In 2022, 3.2 billion people across the globe played video e-games; that is nearly half the world’s total population. It is not only a form of entertainment, but also a way to build and develop cognitive skills.
With our personnel being deployed all over the world in potentially isolating situations, video e-games offer a channel to communicate and an avenue for maintaining positive mental health in stressful times.
Esports is a collective term to describe competitive video gaming. It’s different from standard video gaming in that esports is competitive (human-vs-human) and usually has an engaging spectator element to it, like traditional sports. Like a professional athlete, e-gamers need to know their ‘sport’ inside and out, giving them the best advantage, this requires plenty of training. Most competitive e-games are team based, which replicates the same team skills gained by competing in traditional sport.
The RAF Gamers Network (RGN) is the community aspect of what the RAF's Video E-Game and Esports Association (RAFVGEA) are about. It offers all personnel the opportunity to participate, whatever their ability or competitiveness. As part of this, Esports clubs on each station will run and operate arenas to offer personnel a place to go and a group to socialise and compete for. These clubs will act within the local community around each Station, offering a welfare facility to personnel living on Station.
Initially funded by the RAF Central Fund these arenas will allow anyone, no matter the experience or equipment owned, to participate in events. This brings personnel together outside the workplace increasing cohesion whilst building a team ethic.
E-Gamers from around the RAF will come together twice a year at Insomnia; Insomnia is a gaming festival, held in the NEC, for e-gamers of all backgrounds, identities and ethnicities to come together and celebrate everything that they love about video e-games and popular culture. The RAFVGEA primarily attend this as a social event for its members and an opportunity for its competitive teams to compete.
We want enjoyment to be a priority and ensure a welcoming environment for all.
Esports is the pinnacle of video gaming and offers players the opportunity to build skills such as; strategic thinking, teamwork, communication and leadership. Station Esports clubs will aim to compete, locally, nationally and within the UK Armed Forces using their arenas to host events and allow their respective teams to compete. There is even the opportunity for teams to compete within local leagues.
There are also teams who will represent the RAF as a whole, the best of the best. These teams are highly competitive, training regularly, and will be selected to represent at events such as Insomnia and C.O.D.E Bowl.
We are currently competing on an international level with the RAF Reapers for Call of Duty and the RAF Stormshadows for Rocket League.
There is the potential for competition to take over and become detrimental to the enjoyment of video gaming which is why the RGN exists. We want enjoyment to be a priority and ensure a welcoming environment for all.
The RAFEVGA wants to give personnel a place to share their passion for gaming and offer a social space. This presence on each station will allow the RAFEVGA to recruit and increase the popularity of Esports across the RAF as well as offering welfare to serving personnel worldwide.
Being such a large organisation, we play all styles and genres of e-games including competitive esports, casual video e-games and VR.
RAF e-gaming is open to the RAF's DSUS placement students to take part, and if there are groups within Universities who do want to compete with the RAF, our e-gaming community are happy for them to engage where a separate server can be set-up to allow this. However, unfortunately, this is not open to people who have not joined the RAF due to security reasons.
