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Championship �� esports program levels up with new $1M arena

giffeyt — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Championship �� esports program levels up with new $1M arenagiffeyt October 1, 2025

Teams begin play in state-of-the-art space funded with Foundation gift

�� . new $1 million Esports Arena is a real-world example of the expanding impact and importance of virtual sports.

In just five years, �� . esports program has grown into a championship-caliber varsity sport with a highly visible, state-of-the-art space for competitors and fans alike. Previously located in a former classroom in Heritage Hall, the esports program now practices and competes in a brand-new arena on the first floor of the Robert S. Swanson Library & Learning Center.

The arena, which was made possible by a $1 million donation from the �� Foundation & Alumni Association and donors, will be celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 2.

“Our esports teams have already experienced significant success and growth, and I know that this amazing facility will continue to support our student athletes and the education of other students from a range of academic programs,” Chancellor Katherine Frank said.

The new 1,900-square-foot space is designed for gamers and spectators alike. In addition to rows of 34 high-end gaming PCs — 10 of which are on a competition stage at the front of the room — the area features comfortable seating for teammates and spectators, stylish design features such as recessed lighting and textured walls, huge monitors to watch the action, and a streaming booth where hosts can provide commentary for online audiences (who can follow the team at twitch.tv/StoutEsports).

Coach Aaron Froelich congratulates a competitor in the new Esports Arena.

�� is an esports trailblazer

�� esports is part of the Wisconsin Esports Conference, which includes teams from 22 Wisconsin schools, including public and private universities and technical colleges. The program has just under 40 students on its roster, divided into five varsity teams — competing in Overwatch, Valorant, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. and Marvel Rivals — and one “Academy” team, the equivalent of a junior varsity squad.

Head Coach Aaron Froelich, who is starting his third academic year with the esports program, said the new arena raises the program ��. profile on campus and among peer institutions.

“Something that ��. really special about this new place is that it allows us to have more team camaraderie within our different game titles,” Froelich said. “I like to compare it either to an athletic department or a track and field team, where you’ve got all these subdivisions within it. Previously we didn’t have a lot of cross-pollination between those rosters.”

In 2020, �� became the first public university in Wisconsin to launch a varsity esports program, which since then has built a tradition of success: Last spring, the Marvel Rivals team won the Wisconsin Esports Conference Championship and placed fifth in the nation across all divisions, while the program won the Wisconsin Valorant Summit LAN championship in 2024. Starting this fall, �� has a new and thriving Esports Club with more than 100 members.

Gaming and esports are also represented academically at ��, which offers a B.F.A. game design and development-art, a B.S. computer science with a game design and development concentration, a minor in esports coaching, and certificates in both esports management and esports production.

Assistant Professor Michael Bird of the kinesiology, health, food and nutritional sciences department said he expects the new arena will give the esports coaching minor a boost.

“The new Esports Arena allows our esports coaching students the ability to interact and coach with the teams, therefore aligning with �� . polytechnic mission,” said Bird, who serves as advisor for the esports coaching minor.

“Recruitment of students and esports athletes will be enhanced by the new facility,” Bird added. “It will provide opportunities to showcase the student athlete experience and also attract nongamers who want to work on the production and sports management side of the events.”

�� esports competitors practice inside the new arena.

Reaching the top of the leaderboard

Also launching this fall is a B.S. game and media studies program, which will give students the communication, research and leadership skills to work with cross-disciplinary teams creating interactive multimedia experiences, said Associate Professor Cody Reimer, the program director.

“Our program acts as the third leg of a tripod alongside game design and development programs in art and computer science,” Reimer said. “Whereas the B.F.A in art trains artists and animators, and the emphasis in game design in the B.S. in computer science trains programmers, our program focuses on all the other knowledge necessary to study, create and understand games and other media.”

Reimer called the new Esports Arena a “natural extension” of �� . efforts to grow and support a culture of gaming that aligns with the university ��. polytechnic mission.

“The gaming industry, including esports, is not a fledgling subculture anymore,” he said. “The creation of this arena represents institutional recognition and investment that puts Stout and our esports teams at the top of the leaderboards. It means opportunities for not just student athletes and coaches, but also for academic programs.”

The esports industry is growing in terms of both spectators and financial impact. According to recent research, the global esports audience is expected to reach 640 million people this year, while global esports revenue is estimated to be $4.8 billion.

Head Coach Aaron Froelich cuts a ribbon at the formal unveiling of the Esports Arena on Oct. 2, 2025.

Championship-level environment

Esports team members say their new hub will help the program level up by providing a more spacious, welcoming and visible environment.

“I think it ��. going to help a lot with the recruiting side,” said Trey Johnson, a junior from Barron and a member of the Rocket League Academy team. “We’re going to have more people here in person. It ��. going to be a lot more inviting to have people come in and practice.”

The esports program ��. previous space didn’t have enough computers to accommodate multiple teams at one time, which meant players sometimes had to practice in their residence halls instead of building strategy side by side with teammates.

