Gaming

CASE STUDY

Colegio Anglo Español Levels Up Learning with Esports Room and ViewSonic Tech

COMPANY

Founded in 1990, Colegio Anglo Español began in Durango City, Mexico, offering preschool and elementary education. By 2005, the school had expanded to include secondary school, high school, and postgraduate programs – a Master’s in Education and a PhD in Education Sciences.

The focus on professional development continued, with the addition of two Master’s programs in 2019: Organizational Psychology and Administrative Engineering. A Doctorate in Innovation and Organizational Management was also introduced.

Colegio Anglo Español has consistently provided high-quality bilingual academic programs at all levels, from preschool to graduate studies. Their curriculum stays up to date, reflecting the needs of a modernizing world with a focus on economic growth and scientific and technological advancements.

To ensure they meet the evolving needs of both teachers and students, the institution has been investing in upgrading their facilities with technological equipment since 2022.

“The teaching-learning processes need to be constantly updated. That’s why using cutting-edge technological tools from ViewSonic has become an indispensable necessity to keep students engaged and actively acquiring new knowledge.”

— Professor Héctor Enrique Arreola Ibarra, Assistant Principal of Colegio Anglo Español

THE CHALLENGE

Driven by a commitment to continuous improvement and equipping students for global careers, Professor Héctor Enrique Arreola Ibarra, Assistant Principal of Colegio Anglo Español, focused on technological advancements and 21st-century skills development.

He envisioned creating an esports and video game room that would serve as a learning environment. This space would allow students to develop various digital skills, including programming, tailored to their grade level and age.

This initiative aligns with Colegio Anglo Español’s mission to provide students with a well-rounded education that goes beyond traditional academics.

Colegio Anglo Español’s project wasn’t solely focused on the esports room. They also aimed to strengthen student learning through regulated esports tournaments, ensuring a safe and controlled environment. Additionally, they addressed the aging classroom projectors by replacing them with new equipment that aligns with their existing educational programs. Finally, the project included creating a dedicated workroom for teachers equipped with innovative technological tools to support the development of dynamic and engaging lesson plans.

THE SOLUTION

The project came to fruition in 2023. The esports room is now equipped with 11 ViewSonic® XG240R gaming monitors boasting a high refresh rate and anti-eye strain technology, perfect for fast-paced gameplay.

Ibarra believes this program goes beyond just gaming skills. He sees it as an opportunity to cultivate critical thinking, logical reasoning, and problem-solving – valuable assets for any future career path.

“No matter what each kid will study later on, this is very useful for them,” said Ibarra. “The use of technology is increasingly necessary, regardless of our specialization or profession. With the Internet of Things, eLearning, Big Data, and Cybersecurity issues gaining traction in many fields, these skills offer opportunities for individuals, professionals, and those just starting their career paths. The sooner we can provide students with this knowledge, the better prepared they will be to make decisions regarding their professional future.”

ViewSonic technology played a key role in the upgrades. Classrooms received ViewSonic PS600W projectors, capable of projecting large screen images – ideal for educational settings. Ibarra praised the brand’s focus on educational needs and their excellent technical support. The teacher’s lounge also received an upgrade with a 65-inch ViewSonic ViewBoard® IFP6550 interactive display, currently used for administrative tasks and dynamic lesson planning. Ibarra envisions having similar displays in every classroom in the future.

RESULTS

The esports monitors at Colegio Anglo Español are more than just gaming equipment. They’ve proven to be valuable tools for developing essential skills in students, according to Ibarra.

“The monitors have helped build important skills like quick and strategic decision- making, and teamwork,” he said. “These skills are fundamental in the digital world and can be applied to other aspects of academic and professional life.”

Beyond skill development, the esports program fosters student engagement. The prospect of participating in tournaments creates a sense of community and belonging, boosting self-esteem and confidence.

But the benefits don’t stop there. Colegio Anglo Español uses the esports room to teach students crucial life lessons. This includes promoting healthy and respectful online interactions, building valuable skills like leadership and teamwork, and fostering respect among competitors and teammates.

