West Point's eSports Program: A Winning Field Trip for Computer Class

West Point Middle School’s computer apps class recently went on an exciting field trip to the U.S. Military Academy's eSports program. This program isn’t just for fun; it has teams that compete against other colleges. Cadets can choose to play casually or join the competitive teams, which play seven different games. Besides playing, there are many other roles available, such as content creation, media, live streaming, production, and management. With over 70 different positions, cadets can use their skills and creativity in various ways.

This visit was especially important for the computer apps class because they are currently learning about game design. The students are working on their own video arcade, which includes creating a game and building a custom controller. They will also promote and explain their project, helping them learn more about the game development process.

Deputy Director Victor L. Castro led the class on a thorough tour, showing them the impressive practice room and the "Cave," which is used for competitive matches against other schools. The students even got to play Rocket League on powerful computers and learn about the support side of eSports, like streaming. This hands-on experience gave them valuable insights and inspiration for their game design project.