Likewise, the new space makes hosting esports competitions easier:It will be the site of an Oct. 18 Rocket League tournament, the Red Cedar Rumble, whose eight teams will include Michigan State and the University of Minnesota. The arena will also host the WEC State Championship in December, which will draw as many as 20 teams.

“One of my goals is to become one of the premier hosting sites in Wisconsin but also in the Midwest,” explained Froelich.

Cody Larkin, a junior from Hanover, Minnesota, and a member of �� . Overwatch team, agrees that the new arena raises the program ��. profile. Larkin has witnessed this firsthand as a campus tour guide. “We actually get to walk through the arena, and so many people are interested in it,” he said. “They get to see it and say, ‘Oh my gosh, this is cool.’”

Froelich said the new arena helps dispel any lingering stereotypes about esports athletes being little more than casual gamers. “We’re out here, we’re competing and representing the university,” he said. “Our players practice as a team for 15 to 20 hours a week and put in a ton of time on their own to hone their craft.

“They take it extremely seriously,” he concluded. “They’re highly competitive.”

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Teams begin play in state-of-the-art space funded with Foundation gift Coach fist bumps esports player in Esports Arena

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Surging �� esports program scores new arena for 2025, thanks to $1M gift from Foundation

polingj — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 19:20:41 +0000

Surging �� esports program scores new arena for 2025, thanks to $1M gift from Foundationpolingj September 12, 2024

Lab in University Library to be converted into ‘state-of-the-art’ home for team ��. matches and academic opportunities

The esports program at �� had a banner year in 2023-24, winning a state championship and qualifying for two national tournaments.

Along with a record roster this fall of nearly 50 players, some nationally ranked, and high hopes for more competitive success, the Blue Devils are excited about what lies just ahead: A new $1 million arena in fall 2025.

The �� Foundation and Alumni Association is donating the money to create the arena on the first floor of the University Library. The project will include renovating a lab space and equipping it with state-of-the-art technology to build out a new home for Blue Devil esports.

A rendering shows a potential interior of a new $1 million arena for the �� esports program on the first floor of the University Library / Contributed photo

“The �� Foundation Board is delighted to further the athletic and academic innovation and achievement of our student athletes with a new, state-of-the-art esports arena. As we say at Stout, this is a very ‘Stout Proud’ moment for our board,” said Linda Funk, president of the Foundation Board of Directors.

Construction is expected to start in March and finish prior to the 2025 fall semester.

“��'s continued leadership in esports is impressive — forming the first varsity team among the Universities of Wisconsin; launching the first associated academic program, a minor in esports coaching, in the state; and winning a collegiate championship,” Funk added.

The coed esports team, part of �� Athletics, is competing from a retrofitted classroom in Heritage Hall, but the space only is large enough for 12 computer stations — meaning many team members still must practice and compete from their residence halls or apartments.

Blue Devil esports players have new jersey tops for the 2024-25 season. / ��

“The current space is not viable for the future,” said Coach Aaron Froelich. “The university is really invested in esports, and with this Foundation gift we’re headed in the right direction.”

Having the arena in a central campus location also will help bring the sport to the forefront on campus. “The accessibility and visibility will be great,” Froelich said.

Heritage Hall will be shut down for a $139 million renovation project beginning in spring 2025. “It ��. good timing to find a new home for the esports team,” said Justin Utpadel, senior facilities officer.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the �� Foundation on this project that supports our esports athletes and reinforces our connection between athletics and academics, enabling us to utilize this space to its fullest potential. I am excited to see how this new space will transform our esports program,” Utpadel said.

The �� Valorant team won the 2024 state title last spring, going undefeated in tournament play. / ��

The site plan aligns with the university ��. long-range plan to make the library a campus hub. The space also could be used as an applied learning lab for students in �� . esports coaching minor, game design and development program and other academic programs and uses.

Many esports team members are majoring in game design, computer science, and computer networking and infrastructure engineering.

“It ��. definitely going to be an esports arena, but there ��. an opportunity to have academic instruction there too,” Utpadel said.

Arena to feature ‘state-of-the-art’ equipment

The room, on the first floor of the library near the lobby, is about 2,000 square feet. It has been used as a computer lab and is divided into two spaces, but it will be opened up and brightened up with esports team branding, special effects lighting, a spectator area, windows and a production room to broadcast matches to online fans.

Noah Filtz was on �� . state championship team in spring 2024. / ��

About 75% of the budget will be for renovation and 25% for new computers, monitors, broadcast technology and special tables and chairs designed for esports.

Space will exist for up to 34 computer stations — nearly three times the current arena — along with overhead TV screens. The arena will give �� the ability to host matches and regional events.

“A state-of-the-art broadcasting system will be the best in Wisconsin and one of the best in the nation,” Froelich said. “This will be the future for Stout esports for many years. We can continue to grow into this space, and it will be a highlight for recruiting.

“The team members are really excited to have a space to call their own. Right now they don’t have a communal place to play, socialize and build camaraderie. It will be nice to get everyone under one roof,” Froelich said.

