I took a trip down to the new Gaming and Esports Center in Schine Student Center to see what all the hype was about. I am far from qualifying myself as a “gamer” and rarely played video games growing up unless it was at Dave & Busters. (Although at home, I was an outstanding athlete in Wii Sports and often found myself beating my brother in baseball, then celebrating with a “home run celly” dance in our living room.)
The Gaming and Esports Center has console, computer (PC) and virtual reality games. As a Syracuse University student interested in using the Center, all you need is your University I.D., and you’re good to go! When I walked in, the student staff were ready to help and offered some game suggestions that they enjoy playing solo. The Gaming and Esports Center has games for all skill levels, and as a novice myself, I did not feel overwhelmed or confused when trying out new games for the first time.
I started my journey with console games and decided to play FIFA. I played soccer growing up, so I know the basics of the game. I put on the headphones, picked my team and began the match. I quickly learned that soccer on the computer is way more complicated than soccer in real life. I could not score a goal, so I rage quit. I looked to the right and left of me; others concentrated on games like Madden NFL and Mario Kart. After some observation, Mario Kart may be more up my alley, and it was more enjoyable.
A group of friends huddled around a console, competing against each other. It was a good atmosphere where multiple students could bond, even on a Monday afternoon. After a previous visit, it seemed that Friday afternoons were the busiest, so if you want to go during a quiet time, try the weekdays and avoid lunchtime!
With many games offered, you can easily switch to something else if you feel like you’re not having fun with what you’re playing. I easily navigated the console and could play 3-4 games in 20-30 minutes. So if you’re studying in Schine and want a quick study break, you don’t have to commit much time to whatever game you start. You can come and go as you please, but be warned, once you start playing, you can lose track of time quickly!
The Gaming and Esports Center was dimmed, but the rainbow of colors coming off of various light fixtures and the gaming screens illuminated the room. Even though I am not a professional gamer, I certainly felt like one in the space. As I was leaving, the friendly student staff reminded me that there are frequent gaming nights I can attend and “Peer2Peer” opportunities if I ever want to learn more about how the systems work.
All in all, the new Gaming and Esports Center is definitely worth checking out, even if you don’t consider yourself a gamer! It can be a great space to hang with friends or a place where you can give yourself a break from studying and homework to do something fun.
Written By Emily Rutkowski G’25, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications