Leading the local e-sport race

NEWCASTLE – Gone are the days when gaming was exclusively part of the ‘nerd culture’.

Today, e-sport champions earn themselves millions from conquering competitive online and coop gaming tournaments, and gaming is shedding the stigmas.

And now Newcastle has stepped up its own game.

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From Friday until Saturday, local group Alien Nation hosted a overnight LAN (Local Area Network connection) at NG Die Kruin.

Close to 50 entrants came hardwired for competition.

“We hosted the event for the youth group because there is not much to do in Newcastle,” explained Alien Nation’s founders, Jacques Kritzinger and Kevin Scheepers.

This LAN was the third hosted by Alien Nation.

The first event was cobbled together by a few friends to help raise funds for the church, pitting players against each other in games series such as Call of Duty, Counter-Strike and League of Legends.

In the time since, Alien Nation has attracted four sponsors.

“We aren’t hosting the LANs for profit, but to give people the gaming experience.”

It took Jacuqes, Kevin and friend, Zandre Thomson every evening from Monday until the day of the LAN to get the hall kitted out in preparation.

And for their efforts, the event was dubbed a huge success.

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Gerard Koorts, on behalf of Die Kruin, said Alien Nation planned to host similar LANS four times annually, especially around school holidays.

“We had LANs in the past, and we were trying to start it up again. They get better each time, and it’s preferable to having children on the streets causing trouble.”