After winning the Wisconsin Valorant Summit LAN championship last spring, defeating UW-Madison in the title match, �� will transition to the new Wisconsin Esports Conference this year with teams from public and private universities and colleges. Froelich helped found and is co-director of the conference.

�� also is a member of NACE — National Association of Collegiate Esports. The Blue Devils have four varsity teams, Overwatch, Valorant, Rocket League and Super Smash Bros. that compete in the fall and spring, along with three Academy or junior varsity teams.

###

The esports program at �� had a banner year in 2023-24, winning a state championship and qualifying for two national tournaments. esports arena 1

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Esports champion: Valorant team goes undefeated in state collegiate tournament

polingj — Wed, 01 May 2024 20:11:36 +0000

Esports champion: Valorant team goes undefeated in state collegiate tournamentpolingj May 1, 2024

Blue Devils defeat UW-Milwaukee, UW-Madison to claim title

An esports team from �� is a state collegiate champion.

The Blue Devils’ Valorant squad defeated UW-Madison Red 3-0 in the best-of-five Grand Final to take the Wisconsin Valorant Summit LAN championship. �� won 13-5, 13-5 and 13-1.

The finals win capped off a perfect run in the championship. The Blue Devils defeated UW-Milwaukee 2-0 in the semifinals, 16-14 and 13-7.

The championship caps off a highly successful season for the university ��. esports competitive video game teams, with the Valorant and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate winning their conferences and qualifying for the national tournaments.

Valorant team members, from left, are Noah Filtz, Coach Tobey Riedmann, JJ Hanson, Nathan Lenz, Em Humphrey and Hoang Dang. / ��

“This Valorant team has put in a ton of work during the school year,” said Coach Aaron Froelich, who has led �� . esports program since summer 2023. “Competing in both semesters can be extremely time-consuming and challenging for our student athletes to stay on top of their academic work while also succeeding in their game.”

The team improved on its third-place finish in the state event last fall.

“They knew they could perform at a higher level. For most of our players, last season was the first time they have traveled to compete in Valorant so we brought that experience to this season ��. state championship. Our players were composed and focused on one thing, winning,” Froehlich said.

“I am very proud of the team for setting high goals and holding themselves to a high standard when it comes to preparation and execution during our matches. I look forward to seeing how this team continues to succeed into the future.”

�� . Noah Filtz competes during a Valorant match. He was named Co-MVP of the state finals. / ��

Six state teams qualified for the Valorant state finals April 26-27 at Waukesha County Technical College, including three from UW-Madison. In online qualifying, �� won its two matches to advance directly to the LAN — local area network — in-person semifinals.

Valorant, by Riot Games, is for two teams of five players each who attack and defend their positions using various strategies on different maps for each round.

The Blue Devils’ Noah Filtz, of Oregon, Wis., was named the tournament co-most valuable player.

Other team members were Em Humphrey, of Waunakee; JJ Hanson, of Lindstrom, Minn.; Nathan Lenz, of St. Paul; and Hoang Dang, of Altoona.

Valorant Coach Tobey Riedmann, of Menomonie, also is a student and is in the university ��. new esports coaching minor.

�� has been a Wisconsin leader in esports since 2020, when it became the first university in the Universities of Wisconsin to launch a varsity program.

The university ��. gaming roots are connected to its nationally ranked game design and development-art program and computer science program.

�� hosts the biannual Stout Game Expo, SGX, featuring student-made games. SGX, western Wisconsin's largest game developers' event, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall.

###

An esports team from �� is a state collegiate champion. Nathan Filtz Valorant team

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Next level: Two Blue Devil esports teams head to nationals

polingj — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 14:29:58 +0000

Next level: Two Blue Devil esports teams head to nationalspolingj April 2, 2024

Student athletes’ experiences enhanced by game design, esports coaching programs

The National Association of Collegiate Esports Varsity Premier playoffs kick off this week, and two University of Wisconsin-Stout Blue Devil teams — Valorant and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — are headed to nationals after winning their conferences.

“Stout ��. esports teams continue to compete at the highest level in NACE. Our Valorant team has proven it can compete with the best teams in the nation, and our Smash Ultimate team is young but already seeing success. I am extremely excited to see how they grow over the coming years,” said Coach Aaron Froelich, who has led �� . esports program since summer 2023.

�� . #17 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team will face #16 Shawnee State University at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2. The winner will play #1 Michigan State University at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 4.

�� esports teams compete from their arena in Heritage Hall. / ��

�� . #14 Valorant team will face off against #3 Maryville University at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3.

Matches will be broadcast live at www.twitch.tv/StoutEsports.

�� has been a Wisconsin leader in esports since 2020, when it became the first university in the Universities of Wisconsin to launch a varsity program.

But the university ��. gaming roots go deeper. It ��. the only university in the state to offer both art- and computer science-focused degree programs in game design. And in 2023, it expanded its academic strengths in game design and development when it became the first UW school to launch an esports coaching minor.

��'s semiannual Stout Game Expo, SGX, is the largest such event of its kind in Wisconsin. / ��

��'s motion capture lab is an integral part of the game design and development programs. / ��

�� also hosts the biannual Stout Game Expo, which features games designed by �� students. SGX, western Wisconsin's largest game developers' event, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall.

