The Great Gaming Lounge 

It started with a dream, a passion for gaming, and a commitment to change the cultural view that gaming is not very productive and that one derives little benefit other than the immediate gratification of basic entertainment.

In 2017 the Great Gaming Lounge opened. What started off as just a physical space for gameplay and hosting eSports events has now evolved into an idea, a solution to a tremendous problem that will transform what video gaming means to gamers, but more so to the education of the people who are close to gamers and of the rest of society by extension.

In 2018, we started our secondary school eSports league. Our aim is to help our young gamers to discover the 4Ps of Gaming:- #POWER to learn, #POTENTIAL to win, #PRIDE in your skills, and the #POSSIBILITIES to succeed.

Schools that have participated in the Secondary School Esports League

1. Queen’s Royal College
2. Presentation College Chaguanas
3. Waterloo Secondary School
4. San Juan South Secondary School
5. Trinity College East
6. Chaguanas North Secondary School
7. Tunapuna Secondary
8. Hillview College
9. Adonis Academy

Why Esports?

The problem

1. The lack of acceptable video gaming facilities available to gamers compounded by the lack of respect for gaming as a legitimate path to personal development and individual success. 
2. The  “cultural issue” – a general sense that gaming is not a very productive undertaking and one derives little benefit other than the immediate gratification of basic entertainment.

The solution

The Great Gaming Lounge (GGL)

GGL is more than just a location for the facilitation of video gaming, but an initiative that can change the negative perception of gaming to a positive one, by becoming an institute of collaborative development for gamers on all levels and the organization of teams to compete at the highest levels possible. 

Goals

• To educate the public on the benefits of gaming/eSports
• To create an atmosphere of constant competition and reward – sustaining meaningful engagement and fostering rapid development of all members/patrons. 
• Initiate a “Big Brother” mentorship program
• Promote a no video game day
• To groom players/teams for local and  international competitions
• To create a space where gamers can enjoy other attractions that interest them
• Anime
• Manga
• Comics
• Cosplay
• Sports
• Movies

We aim to provide a competitive & organized platform for Secondary School students to participate in eSports and get hands-on experience in some of the career paths the eSports industry provides. We also provide coaching services for the following:

1. Fighting games: Street Fighter, Smash Brothers, Tekken etc
2. Dota 2
3. Apex Legends