Professor Ibarra emphasizes the importance of adapting teaching methods for modern learners. “The teaching-learning processes need to be constantly updated,” he said. “That’s why using cutting-edge technological tools from ViewSonic has become an indispensable necessity to keep students engaged and actively acquiring new knowledge.”

The choice of ViewSonic technology wasn’t random. Professor Ibarra highlights the brand’s quality, innovation, and excellent support: “The quality, cutting- edge technology, innovation and support of the ViewSonic equipment was a determining factor in our choice.” He adds, “Our experience has been highly satisfactory. Every time we use the ViewBoard, we discover and/or think of new uses for teaching purposes.”

Colegio Anglo Español’s vision is to continuously upgrade classrooms with the latest technology. This commitment positions them at the forefront of education and equips students with the skills they need to become well-rounded citizens and successful professionals in today’s tech-driven world.

ViewSonic^® XG240R gaming monitor

ViewBoard^® PS600W projector

ViewBoard^® ViewBoard^® IFP6550 interactive display

CASE STUDY

University Expands Esports Program with ViewSonic Gaming Monitors

SCHOOL

Founded in 1870 as Buchtel College, the University of Akron is located 40 miles south of Cleveland in metropolitan Akron, Ohio. Offering 200+ in- demand associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate and law degree programs, the university serves around 19,000 students from Ohio, around the U.S., and 70 foreign countries in more than 80 buildings on 218 acres. Programs are targeted to diverse groups of learners, including full-time, part-time, and on-line students, veterans, and adults returning to the classroom.

“In addition to providing us with high-end equipment, ViewSonic demonstrated dedication to the educational aspects of our program. They are outstanding partners in every way – great support, great products, and great people to work with. This collaboration will help us keep up with the changes in technology, along with the interests of students as the esports and gaming space evolves.”

— Nathan Meeker, UA Director of Esports

THE CHALLENGE

In 2017 the University of Akron set its sights on creating a robust esports program. It quickly became a pioneering force in the development of D1 varsity-level esports.

“We had a team of professionals with complementary backgrounds and together, we created the program that many other schools model theirs after” said UA Director of Esports Nathan Meeker. “By design it was a three-tiered program that included a formal student club and low-key recreational gaming opportunities in addition to the competitive varsity team.”

To accommodate this broad vision, the university transformed 6,500 square feet in three underutilized campus spaces into esports venues: an arena with spectator viewing to facilitate varsity practices and competitions, plus two club and rec facilities that operate like gaming cafes for the esports club and casual gamers.

Outfitting these spaces with gaming stations that wouldn’t break the budget was one of the initial challenges for the growing program. An ongoing challenge would be keeping the program, as well as the gaming hardware, up-to-date and well-positioned to meet evolving student needs.

THE SOLUTION

With the space build-out underway, Meeker and the team set out to find their ideal gaming monitors (among other equipment).

“We wanted some pretty specific specs – a 24-inch monitor with 1ms or lower response rate and 144 Hz or better,” said Meeker. “There were a few decent options but ViewSonic offered the best price-to-performance ratio by a long shot. Not only was the price great, the ViewSonic performance was top notch.”

The team purchased 92 ViewSonic XG2402 24-inch gaming monitors, which were deployed across the three venues: the Zips Gaming Lounge at the Williams Honors College; the Zips Esports Center at the Student Union; and the Akron Esports Arena at Infocision Stadium.

The UA Zips esports program started off strong, with around seven hundred participants.

“By all indicators that was considered a good number at the time,” said Meeker. “What we didn’t realize was that by primarily marketing the program to students interested in competitive esports titles, we were missing quite a few others, and we want as many students as possible to reap the benefits of participating in campus organizations.”

When students are invested in activities outside of academics, Meeker elaborated, there are proven benefits, such as higher rates of graduation, higher levels of satisfaction, and even higher post-college job placement rates.

“I always tell those that are skeptical that we’re not just playing video games,” he said. “Our program provides an outlet for students who might not otherwise join a UA organization.”