According to sophomore game design student Ethan Hershberger, the confluence of athletic and competition opportunities distinguish ��.

“Playing on an esports team has enhanced my passion for games and has offered a lot of insight into certain aspects of their creation, which has impacted my study of game design here at Stout,” said Hershberger of Edwardsville, Ill., who captains Stout ��. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team.

�� . esports teams compete from their home arena in Heritage Hall.

Members of �� . Valorant team. / ��

Valorant team returns with flawless conference season

After getting knocked out of the LCQ in the fall 2023 season, the Valorant team made it a goal to succeed this spring. The Blue Devils qualified for playoffs with a 7-0 regular season in NACE Varsity Premier.

“It's been a great season for us so far, and I think a big part of it was a new focus on our team culture. With playoffs ahead of us in all three of our leagues, I'm excited to face them as a team and how we match up against some of the national powerhouse programs,” said Valorant Coach Tobey Riedmann.

Riedmann, of Menomonie, is a senior in business administration, earning a minor in esports coaching. He is in his second year of coaching Valorant. He previously coached �� . Overwatch team.

Riedmann ��. Valorant team is composed of Noah Filtz, of Oregon, Wis.; Em Humphrey, of Waunakee; JJ Hanson, of Lindstrom, Minn.; Nathan Lenz, of St. Paul; and Hoang Dang, of Altoona.

�� competes against Concordia University during a recent match. / ��

Season conference recap

2-0 win vs Lindenwood University
2-0 win vs Wayne State University
2-0 win vs Old Dominion University
Forfeit win vs University of Kentucky
2-1 win vs St. Ambrose University
2-0 win vs University of Cincinnati
2-0 win vs University of Windsor

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team fights into playoffs with fresh faces

Between the fall 2023 and spring seasons, the Blue Devils Smash Ultimate team graduated their coach and a player on the roster. Now rebuilding with a full freshman and sophomore roster, the Blue Devils were looking to improve on their previous 3-4 record. They finished 6-1 with a four-game win streak to secure first place in conference play and a spot in the NACE playoffs.

“We accomplished our goal of making playoffs this year, but we aren't done yet. Not by a long shot,” said Smash Ultimate Coach Zach Janot.

�� competes against Concordia University during a recent match. / ��

In addition to Hershberger, Janot ��. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate squad includes Sam Mead, of Inver Grove Heights, Minn.; Ryan Heer, of Pewaukee; Ethan Skains, of Waseca, Minn.; Derek Normann, of Minneapolis; and Ben Willem, of Waunakee.

Season conference recap

2-1 win vs Grand Valley State University
Forfeit win vs DePaul University
1-2 Loss vs Minnesota State University, Mankato
2-0 win vs Siena Heights University
2-0 win vs Waukesha County Technical College
2-1 win vs University of Michigan – Flint
Forfeit win vs Creighton University

NACE is the largest member association of college and university sponsored esports programs that promotes the education and development of students through intercollegiate esports.

###

– The National Association of Collegiate Esports Varsity Premier playoffs kick off this week, and two �� teams have made the fields. esports 2

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University to offer minor in esports coaching beginning in the fall

polingj — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 17:58:20 +0000

University to offer minor in esports coaching beginning in the fallpolingj April 3, 2023

Growing popularity of competitive sport, university ��. established varsity team help lead to first such program in state

�� is taking the lead again in the esports field in Wisconsin.

After becoming the first UW System school to offer an interscholastic esports — competitive video game — team in 2020, the university will be the first to offer an esports coaching minor, beginning in fall 2023.

The minor could appeal to students majoring in game design and development-art, animation and digital media, members of the Blue Devil esports team and others with an interest in what has become a $2 billion a year worldwide industry.

�� esports team players compete from their new arena in Heritage Hall. The arena includes new computers, monitors and chairs that are standard in competitive gaming. / ��

From game design to competing to coaching, �� provides three aspects of esports interaction for students.

“Esports obviously is growing. There ��. a lot of interest. Some students have already expressed an interest in this,” said Assistant Professor Mike Bird, who has helped develop the minor and teaches in the university ��. health, wellness and fitness program.

�� already offers a coaching minor. The separate esports minor will use the same curriculum except for three courses in the esports track: Introduction to Game Design, Psychology of Video Games and Coaching Esports. Only the coaching course will have to be developed; the other two already exist as foundation courses within the game design program.

Mike Bird, �� assistant professor of health, wellness and fitness / ��

The coaching minor will include a practicum, requiring students to complete a short-term coaching experience at some level of organized athletics. �� esports minors, for example, could connect with a high school, university or professional team for their practicum.

Similarities exist with coaching any team, Bird said, but with esports there are obvious differences because of the computer technology, digital competition environment and various games or leagues in which teams compete.

The Blue Devil esports team is in its third varsity season and has about 40 players and student coaches. The university competes in five games, League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. and Valorant, some in the fall and some in the spring.

