I enjoy sleeping in — particularly on the weekends. Don’t we all? But sometimes, exceptions are made. Sometimes, these exceptions take us back to the very campus we’re trying to avoid. Sometimes, but even more rarely, these exceptions are worth it.
This coming Saturday, I’ll be lazily rolling out of bed, packing up my rather large computer and heading over to the Bruce Pitman Center — and no, not to work at The Argonaut.
This will mark the fifth notch on my Vandal Overnight Games attendance record, and I wish there were even more. There are few opportunities present for Palouse gamers to gather and bask in all of the entertainment and delight games bring. When these events come around, there’s no bigger mistake than letting them slip through the cracks.
And let’s clarify something — the word “game” is truly all-encompassing here. No, it’s not a mass, stereotypical gathering of certified “nerds” munching on Cheetos and drinking Mountain Dew — well, maybe there’s a small gathering off in the corner somewhere, but that’s OK.
A game can refer to anything. Whether it’s playing a board game with the Palouse Board Gamers, answering a few rounds of trivia, making a Quidditch shot or participating in a 12-hour-long League of Legends bracket tournament, Vandal Overnight gaming comes in a variety of forms.
For me, it’s typically the latter form. It’s one thing to play an online video game with your friends from the safety of your college dungeon. It’s another entirely to sit in person with your team, directly across from dozens of other players competing against you.
I can’t think of a better way to meet new people while also playing my favorite games.
The noise level is loud, the atmosphere is competitive and I admit maybe the environment smells slightly off later in the day, but it’s a truly surreal, adrenaline-filled experience. Even Washington State University sends teams over to compete. (P.S. — stop sending over teams, they’re better than ours.)
If team-based video games aren’t your cup of soda, there are plenty of alternatives as well, both competitive and non-competitive. Games like Super Smash Bros. can help scratch that competitive itch, while virtual reality booths and “micro tournaments” look to appeal to a larger audience.
We’re even treated to “UI leadership” battling it out in Mario Kart. Scott Green vs. Blain Eckles, Mario vs. Luigi, finally on the big screen. It’s no longer a hypothetical — this is now our unabashed reality, and who will come out on top? My money is on whoever picks Donkey Kong.
But what happens when your eyes finally become too tired to stare at a screen?
Maybe take a quick walk to the Murder Mystery room. Engage in a completely random lightsaber fight like the one I saw last year (I still don’t know what was happening). Pick through the hundreds of available tabletop games you’ve never heard of before. If you’re really comfortable in your own skin, sing your heart out with karaoke.
Last year there was even a bus-themed escape room located right outside. I failed to get out. But you know what? I still had a decent time.
I urge everyone to at least check the event out. Even if it’s just for a few minutes, lose a game of chess, throw a few Quidditch shots with the Moscow Manticores or yell out a few trivia answers incorrectly. They might give you a pity prize.
Whether you’re with friends or by yourself, there’s plenty of ways to engage with others and find something appealing. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll win a scholarship while you’re at it.
After hesitantly going for the first time three years ago, I can’t imagine missing another one. Call me nerdy if you must.
Max Rothenberg can be reached at [email protected]