In the mood for a friendly game of Cards Against Humanity, ping pong or MarioParty 10?
The Games Room, located on the bottom floor of the Student Union Memorial Center, houses entertainment for everyone. From a classic game of Monopoly to a customized virtual reality experience, the Games Room is the place to take a break in between classes, spend leisure time in or host an event.
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Open weekdays, from 10 a.m. to midnight, and weekends, noon to midnight, the Games Room can also be a place to meet new people.
The recreational area for students offers five billiards tables, three table tennis tables, multiple gaming computers and consoles, foosball, air-hockey, arcade games, board games and card games. The fun is offered free, or close to it, for UA students, and CatCash can be used to pay.
Board games and cards are available at no charge and video game consoles cost $3 an hour. Billiards, table tennis and poker rentals are priced depending on the amount of players.
Students are required to submit their CatCards as collateral, in case of equipment damage.
Marcus Revels, a new hire in the Games Room, said the room “manages itself” because those who use it are coming to hang out, relax, enjoy the good company of others and the entertainment of a good game.
“Everyone who comes in is pretty understanding of the rules,” he said. “The biggest problem we have is when we have to ask people to take their drinks off the billiards tables.”
According to games room employee Lucas Grijalva, the area is busiest on weekdays around lunchtime.
“Students will come in between classes, and hang out for an hour or so,” he said.
Grijalva is tasked with overseeing the game equipment, including storage, distribution and cleaning, as well as attending to customer care.
The Games Room hosts tournaments throughout the week with $5 buy-ins. Poker nights take place on Tuesdays at 6 p.m., and Magic: the Gathering, a card game, happen on Saturdays at noon. The Billiards club meets there every Thursday from 7-10 p.m.
Pre-business students Huajian Zeng, a sophomore, and Zhexian Xiong, a freshman, go to the Games Room multiple times a week after classes. They came across the Games Room while exploring campus and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere while they play their usual game of billiards.
The newest additions to the room are expected to draw even more attention.
Grijalva said the word hasn’t gotten out to the student body that they recently installed new gaming computers. Online games, such as Dota 2, League of Legends, Team Fortress 2, Minecraft and Heroes of the Storm, that require a PC can now be played in the gaming lounge.
In addition to the brand-new computers, virtual reality comes to the Games Room on the first and third Thursdays of every month.
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Revels explained that the virtual reality experience was built from scratch by students at the UA, and the customized coding and animation varies the different stages and maps in the games. The first stage of the game is set in a forest, with the objective to dodge and defeat surrounding enemies.
“This virtual reality experience is different than the Playstation 4 or Xbox,” Revels said.
Grijalva is also excited about the new virtual reality games.
“It’s not like just holding your phone up to you face, it’s the real thing,” he said.
These new additions, as well as the already existing games, construct the novelty and community offered in the Games Room.
The Games Room can be reserved for private parties, club meetings and other events with either a student manager in the Games Room or event planning on the third floor of the Student Union Memorial Center.
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