ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) is thrilled to announce the much-awaited return of ROG Academy for its 8th season. After successfully running multiple seasons of VALORANT, the Academy is now going back to its roots and focusing on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), the game that originally launched this esteemed program.
With the campaign centered around #backtobasics, ROG Academy aims to provide aspiring CS:GO enthusiasts with the opportunity to transform their passion into a professional gaming career. ASUS is confident in India's immense potential to embrace and popularize CS:GO, as evident from the growing interest and participation in the competitive scene and the rise of substantial prize pool tournaments hosted by various organizers.
Registrations for ROG Academy Season 8 will begin on Wednesday, 19th July, and aspiring gamers and gaming enthusiasts aged 16 and above can apply through the Official ROG Website. The application process will include answering key questions to help ASUS identify the type of player each applicant is, making sure to find the best fit for the program.
Speaking on the announcement, Arnold Su, Vice President, Consumer and Gaming PC, System Business Group, ASUS India, said “With the return of ROG Academy for its 8th season, ASUS ROG reaffirms its commitment to nurturing and elevating the gaming ecosystem in India. As the leading gaming laptop brand, ASUS aims to provide the best resources, mentorship, and training to the next generation of talented gamers, empowering them to shine on the global esports stage.”
The past seasons of ROG Academy garnered overwhelming success with over 13,000 registrations received. Notably, ROG Academy has successfully transferred 42 players to the professional level till date, where they demonstrated their skills and capabilities. Six ex-academy players even secured placements in Tier 1 and Tier 2 organizations, competing in prestigious events like VCL SA 2023.
To enrich the learning experience for the participants, ROG Academy Season 8 will continue the tradition of inviting esteemed guests. In the previous season, the Academy had the privilege of hosting former IGL of Global Esports, Bhavin "HellRanger" Kotwani, and the current IGL of Orangutan, winners of VCLSA 2023, Sabyasachi "Antidote" Bose. These esteemed professionals provided valuable insights and advice to the participants, further fuelling their passion for gaming.
Aspiring gamers can register on the Official ROG Website from 19th July onwards to be a part of this incredible journey.
Curriculum & Duration:
ASUS ROG Academy is a year-long program aimed at establishing and developing the esports community in India. This season, the curriculum is designed in partnership with AFK Gaming, one of India’s most recognized tournament organizers.
The shortlisted team and players will go through an extensive selection process divided into different phases. This will culminate in 6 select players becoming part of a 6-month long program designed to familiarize the players with the various aspects of gameplay at eminent levels to master the techniques of teamwork, communication, analyzing the opponents, tracking improvement, weapon selection, and skillsets, map breakdown, execute and more. The exercises, schedule, and entire program will be specifically designed keeping in mind the title and the existing skillsets of the players who will be a part of it.
Rewards & Outcome from the training:
The 8th Season of the ROG Academy will witness “CS:GO” as the official title as we continue our journey to discover India's most talented players. The panelists will consist of a representative from ASUS ROG and experienced coach. The players will receive monetary compensation of INR 15,000/ as a stipend on monthly basis during the training. Along with this, the players will be equipped with the latest ROG gears including ROG laptop, monitor, headphones, keyboard, etc. for training purposes.
How to Apply: ROG Academy
Aspiring gamers and gaming enthusiasts aged 16 and above can participate in the program and register themselves on the Official ROG Website from 19st July 2023 onwards. Gamers aged between 16 to 18 need to provide a consent letter from their parents to participate in the academy.
During the registration process, applicants will answer some key questions on the online form that will help Asus determine the type of player they are.
Selection Process
Application Test - All the applicants first must fill out a form, which will gauge their understanding of the game, what role they played and what their behavior is like as a player.
Theory Test - Here, testing situational awareness and decision-making by putting the players on the spot in a tough situation.
Range Test - In this round, the players will be tested for their shooting skills by giving multiple challenges. We put the range bots on hard mode and asked the players to get as high of a score as possible.
Scrims - Lastly, monitor their gameplay, listen to their communication, and figure out who's the best fit for which role.