To broaden the benefits of their activities, the Zips program staff began spreading the word to “generalist gamers” – students with a broad interest in video games that goes beyond the well-known competitive titles like Rocket League and Overwatch.

RESULTS

By 2019 the UA Zips varsity team had captured the Rocket League championship title for the second consecutive year, and the university was well on its way to becoming a powerhouse in the world of competitive collegiate esports.

While the varsity team was busy doing great things, Meeker realized that the program wasn’t reaching its full potential.

“Initially we thought that marketing the program primarily toward students interested in competitive esports titles would result in the best activation,” said Meeker. “Over time we learned we were missing a lot of other students. Now we connect with those students and offer a more robust program.”

The expanded marketing efforts have more than paid off. These days, around 15% of the UA student population is involved in the program in one way or another, for a total participation of around 2,400 students.

By year five of the program, another shift occurred.

“Monitor technology had progressed, and to provide our players with the best competitive advantage, we needed to upgrade to 280Hz.” said Meeker. “We were already living in a ViewSonic ecosystem and loving it, so the ViewSonic XG250 gaming monitors were perfect for us.”

With the new monitors deployed to about half of the Zips’ gaming stations so far, students report faster gameplay and better reactivity to on-screen action. “They tell me that overall, their gaming experience has been more enjoyable,” said Meeker. “Watching them, it’s easy to see the benefits of the faster refresh rate.”

Now an official ViewSonic partner, Meeker looks forward to many years of keeping up with the fast-paced world of esports and gaming with ViewSonic gaming monitors.

“In addition to providing us with high-end equipment, ViewSonic demonstrated dedication to the educational aspects of our program,” said Meeker. “They are outstanding partners in every way – great support, great products, and great people to work with. This collaboration will help us keep up with the changes in technology, along with the interests of students as the esports and gaming spaces evolve.”

Building on the program’s strong and carefully laid foundation, the ViewSonic sponsorship is one more way that esports and gaming at UA will continue to grow and thrive, said Meeker, as the university provides ongoing support for activities such as summer camps; monthly events for area high school clubs; and hosting the OHSAA-supported Ohio Esports State Tournament, among other LAN events.

“The tournament represents some 300 high schools across Ohio, and we expect around 3,000 students to participate this spring,” said Meeker. “We know we’ll give them an outstanding experience with the new ViewSonic monitors.”

ViewSonic Gaming XG2402 24-inch monitor

ViewSonic Gaming XG250 25-inch monitor

CASE STUDY

University Esports Program Supports Community and Competition with ViewSonic ViewBoard Interactive Display, Gaming Monitors, and Digital Signage

SCHOOL

Founded in 1910, the University of Southern Mississippi (aka “Southern Miss” or USM) is a public D1 sports and R1 classified research university with a total undergraduate enrollment of 10,258. The university’s main campus is in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, which is supplemented by a complex in Long Beach known as Southern Miss Gulf Coast. Southern Miss offers approximately 189 programs leading to baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctorate degrees, serving undergraduates from public schools across the southern United States and around the globe. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and its programs are accredited by 30 state and national agencies.

“The ViewBoard is an outstanding interactive resource for any type of learning because it’s so intuitive to use and it really draws students in. They absolutely love it. They’ll come in wanting to use it the moment we open the doors for the day and the competitive team is constantly scheduling time with it.”

— David Dickert, USM Esports Coordinator

THE CHALLENGE

When USM Esports Coordinator David Dickert began in Spring 2022, the fledgling program operated out of an outdated space that received periodic technology updates, where 15 students valiantly competed from non-esports ready equipment.

“It used to be a big lounge area that hadn’t seen major updates for a long time,” said Dickert. “The university was getting ready to invest in a robust competitive esports program in 2019, but COVID set fire to those plans until the global pandemic was under control. The 15 students involved were piecemealing it the best they could with very little equipment or funding.”

When Dickert came on board it was immediately clear that revamping the space was a top priority. During the summer preceding the 2023-24 school year, Dickert and the Union worked with a local painting company to tear down the wall carpet, refinish the floors, paint, and bring in new furnishings – transforming it into a modern gaming wonderland.

