Gaming Events Reviewing Security Following Jacksonville Shooting

Gaming Events Reviewing Security Following Jacksonville Shooting

The fall out from the Jacksonville shooting includes lawsuits, event cancellations and increased security for future gaming conventions.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Aug 29, 2018

The shooting at The Landing in Jacksonville, Fla. is making waves in the gaming community, including lawsuits, cancelled events and increased security at events.

Just two days after the shooting that killed two people and injured nine more, a Florida firm has announced it plans to file a lawsuit alleging negligent security contributed the mass shooting. Morgan & Morgan attorneys said that Americans have the right to be safe when they attend events in public places and that business and even organizers have a duty under law to provide protection for patrons.

"Businness as usual will no longer be tolerated by Americans," Matt Morgan said. " It's time for business owners and event organizers to step up their game." 

In response to the shooting and its fallout, Electrionic Arts (EA) has cancelled the remaining three qualifying events for its Madden Classic esports tournament.

"We have made the decision to cancel our three remaining Madden Classic qualifier events while we run a comprehensive review of safety protocols for competitors and spectators," EA CEO Andrew Wilson said in a statement released on Monday night. "We will work with our partners and our internal teams to establish a consistent level of security at all of our competitive gaming events."

EA isn't the only company looking to increase security at future events. Twitch, the video service that was streaming the Madden 19 competition during the shooting, is reviewing security plans for its October TwitchCon event.

The broadcast company has already posted security procedures to its TwitchCon website, including the notification that attendees would be scanned upon entry, all bags would be searched and uniformed police and uniformed security guards would be in attendance. After the shooting, however, the company released a statement saying those procedures are being reviewed for potential tightening.

"Security at TwitchCon is our top priority and is something we take very seriously at all our events," the company said in a statement. "We regularly review and iterate on our policies ad approach in order to provide a safe and positive experience for staff, attendees, and exhibitors. In the wake of yesterday's tragedy, we will be re-reviewing our plans and updating them accordingly."

The esports industry has been estimated to be worth nearly $1 billion. With events, competitive tournaments and conventions adding to a large percentage of the industry's revenue. Calls for security have now been heard loud and clear. 

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Data Driven, Proactive Response

    As cities face rising demands for smarter policing and faster emergency response, Real Time Crime Centers (RTCCs) are emerging as essential hubs for data-driven public safety. In this interview, two experts with deep field experience — Ross Bourgeois of New Orleans and Dean Cunningham of Axis Communications — draw on decades of operational, leadership and technology expertise to share how RTCCs are transforming public safety through innovation, interagency collaboration and a relentless focus on community impact. Read Now

  • Integration Imagination: The Future of Connected Operations

    Security teams that collaborate cross-functionally and apply imagination and creativity to envision and design their ideal integrated ecosystem will have the biggest upside to corporate security and operational benefits. Read Now

  • Smarter Access Starts with Flexibility

    Today’s workplaces are undergoing a rapid evolution, driven by hybrid work models, emerging smart technologies, and flexible work schedules. To keep pace with growing workplace demands, buildings are becoming more dynamic – capable of adapting to how people move, work, and interact in real-time. Read Now

  • Trends Keeping an Eye on Business Decisions

    Today, AI continues to transform the way data is used to make important business decisions. AI and the cloud together are redefining how video surveillance systems are being used to simulate human intelligence by combining data analysis, prediction, and process automation with minimal human intervention. Many organizations are upgrading their surveillance systems to reap the benefits of technologies like AI and cloud applications. Read Now

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.