SoDak Circuit offers platform for aspiring esports competitors
That old NES from the 90s that you spent countless hours playing Super Mario Bros. may have given you some valuable skills after all. The leisure activity your mom told you to pause for dinner is now a competitive sport for millions of people around the world.
One of South Dakota’s first official electronic sports (esports) tournaments of size will be held in Sioux Falls this September. Registration is now open for SoDak Circuit, featuring games for all ages and skill levels.
How does the event work? The tournament includes six different games for competitors with a select few having more than one category. The games are Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Fortnite, Rocket League, Valorant, and Racing Simulator.
For those interested in participating, competitors must register prior to the event with their chosen game. On Saturday, September 21, the Sioux Falls Convention Center doors will open at 7:30 a.m. with the first rounds starting at 9:30 a.m., lasting until 5 p.m. Each game will be run with a tournament-style bracket divided into age groups and skill levels.
Have you been out of the loop on your games lately? If you’re curious about how each of the games work, here’s a rundown:
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate pays homage to all the decades of video game characters. The game features an all-out brawl between characters such as Pac-Man, various Pokémon, the dog from Duck Hunt, even the Wii Fit Trainer from the Wii console’s fitness program game, and more than 80 other characters!
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a racing game comprised of Mario, Luigi, Bowser, and all the other characters from the mushroom kingdom and other famous games. This game tests your virtual go-kart skills drifting and avoiding items hurled at you while you race to the finish line.
- Fortnite is a game that you might have already heard about. As a battle royale, each match consists of 100 people put on a map to search for gear and supplies before duking it out in skirmishes. The game ends when only one player is left standing.
- Rocket League is a simple game of soccer between two teams of three with one catch: each person is controlling a car instead of a human. Players navigate the field by hitting the ball with their cars and using boosts to score goals in unique gravity-defying ways. Each match lasts around five minutes, unless the score is tied.
- Valorant is a team game where strategy, skill, and accuracy are most important. Two teams of five take turns taking over objective points using character abilities and precise gunfire. In this tactical shooter, one mistake can cost your team a win, so players must remain focused to be the first team to win 13 total rounds out of the potential 25 (not including overtime rules).
- The racing simulator available at the event is exactly what it sounds like! All ages are welcome to try out the custom-made vehicles to experience a car race in the virtual world.
But how big is esports? Although the idea of electronic sports sounds foreign to many people, the industry is valued at almost $1.4 billion (about $4 per person in the US) and is expected to rise another $50 million by next year.
Many organizations with team names exist exclusively to help players compete in esports events in many ways. Because of this, nearly every game with a competitive scene has a team to cheer for, much like your favorite football or hockey team.
Think you got what it takes to win? Visit the SoDak Circuit website here for more information and a way to sign up!
Sources: Statista, SoDak Circuit