A parallel priority was to outfit the new gaming stations with state-of-the art equipment. When it came to monitors, Dickert wanted to make a clean break from what the team was currently using.

“The specs on the existing monitors were pretty decent, but we had a lot of quality control issues,” he said. “I was having to retire monitors because they had dead pixels, or pixels would pop in and out randomly. I have some horror stories about students being in the middle of a game and the screen dying. I absolutely needed to find a new brand for us to rely on.”

A former educator who had enjoyed using a ViewSonic ViewBoard interactive display in his classroom, Dickert looked at what the company was doing in the esports space, and was impressed.

“My budget was very finite so I was looking to build long-term partnerships with companies that had a similar vision for the ways in which esports can benefit students,” said Dickert. “For me, esports is about more than winning. It’s about building connections between students and contributing to their physical and emotional well-being. It was clear that ViewSonic operated from a similar values standpoint regarding education and esports, so they were a natural fit.”

Before he had a chance to reach out, he was approached by ViewSonic representatives visiting the campus.

“I shared our vision of what we were going to do, how we planned to help students in the space,” said Dickert. “We were very aligned and from there our partnership was born.”

THE SOLUTION

The new esports and gaming facilities consist of two sections separated by a hallway. The Official Southern Miss Esports Arena hosts the University’s National Championship competition teams. The adjacent casual gaming space is open to all students interested in gaming (plus billiards, shuffleboard, and table tennis). Both feature gaming stations equipped with ViewSonic^® XG2431 24” 240Hz gaming monitors.

Distinct areas within the competitive gaming space include the main stage, equipped with five ViewSonic XG2431 gaming monitors; the practice stage, which supports scrimmages and practices with six XG2431 monitors; and a production space equipped with one ViewSonic XG2431 monitor where students learn how to broadcast events, edit video, and more. Another 12 XG2431 monitors are deployed in the casual gaming center, enabling those in the general student population to experience gaming with top-of-the- line equipment.

To further support the program’s mission to develop learning-focused, connected, and healthy individuals through competition, community, and esports experiences, Dickert added a cart-mounted ViewSonic ViewBoard^® IFP7550 75” interactive display to a conference-style setup perpendicular to the main stage.

“The ViewSonic ViewBoard I used as a high school teacher was the best thing ever,” he said. “The ability to display content, click the side of screen to bring up the pen function and draw on the board to enhance the information was incredible and, along with the ability for students to intuitively work at the board, it changed the way I taught. I knew I wanted that for the esports students.”

Finally, to promote the program, Dickert stationed a ViewSonic CDE6512 65” commercial display outside the doorway to the Arena.

RESULTS

It may come as a surprise that both the program lead and the players love the ViewSonic ViewBoard interactive display almost more than the lightning-fast ViewSonic gaming monitors.

“It’s hands down my favorite place in the arena,” said Dickert, “I could gush about this ViewBoard all day.”

For students the 75” interactive display serves a dual purpose, said Dickert, supporting both their competitive and educational goals. Seated together around a conference-table setup facing the ViewBoard display, student athletes can review and mark up gameplay. Similarly, all program participants can use the display to work collaboratively on schoolwork and projects.

“The ViewBoard is an outstanding interactive resource for any type of learning because it’s so intuitive to use and it really draws students in. They absolutely love it. They’ll come in wanting to use it the moment we open the doors for the day and the competitive team is constantly scheduling time with it,” Dickert said, audibly turning to look out his doorway and adding, “Yep, they’re using it right now.”

For Dickert, the ViewBoard interactive display was a game-changer that has helped him meet his core goals as program lead.

“For me this program is about helping students make connections and gain skills that will help them throughout their lives,” he said. “The ViewBoard display absolutely fosters that type of connection, problem solving, and learning.”

Foremost among the many ViewBoard features that Dickert appreciates is the display’s ease of use, whether it’s connected to a PC, or not.

