How to Get Game: Conducting Gaming Events in an Academic Library

How to Get Game: Conducting Gaming Events in an Academic LibraryH. David “Giz” Womack

Z. Smith Reynolds Library – Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

H. David “Giz” Womack Z. Smith Reynolds Library – Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem,

North Carolina

What is Get Game@ZSR?What is Get Game@ZSR?

Get Game@ZSR is a series of video game events Get Game@ZSR is a series of video game events that began on a balmy Friday evening in mid-that began on a balmy Friday evening in mid-September 2005, when the normally quiet atrium of September 2005, when the normally quiet atrium of the Z. Smith Reynolds Library of Wake Forest the Z. Smith Reynolds Library of Wake Forest University was filled with the sounds of Madden and University was filled with the sounds of Madden and Halo2, as nearly fifty gamers descended on the Halo2, as nearly fifty gamers descended on the library. library.

Most recently, in February 2006, the Library Most recently, in February 2006, the Library sponsored a Halo2 tournament in one of the large sponsored a Halo2 tournament in one of the large reading rooms. This event resulted in our first Get reading rooms. This event resulted in our first Get Game@ZSR champion, whose name has been Game@ZSR champion, whose name has been engraved on our championship perpetual plaque on engraved on our championship perpetual plaque on display in the Library.display in the Library.

The idea to close the library on Friday night and The idea to close the library on Friday night and invite gamers to play their favorite video and invite gamers to play their favorite video and computer games developed as the Library’s computer games developed as the Library’s Marketing Committee was seeking ideas to reach Marketing Committee was seeking ideas to reach out to students who did not ordinarily find the library out to students who did not ordinarily find the library until much later in the semester. until much later in the semester.

Why Have Gaming Events in an Why Have Gaming Events in an Academic Library?Academic Library?

What better way to reach out to college studentsWhat better way to reach out to college students than to provide a venue for their favorite pastime? than to provide a venue for their favorite pastime? As children, these students played games on the As children, these students played games on the Sony Playstation and Super Nintendo. Now, as Sony Playstation and Super Nintendo. Now, as college students, they will be playing games on the college students, they will be playing games on the Xbox 360 and PS3 in their spare time. Xbox 360 and PS3 in their spare time. Giving Giving students a place to pursue these interests generates students a place to pursue these interests generates goodwill for the Library.goodwill for the Library.How We Did ItHow We Did It

Formats Planning-Open game night for all gaming formats. -Setup for each event began two hours before the event.-Tournament for Xbox Halo2. -Planning including testing game systems with projectors.-Students registered in advance for both types of events.-Student brought their own games, controllers and consoles. Marketing

-Marketed via E-mail, paper fliers, and web announcements.

Days and Times Costs -Open game night on a Friday in September, 7pm-11pm. -Open Game Night $425.-Tournament on a Friday in February, 3pm-6pm. -Tournament $172.

ResourcesResources

Staff for the events include the Library Staff for the events include the Library Information Technology Team Staff (6) and Information Technology Team Staff (6) and Resident Technology Advisors (RTAs) (8).Resident Technology Advisors (RTAs) (8).

Equipment required includes LCD Projectors Equipment required includes LCD Projectors (slated for disposal and rescued for the event), (slated for disposal and rescued for the event), screens, and network hubs to connect Xboxes.screens, and network hubs to connect Xboxes.

Pizza, sodas, water and candy keep everyone Pizza, sodas, water and candy keep everyone happy! happy!

Long extension cords and surge suppressors are Long extension cords and surge suppressors are a must!a must!

Provide painter’s tape and markers to tag ALL Provide painter’s tape and markers to tag ALL the equipment the players bring to the events.the equipment the players bring to the events.

Stock various video connectors for the projectors Stock various video connectors for the projectors

and game systems.and game systems.

Know where all the circuit breaker panels are Know where all the circuit breaker panels are located!located!

Tournaments need a trophy for the winner and a Tournaments need a trophy for the winner and a plaque for the Library.plaque for the Library.

Transforming the LibraryTransforming the Library

The atrium of the Z. Smith Reynolds Library before The atrium of the Z. Smith Reynolds Library before and during the first Get Game@ZSR event in and during the first Get Game@ZSR event in September of 2005.September of 2005.

The Rhoda Channing Reading Room before and The Rhoda Channing Reading Room before and during the February 2006 Halo2 tournament.during the February 2006 Halo2 tournament.