Also, junior varsity teams have been added in Overwatch, Rocket League and Valorant, said Travis Miller, esports director for Blue Devil Athletics.

Stout Esports

Learn more about ��'s esports program and related academic opportunities.

�� plays teams across the country. Matches can be individual or three-on-three and typically are contested remotely.

The Blue Devils play from an esports arena in Heritage Hall. A production lab recently was added next to the arena, and more matches will be streamed starting this spring.

“The esports component continues to grow in popularity, whether it ��. in middle school, high school or college teams,” Bird said. “It ��. not going away.”

The Blue Devils belong to the National Association of Collegiate Esports, which has more than 170 member schools representing more than 5,000 student athletes.

###

�� is taking the lead again in the esports field in Wisconsin. esports 2

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Esports team coming together at new arena, with new gaming equipment

In video game lingo, the esports program at �� is poised for more “GG” — good games — thanks in part to a new home arena.

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Esports team coming together at new arena, with new gaming equipment

polingj — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 15:01:18 +0000

Esports team coming together at new arena, with new gaming equipmentpolingj April 18, 2022

Players have home base, latest technology to help them compete nationally

In video game lingo, the esports program at University of Wisconsin-Stout is poised for more “GG” — good games — thanks in part to a new home arena equipped with the latest in gaming gear.

A former classroom on the third floor in Heritage Hall has been repurposed as the home base for the Blue Devil esports team.

On game nights, up to a dozen players in Blue Devil jersey tops sit tight in their high-back black gaming chairs, fix their gazes on flashing video screens and shout into their microphones as they take on opponents from across the nation.

The new arena includes new computers, monitors and chairs that are standard in competitive gaming. / ��

Previously, players in the third-year program were competing remotely and individually from their residence halls and apartments, two of those years during the pandemic.

“It was fine playing at home, but it doesn’t emulate the power you feel in the room,” said team member Logan Frischmann. “After a nice round you can run around the room and high-five your teammates and talk strategy between games.”

“The best thing is the amount of camaraderie you can build. It ��. nice to see people grow and fulfill their dream in this type of environment. People can thrive,” added Frischmann, of Medford, a junior majoring in dietetics.

“We can finally be together,” said Travis Miller, esports director from Blue Devil Athletics.

Travis Miller is the �� esports program director / ��

The program is in its second varsity season and has about 30 players and student coaches. The university competes in three games, Overwatch, League of Legends and Rocket League and will add two games in the fall, Valorant and Super Smash Bros., boosting the roster to about 40 next season after tryouts.

�� has a nationally ranked bachelor ��. degree program in game design and development-art, but the esports roster has players from a variety of academic disciplines.

New equipment

The new equipment includes computers, monitors and chairs that are “top of the line,” Miller said.

The Hewlett-Packard Omen computers have a powerful central processing unit and graphics processing unit, the latter allowing players to experience realistic scenes, including reflections off glass and water, to help them process moves when competing.

�� esports players and coaches from the Overwatch team wear new jerseys on a game night in their new Heritage Hall arena. / ��

The 280 hertz monitors mean the screens refresh 280 frames per second, almost twice as fast as a standard gaming computer. “You see it in live time and are caught up with what ��. actually happening,” said Toby Riedmann, Overwatch coach.

Riedmann, of Menomonie, is a junior business administration major. He was a national top 500 Overwatch player independently before choosing to coach the �� team when the esports program began in 2019.

The monitors are 24 inches, not overly wide, but a smaller monitor works better for competitive gaming because players can see everything that ��. happening in their field of vision without having to move their heads, Miller said.

The new chairs are modeled after seats that race car drivers use. “Everything is comfortable, with adjustable heights and arm rests. It allows for customization,” Miller said.

�� esports team players compete from their new arena in Heritage Hall. / ��

The arena includes a projector so that players can stream video of their past performances and watch them together, like traditional athletics teams that watch film of previous games or of opponents.

Miller also is an assistant softball coach and previously was an assistant baseball coach at ��. He is a former collegiate baseball player at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa, and Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb.

Teams are doing well

�� has been competitive nationally this year. The Rocket League team made the National Association of Collegiate Esports playoffs, and the Overwatch and League of Legends teams missed the playoffs by one victory each.

The Rocket League team also made the playoffs in the Wisconsin Collegiate Rocket League and will play in person Friday, April 30, at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. It ��. �� . first in-person match in the history of the program.

Logan Frischmann, a �� esports team member in the Overwatch league, is a junior majoring in dietetics. / ��

“We’re competing against a lot of schools that offer scholarships,” Miller said. “We’re lucky to have a lot of talent already here.”

One of those talented players is Frischmann, who is ranked 264th nationally — the top 1% — in Overwatch out of between 15,000 and 25,000 players.

Frischmann enjoys the challenge of esports as much as he did playing high school football. “It ��. almost on the same level of mental acuity. The high level of precision you need to maintain for hours is super draining,” he said.

A match, like in volleyball, consists of a best of five series of games; the first team to win three games takes the match. Each game takes between five and 25 minutes.

