2020 Tertiary 'Year in Review'
It’s difficult to imagine life back in 2019 before COVID-19 changed the world as we know it. PAX Australia just ended, MAMMOTH won the Oceanic Pro League, and ‘ana’ won The International 2019 with OG. Melbourne was staking their claim as ‘home of esports’ with Fortress’ new presence and Intel Extreme Masters move to the education state. 2020 was going to be a big year for esports and despite all the curveballs, it still was – especially in the tertiary space.
The year was turbulent, but a few organisations stood out and were ready to hit a home-run no matter the situation. One such organisation is UniSport, the peak governing body of traditional university sport. In previous years UniSport have been involved in Riot Games’ League of Legends Oceanic University Championships. This year they have extended their involvement in the gaming sector by hosting the UniSport Australia Esports Championships (UAEC) event which was delivered in partnership with Australian Esports League (AEL).
This event was initially planned to take place ‘on the ground’, was moved online due COVID-19. The competition spanning over the months of July, August and September saw 15 universities represented with 36 teams competing across three different titles (FIFA20, Rocket League and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate) and 133 students participating.
UniSport are currently developing a strategy for esports, and are looking at how they can contribute to building a sustainable esports landscape both across the university sector and in the country. They are looking at ways to increase the number of UniSport endorsed (or managed) competitions that take place, and aim to further incorporate esports within their national competition structures.
UniSport Project Manager, Natalie Broom, had this to share with us:
“Over the year, we have found many unique challenges with esports when compared to the traditional sport sector. One of the main challenges that we all face is breaking down the barriers and misconceptions that exist around esports. The years of the stereotyped ‘basement gamer’ are long gone, but the general public’s perception of this is not. We need to find ways to better educate the general population to truly understand the industry and its true value.
We hope to bring more opportunities to the university sector next year and want to build on the foundation that we currently have over the next 3-5 years.”
We’re constantly witnessing new developments in the tertiary esports sector. Whether it’s a club, university, developer, or organiser; there are so many passionate people trying to contribute to this industry and make a meaningful impact.
We’d like to highlight a few of these developments and accomplishments this year:
- Bond University x The Chiefs Esports Club – Partnership
- New Esport Facility – Murdoch University
- New Esport Facility – University of Canberra
- RMIT Redbacks joining the Oceanic Challenger Series
- Tertiary Access Group Award Most Successful Club or Society Event or Activity:
UOW Cosplay Society / UoW Video Games Association / Women in STEM (WISTEM) – ‘Chicks Who Game Expo’.
Perth’s $1.5 billion City Deal will see a portion of its investment used by Edith Cowan University, Curtin University and Murdoch University. Murdoch University’s investment will be used to create a vertical campus in the Perth CBD and an eSports Stadium linked with Singapore and East Asia. We’ve started to see Murdoch’s first movements as they have launched their new gaming hub earlier this year. Alongside Murdoch, University of Canberra has also joined the list of universities (QUT, UQ, RMIT and LaTrobe) that have developed an esports facility with their eSports Lounge.
In the world of competitive tertiary esports we have had more competitions than ever before. This year we’ve witnessed the twice annual AEL University League, Riot Games’ Oceanic Challenger Series, the inaugural UniSport Australia Esports Championships, META University Fortnite, the Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT) Intervarsity Championship and their newly developed Women’s ANZ League of Legends Tournament. With so many new tournaments and competitions to keep track of, we decided to put it all in one place.
