top of page
WELCOME TO
A series of interconnected programs that builds expertise amongst marginalized communities within gaming in an uplifting way.
THE MINDSET EXPERIENCE INCLUDES
WEBSITE
Intuitive Website
With such an expansive series of programs, it is important for users to be able to access all of the information that they need in one centralized place.
The MINDSET website serves as a seamless transition from the existing XSET website to an intuitive hub of information where users are educated about the full MINDSET initiative and are able to sign up for the various programs.
INFORMATIVE HOMEPAGE
An informative homepage immediately gives you access to all of the information you need to get involved in MINDSET including:
-
What MINDSET is
-
What MINDSET hopes to achieve
-
MINDSET's programs
-
Enrolling in MINDSET
The brief informative snapshots generate intrigue without overwhelming you, encouraging you to read more about the programs on their dedicated pages.
PRACTICAL WORKSHOPS PAGE
Leveling up doesn't stop with the MINDSET summer camp, so the workshops page is an important hub for continued learning.
You'll quickly be able to see what workshops are upcoming, RSVP for them, and browse the workshop content library to catch up on any sessions that you've missed.
Up for an additional challenge? Check out the workshops' Side Quests to really push your learning to the next level and gain that extra experience.
EXHILARATING COMPETITION PAGE
Esports is founded in competition and what better way to kick off the school year in the fall, celebrate your upcoming vacation in the spring, and show off all that you've learned?
The competitions page quickly allows you to register (if you have a preplanned team or are flying solo) or find a team (if you need help connecting with others).
Browse the competition's awards to see what skills are being celebrated this round – and what amazing prizes are being offered by sponsors.
SUMMER CAMP
Summer Camp
The classes and activities of the MINDSET summer camp are carefully cultivated to level up skills while building a network of resources and improving gaming culture for the future.
THE MINDSET SUMMER CAMP PUSHES PLAYERS TO PURSUE THEIR PASSION AND UNLOCK THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL.
An in-person 4-week program, the MINDSET summer camp provides an immersive experience to learn the foundations of gaming. From technical skills, to strategy, to team building, participants will leave with renewed confidence in their abilities, professional connections within the gaming industry, and new friends from across the country.
CORE ACTIVITY - GAMING
What better way to hone their skills than with practical application?
Campers will be split into groups that will become their teams for the 4-week summer camp. Teams will compete against themselves, counselors, and other teams to become familiar with a variety of game genres and find their true calling.
Counters the experiential advantage long-time gamers have.
Provides campers with access to equipment they may not have at home.
Enables campers to learn how to game in a safe, positive, and encouraging environment.
CORE ACTIVITY - BUILD YOUR SET
Just like with conventional sports, players should know their equipment in order to use it to its fullest.
Instead of having to deal with a prebuilt PC that they may have to troubleshoot later, campers will be shown how to build their very own custom PC that they will use to play during the entire program. Once the camp comes to a close, campers will be able to take their build home to continue their gaming adventures.
Builds a foundation of confidence in the knowledge of equipment.
Provides campers with equipment they may not be able to otherwise afford.
Creates the opportunity for a soft introduction to technology for marginalized groups that are underrepresented in that field.
CORE ACTIVITY - STREAMING & PERIPHERALS
As a professional player, learning how to stream and how to set up peripherals is a necessity.
Including everything from custom keyboards, to specialized mice or controllers, to the perfectly fitted headset, peripherals are a staple in gaming. Sponsored by leaders in the industry, campers will be able to experiment with various peripherals and learn how to set them up properly for the best gaming and streaming experience.
Counters the experiential advantage long-time gamers have.
Provides campers with the ability to try out equipment without having to commit to something they may not like.
Enables campers to learn how to set up their equipment in a safe, positive, and encouraging environment.
CORE ACTIVITY - STRATEGY & TECHNIQUES
There’s more to gaming than button smashing and hoping for the best.
Campers will learn how to build teams and strategize for a variety of game genres. With professional and expert gamers to guide them, campers will develop new skills and learn how to analyze situations to push past their gaming limits.
Counters the experiential advantage long-time gamers have.
Connects campers with professionals and experts in the industry that they can continue to rely on.
Enables campers to learn how to game in a safe, positive, and encouraging environment.
CORE ACTIVITY - GAMING HEALTH
Over 50% of gamers experience some level of discomfort within their joints.