The Blue Devils’ arena could expand to an adjacent room, which would be used for production, streaming the matches and a play-by-play announcer, which are standard setups at many competing schools, Miller said.

The Blue Devils belong to the National Association of Collegiate Esports, which has more than 170 member schools representing more than 5,000 student athletes.

###

In video game lingo, the esports program at �� is poised for more “GG” — good games — thanks in part to a new home arena. esports 4

University Marketing

Inside Stout, debuts featuring the university ��. esports team

There ��. a new way to hear what ��. happening at �� — the first university wide podcast, Inside Stout.

Hero Caption: �� esports team players compete from their new arena in Heritage Hall. / ��

Duey Naatz

Full Name: Duane Naatz

Job Title: Director of Athletics

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Inside Stout, debuts featuring the university ��. esports team

polingj — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 18:47:30 +0000

Inside Stout, debuts featuring the university ��. esports teampolingj September 1, 2021

First episode features conversation with esports team coach, team member

There ��. a new way to hear what ��. happening at University of Wisconsin-Stout — the first university wide podcast, Inside Stout.

Inside Stout will feature recorded conversations with a variety of people from across the university community. Topics will include news, current events, trends, issues, personal stories, history and more.

The first episode features the university ��. esports team, with Coach Gavin Raph and team member Cheseng Lo, a senior human development and family studies major from Weston. They discuss various aspects of competing for the Blue Devils.

The �� esports Blue Devils, the first esports team in the UW System, began competing in fall 2020.

The Inside Stout podcast logo. / ��

The episode and future episodes can be found on the Inside Stout page at Buzzsprout, a podcast platform. Episodes also will be archived on Buzzsprout.

The goal of the podcast is to provide personal, in-depth accounts of life at Wisconsin ��. �� through the voices of students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the university.

“Inside Stout provides a fresh way to share the stories of how �� positively impacts the lives of students, faculty, staff, west-central Wisconsin and the world,” said Gary Schuster, interim director of Marketing and Communications. “The conversational format tells Stout stories in greater detail. On Inside Stout, you’ll hear the voices of our university community.”

Inside Stout is recorded from a studio in Sorensen Hall; occasional episodes or portions of them also may be recorded on location.

The co-hosts are Pam Powers and Rachel Hallgrimson, who work in MarCom, �� . Marketing Communications office. Powers is a communications specialist, and Hallgrimson is the university ��. social media coordinator.

“Pam and Rachel are experienced interviewers who are eager to find the stories and spotlight the people who make �� a unique comprehensive polytechnic institution,” Schuster added.

Powers has bachelor ��. degrees in mass communications and political science from UW-Superior; and a master ��. degree from the Columbia University School of Journalism in New York. Hallgrimson is a graduate of �� . professional communication and emerging media program. Both have previous broadcast experience.

New episodes, typically 25 to 30 minutes in length, are scheduled to be released every other week during the fall and spring semesters.

###

There ��. a new way to hear what ��. happening at �� — the first university wide podcast, Inside Stout. Inside Stout logo

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Stout Esports

Learn more about ��'s esports program and related academic opportunities.

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New rankings push game design program to elite national level

polingj — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 18:45:34 +0000

New rankings push game design program to elite national levelpolingj April 22, 2021

Princeton Review lists �� No. 5, including No. 1 in Wisconsin and four-state region, among public schools

The game design and development bachelor ��. degree programs at University of Wisconsin-Stout are among the very best in the nation.

That ��. according to new rankings from Princeton Review, an educational services company that surveyed 150 colleges and universities with game design majors.

The 2021 rankings put �� at No. 5 in the U.S. among public universities, as well as the No. 1 ranking in Wisconsin.

Andrew Williams, game design-art program director. / �� photo

"Our programs in game design and development are a success story because of the quality of our students and faculty. They are some of the most driven, dedicated and skilled people you will ever get the pleasure to work with,” said Associate Professor Andrew Williams, director of �� . BFA game design and development-art program.

�� is No. 2 in the Midwest after Michigan State University and is No. 1 in the four-state region that includes Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa. Other U.S. public schools ranked ahead of �� are University of Utah, University of Central Florida and University of Texas at Dallas.

The program is why Jose Estrada, of Miami, Fla., chose ��. He graduates Saturday, May 8, and will begin a summer internship with Riot Games, a Los Angeles company that created the popular game League of Legends.

“I wouldn’t be where I am without Stout. I felt myself growing and saw myself becoming better, transitioning into a professional,” Estrada said.

A visitor to the 2019 Stout Game Expo tries out a VR game made by students. / ��

Students learn how to create video, mobile, board and other types of games, graduating with skill sets that provide opportunities to work at industry leaders in game design and animation, corporations and more. Margaret Clarke Rigotti, 2018 graduate, is a technical director at DreamWorks in California.

In the overall Princeton Review rankings, which include private, Canadian and European schools, �� was No. 25.

The university ��. MFA in design program, which offers courses in game design, also was ranked among the best — sixth among U.S. public universities and 24th overall.