“It’s nice not having to have a PC hooked up to it, that it’s optional. It may be a bit more intuitive when used with PC functionalities, but when it’s alone it still functions incredibly well using Google Chrome and myViewBoard,” he said. “The user interface is very approachable, and everything is easy to navigate. I haven’t had to teach anyone how to use it.”

The ViewSonic XG2431 gaming monitors were equally easy to use, right out of the box – a pleasant surprise that helped get the program up and running more quickly than Dickert anticipated.

“In my experience monitors don’t have good factory settings right out of the box; usually I have to tweak them a bit,” he said. “With these ViewSonic gaming monitors it was a seamless, seamless plug-and-play experience. The images looked great, and we got them set up in a very short amount of time.”

Students of all gaming abilities have been thrilled with the fast response time and refresh rate.

“They care about the snappiness of the tech, and that’s one reason the students really like these monitors,” said Dickert. “They’re very responsive at .5ms – you almost can’t get better than that at an affordable price.”

Most of them, he added are used to playing with screens that max out at a refresh rate of 60Hz to 120Hz, and immediately comment that the gaming with the ViewSonic monitors is a much smoother experience than they’re used to. ViewSonic XG2431 gaming monitors, for example, are capable of achieving a refresh rate of 240Hz.

“ViewSonic is becoming well-known for their gaming monitors and their support for the educational aspects of esports in education,” said Dickert.

“I anticipated that these monitors would be outstanding, and they absolutely are.”

The Fall 2023 season has been the most successful to date for the Southern Miss Esports Program. Participation has grown to a total of 85 competitive players on 15 different teams. Nearly 700 total students – almost seven percent of the total undergraduate enrollment – use the casual gaming stations. All three of the program’s Fortnite teams have qualified for the Fortnite Split 1 NACE National Championship using the ViewSonic monitors. The program has seen similar success from each of its other teams.

“I’m able to get these numbers because our single sign on system tracks who uses the computers, and I’m thrilled with the growth of the program.” said Dickert. “For me, the student experience is the big component of student life at Southern Miss. I celebrate when we win and motivate and encourage harder work when we lose, but I care the most about the connections and that students feel a sense of belonging when they come into the gaming space.”

That goal has been achieved, it is clear, when Dickert notes that the arena and game room have become ‘the living room’ of campus. With no membership fees, and room for all, the program attracts students to all three tiers of the program: signed student athletes who compete in official conferences; Academy Team students who compete in official conferences as developing teams; and Gaming Club participants, a community open for all to experience fun events, conventions, and multi-club collaborations with a gaming twist. Of course, those with an even more casual interest in gaming – or hanging out with gamers – are also welcome in this inviting space.

“When it comes to clubs, we believe in student leadership,” said Dickert. “The gaming club is student-run and includes pretty much everything gaming. They visit conventions together and hold game nights – in fact they had one last night. It’s exactly the type of community activities we had hoped to encourage.”

Next on the agenda for this growing program is a Spring 2024 launch of an Intro to Esports course in partnership with the School of Business.

“It will be a survey-style course where students broadly learn the history and business aspects of esports,” said Dickert. “A core class objective will be to give students hands on experience with esports using the arena space and ViewSonic monitors.”

By then, the ViewSonic CDE6512 65-inch commercial display will be mounted above the doorway to the Arena, drawing in new participants and educating others about the program as they stroll through the USM Student Union and Thad Cochran Center.

“It’s great where it is now,” said Dickert. “But when it’s mounted above the doorway it will deliver an even bigger ‘wow factor.’”

IFP7550 Gen 5 75” 4K ViewBoard Interactive Display

XG2431 - 24" OMNI 1080p 0.5ms 240Hz IPS Gaming Monitor with FreeSync Premium, and HDR400

CDE6512 - 65" Display, 3840 x 2160 Resolution, 290 cd/m2 Brightness, 16/7

CASE STUDY

University Adds Esports Impact with ViewSonic ELITE™ Gaming Monitors and LAN Center Partnership

SCHOOL

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) is a private non-profit university accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Located in Harrisburg, PA, the university serves a student body of nearly 7,000 students from over 100 countries, offering bachelor and graduate degree programs in science, technology, and math fields. Every undergraduate major requires an internship, giving students real-world experiences that are valued by employers.

