Earlier this month, Take This had our first experience hosting an AFK Quiet Room at a major e-sports event – I was joined by Take This consultant Brian Kunde and three brilliant AFK coordinators in New Orleans, LA for the 2025 Pokémon North America International Championships. The five of us were tasked with, as one of our contacts at Pokémon put it, “turning the Quiet Room into what [they] always wanted it to be.” – a calm oasis in the chaos of a gaming competition.
The space put together by Pokémon North American International Championship was absolutely amazing. The main stage was massive and featured three days of intense competition across four different Pokémon titles – the Pokémon Trading Card game, PokémonGo, Pokémon Violet/Scarlet, and PokémonUnite. But there was so much more! The Pokémon Center, accessible only if you made a timed appointment in advance, opens with a photo area where guests can get pictures in front of various Pokémon cutouts (this year was the Year of Eevee) before continuing on to the official merch store. The store area has every sort of Pokémon collectible imaginable, from plushies to mugs to clothing and backpacks, Pokémon TCG decks, pins, and even a bespoke Pokémon chess board with rows of Magikarps as pawns. The Play Lab was also up and running with professors on standby to teach anyone and everyone how to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game or PokémonUnite. And if that wasn’t enough, there were also side events like the Gym Leader Challenge, a special Activity Zone for collecting and trading Pokémon cards, and even an arts and crafts station for the younger Pokémon trainers, all easily found if you just, as one staff member told me, “head for the giant inflatable Pikachu!”
While I thoroughly enjoyed being in the middle of all the Poké-action, it was really nice having the AFK Room. Like all of Take This’ AFK Rooms, the space at NAIC was a place of calm where we welcomed visitors, maintained a calm and organized environment, and were able to lend a helping hand or listening ear to those who needed a little extra support. Day after day, we met spectators, staff, judges, and competitors who were extremely grateful for the opportunity to sit quietly, color a Mudkip or Charmander coloring sheet, complete a grass-type Pokémon word search, and take a few moments to recharge. I was particularly glad to see competitors taking advantage of our space, giving themselves a break in what must be a grueling (but thrilling!) tournament schedule. This is exactly what our AFK Rooms are for!
All in all, it was a wonderful first Pokémon esports experience for me and a great first appearance at a Pokémon event for Take This. And it was just our first event! We were very happy to see how much spectators and competitors alike appreciated our work, and we are very excited to partner with Pokémon for future events, including the upcoming Pokémon World Championships in Anaheim, CA this August.