Behind every sports team, there are health coaches, physical therapists, and personal trainers. As a professional gamer, knowing how to take care of their body is essential to efficiency and longevity. Campers will learn how to take care of themselves while grinding long hours, easy exercises and stretches, and how to maintain healthy habits.
Provides campers with a healthy foundation to build habits off of.
Educates campers on an issue they may not have ever thought of.
Enables campers to learn how to game in a safe, positive, and encouraging environment.
CORE ACTIVITY - CREATE A GAME
When you understand the why, you can better address the how.
By knowing their environment, campers will learn how to best use it to their advantage – and what better way to understand a game than to try and make one? An exercise in creative thinking and team building, campers will get an overview of what goes into developing a game from industry professionals and have the opportunity to create one themselves.
Provides the opportunity to collaborate with others from across the country whom they may not have met otherwise.
Connects campers with professionals and experts in the industry that they can continue to rely on.
Creates the opportunity for a soft introduction to technology for marginalized groups that are underrepresented in that field.
While Core Activities make up the bulk of the MINDSET camp program, all work and no play makes summer quite dull. With extra supplemental activities to break up the “work”, campers will be encouraged to create relationships with their peers, learn how to work together, and enjoy themselves.
EXTRAS - PAINTBALL
EXTRAS - OBSTACLE COURSES
EXTRAS - BRAND YOUR TEAM
Create a custom logo and design your own jerseys for your team! Wear them to your final gaming session and bring them home with you at the end of the camp.
Put your real-life strategy, agility, and teamwork to the test. Compete against other teams for paintball dominance in a variety of different environments.
Wish you could execute those crazy stunts in real life? Now you can! Test your skills, stretch those stiff muscles, and help your team master the various obstacle courses.
WORKSHOPS
Monthly Workshops
The MINDSET summer camp serves as a crash course to level up the skills of marginalized communities, but the learning doesn’t stop there.
TO CONTINUE HONING THEIR SKILLS, BUILD NEW SKILLS, AND LEARN VALUABLE INSIGHTS WITHIN THE GAMING COMMUNITY, THE MINDSET PROGRAM WILL HOST FREE MONTHLY WORKSHOPS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
Advertised across campus media, MINDSET workshops will be hosted every month by a guest speaker. These speakers include celebrity gamers, professional gamers, members of the XSET staff, and other industry professionals.
These workshops would include a discussion of the speaker’s area of expertise, a demo or walkthrough of some of their skills or their setup, and a Q&A portion.
For those who stick around, after the official workshop is a jam session where participants can play a game with the guest speaker, continue to work on whatever skill was covered with assistance from the guest speaker, break off into teams to work together, and more.
At the end of the MINDSET workshops, users will be consistently engaged and won’t forget what they learned during the summer camp. They will continue to build a strong network of resources and relationships while also building up their skills and honing in on their gaming goals.
COMPETITIONS
Community Competitions
MINDSET’s monthly workshops are a great way to continue building skills while maintaining engagement. As the school year goes on, however, the workshops may feel repetitive and there may be a decline in participation.
TO REVITALIZE INTEREST, GAIN NEW PARTICIPANTS, AND BUILD EXCITEMENT, THE MINDSET PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE BIANNUAL COMMUNITY COMPETITIONS.
Advertised across campus media, MINDSET competitions will be held biannually with one in the fall and one in the spring over a three-day weekend.
The fall competition will feature indie games, specifically those created by developers from marginalized communities, to generate hype and viewership for smaller creators, help support those communities, and introduce players to new and interesting games.
The spring competition will feature mainstream AAA titles, providing the perfect opportunity for partnerships.
With an XSET staff member assigned to each team to break the ice and provide guidance if necessary, teams will compete against each other for wacky and outlandish achievements and awards such as “Most Creative Solution”, “Most Deaths”, “Best Way to Break the Game”, “Fastest Timed Run”, etc.
Winners will get an exclusive trophy for that year and achievement, creating the perfect bragging point amongst their other friends and garnering more interest in the program. Other awards include gaming equipment, accessories, and merchandise, as well as scholarships sponsored by XSET and its partners.
The MINDSET competitions are a great community-building opportunity while also serving a practical purpose. They will start and end the school year with a bang and have MINDSET (and, therefore, XSET) at the forefront of the mind as summer begins again.
Want to know more about my process?
bottom of page