Game On!
Alienware — Dell Technologies’ gaming arm — invests in esports lounge at MSU
Game On!
Alienware — Dell Technologies’ gaming arm — invests in esports lounge at MSU
January 17, 2024Thanks to a partnership with Dell Technologies its iconic gaming brand Alienware, a new space at MSU provides an elite gaming environment for students to train and compete in esports at the highest level.
The Alienware MSU Esports Lounge is the university’s first dedicated space for students engaged in esports, a rapidly growing industry centered on organized professional or semiprofessional competitive video game play.
Located on the main floor of the MSU ComArtSci, building, the 1,027-square-foot space is open to all MSU students and features 12 Alienware Aurora R16 battle stations—Alienware’s most advanced and most powerful desktop yet, powered by 14th Gen Intel Core processors—as well as Alienware m16 laptops, console gaming space, a varsity room and broadcast studio.
MSU esports is supported by the MSU College of Communication Arts and Sciences, the home of top-ranked game design and development programs.
The university celebrated the opening of the Alienware MSU Esports Lounge on Jan. 17 with special guests including former MSU women’s basketball player Aerial Powers, who is a brand and diversity ambassador with Team Liquid—a well-known esports organization—and WNBA player with the Minnesota Lynx. Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II was also in attendance.
“Computers changed my life, and this new, state-of-the-art esports lounge will do the same for countless Spartans,” says Gilchrist. “Students won’t just use this lounge to game. They will network with other future professionals, discover career opportunities and build community. Governor Whitmer and I have worked hard to lower the cost of college and skills training, making more experiences like this one available for Michiganders in communities across our state. We are grateful to all the partners who made this transformative gaming lounge happen.”
This facility will provide a hands-on esports experience for the Spartan gaming community and will host team competitions.
“We are proud to partner with MSU on this next chapter of MSU gaming and esports,” says Matt McGowan, general manager of Alienware. “We are committed to supporting collegiate gamers, from novice to varsity player, by providing the products, accessories and experiences that help grow the next generation of gaming.”
The formation of a Spartan gaming community began with like-minded student groups and clubs. In 2016, students established the MSU Esports Club Association with the intent to unify the different gaming clubs and build a larger community rooted in the enjoyment of video games. The community has since grown—through continued enthusiasm and with the support of college mentors—to more than a dozen clubs, representing more than 2,000 students with diverse majors and interests.
MSU announced its first varsity esports team roster in 2023, competing in both the National Association of Collegiate Esports, known as NACE, and the Big Esports Conference, or BEC.
In April, MSU’s esports varsity teams competed in three games and left their mark on the inaugural Big Esports Conference championships. The conference is the official competitive home for esports teams from all 18 Big Ten universities. The event showcased the growing talent and popularity of collegiate esports.
MSU won the championship for Super Smash Bros., beating University of Michigan in the semifinals and Purdue in the final match. In an overtime victory over Ohio State University, MSU’s Rocket League made it to the final round and secured second place in the tournament.
“Winning the inaugural Big Esports Conference Smash Championship is a validation and recognition of all the hard work and dedication our students have shown this year,” says Chris Bilski, Director of Esports at MSU. “They earned this, and I’m so proud of everything they and our program have accomplished in our first season!”
The success of MSU’s esports teams at the Big Esports Conference underscores the university’s commitment to fostering talent and excellence in competitive gaming. The rise of esports as a sporting pursuit is reflected in the growing number of collegiate programs and competitions dedicated to gaming. Events like the Big Esports Conference championships provide a platform for universities to showcase their esports programs and for players to test their skills against the best of the best.
LEARN MORE about support for esports at MSU by contacting Senior Director of Development Kristen McGrath at mcgra103@msu.edu or by calling (517) 432-5672.
