Esports will log on for its debut at this summer's Commonwealth Games. And two Northern Ireland competitors will be (virtually) shooting for gold.
Emma Rose and Nick Hatton will make history when they compete in Birmingham. They will take on some of the best gamers around at the inaugural Esports Commonwealth Championships.
The special pilot event has been sanctioned by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Executive Board. It will have separate branding, medals and governance, led by the Global Esports Federation.
Read more: Meet the man assembling NI's first Esports team for Commonwealth Games
It is a massive platform for Esports to showcase its popularity, and potentially attract a future generation of young gamers.
Belfast Live caught up with Emma and Nick ahead of the Games. Here's what they had to say...
1. How did the qualification process go? And what did it involve?
Emma: "My qualification was very unusual. A friend of mine actually sent me a post on Instagram that was asking for female gamers for an event. It didn’t overly specify what it was, but I thought I’m female, I’m game, let's apply. Next thing I knew Michael Smyth (Team Manager for Northern Ireland Esports.) was putting me through for the Female Northern Ireland Team! And because there’s only a small number of entrants for the female eFootball competition I got straight through!
Nick: "I qualified to represent Northern Ireland under the e-Euros 2020 via an online competition run by UEFA. I qualified the following year as well and that led to my selection as Northern Ireland representative in the open category this year at the CEC."
2. How did you feel when you were selected for Team NI?
Emma: Honestly In the beginning I thought it was a bit of a troll! I’m in a band with a guy called Michael Smyth and I was like is he just playing with me? Turns out there are multiple Michael Smyths in Belfast! Once I realised how serious and how big an opportunity this was, I really did just beam with the biggest grin you’ve ever seen. For a Transwoman to be chosen to represent females in Northern Ireland at the first ever Commonwealth Esports Championships is just insane!
Nick: "I am absolutely loving it. It didn’t really hit home at first, but it’s a real honour to chosen and like Emzi said, it’s the first ever CEC, so what’s not to love about that. I didn’t know where it was being held at first, so I was dreaming of Australia or Canada, maybe one of the African nations. But it’s a bit closer to home in Birmingham. Perhaps not as glamorous but the location is secondary to getting to compete so I'm stoked anyway."
3. How are you feeling ahead of the Games? Excited? Nervous? Bit of both?
Emma: "The closer we get the more of the butterflies I get. I’m playing the game every free minute I have and trying to research my opponents and in constant contact with my coach Richie Hughes, who represented Republic of Ireland at the E-Euros, and the UK team at the World Championships in Singapore."
Nick: "Mostly excited. There's so much to enjoy about this experience so far. We've had training days, staying in the Galgorm, hot tubs, photoshoots, interviews and free kit. British Esports are creating a good buzz and it’s got me feeling it. We also have team social channels where we share info about competitors and exchange tactics and just general banter, so you sense things starting to bubble up. I’m certain I’ll get nervous closer to the event but that’s natural, especially as I’m living a dream that I never thought possible."
4. Just explain what catehory you will be competing in?
Emma: "I’m competing on the Playstation 5 in the women’s eFootball category. The Draw hasn’t been done but I know England and Wales qualified so the competition is going to be fierce!"
Nick: "I’m competing in the open section of Efootball, the successor to Pro Evolution Soccer, against 18 other Commonwealth nations. The competition structure hasn’t been divulged yet, but I would hope for a group section followed by a knockout round robin. Just so everyone gets a guaranteed few games and can really soak up the atmosphere."
5. What are your backgrounds in Esports?
Emma: "I’ve been gaming since I was old enough to hold a controller in my hand! Starting with like Alex the Kid, Sonic the Hedgehog then Super Mario! From there I got into the Call of Duty and Counterstrike scene and competed in leagues with a team from Coleraine against other Northern Ireland teams. This though is by far the biggest scale Esports I’ve ever done or had to opportunity to play at."
Nick: "I've only really playing for Northern Ireland at the E-euros. I was lucky enough to have games machines all through my youth, ranging from a Spectrum 48k with rubber keys, to a Commodore 64, Amiga, and on through Sega and Sony consoles. I also spent all my pocket money at the arcades playing Golden Axe and Double Dragon. Most of my mates have ‘grown up’ and play golf and all that jive but they’re not going to the Commonwealths so I'll stand by my choice."
