Game & Co. Inc. and the popular professional gaming team Crazy Raccoon jointly operate the CR Fortnite CAMP, an esports pro gamer experience camp for elementary to high school school students. The third installment of the camp, held in August 2024, reached full capacity within just one week of applications opening, gaining significant traction through social media and word-of-mouth.

To understand the appeal of CR Fortnite CAMP, which has maintained a 100% satisfaction rate from its first to third sessions and received high praise from both children and parents, we interviewed Masui, the camp’s operating producer.

── Could you tell us about the background that led to the establishment of “CR Fortnite CAMP”?

In recent years, the terms “esports” and “pro gamer” have become increasingly common, with professional gamers even ranking high in surveys of occupations elementary and junior high school students aspire to. As someone who was passionate about games from a young age, I’m thrilled to see esports gaining such attention. However, the reality is that the intricacies of the esports industry are still not widely understood by the general public. This led me to believe that many children aspiring to become pro gamers might be doing so based on a vague image.

Furthermore, I heard that many parents struggle with how to approach their child’s interest in gaming. To answer questions like “What does a professional gamer’s job entail?” or “What career paths exist in the gaming industry beyond being a pro gamer?”, we decided to create a program that offers real-world experience. That’s how CR Fortnite CAMP was conceived.

── What do you think are the reasons for the camp’s popularity among children since its inception?

I believe a key reason for its popularity is the opportunity for participating children to receive personalized game instruction from coaches they admire.

In post-event surveys, we’ve received numerous comments such as: “A 2-on-1 lesson where pro gamer Ess directly taught me how to use the gamepad was the happiest moment,” “I was able to directly ask Ruri, who played professionally, about my weaknesses and concerns,”The 2-on-1 lessons and game tournaments helped me understand my own skill level,” and “I was able to have Ruri directly observe my 1v1 gameplay.”

At CR Fortnite CAMP, we primarily invite active and former professional gamers who are at the forefront of esports as coaches. Our program includes “2-on-1 coaching” sessions where one main coach provides dedicated instruction to two participants. This personalized attention is actually why we’ve been able to continue the event at its current scale.

The participants of CR Fortnite CAMP have diverse needs: some are serious about esports, others want to improve their game skills, some seek solutions to minor gaming issues, and many just want to make friends to play games with.

Therefore, we’ve created an environment where both coaches and participants can communicate freely. This includes setting aside time for individual conversations with coaches and grouping participants by similar skill levels from the start, even within their teams. We believe these initiatives contribute significantly to their satisfaction.

── What do you believe is the biggest appeal for the participating children?

I think the greatest appeal lies in the opportunity to connect in person with people who bring diverse perspectives to gaming. For those seriously pursuing esports, the camp provides a testing ground to hone their skills in an environment akin to a real tournament. We’ve also had participants who simply love esports and Fortnite, some even attending to research the gaming and esports industries for their summer vacation projects. The ability to cater to such a wide range of needs is, I believe, the charm of CR Fortnite CAMP.

── What do you consider to be the key factors that help parents confidently decide to enroll their children?

We frequently receive inquiries from parents considering enrollment, asking, “Can my child participate?” or “Can they participate at this rank?” We want to assure them that our program is designed to be enjoyable for everyone, regardless of skill level—from highly-ranked players to those who have just started Fortnite and want to improve efficiently. Our goal is for every participant to feel like it was a worthwhile experience.

Additionally, on the first day of the event, children receive a “Player’s Notebook”, which includes a section for parents to write questions or concerns. On the second day, our staff writes responses, facilitating communication with parents. Some parents only come for drop-off and pick-up, while others observe the event intently. We make an effort to engage with these parents, addressing any anxieties or questions they might have about esports. This open communication is another key factor in building their confidence.

── What specific teaching methods or program content do you particularly emphasize to promote participant growth?

Games inherently allow for a quick “plan, execute, review, and improve” cycle. Our program is designed to help participants practice this cycle themselves and internalize its rhythm.

At CR Fortnite CAMP, we utilize an original booklet called the “Player’s Notebook.” This notebook helps each participant set goals by working backward from their future aspirations, understand their current position relative to those goals, and self-identify areas needing improvement. By clearly separating game time from review time using this notebook, we progress through the program. As children begin to feel their game skills improve, they naturally understand that this cycle leads to progress and instinctively grasp how to apply it.

This “plan, execute, review, and improve” cycle is fundamental to learning and can be applied not only to improving game skills but also to various other areas like school studies and sports. We consciously incorporate it into our program.

── Could you share any memorable episodes or observations of growth among past participants?

We have participants who have attended every session since the first one. They always tell us with a smile how their in-game rank has increased with each camp, and that they feel they are improving. At CR Fortnite CAMP, we prioritize providing opportunities for growth, so it’s incredibly rewarding for us to see participants steadily realize their growth by applying the hints and knowledge gained during the event to their daily lives.

── What kind of feedback have you received from participants and parents regarding the effectiveness of esports-integrated educational programs? And why do you think parents, in particular, highly rate the camp?

We’ve received heartwarming feedback from both participants and parents, such as: “Through the first and second sessions, our child’s circle of friends has expanded, and my child and I are delighted.” and “The best part seemed to be being taught directly by coaches offline and making friends who share the same dreams.”

In games like Fortnite, especially popular FPS titles in Japan, communication often occurs online, and interactions with friends tend to be confined to the virtual world. While online interaction is now commonplace, many parents still express concerns like, “My child just plays games at home all weekend” or “I’m worried about gaming addiction.” To alleviate these parental concerns, CR Fortnite CAMP emphasizes the importance of face-to-face communication for participants.

Indeed, by utilizing time outside of actual gameplay to create opportunities for participants to meet and converse as much as possible, we observe that even children who were initially awkward on the first day naturally become friends on the second day, regardless of age or skill level, simply by sharing their common interest in Fortnite.

── How do you envision young people who become interested in the gaming and esports industries through the CR Fortnite CAMP experience building their future careers?

This is largely my personal hope: the esports industry, for better or worse, still has many undeveloped aspects. In that context, I believe CR Fortnite CAMP is an unprecedented and challenging initiative aimed at children’s career education. I would be thrilled if even one more person, when considering their future career, remembers this event and thinks about new services needed for esports. Also, I’d love it if they could return to the event as future guests, like the professional gamers, official casters, and professional coaches who currently support us!

── Finally, could you share your plans and goals for further developing CR Fortnite CAMP?

Some participants traveled from as far as Kyushu and Hokkaido to attend the camp in Shibuya. Our survey results also show a strong demand for regional events, so our future plan is to expand the locations where we hold the camp. Please look forward to it!