The local gaming industry has a long way to go. Some Filipinos still see gaming as addictive and dangerous for younger players. Despite the stigma surrounding the concept of gaming, it continues to gain popularity among the young. As of 2021, the Philippine esports market holds over 43 million active gamers; a significant increase of 12.9% every year since 2017.

Guided by their #NotJustPlay campaign, AcadArena takes a step forward in promoting a healthier and responsible gaming culture for young Filipinos. 

Established in 2019, AcadArena (AA) is the biggest alliance of campus gaming organizations in the country. With the goal of helping students build their best campus gaming experience, they provide a wide array of programs and events for students to engage in. Whether they play using PC, mobile, or console, all student gamers are welcome in the alliance.

Here are 8 initiatives by AA to prove that esports is more than just gaming:

1. Scholarships 

Who says gamers can’t be scholars?😤 

Regardless if you’re part of your school’s esports club or not, all college and senior high school undergraduates are qualified to apply for the Scholarship & Aid program. Students can receive up to Php 180,000 in the current cycle. Their latest offers are in partnership with 100Thieves content creators Valkyrae and Fuslie and will be accepting applications until May 22. More deets in the article below:

2. AcadArena Awards

The AAwards is an event that recognizes leaders, players, and student-led projects that stood out among all organizations in every season. This is AA’s way of celebrating the efforts of the students for keeping the spirit of campus esports alive. Winners of the AcadArena Awards 2022 will be announced on April 30.

3. Alliance Games

Season 3 has finally kicked off! This nationwide tournament is an opportunity for esports athletes to show off their skills and claim their rightful spots for the group stages. However, only six teams per game have the chance to fight for the championship at the Playoffs happening live at CONQuest 2023. Call of Duty: Mobile, League of Legends, and Valorant are the featured games for this season.

Find out which teams will emerge this season by tuning in Alliance Games’ Facebook, Twitch, and YouTube pages, every weekend, starting at 2:00 PM!

4. CONQuest

The biggest gaming and pop culture convention in the Philippines is coming back this year with bigger acts coming your way!

CONQuest 2023 is happening on June 2-4 at the SMX Convention Center Manila. You can meet your favorite cosplayers, voice actors, and even gaming content creators such as Sykkuno, LilyPichu, and Pokimane. Musicians like Korean rock band The Rose and our very own James Reid are set to perform as well.

Don’t miss out and buy your tickets here! 

5. Discord community & online events

Take a break from the competitive scene and join the fun in AA’s Discord server! Every week, the moderators prepare fun activities which allow students to form new friendships despite the distance. Setting rivalries aside, members come together for karaoke nights, movie marathons, and even play classic parlor games like Pinoy Henyo and bring me.

Exclusive perks: Project Academy

Joining the Discord servers has exclusive perks too.

Project Academy is a work-in-progress RPG bot produced by AA’s in-house game developers where members can earn rewards by completing their daily quests. The Alpha Test of the game started last March 2023 and beta players (including this writer) are loving it! Everyone’s hooked and are actively communicating suggestions to the devs to help in improving the game. I can’t say much since it’s still in the beta phase, but it’s such a unique way to connect oneself with other players.

Memes, memes, MEMES!

Apart from winning streaks and clinching MVP titles after every game, we can’t leave out funny moments and failed clutches shared with our friends. They’ve got so From the dank memes to socially-aware ones, I bet AA has an Excel sheet of content ideas we could all relate to.

AcadArena Space

Definitely a “dreams come true” moment for the Bulldog gamers down the South! 

Recently, AA announced the launch of its first esports laboratory with National University-Laguna. Spaces will cater to the needs of esports athletes and student gamers by offering a fully-equipped facility including high-end PCs and a student lounge. The university will maximize its Space as a learning center during the day and turn it into a gaming hub after class hours.

So, are you convinced to join the alliance? Get started by joining the Discord server today.

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