Game room opening in the new Student Center and Dining Facility

Contact: Kaitlynn Boot

July 23, 2023

Students sit at gaming computers playing video games. — The 3,000-square-foot game room on the first floor of the Student Center and Dining Facility will house three virtual reality kiosks, a fully equipped esports table open to all students and two multi-cade units with over 60 classic arcade games available.

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Game On, an inclusive 3,000-square-foot game room, will open on the first floor of the new Student Center and Dining Facility on Monday, Aug. 21. Conveniently located across from Starbucks and the retail dining establishments, Game On is a unique space that blends the classic arcade-style game room with comfortable lounge seating and modern gaming experiences.

Students play billiards. — The game room is available to students for free from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m

The highly anticipated space will house three virtual reality kiosks, a fully equipped esports table open to all students and two multi-cade units with over 60 classic arcade games available. Students can check-out XBOX, PS5 and Nintendo Switch consoles to play at one of the numerous big screen televisions located throughout the room. They will also have the opportunity to enjoy billiards, table tennis or spend the evening playing board games or card games with friends. It opens a few weeks after the Monday, July 31, soft opening of the Student Center and Dining Facility in late August.

“We intentionally wanted this to reach many different types of students and adhere to the theme of trying to make the student center as inclusive and welcoming as possible,” says Paul Terzino, director of the student center.

“Students will be able to enjoy a wide variety of entertainment, whether it’s board games, watching a cricket match on one of the TVs, using consoles, esports… We have games we hope will cross cultures and entertain a variety of students.”

The game room and its contents will be available to students for free from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., with usage fees for staff and faculty in effect. Space rentals for Registered Student Organizations to use for game nights or recruitment events will be made available during the fall semester.

“The game room is a benefit to students because it provides an opportunity for recreation activity, to blow off some steam and have some fun between classes,” notes Terzino. “It is also a chance for students to get together and build community.”

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