【valorizes, idealizes, and even eroticizes youth】

The valorizes, idealizes, and even eroticizes youthworld's first esports arena at a public university is opening its doors this September and it's decked out with everything a competitive gamer could ever want.

The University of California Irvine's esports arena is set to open Sept. 23, giving the school's competitive gaming teams and communities access to 80 high-end computers and consoles.

Mark Deppe, UC Irvine's acting director of esports, told Mashable the school's esports department reached out to students to figure out exactly what they wanted.

"We did a survey of our student body the last few months and we decided to load all the best games that people enjoy," Deppe said. "A lot of team games like Counter-Strikeand Left for Dead, Blizzard titles like Overwatch, Heroes of the Stormand Hearthstone. And League of Legends of course."

The arena was created with financial and consultation support from Riot Games, the studio behind League of Legends. Along with the arena is UC Irvine's first recognized esports team in League of Legends, which Deppe said includes 10 players with $5,600 scholarships, a coaching staff and analysts.

The first season will be a testing ground for esports' growth at UC Irvine, but if it works Deppe said they would highly consider adding teams in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Overwatchand Hearthstone. The school currently holds a national title in Meleeand won Tespa's OverwatchSummer Series.

It's not all fun and games. The arena is at a school, so it does have academic and research functions.

"We'll be working with our faculty doing research to advance to frontier of what we understand about gaming and gamers," Deppe said. He added the school's video game design program was the largest in the country.

With the arena, the school has the ability to let students who have an interest in casting test out their craft on actual matches -- similar to how some schools have broadcast news programs or radio stations.

"We understand that entertainment is a huge component of esports, so we want to also be broadcasting our stuff whether it's scrims, practices or tutorials -- whatever kind of program our students want to create," Deppe said.

The arena allows for two teams of five to play against each other in a traditional setup where the teams are lined up side-by-side facing the audience. The space can only fit a small crowd, but there will be a casting desk for live streams and a screen for viewing.

To help fund the venture, part of the space will use a PC cafe model; non-team students and the public can pay $4 an hour to use the computers. Deppe said they will create the opportunity for clubs to use the space for free.

All of the computers were provided to the school by iBuyPower, which is also providing support for program costs and scholarships. Other necessary items like chairs, monitors and peripherals were donated by Logitech, Asus and Vertagear.

Aside from its financial and consultation help, Riot Games is also providing a premiere League of Legendsexperience to be announced at a later date. Deppe said the event will include things like unlocked champions, additional skins and bonuses to Influence Points and experience.

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