The gaming community united for the most anticipated video gaming event of the year – Gamers Bay 7, held 30 Sept. through 1 Oct.
Now in its seventh year, the event saw a change of venue, from ARC in Camana Bay to the John Gray High School gymnasium. Transformed into a state-of-the-art eSports arena, the venue attracted gamers of all ages and skill levels who immersed themselves in the world of gaming and met gaming celebrities and personalities.
The gaming talents who graced the event included BeckBro Jack, a renowned Minecraft YouTuber and content creator; Karrigan Taylor, a rising star in the world of eSports and streaming; and Overflow, a Call of Duty master and well-known figure in the gaming community.
Attending for the first time was US-based Caymanian Lauren Moore, who is a social and video producer and host for Crunchyroll, with more than 15,000 followers on Twitter and 10,000 on Instagram. She has spent over a decade working in the anime and gaming space.
Moore told the Compass how Gamers Bay points to great opportunities for young Caymanians. “[I]t means so much to me to see this in Cayman and how well done it is. Not only is it a widely successful industry on the gaming development and competitive eSports side, there are so many different aspects to this industry and it is so successful and will continue to grow.
“So many opportunities for Caymanians like myself that it makes sense for us to be a part of this and show younger Caymanians that there are other opportunities in this industry that tap into your passion and your joy and your hobby and the thing that you love,” she said.
Moore noted the significance of holding this event in Cayman. “I was so happy to walk through the door and see this in my home country. I cannot wait to see where it goes from here. On the gaming and anime side, I never really thought there would be a place for me here in Cayman. I always find ways to share Cayman with the world, but now that there is an avenue here for me to come and share this… to share that world with Cayman, is… very emotional for me,” she said.
Gamers Bay 7 also featured exhibitions in which tech vendors showcased the latest in gaming tech and gadgets from local industry experts. Gamers put their skills to the test in several competitions. Industry experts and content creators also spoke about their experience at panel discussions.
The event showcased gaming-inspired cosplay and attendees were also able to shop for exclusive collectibles and merchandise.
“It has been an amazing experience. The whole idea behind the event is to open gateways and create opportunities for our youth and locals,” said Lance Jefferson, one of the organiser of Gamers Bay.
The non-profit Cayman Islands eSports Association recently joined the global eSports Federation, which Jefferson explained will open a whole new world of opportunities here for Caymanians.
“The gaming world has been going on for a long time and it’s just us, in Cayman, to get caught up,” he said, noting the evolution of the industry into a multi-million-dollar enterprise, “where new professionals are born, further education, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) workshops… so many different… aspects that are involved that we had to let Cayman be a part of.”
Jefferson said Cayman will be represented in Santiago, Chile at the Pan-American games for a pilot tournament where they will be introducing eSports, particularly efootball. The winner of the Gamers Bay 7 efootball tournament will also have the chance to compete in the qualifier for a tournament in Saudi Arabia.
“Big things [are] happening in eSports,” Jefferson said.
For the latest news, check out www.gamersbaycayman.com.
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