BILLERICA, MA — Massachusetts is one of the first five states to offer its schools early access to a state-sanctioned esports league sponsored by the Massachusetts School Administrators Association (MSAA) and PlayVS, the company building the infrastructure and official platform for high school esports. High school students across Massachusetts already signed up to compete in Season Zero which began this October by visiting PlayVS.com.
Video games have already been introduced as part of the state’s curriculum, but never before have schools been able to offer esports as a sanctioned league.
“At Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School, Kelly Corrigan teaches the skills of computer programming through video game design,” stated Tim Broadrick, Superintendent-Director of Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School. “Last year, she started Shawsheen Tech’s first after-school video game club. Participation exceeded 50 students each afternoon. This year, Corrigan’s students are participating in Season Zero, with both Varsity and JV teams.”
Shawsheen student Vincent Caccamesi is a member of the school’s team, and comments “I’ve never been involved in a sport or any organized after-school programs; it just wasn’t my cup of tea. But this is something I love being a part of and I look forward to it.”
Eric Burdick, who is also a Shawsheen student, shares “I have always been on some type of sports team, pretty much my whole life, and with esports instead of relying on physical strength, it’s more like relying on critical thinking skills. It’s challenging but a great team to be part of!”
“Here in Massachusetts, we are very excited to be one of the early state adopters of esports. We are aware of many students in our schools who find excitement, challenge and friendships through esports,” says Richard L. Pearson, Associate Director of the MSAA. “Having a structured activity for students to gather as a team, working toward a common goal with pride in their school is very important to the overall culture and climate for all students. The students are active in esports already so adding this opportunity to a vibrant school community is a huge plus!”
PlayVS recently announced new game partnerships with Psyonix and Hi-Rez Studios, publishers of Rocket League and SMITE respectively, joining League of Legends by Riot for MSAA/ PlayVS’ Inaugural Season which begins in February 2019. MSAA/PlayVS continue to focus on enhancing students’ experiences by adding popular game titles to attract players who are interested in other game genres. Through these partnerships, students will have unprecedented access to these games as part of their MSAA/PlayVS league participation fee. For example, with free-to-play games, students will receive in-game perks like Champion Unlocked for League of Legends. For paid games, publishers will provide copies of their game to every school competing in their league on the PlayVS platform. This gives students a level playing field as they sharpen their skills throughout the season.
“One of the reasons we’re most excited about esports is accessibility. With League of Legends, and the addition of Rocket League and SMITE, we’re able to take another huge step forward as we open the pathway for more students to compete and be recognized in the burgeoning esports industry,” said PlayVS CEO and founder Delane Parnell.
The lineup of games for the PlayVS platform has been curated to offer a variety of multiplayer, real-time strategy and sports game options that appeal to students with diverse interests within esports. Most importantly, all of these games require critical thinking and teamwork, which are valuable skills students can gain through participation in esports. Unlike traditional sports, joining a MSAA/PlayVS team does not involve tryouts, cuts, or any experience – just the desire to play. The Inaugural Season will begin in February of 2019, and students can sign up on the PlayVS website now.
(NOTE: The above press release is from the Massachusetts School Administrators’ Association.)
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