Pictured above: Sarah Lynch is among the many competitive gamers at USF and a student moderator for the Esports program.
Courtesy of USF
By Chris Metzler
The University of South Florida’s Halo Club provides a fun experience for gamers of all levels.
In the past, video games were portrayed as nerdy or childish. Today, millions across the globe play video games, ranging from celebrities like Drake and Odell Beckham Jr. to the average high school student.
Not only have video games become less stigmatized, but they now offer career opportunities as electronic sports (esports) and streaming platforms have exploded in the past five years.
Platforms like Twitch and Discord provide a space for content creators and have helped grow the video game community by connecting gamers with other like-minded players.
Connection and community are the backbones of the Halo Club.
The Halo Club welcomes all, from elite Halo players to those just looking to have a good time and meet new people.
Ashlea Distler, community manager for the Halo Club, said that as a transfer student who started at USF during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was hard to meet people. Joining the Halo Club allowed her to meet friends she wouldn’t have otherwise.
“I have made incredible friends and fostered networks that I can see helping me in my career dreams further down the road. I highly recommend anyone who has any interest in video games to join and make friends,” Distler said.
The easiest way to get involved with the Halo Club is to join USF’s Esports Discord, a communication platform that connects fellow gamers from all campuses.
However, there is much more than just Halo to be played.
There are subchannels for other games like “Rocket League,” “Call of Duty” and “Overwatch.” The Discord moderators often organize community game nights where members can vote on what games to play during the gatherings.
Those with a competitive side can get involved in the upcoming Halo Swat Tournament. The tournament is an official USF intramural sport.
Qualifiers start on Jan. 24 and registration required at the Campus Recreation website. “Call of Duty Warzone” intramural tournaments start the same week.
There is also a “Rocket League” local area network tournament hosted by the Muma College of Business starting Feb. 3.
Information on other tournaments for games like “Rainbow Six” and “Overwatch” can be found on the Discord page and at bullsconnect.usf.edu.
To register for the Halo Swat Tournament, visit campusrecshop.usf.edu/DivisionRegistration
