Northeastern Technical College’s Esports game room was much quieter during its second summer camp other than a million soft clicking sounds from high schoolers intensely concentrating on their screens.  

NETC Athletic Director and Esports Head Coach helps Lawson Shepard, of Cheraw, adjusted his controller for War Zone to eliminate the vibration function. 

“Many players don’t like the vibration, Nolan said.  

In competitive gaming, immersion is not needed as Esporters seek wins through their gameplay with fewer distractions as possible. If possible, adjusting certain settings in games can improve the frames per second, which is crucial maximizing the computer hardware’s responsiveness. In short: a split second can make a difference. 

“Personally, it gets on my nerves,” Shepard said.  

Rising Cheraw freshman Trent Crawford broke their conversation out of nowhere.

The level 216 Fortnite player stationed on the far side of the NETC Esports game can only be heard by the rest of the campers from only his side.  

“He’s on the other tower,” Crawford said.  

Close by Trey Brock, of Chesterfield, is laying out his battleplans on Total War – a historical strategy game the rising freshman prefers in the vein of Civilization or classic board came Risk. 

“I’m a fan of history,” Brock said. “I can change the outcome of what happens.” 

Two seats away, Crawford strongly instructed his online teammate, “No. No. The other tower.” 

Turns out, Crawford is during an intense sniper battle between him and his partner versus another duo.  

The match did go Crawford’s way as he immediately awaited his next round.  

Fortnite is Crawford’s game of choice – he does play other battle royal or skirmish style games. He prefers the three-dimensional element of moving combat up and down as directions. 

NETC’s high school esports camp gives students the experience of competitive gaming but also serves academic functions, NETC Head Coach Tyler Nolan said. Students learn about the non-playable aspects of the gaming industry such as game development and career paths along gaming strategies. 

Should they want to continue gaming, the high school campers can continue playing during the academic year as with any high school student, should they be enrolled at NETC. 

Although official NETC Esports players are full-time students maintaining a minimum of a 2.0 grade point average, high schoolers who are taking dual enrollment classes through NETC can participate in its Intramural program.  

Students have access to NETC’s game room or can play online where they can compete locally and with other college students throughout the nation. 

For more information, visit online at www.netc.edu, select Student Resources in the top menu, select Athletics then click the NJCAA Esports logo and scroll down to NETC Esports Interest Form. 

Trailblazer Esports can be viewed at www.twtch.tv/netcsports or through the Twitch app at NETCEsports. 

Due to a sinkhole that developed April 18 at the NETC Cheraw Campus exit point facing Hwy 9, it has been closed to thru traffic.

There is one entry and exit point facing Hwy 9.

Traffic may also utilize the entry and exit facing Tec Road.

College Administration and the Maintenance Department are working diligently to address this issue.