Toronto-based esports organizer Millennial Esports brought their Gear.Club racing simulator experience to this year’s Global Gaming Expo, looking, in the company’s words, for Las Vegas’ Fastest Gamer. Qualifying took place Tuesday at Millennial’s booth, #5020, on the G2E show floor.
Throughout the day, attendees stopped by the booth to take their turn in the driver’s seat and compete for several packages of Razer-brand gaming gear and the grand prize: a Schmidt Peterson VIP package to the 2019 Indianapolis 500 and bragging rights as Las Vegas’ Fastest Gamer.
Cory Roberts, CDC’s Associate Publisher, placed second overall
The qualifying round saw participants compete against the clock on a standardized race course in the Gear.Club game. Much as athletes try to use the highest-quality equipment possible, it’s important in esports to have quality gear for the players, and Millennial Esports’ setup came complete with a comfortable adjustable racing chair, a sim racing wheel, foot pedals for acceleration and braking, and a vibrant flat panel display.
The final elimination round of the tournament was located in the Venetian Ballroom during the G2E Welcome Ceremony, to give tradeshow attendees a first-hand look at how an actual esports tournament is conducted. For the final round, Millennial Esports switched games, to Driveclub, a more realistic racing game from Sony. For this final round, Millennial Esports’ setup had a projection screen, a small video production team, and an announcer to keep everyone in attendance focused on the action and aware of what was happening. Dozens crowded the tournament area, many to get their first look at esports action in person.
CDC Gaming Associate Publisher Cory Roberts competed in both the qualifiers and the final, eventually finishing second overall. Roberts had nothing but positive things to say about the experience.
“I’ve watched a lot of esports tournaments online, but this was my first time taking part in one,” Roberts said later. “It was a lot of fun, and I was a little more nervous than I expected to be.”
“I’m probably pretty lucky that I was playing against G2E attendees and not esports athletes,” he joked.