"This ranking proves that our graduate students continue to break barriers and redefine game design research,” said Associate Professor Erik Evensen, MFA program director. “Our transdisciplinary approach allows them to leverage all the excellent resources of the game design area with faculty expertise across campus to produce cutting-edge scholarship."

More national rankings

New rankings from an industry organization, Animation Career Review from San Francisco, also put �� . BFA game design program in elite company.

Erik Evensen, MFA in design program director. / ��

The university was ranked No. 1 in Wisconsin, No. 7 in the Midwest and No. 19 nationally among public universities, as well as No. 43 nationally overall. �� repeated as the best in the state and improved six places overall nationally and slightly in the other categories.

In addition, among schools offering a Bachelor of Fine Arts in game design, �� was 11th overall nationally. Along with the BFA, �� offers a Bachelor of Science in computer science with a concentration in game design.

The ninth annual rankings by Animation Career Review considered programs at 125 schools.

The six BFA programs in �� . School of Art and Design include the animation and digital media program, also ranked No. 1 in Wisconsin by Animation Career Review.

�� . game design and animation lab spaces include a state-of-the-art Vicon Motion Capture Studio.

�� has a competitive esports team that began playing last fall.

###

The game design and development bachelor ��. degree programs at �� are among the very best in the nation. Game expo VR

University Marketing

Game Design & Development Studios

Game Design and Development studios are where students gain core skills in drawing, 3D modeling, and animation.

Andrew Williams

Working at the intersection of game development and design history, Dr. Andrew Williams is a Professor at University of Wisconsin-Stout in the School of Art & Design. Williams’ game industry experience includes Art Director and lead environment artist on “The American Revolution Series” an episodic educational history game for middle and high school students. Williams’ other game development experience includes co-Producer and lead developer for the historical videogame "Witness to the Revolution," game and narrative designer for the interactive exhibit “Play the Past” at the Minnesota History Center. Williams is the author of the video game history textbook, History of Digital Games: Developments in Art, Design and Interaction. Williams also served as the Director for two nationally-ranked, career-focused Bachelor of Fine Arts university programs in game art and animation at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Teaching Interests: Design History, Digital Games, Material Culture

Full Name: Dr. Andrew Williams

Job Title: Professor

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College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: School of Art & Design Design Department

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All Degree Programs

Curriculum Vitae: Andrew Williams CV (296.97 KB)

Website: Portfolio on ArtStation

Education:

Degree: Ph.D. Cultural and Historical Analysis of Design

University: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Degree: M.S. History of Interiors and Material Culture

University: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Degree: B.A. History

University: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

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Speaker to address aging game players, accessibility in video games

polingj — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 17:21:58 +0000

Speaker to address aging game players, accessibility in video gamespolingj March 19, 2021

De Schutter is creator of Brukel, game designed to sensitize players to the impact of war on innocent bystanders

A video game designer and researcher well known for his work on the design of video games for aging players is the next guest for the School of Art and Design Speaker Series.

Bob De Schutter, the C. Michael Armstrong professor of Applied Game Design at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, will speak virtually from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24, on Microsoft Teams. The event is free and open to the public. De Schutter will debunk stereotypes that surround players over 50 years of age and outline how aspiring game developers can make games better for aging players.

De Schutter designed the digital game Brukel. The game explores the childhood and teenage years of De Schutter ��. grandmother and is designed around five hours of her reminiscing about her past at the Brukel farmhouse and living on the front during World War II.

Bob De Schutter / Contributed photo

The game won runner-up for the best digital game at Meaningful Play, three Belgian Game Awards and a Gold Medal at the International Serious Play Awards. The game was designed to sensitize generations about the impact of war on innocent bystanders.

School of Art and Design Director Dave Beck, who is also associate dean of the College of Arts, Communication, Humanities and Social Sciences, said he had heard De Schutter speak and knew he was a perfect match to speak to �� student artists, designers and the community. De Schutter is speaking during Art and Design Week.

“Our game design and development program at �� is very unique,” Beck said. “We educate students to realize that there is more to games than what they might find on PlayStation or Steam. The world of games and interactivity is growing larger by the day and reaching industries such as medical, construction, data visualization and education. Having De Schutter virtually visit and speak with us will allow for the students to gain yet another perspective on the diverse array of opportunities in this growing, evolving field.

Dave Beck / ��

“Just as populations adopt different trends, lifestyles and technologies – and carry those on into their older age – the same applies to games,” Beck said. “Whether it is through mobile/tablet gaming, board gaming, console gaming or even virtual reality, games are not bound by a specific age group, and we will continue to see this as the games medium matures along with the populations that first adopted it. It ��. yet another platform that will bring people together while also keeping a person ��. brain sharp as they solve puzzles and complex problems through a game environment.”

At a Game Developer ��. Conference in 2016, De Schutter spoke on designing meaningful games for the older audience. He noted that 27% of U.S. gamers are over 50, and at that time the average gamer age was 35.

The Pew Research Center estimates 40% of people between 50 and 64 play games. As the U.S. population ages, by 2050 about one-fifth of the world will be over age 50. De Schutter noted that by 2045 there could be more than 105 million U.S. gamers over 50, more than today ��. population of Spain and Italy combined.

