Purchase geeks have plenty of outlets on campus to express themselves and show pride in their love for anything nerdy from Anime Club, to the CBLA (Comic Book Liberation Army), to Live Action Role-Playing (LARP) through OGRE (Official Guild for Role-playing Enthusiasts) and Systems Malfunction. However, one niche of the geek world, gaming, has been noticeably absent from the list of clubs and organizations. But that piece will finally be represented with a club of its own in the very near future.
Former SUNY Orange student and Purchase transfer Joe DiNozzi is the President of Gamers United – Purchase Branch. He hopes it will become Purchase’s chapter of the Gamers United club that he had helped to create back at SUNY Orange with a small group of friends. DiNozzi, who served as Vice President for Gamers United in SUNY Orange for nearly two years, promises mass diversity when it comes to gaming and that the club will allow members to bring in and play whatever games they desire, with DiNozzi’s philosophy of, “You bring it, we’ll play it.”
“It’s not like we’re a hardcore group,” said DiNozzi. “Everybody is absolutely free to join.”
When most people think of gaming it is associated with video games. However, at Gamers United this will not be the case. The club will cater to card games (Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!), board games (Risk, Monopoly, Life), pencil and paper games (Dungeons & Dragons), and playing card games (Poker).
“We are not a video gaming club,” stated DiNozzi. “We are a whatever you want to do club.”
Gamers United has not been officially approved for funding yet by the PSGA, but the club’s charter is in the final stages of completion and will be submitted for review soon. In order to show the amount of interest on top of the required signatures needed, DiNozzi and Vice President and longtime friend, Alicia Stycheck, held a general interest meeting on October 17.
Not only was there around 15-20 people in attendance for the meeting, there was also what DiNozzi had estimated to be about double the amount of people at the meeting who could not make it but showed interest in being a part of the club. This was something DiNozzi was extremely happy and surprised to see.
“I didn’t expect the enthusiasm,” said DiNozzi. “People were a lot more excited about it than I thought they would be, honestly.”
Many Purchase geeks and gamers have been holding in the enthusiasm for years, simply waiting for something like this to come along to bring gamers together outside of the successful but not frequent RA tournaments. It most definitely showed during the meeting as those who attended seemingly couldn’t wait for the club to be approved and get off of its feet.
“I was really happy,” said Mason Merriam. “I was pretty much like [to my friends], ‘Are you guys goin? Cuz I’m gonna go. You should come with me. I can’t wait for it’.”
“It was good,” said Ryder Jazwiecki on the meeting. “I think it has a lot of potential.”
DiNozzi, Stycheck, and the enthused students aren’t the only ones who were hoping that a gaming club would finally be created on campus. Members of CTS (Campus Technology Services) have long been hoping for students to start something like this and give them their support.
“They’re definitely going to be helping us with computer gaming,” said Stycheck, who is also an intern for CTS. “They have a server on campus that they are going to allow us to use. So they’re definitely interested in computer gaming. Anything that has to do with consoles or PCs they’re going to help us out with.”
CTS wouldn’t be the club’s only ally. RAs who have run video game tournaments over the year are talking with DiNozzi about having collaborated tournaments.
“I hope to,” said DiNozzi. “I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t. One thing they could do is they could come and talk to me and I can put the tournaments together. Or they can put together tournaments and we’ll lend them complete support. Help them get the word out. Advertise for them. Anything they want to do.”
DiNozzi and Stycheck are looking to set up tournaments for the club itself as well. They hope to have regular Super Smash Brothers, Halo 3, and Magic: The Gathering competitions when possible and with prizes based upon whatever the funding will be able to afford. DiNozzi also hopes to eventually hold cross-college tournaments once every year or semester with the SUNY Orange Gamers United to even further allow gamers of all kinds to socialize with those who share their hobbies.
Gregory Beattie, the creator of the Purchase Gaming League Facebook group, was very happy about the club and the organization it can bring in getting gamers together in one location.
“It seems like a good idea and also the fact that they’re encompassing all different games: computer, card games, board games [is good],” said Beattie. “I am very glad. I am filled with happiness and joy.”
Even some of the students attending the meeting showed interest in the opportunity for competing with others. “That should definitely bring a good mix of people and hopefully a good mix of levels so that there’s a good amount of competition,” said Stephen Russo. “I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
With these plans and great support already for this hopeful club, it would seem like gaming geeks may finally be able to have a place to congregate and call home. And according to what DiNozzi preaches, it will be a home for anyone who enjoys gaming regardless of their experience or views.
“Say you’re slightly interested, but you don’t know how the meetings are run and think you won’t get your way because you have unpopular views on Nintendo,” said DiNozzi. “Come by. You’ll be surprised…We will literally do anything the club wants to do.”
Comments
Post new comment