Paradise Media eSport emerges as a leading FIFA Gaming Tournament |03 November 2023
In the heart of the gaming community, a new contender has risen: Paradise Media eSport. What began as a friendly competition between Johnny Volcère and a few friends in 2018 has evolved into a significant eSports event, attracting players and sponsors alike.
The competition's genesis was simple. Held at Mr Volcere's residence, seven to eight friends would gather to determine the most skilled FIFA player among them. But as the game's popularity surged in 2022, so did the group's membership. Recognising the potential, Mr Volcère took it upon himself to host a more formal competition at his own studio, Paradise Media.
Mr Volcère not only sponsored the initial competitions but also drove the branding through Paradise Media. From photos of winners to videos of intense gaming moments, the media coverage only intensified the public's interest. As the competition's visibility grew, sponsorships began pouring in, leading Mr Volcère to officially register the event, giving birth to Paradise Media eSport.
The organisation is not solely under the helm of Mr Volcère. A committee of young professionals from diverse fields, including IT and finance, has been instrumental in laying down rules, regulations, and ensuring fair play.
A core tenet of Paradise Media eSport is more than just maintaining a friendly environment; it is about fostering a supportive community that helps keep young individuals engaged and out of trouble.
By uniting players from various backgrounds, the competition provides a platform for camaraderie, laughter, and healthy competition.
“If someone comes with a negative vibe, they are taken out of our group. We maintain a positive atmosphere,” Mr Volcère stresses. The initiative is not merely about gaming but creating a safe haven for the youth to bond and grow together. Best of all, participation in Paradise Media eSport's tournaments is completely free, making it an accessible haven for all young gaming enthusiasts.
Paradise Media eSport hosts the tournaments four times throughout the year. The main cup, the most prestigious of them all, culminates in the awarding of the Ballon D’or at year-end. Currently, two key competitions garner significant attention: the mid-year knockout and the end-of-year league system. In this end-of-year league, 16 participants are divided into two pools, Pool A and Pool B, with eight players each. However, to ensure inclusivity and a chance for new talents, there is an open play-off system where anyone can participate.
The top four from these play-offs join the 12 pre-selected players to make up the 16 competitors for the league. Within their respective pools, players face off against each other, and the top two from each pool proceed to a final league.
Here, in a fierce showdown, the best player is crowned with the Ballon D’or. Impressively, Mr Volcère holds the current Ballon D’or title, having won it last year and successfully defending it this year. On the other hand, the mid-year knockout champions are rewarded with medals, with Aubrey Yocette being the latest recipient. The game of choice for these tournaments is EA FC24. Additionally, Paradise Media eSport is set to introduce a new 2v2 format due to increasing demand, potentially doubling the participation from 16 to 32. The most recent competition, aptly named ‘End of an Era’, has also added to the event's growing legacy.
While FIFA has been the game of choice, recent licensing changes have shifted the competition to EAFC 24, played on the PlayStation 5.
Paradise Media eSport also boasts a pro-league for the elite. The top 16 from their ‘End of an Era’ competition get placed in a specialised WhatsApp group, granting them exclusive updates and the ability to live-stream the pool draws. Fans can tune in, enhancing the event's interactive nature.
On the sponsorship front, Guinness was the first major brand to back Paradise Media eSport. Emphasising a family-friendly vibe, the partnership has strategically avoided alcohol promotion, focusing instead on brand advertising through player jerseys. “This is something they are supporting us in to go even bigger,” Mr Volcère comments.
From its grassroots beginning to its current prominence, Paradise Media eSport showcases the potential of community-driven events and the unifying power of gaming.
Furthermore, Mr Volcère also noted that he would like the relevant higher authorities to look into eSports and make it something worthwhile pursuing in Seychelles due to all its positive aspects. It was even recently added to the Olympics.
“The level that we are playing video games here is the same level as overseas. It is not impossible to have Seychelles win an Olympic medal in this competition. This is a big opportunity,” he stated.
Seychelles NATION had the chance to speak to the winner of the knockout competition, Aubrey Yocette, to figure out why he joined the competition in the first place and how he felt after winning it. He was part of the original group which played FIFA with Mr Volcère and by default, he partook in the competition when it started. “The idea is that we continue to grow and encourage the youth,” he stated. He spoke about the diversity in the age gap of the participants in the competition, showing that football transcends all borders and gaming brings people together. Despite participating in physical sports, Mr Yocette has always held gaming in his heart. “We see the potential to tap into the eSports industry in Seychelles.”
He used online gaming as the method to reach his maximum potential to be able to remain competitive and years of fiercely playing FIFA and he practised and honed his skills. “You need tunnel vision to remain focus.”
When asked if he needs to readapt to the change of the annual release of FIFA, he concurred that it does take a certain adaptability to be able to play each new release of FIFA as the gameplay changes and things that were easier to do before, may not be as easy to do in the next iteration.
To conclude, Mr Yocette explained that while he is happy that he has won and it does hold a certain pride, it is more about the “bragging right” about the situation that is worth winning. The accomplishments can also extend to the other youth to give them that motivation.
Sunny Esparon
Photos: Contributed
