than 20 years old, but the series has a new version out every one to two years,” Antor said. “Older versions are not supported by the manufacturer after a number of years and our competitors move along with the changes, as characters’ abilities are enhanced and the challenge of playing grows for them.”
“Rocket League,’ an arcade-style soccer contest is the game that Antor coaches, with 10 participants competing on three teams. Esports competitors are overseen by the university’s eLearning office, while the Esports Production program is in the School of Digital Media, part of the College of Business.
“Most gamers focus their talents on competing in just one game, choosing to compete in “Valorant’ or ‘Overwatch,’ where we have more than 20 team members playing against other colleges,” Antor said. “We are glad these students came here or have dedicated their efforts to have as much success as possible by competing against other Michigan schools, or universities across the country.”
As an instructor, Antor said Ferris’ investment in the Professional Esports Production degree and gaming facilities in the Center for Virtual Learning are an asset to esports competitors and a drawing card for students whose experiences have coming from being ‘gamers’ since their earliest days.
“There are schools who are taking up Esports, in terms of the management of gaming events,” Adam said. “Ferris’ history in Digital Animation and Game Design has helped the gaming industry appreciate and be aware of our ‘place’ in the learning process. Professional Esports Production has a focused curriculum that is not easily matched by other schools. We are proud to have collaborative relationships with leading game producers, who are willing to share their ideas and intentions.”
Sophomore Jacob Haut of Bay City is in his third semester in Ferris’ Professional Esports Production program.
“I became excited about this after I started as a student at Ferris,” Haut said. “I feel the production equipment available to us as part of our curriculum will be of great value in the business.”
Haut said anyone looking for him on campus should probably start in the Center for Virtual Learning.
“My role in Ferris’ Esports program involves making videos of our competitors, participating in their games,” Jacob said. “I am in the arena at least four or five days a week. This was the challenge I was looking for as I became more familiar with Ferris and am very excited by what it has offered me. I am also encouraged by the contacts I am making through working as a staff member or volunteer, which really has helped my get valuable experience.”