“In a rapidly evolving digital world, it’s essential for academic institutions to embrace emerging technologies and provide students with opportunities to learn and explore their passions through experiential learning. This stateof-the-art equipment will bring a wide range of possibilities for growth and learning to our students.”

— Charles Palmer, Program Lead and Associate Professor of Interactive Media

THE CHALLENGE

With a STEM curriculum that prepares students for in-demand careers, it’s no surprise that HU has become an esports powerhouse. A growing billion-dollar industry, esports relies on employees with a range of creative and technical skills, and HU is distinguished as a trailblazer in developing programs that connect students to these careers. The university’s esports focus began by blazing trails in esports participation.

In 2017, the university launched its fi rst (and only) varsity sports team, the HU Storm, which went on to win the Collegiate Overwatch National Championship in its fi rst two seasons. The university invested in state-of-the-art arena space, full scholarships for team members, and hosting an annual competition, the HUE invitational, the largest esports invitational competition in North America. Continuing its pioneering ways, the HU Storm was the fi rst collegiate team to employ former professional esports players as coaches. For those interested in more casual competition, HU offers an esports club open to all students.

Shortly thereafter, the university introduced a Bachelor of Science degree designed to prepare students for careers in the burgeoning esports industry. One of only a handful of schools offering a degree in this area, HU Esports Management, Production and Performance courses develop the skills needed to become a media content creator, event manager, specialized coach, organizational/team manager, marketing manager, analyst, and more. According to HU materials, this program combines three of the university’s strengths – business administration, interactive media, and technology integration – to build an industry pipeline for the next generation of esports decision-makers in management, production entrepreneurship and innovation.

Finally, in 2019, HU President Dr. Eric Darr and Professor Charles Palmer provided strategic direction and support for the launch of the Harrisburg, PA-based Soniqs professional esports team. From this winning partnership came a shared vision for the development of a LAN Center that would be the official competitive home of the Soniqs, while also providing space to support students, the HU Storm, and the surrounding community.

“We wanted to build on our successes in a way that would support the need for a growing number of esports professionals,” said Palmer, whose roles at the university include Program Lead & Associate Professor of Interactive Media, and Executive Director of the Center for Advanced Entertainment & Learning Technologies. “Our vision was to expand the ways in which we could position our students to become those professionals, and we wanted to do it in a way that supported our community.”

THE SOLUTION

That initial conversation in January 2021 triggered the formation of a development team, which Palmer worked with to develop the concept into a workable plan. Participants included HU CEO and President Dr. Eric Darr and HU CFO Duane Maun; Soniqs CEO Darren Moore and Soniqs Director of Operations and HU Adjunct Professor Luke Goodling; and Dr. Jennifer Metz, Associate Professor and Program Lead of Esports Management.

“The facilities we envisioned would not only be the home of the Soniqs, it would be like the labs in our life science departments,” said Palmer. “A place where our students can get hands-on learning about the products, services, and management of esports.”

During this phase, the working group sought partners to help bring the plan to life. A known advocate in the esports ecosystem, ViewSonic was thrilled to join the team though its community outreach division.

“ViewSonic is committed to both community outreach as part of our Empowering Future Generations initiative and to growing within esports,” said Danny Ordway, Vertical Marketing Manager at ViewSonic. “Supporting Harrisburg University and the Soniqs was a natural partnership for us. We’re thrilled to back an organization that is so focused on investing in the success of its students.”

The LAN Center team connected with Ordway who recommended ViewSonic products to meet their needs.

“We were excited to partner with HU, which shares our holistic vision for esports in education. By providing the latest ViewSonic ELITE™ gaming monitors, as well as the latest commercial displays and other display solutions, we’re helping the Soniqs’ coaches and staff develop strategies and prepare players,” said Ordway. “We’re also supporting HU in providing learning opportunities that create a pathway to careers within the esports industry.”

