NCCC kicks off inaugural esports season with launch party

Submitted by Niagara County Community College

The esports industry is expected to pass the $1 billion mark by early 2022. Niagara County Community College will meet demand within the industry both on the creative side and on a competitive level for students. A newly renovated portion of NCCC’s cafeteria has been reconstructed and redesigned as the new advanced computing lab, which will host computer programming courses as well as serve as a home base for NCCC’s esports teams.

To celebrate, NCCC will host the official launch party from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25, at the Sanborn Campus (Room G-121C). Students, employees, alumni and the public are welcome to attend and check out the new space. Guests can witness the ribbon-cutting ceremony; watch and play live demonstrations of PC, console and board games; and enjoy a complimentary hors d'oeuvres buffet.

NCCC’s athletics and student life departments are actively recruiting registered students to join new esports teams. Competitive games include Fortnite, APEX Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, Valorant, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, Rocket League and Hearthstone. However, any game a student has interest in will be considered when forming teams.

Niagara County Community College’s new advanced computing lab is located in G121C on the Sanborn Campus. The lab will host advanced programming and computer courses, NCCC athletics esports teams, and the gaming and anime club.

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The college is already nationally ranked and recognized by the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) for traditional athletics and will soon be adding Esports to its Division III competitions.

The new advanced computing lab is equipped with more than 20 dual-monitor stations and state-of-the-art gaming equipment – including user-friendly keyboards, mice, lighting and headphones. There are three 80-inch television monitors for console gaming as well as a gaming room atmosphere with climate control, room darkening capabilities, and Thunderwolves egaming branded décor. The room will be staffed with an employee to aid students in the lab whether they are playing games or creating them. The lab will be home to NCCC’s esports teams as well as the gaming and anime club outside of regularly scheduled classes.

For more information regarding the Aug. 25 launch party, or esports, contact Denyel Beiter at 716-614-5974 or [email protected]/.