GameTech: Chance to win €25k in Fortnite

Ronan Jennings spoke with Lead Comcast (commentator) for the EStars event, Nikita Buffee.

This weekend, Irish gamers will have a chance to enter the biggest Fortnite competition ever held, with EStars, an event that’s open to the public at Croke Park.

Whoever wins will represent Ireland at Stamford Bridge Stadium in London, for a chance to win €25,000.

We spoke with Lead Comcast (commentator) for the event, Nikita Buffee.

Seeing esports arrive in Croke Park is a pretty historic moment for Irish gamers:

I think it’s amazing that we are hosting an esports tournament in such a historical venue. I don’t think anyone would have imagined this 5 years ago. Last year, we started out hosting our first ever tournament across League of Ireland football clubs and that was a huge success. Croke Park is such a great venue with an incredible history, and it makes me very proud to be part of the team that’s able to give fans and gamers the opportunity to play in venues such as these.

What do you see in Irish eSport gamers that is different to other cultures and countries?

The passion. It’s well known within the eSports world that Irish gamers are some of the most vocal, engaged and passionate fans. No matter what the game, when they attend a tournament as fans or players, they bring an energy and enthusiasm that few other countries can match. The community is also very connected and supportive of one another, which is great to see.

The finalists will be chosen by elimination, so anyone can turn up and play Saturday?

That’s exactly right and that is the most exciting thing about EStars featuring Fortnite. As a fan and a player, you don’t expect to be competing for €25,000, that’s normally just for pro players. But it’s possible here, and I don’t think it can get any more exciting. Fortnite and Battle Royale games have opened up esports gaming in a great way for fans at all levels. That was just something that wasn’t available before in Ireland and now EStars is making that possible in a real-life setting, where people from all ages and levels of ability can compete to win major prize money.

How do you think commentating on esports differs from commentating on traditional sports?

I think there are similarities, but like traditional sports, each sport & game has its own style. Rugby is different to tennis which is different to football. It’s the same in the gaming world. Commentating on League of Legends is very different to commentating on Fortnite. Often, it’s about the pace of the game, understanding the quiet moments, the action points, and guiding the viewers’ attention to make sure they don’t miss crucial plays.

I also think that the fact that the audience is younger and is built around internet culture means that esports commentating can sometimes be quite wild, we have a lot of fun, especially if you’re able to interact with the viewers via chat. As a result, the jokes and banter are more light hearted than commentary that might be on national television, that has such a large and varied audience that might want something more structured and traditional.

What makes the difference between a good Fortnite player and a great player?

Good aiming and building mechanics are always going to be important as they form the basics of the game. What really differentiates a good player from a great player, is their decision making, and having a creative approach to the game. Fortnite gives players so many opportunities and options to be creative and the best players use everything to their advantage. Understanding what your opponent will probably do, what he expects you to do, and then doing something different that they didn’t anticipate getting the win. Another thing that top players do is re-watch their games and think about how they could do better.

Tickets are still available and priced at €30 at www.estars.pro