February Intel Monthly MVP and March Nominations

The Intel Monthly MVP is a community driven award where students around the country can nominate their peers for their outstanding behaviours, activities, achievements and just going above and beyond within gaming and esports.

This February, our MVP is none other than Severige, a current student of UWE and former student of the University of Bristol. Severige was nominated by his peers for the work that he put in to rejuvenate, and by all counts, resurrect the esports section of the University of Bristol's gaming society, and so we wanted to sit down with him to talk about how and why he did it.

So, why did you sign up to be the esports rep at Bristol?

I'm an avid video gamer, and when I joined the University of Bristol's Gaming Society at the start of my second year, I got involved in the esports teams for both Overwatch and Rocket League. I also took part in the society's other events and got to know the committee well. So when applications started to open for the next committee, they were eager to persuade me to apply! But even with that persuasion, I wanted to give back for what the society had given to me for those two years, for providing a platform to get to know other people while playing the games you enjoy the most in an environment that improves your abilities as a competitive team. So there was no better opportunity to do that than to fulfil that role!

What did you do and what were the steps that you took which lead to the success/rebirth of esports at Bristol?

The year was difficult due to the pandemic, with events and socials all moving online. But that didn't hinder the esports activities, and there were, in some ways, benefits from being online. It meant more students were online more often, making communication between myself and the rest of the committee, team captains and players much easier. It also meant students had more free time and were eager to try out esports for the first time, and I felt I was able to make esports more appealing to them as it is much more than just a competition. So for me, the success was brought about by facilitating for new players in organising and maintaining every team through good communication and organisation between myself and each team captain. That started from the forms for team creation, through trials to finalise teams and then on a regular basis during the competition period. We were all passionate about our games and had the experience in organising and improving as teams, and it made those tournament matches some of the best days in a rather tough year.

What motivated you to do this?

I believe esports should be a positive experience that anyone can take part in, and having had that experience myself, I was dedicated to enable that for others. I was also motivated to make that experience the best possible for all so that they can use esports as their break away from stress and to feel they have achieved something as a team, whether it was having fun, beating a rival team or competing well in a tournament.

What do you enjoy about esports, what makes you passionate about it?

I've always enjoyed video games, and esports only elevated that for me. I enjoy watching the best players perform, but it also motivates me to improve at my own game. Participating in esports is definitely one of the best places to do that! Esports is also a great way for me to socialise with others that have the same passion for a game, and is a pass time that relieves the stress from other parts of my life. Esports is also a competition, where the achievements, both big and small, from competing have further driven me to keep improving and gives me a sense of self-efficacy that I apply in other parts of my life.

We've been told that you've laid the groundwork for the future of the society and it's future has been ensured for years, what does that mean and how have you done this?

We had a handover period for the next committee, and I had made sure the next esports rep understood what changes can be made to improve the role. That included the process of creating forms for players to fill to show interest, as well as running trials and how to make them more beneficial in selecting teams and being a more social event to get to know others. Those experiences are then be passed down to future representatives so that the society can continue to improve.

Are you managing to still help Bristol whilst studying at UWE, and are you doing similar things for UWE now that you're there?

Sadly, as I'm focused on my degree, I don't have as much time to support Bristol or UWE this year. During the handover, I was supporting the next esports rep at Bristol in answering questions and have helped them with running trials and methods to go about creating teams based off them. But currently, I'm participating in UWE's Rocket League team, and I've helped other players improve at their game as well as get them to know what esports is all about!

If you know of somebody who you think is an outstanding member of your community, for any reason, then please, nominate them for March's Intel Monthly MVP award - entries are open now! The winner (like Severige) will be awarded a swag bag of Intel goodies, including an exclusive Intel Monthly MVP pin.

Nominations for March close on Friday 18th March at 11:59pm.

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