6. As gamers, did you ever think you would one day be competing at such a big event?
Emma: "Honestly, no. Gaming for me was always an escape from reality. I suffered badly with depression for most of my life and it was easier to lose myself in a game than struggle in the real world. Though that being said as soon as I discovered competitive gaming I knew it was for me but I never dreamed I'd get to do it at such a big stage never mind representing my country!"
Nick: "Not really. I thought the E-Euros was probably the beginning and end for me as a competitive gamer, but it seems like I was wrong. I’ve always played games because I love the challenge and will always do so, but this is a huge bonus. It also gives me a bit of kudos with my kids and my mates kids who think I’m kinda cool currently. It’ll not last but ill enjoy it while it does."
7. This feels like there will be a big spotlight on Esports because of the significance of the event?
Emma: "Oh for sure! Esports is massive in the entire world. l was talking to Nick Hatton, the men's player for Northern Ireland and he was saying that half the world now consider themselves to be gamers! And with websites like Twitch and Youtube they bring in so many views that totally eclipse even the likes of the Superbowl which is the most watched sport on mainstream TV. I will say as well the UK is miles behind the rest of the world in terms of big Esports events so I really hope that this is our time to show and that it only grows from here in the UK."
8. This is also a big deal for Esports in Northern Ireland. Do you hope this inspires a future generation?
Emma: "The Northern Ireland Esports scene is tiny. There are a few spots that you can actually go to to play in LANS but nothing huge, nothing to the scale outside of the UK. I feel Its like a sleeping giant though, because I know Michael and his drive with Esports and if we can do the country proud then it's only going to grow. Myself, personally as well, I want to show that if someone like me a transgender woman can go out and represent her country on one of the biggest stages then anyone has the chance too. Id love to use this experience to really help get more girls into gaming cause believe there are plenty of girls that love to game and I hope that ill be able to help bring in a younger generation of hungry gamers that want to go out there show the world what they can do!"
Nick: "Esports in NI is very much in a development phase. There is no funding from the government as it is not seen as a sport, so I think it heavily relies on the generosity of private donors. Whether people agree with it being a sport or not, I don’t think they can disagree that it is a real growth market. It has such a global following and I really hope that we can kickstart its appeal in NI. I know several gamers here that are highly rated in global leaderboards across a plethora of games, but the structure just doesn’t seem in place to allow them to develop that. If we can help provide a pathway for NI gamers, then I would consider that the greatest achievement."
9. How does Esports in NI compare to the rest of the UK and Ireland - in terms of numbers, interest, profile etc?
Emma: "It really doesn’t compare. England, Scotland and Wales all already have established Esports teams that include some really amazing talent. They have plenty of professional gamers on big teams that they can call from. I think this is more cause they’ve jumped on the train earlier though, give us a few years and I promise you the Esports Scene in NI will be booming and well be a force to be reckoned with."
Nick: "I honestly don’t know. All id say is that we can get better. Our team manager Michael Smyth is the head of the vanguard and if he gets the backing all his hard work deserves then we could really see a thriving scene develop here over the next few years."
10. What are the aims heading to the Games? Medal? Gold?
Emma: "The competitor in me wants to say nothing but Gold, but honestly I just want to go out there do my part and show off the Esports scene in good light, help inspire the younger generations and show the world that Esports is as huge as we all know it is."
Nick: "To carry the national flag in the opening ceremony. Whilst slightly tongue in cheek I really do want to do that, but I just want to enjoy the experience and all it brings. If that was to involve a medal then yes, great, but as Emzi says if we can somehow help drag NI from the Esports wilderness and tap into the huge underground interest then that would be immense."
11. And one final word from you both...
Emma: "LETS GO NI!"
Nick: "Just that people really got behind the NI men’s team in Euro 2016, and it’s been awesome to see the response to the women’s team over the last few weeks in what is fantastic achievement, so if people of NI wanted to give us, and the all the other athletes going to the Commonwealths, a little taste of that incredible support, then that would be well cool."
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