Get your game on at Good Game Island

Get your game on at the new spot in town for gamers who want to compete, connect, and even earn a little cash: Good Game Island, an esports and gaming hub for local players. The tournaments are every Thursday from 6-8pm at the third floor of the Casa Marianas (the former Gold Beach Hotel). Show what you’ve got—they’re hiring 24 players to play full time.

Players will go head-to-head in NBA 2K, MLB, and Madden NFL. January is all about football, with the NFL block taking over the consoles after December’s NBA 2K run. Baseball fans won’t have to wait long—MLB takes center stage in February.

The format is a single-elimination bracket, with spots limited to the first eight players to sign up. There’s no entry fee, and it’s free to play. Cash prizes go to the top finishers: $25 for first place and $10 for second. Players must be 18 or older, and the event is alcohol and drug-free, with all prizes paid in cash.

E.J. Blanco, manager of the esports program said that he hopes he can get the local community into the digital economy. “I don’t discriminate—I’d love to see female representation and any ethnicity,” he said. “I know for a fact that people in the CNMI are very driven in sports and athleticism and I believe that through the digital media, it’s no different. All of us are very competitive and very spirited, and I think that this is a great avenue to introduce the world to the CNMI and hopefully we can have amazing representation within this industry.”

Esports has become a huge industry worldwide, with professional teams, leagues, and a big following. In South Korea, it’s treated like any other professional sport, complete with organized competitions and a strong competitive culture. In North America, esports is also growing fast, with professional leagues and college programs giving players more ways to compete and also turn their gaming into a real career.

At Good Game Island, Blanco said their revenue comes from a buyer that purchases data from gamers in the U.S. who play American sports games. “I just know that here in Saipan, football, baseball, and basketball are such big things here in the community that I just think that this is a great fit for anybody that wants to stick their foot in the door and get started in the digital industry in esports specifically. That’s all I hope personally.”

Learn more about Good Game Island at esports.mp