Durango is known for its outdoor lifestyle, but as the city looks to its future, video games could play a bigger role.
It has been recommended the city consider adding eGaming to its diverse list of offerings under the Parks and Recreation Department, said Director Cathy Metz.
Metz said her department tries to provide diverse programming, and eGaming might appeal to a generation that spends a lot of time on screens or people who might not want to be outside. The scope of the program needs to be researched and discussed; the costs to implement eGaming also remain unknown.
The proposal is a small mention in a draft master plan that will help guide the Parks and Recreation Department for the next five to 10 years. The plan essentially serves as a road map for the department, and aspects of the plan are subject to change.
Challenges associated with implementing virtual gaming on a department level include balancing it with the department’s more active offerings. The city currently does not offer eGaming as part of its parks and rec programing.
For those who are less inclined to participate in outdoor activities, eGaming provides an enticing alternative and a means to be included in group activities. The fast-emerging sport allows people with disabilities to be included.
Neelay Bhatt, vice president and principle of PROS Consulting, said a mother in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, was able to cheer on her son during a game at the local recreation center for the first time after an eGaming program was offered.
“It allowed them to ensure that, in a truly inclusive spirit, everybody got to be a part of this activity,” Bhatt said.
PROS Consulting, an Indianapolis-based management consulting firm, proposed eGaming to Durango representatives. PROS Consulting views eGaming as an emerging trend that has not yet been widely adopted by parks and recreation departments, Bhatt said. Other agencies look to Durango as a leader in parks and recreation, he said. One way a parks and recreation department meets the needs of the community is by keeping up with trends.
“This was just another way to look at recreation through a different lens,” Bhatt said.
According to the website for PC Magazine, eGaming is a generic term to describe amusement or recreation using a standalone video game, desktop computer or the internet with one or more players. eGaming and eSports have been around since the early 1970s. The first tournament was held at Stanford University, but eSports has since grown to become a global phenomenon, according to Medium and Wikipedia.
So far this year, almost $110 million has been awarded in nearly 2,500 tournaments compared with 10 years ago when about $4 million was awarded at 655 tournaments, according to esportsearnings.com.
The city of Durango is not the only local entity considering eGaming. There is currently an initiative at Fort Lewis College to start a club on campus that would give students the opportunity to come together as part of an eGaming community. While the implementation is in the early stages, a program such as eGaming can bring together people who are usually adverse to social interactions and create a social group among people who might not otherwise socialize, said Patrick Gauthan, manager of technology support services at FLC.
The final draft of the master plan for parks, open space, trails and recreation is set to be brought to Durango City Council for approval and adoption later this year, Metz said.
bmandile@durangoherald.com