Designers will need to make games accessible and provide great content to make them fun to play, De Schutter said at the conference.

De Schutter will also be virtually visiting senior capstone game design classes, providing feedback to students on their projects, Beck said.

Art and Design Week is from Monday, March 22, through Friday, March 26. It is a professional development opportunity in the Bachelor of Fine Arts programs. The event by Career Services and the School of Art and Design helps connect students with employers, design professionals and alumni. It includes portfolio reviews, panel discussions and workshops.

�� offers two undergraduate game design programs, a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Science, the latter in computer science with a concentration in game design. In these programs, students learn how to create video, mobile, board and other types of games. The MFA in design program also offers courses in game design.

###

A video game designer is the next guest for the School of Art and Design Speaker Series. Bob De Schutter

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Game design senior creates virtual reality training for 3M

Benetti ��. internship reaffirms career goals in interactive experiences

Dave Beck

Dave Beck is a practicing game designer and owner of the board game company, Paverson Games. He is the designer of the award-winning board game Distilled: The Spirited Strategy Game and co-designer of Luthier: The Art of the Instrument.

Beck has also designed video games, such as Tombeaux, released on Steam in 2018. This interactive experience investigates the convergence between cultures and the environment across a few hundred years of midwestern American history.

Beck is the recipient of the 2010 International Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge Award, given by the National Science Foundation, and his artwork has been featured in publications such as the New York Times, Sculpture Magazine, National Geographic, the journal Science, and the book GameScenes: Art in the Age of Videogames.

Full Name: Dave Beck

Job Title: Professor

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Area of Expertise: Game Design Video Game Design & Development Board Game Design Independent Business Owner Board Game Publishing

College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: School of Art & Design Design Department

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All Degree Programs

Curriculum Vitae: David Beck CV (417.55 KB)

Website: Personal Website Paverson Games

Education:

Degree: M.F.A. Sculpture & Extended Media

University: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Degree: M.A. Studio Art

University: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Degree: B.A. Studio Arts & Ancient Studies

University: St. Olaf College

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Q&A: Logan Koneczny, esports Rocket League team member

polingj — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 16:08:26 +0000

Q&A: Logan Koneczny, esports Rocket League team memberpolingj July 1, 2020

'I think this team is special'

Name: Logan Koneczny, esports Rocket League team member
Hometown: Hermantown, Minn.
Year in school: Junior
Major: Computer networking and information technology

What is your experience level with Rocket League? I started playing video games competitively after I saved up from working my first job around the age of 16. I played Counterstrike Global Offensive for two years and was playing just under the semipro level. Around when I turned 18 I was beginning to bore of CSGO. I had Rocket league installed and played it here and there but never really focused on the game. I started to put more and more time into it and started participating in organized leagues to try and better myself against higher competition. I continued to do this through my senior year of high school and into my freshman year of college. I decided to set a goal to make a team and play for my college in Collegiate Rocket League.

What makes Rocket League a fun and challenging game? First, there is no game like it. Often with other games likes FPS (first-person shooter), you can be good just from the mechanics you learn in other games. This doesn’t apply to Rocket League, which makes learning new techniques and skills in the game more challenging but also more rewarding once you master them. Second, the Rocket League skill ceiling is very high, so you always have something to work and improve on. It ��. a team-orientated game. You need to be able to rely on teammates to make touches or back you up on your mistakes, so being able to find a group of players that you mesh well with is challenging but rewarding in the end because often times you’ll make friends in the process.

What is your assessment of �� . Rocket League team? Our team already competed (independently) in the biggest nationwide tournament Collegiate Rocket League offered and took the 19th seed out of 250 teams last spring. I think the biggest strength that the esports program has at Stout is the friendships players already have. This is going to make playing together and communication way easier and will speed up improvement of the players and teams.

How are you and teammates preparing for the season? I think this team is special, because outside of the game we are close friends, which helps us communicate and handle situations in the game. Alex Kotowski, Joey Messina and I have been communicating and playing in the offseason to prepare for the coming fall. We have been playing ranked games together against the top 2% of the game, as well as scrimmaging other colleges like Purdue and Cincinnati and doing very well. We also play the game on our own time and work on our mechanics and constituency in training.

What are your thoughts about �� starting esports? What excites me the most is the practices, the late nights playing with the team and the experiences we are going to share. From playing in tournaments and seeing our growth as a team, to just having fun playing and practicing as a group in the esports room, I really wouldn’t want to play with anyone else.

###

Esports Rocket League player loves the game and the friendships he's made. Logan Koneczny

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Esports team coming together at new arena, with new gaming equipment

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Inside Stout, debuts featuring the university ��������. esports team

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Speaker to address aging game players, accessibility in video games

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Q&A: Logan Koneczny, esports Rocket League team member

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Championship �� esports program levels up with new $1M arena

�� is an esports trailblazer

Surging �� esports program scores new arena for 2025, thanks to $1M gift from Foundation

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Inside Stout, debuts featuring the university ��. esports team