DeKALB – In collaboration with NASCAR, NIU Esports invited both casual and hardcore fans of Rocket League to an event open to all visitors for a chill afternoon of gaming.
Released back in 2015 by Epic Games, Rocket League became one of the bigger competitive games, having more tournaments and esports events centered around it as it grew.
The game is an odd and surprisingly effective combination of fast-paced soccer and race cars with a team of four v. four players.
When entering the arena, visitors not participating in the tournament could still play Rocket League on one of the two PS5 consoles or the XBOX console in two corners of the room.
All three consoles allowed visitors to play Rocket League with friends using local play. This mode splits the screen between two different players and pits them against each other in a one-versus-one mode.
Along with casual and competitive Rocket League play, esports also invited visitors to try the virtual simulator, provided by NASCAR, which always had a small cluster of captivated spectators watching.
The simulator displayed the inside of a NASCAR race car on a widescreen monitor and gave the feeling of driving a real one.
Players could speed through a virtual race track using the controls andhear the screech of the wheels on tight turns and the passive-aggressive hum of the engine from the speakers placed behind the wheel.
The realistic brake and gas pedals underneath the screen, the steering wheel in front of the seat and the slight jolt you would feel if you accidentally hit the side of the track helped to reinforce the simulation.
Its overall appearance reflected that of the driving games you might find in an arcade, however, it definitely wasn’t as simple.
While the control scheme may have looked familiar to some, it could be very difficult to control at high speeds, especially when turning corners.
Members of the staff would monitor the driver’s performance and assist them if it looked like they needed it by giving tips on how to control the simulator.
Jakob Furgat, Overwatch coach NIU Esports varsity team, was excited to see the turnout.
“So far, I’ve been seeing a lot of new faces from NIU and the community,” Furgat said. “It is amazing to see people from all over come in and play.”
While the simulator may have attracted quite a few players and spectators, the Rocket League tournament had its own fair share of buzzing excitement.
The tournament featured teams of three versus three players, who registered before the event began, and eight teams in single elimination style.
Players were allowed to bring their own preferred method of playing from keyboard and mouse, XBOX controller or PlayStation Controller by registering it beforehand and join a team as a “free agent,” or one they made themselves with other players.
The tournament was filled with close saves, friendly competitive sportsmanship and a myriad of groans and cheers from the winning and losing teams.
Conner Vagle, director of NIU Esports, commented on how he was happy to see new and regular gamers attend the tournament.
“We are very excited for this opportunity and happy to crown a champion,” Vagle said. “We saw people who we normally don’t see and it was a great way to bring people from different backgrounds together.”
During the event, there was a prize table which offered various trinkets and goodies for attendees to take home if they so pleased, from light blue sunglasses to key chains with the logo of the “Midway Chicago Street Race,” happening later this year.