Ultimately, the team selected 20 ViewSonic ELITE™ XG270 27-inch 240Hz G-Sync gaming monitors to provide smooth, ultra-responsive gameplay. Nine 65-inch ViewSonic CDE6520-W premium 4K digital displays would be mounted throughout the space to showcase competitions, support the LAN Center brand, and deliver dynamic background videos, with one ViewSonic CDE8620-W 86-inch premium 4K digital display serving as a dramatic focal point.

THE RESULTS

Along with additional sponsors, Intel and Zipchair, the team created a worldclass esports LAN center, with power-packed stations that feature Intel NUC PCs with 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-12900 CPUs, 16GB of RAM, and RTX 3060 Tis; ViewSonic ELITE™ 27-inch 1080p 240Hz IPS gaming monitors; and Zipchair Glide Gaming Chairs with numerous ergonomic settings. With gratitude to their partners, Palmer notes that leading tech is about so much more than feeds, speeds, and specs.

“In a rapidly evolving digital world, it’s essential for academic institutions to embrace emerging technologies and provide students with opportunities to learn and explore their passions through experiential learning,” said Palmer. “This state-of-the-art equipment will bring a wide range of possibilities for growth and learning to our students.”

The 2,000-square-foot LAN Center opened its doors on March 27, 2023, with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by everyone in the local esports community. Moore delivered a brief speech and, with HU President Eric Darr beside him, cut the ribbon that symbolized the center’s o cial opening for private events. Press and other visitors got a taste of the action ahead, as HU esports club members tested out the top-of-the-line gaming stations.

The main gaming room features a central row of tables with 10 gaming stations on each side. It is both dim and dynamic, with enough ambient light to help reduce eye strain, plus LED accent lights in Soniq-blue and purple for added aesthetic impact. Standing room behind the players, along with adjacent seating facing a large 86-inch ViewSonic digital display, will allow spectators an up-close and in-person view of esports events. Additional 65-inch ViewSonic digital displays throughout the space allow for extended viewing along with the display of stakeholder brands and mood-enhancing multimedia content.

Centrally located in downtown Harrisburg, the LAN Center is a leisurely twominute walk from Harrisburg’s Whittaker Center for Science and the Arts, the offcial home stadium for HU’s esports arena, practice space and digital locker room, as well as the hub for esports scrimmages, competitions, tournaments, conferences and meet-and-greets.

“The location meets all of our initial objectives,” said Palmer. “We can engage the community, opening the Center for people to enjoy esports as entertainment, while we provide convenient and state-of-the art facilities for our esports management students to grow their professional skills.” An additional advantage of the location, added Palmer, is its proximity to two Harrisburg high schools.

“We envision our esports management students developing and running events for the high school students,” he said. “This will be a great experiential learning opportunity for them, while adding another link in the pipeline, engaging younger students and introducing them to the broader opportunities offered by esports.”

Community members of all ages will be able to participate in educational workshops taught by esports pros, use the Center’s gaming stations during public hours, and watch games as spectators, both in person and online. The space will also be available to rent for community and private events.

“We are deeply grateful to our sponsors for helping bring our vision to life. The LAN Center not only enhances the educational experience of HU students, it also creates opportunities for networking, mentorship, and career development in the competitive esports industry,” said Palmer. “Students will be able to conceive, design, plan, produce and refl ect on their own events, and they’ll do so while increasing the understanding of esports in our community. It’s a win for everyone involved.”

ViewSonic® 135” All-in-one Direct View LED display LD135-151

ViewSonic 75-inch ViewBoard® IFP7552-1C-E1

Joey Lee

JSL Marketing for ViewSonic [U.S.]
T: 310-592-1712
E: joey@jslcomm.com

Caroline McGrath

CMM Communications for ViewSonic [Canada]
T: 416-972-1642
E: caroline@cmm-communications.com

Nury Lavandier

JSL Marketing for ViewSonic [Latin America]
T: 305-491-0530
E: nury@jslcomm.com