Gaming Culture at Centenary

Gaming is one of the most favored pastimes of college students. Whether it’s the unavoidable stress that comes with school life or the mundanity of everyday living, video games have always offered a chance to escape into an immersive world of make-believe. And who doesn’t want a chance to escape?

For a moment, you are no longer a college student; you are Link, the fabled swordsman of Hyrule, tasked with saving the beautiful princess Zelda from the evil wizard Ganon. And for that moment, you are whisked away to a world of strange creatures called Pokémon on a quest to catch ‘em all and unravel the land's mysteries.

Yet video games are more than escapism; they are ingrained in our culture. Timeless stories and meaningful moments of gameplay are forever etched into our lives. For Centenary University’s student body, this is no less true. Video games find their way into nearly every event at Centenary, whether from something as expected as CycloneCon or as obscure as the Vampire Fair!

The most recurrent gaming events at Centenary are the tournaments. Kenneth Pinedo, programming coordinator for gaming activities, hosts monthly gaming tournaments held in the Cyber Space that invites noobs and pros alike to compete for prizes in multiplayer games like Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart, and FIFA. These events invite gamers and onlookers alike to be part of Centenary and its rich gaming culture.

CycloneCon is one of Centenary’s most successful annual events, celebrating pop culture, including video games. Last year, CycloneCon featured numerous gaming events, such as the Super Smash Bros Ultimate Tournament, Five Nights at Freddy’s Jeopardy, and a Game Design Panel. Students also dressed as multiple video game characters for the cosplay event.

Centenary’s gaming community is constantly growing, with more and more students taking an interest in its events. 

“I believe that the population has been steadily increasing year after year when it comes to students who play video games,” said Pinedo.

Hopefully, with enough involvement, Centenary’s gaming culture can grow stronger, leading to more fun activities in the future.