AEL University Cup Semester 1
CS:GO
1st: Team Monash
2nd: QUT Orange
3rd: RMIT Black
DotA 2
1st: RMIT Black
2nd: Monash Megalads
3rd: UOW Esports
Rocket League
1st: UOM Help Desk
2nd: Griffith University
3rd: Swinburne University Black
Rainbow 6 Siege
1st: RMIT Black
2nd: Monash Onyx
3rd: UQU Pineapple
Hearthstone
1st: MarxHD, University Technology of Sydney
2nd: Blackthorn, Southern Cross University
3rd: weitoostrong, RMIT University
AEL University Cup Semester 2
CS:GO
1st: RMIT Black
2nd: UNSW Roar
3rd: Team Monash
DotA 2
1st: RMIT Black
2nd: UOW Esports
3rd: UQ Big Chads
Rocket League
1st: UOM Help Desk
2nd: Griffith University
3rd: Swinburne University Black
Rainbow 6 Siege
1st: RMIT Black
2nd: Monash Onyx
3rd: æUTS
AEL Scholomance Academy Uni Cup
1st: Ulquiorra, University of New South Wales
2nd: GiantHammer, Monash University
3rd: Toxicantship, University of South Australia
4th: Tempest2000, University of Queensland
FIFA20
1st: Victoria University
2nd: RMIT University
3rd: Australian Catholic University
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
1st: Monash University 2
2nd: Monash University 1
3rd: Deakin University
Rocket League
1st: Griffith University
2nd: RMIT University 1
3rd: RMIT University 2
FISU eSports Challenge Football
Oceanic Qualifiers
Mens 1st: Zachary Marceau, Southern Cross University
Mens 2nd: Dillon Henriques-Gomes, Swinburne University of Technology
Womens 1st: Jessica Au, Monash University
International Playoffs
Dillon Henriques-Gomes placed third in the overall competition.
1st: Queensland University of Technology
2nd: University of Auckland
3rd: University of Technology Sydney
Oceanic Challenger Series
2nd: UQ Union (7-3)
5th: QUT Tigers (5-5)
7th: Order Academy x Monash University (4-6)
10th: UTS Esports (3-7)
11th: RMIT Redbacks (2-8)
Womens’ ANZ League of Legends Tournament (QUT)
1st: University of Auckland
2nd: Queensland University of Technology
3rd: Monash University A
Intervarsity Championships (QUT)
Semester 1
1st: University of Sydney
2nd: University of New South Wales
3rd: University of Queensland
4th: Swinburne University of Technology
Semester 2
1st: University of Technology Sydney
2nd: University of Melbourne
3rd: Queensland University of Technology
3rd: University of Queensland
META University Fortnite
fedoson + sozache32 from Western Sydney University and Macquarie University
Rizza. + TIKTOK_DOBBY992 from University of Newcastle
inF Shaggy + Kyo 水 from Torrents University and Macquarie University
Flaqo Grrrt Bow + Hampy φ from University of Canterbury and Griffith University
E11 denTaySon + Dbliss大 from University of New South Wales
Australian Collegiate Esports has been working tirelessly over the 2020 year to create an interconnected community of esports clubs, leaders, players and enthustiasts. Our primary goal is to promote inclusive growth and development within the tertiary education esports space. This year ACE has affiliated 14 university member clubs.
We’d like to thank those clubs who have committed to supporting the industry and each other:
- ANU Esports Society
- Adelaide University eSports Club
- ACU Esports Club
- ECU eSports Society
- UniSA Esports
- SAE – Students of the Rift
- UNSW Esports
- RMIT Esports & Games Club
- Deakin University Esports Association
- LTU Gaming Society
- Victoria University Games Club
- Swinburne Esports Club
- University of Melbourne Esports Association
- Monash Electronic Gaming Association
Esports in the Oceanic region is always changing and never certain. We’ve seen investors come and go; organisers with shifting commitments; tournaments facing their demise and new ones taking its place. Nothing is ever certain, but one thing we know is that the grassroots and the community will always be here.
As esports and the industry develop, we shall grow with it and alongside it; encouraging its growth. With new developments always on the horizon, all those involved in this industry will be ready to find new ways to capitalise on the opportunities that arise – and we at ACE look forward to being apart of the journey that is esports.
ENDS
21 DECEMBER 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Eric Lee, eric.lee@acesports.org.au , 0439 838 755
Only wanna state that this is handy , Thanks for taking your time to write this. Joann Eduard Zachariah