Kateland Dittig
Equinox Staff
Every Thursday at 8 p.m., the Owl’s Perch on the second floor of the Student Center comes to life with students who are down to have some good old-fashioned fun and friendly competition with one another.
The Gamers Guild, also known as G2, is a college club devoted to the hobby of gaming. The main objective is getting people together and playing any game imaginable.
From Dungeons and Dragons to Call of Duty, the organization partakes in everything. Sophomore Sean Law commented on how the group is extremely inviting and welcomes everyone to become a member to join in on the excitement.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to play a particular game, as current members would be more than happy to teach you rules.
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Law said, “It is a great place to hang out. We are one big family who is always there for each other.”
Senior Joey Macdonald noted that as a transfer student, when he was new at Keene State, he was able to go to a G2 meeting and come across other students who shared the same likes and interests as him.
He found a place where he could be comfortable. Macdonald said it was where he “met all my [his] friends.” Treasurer Chris Mitrano says that the club “brings people together.” He doesn’t have the ability to see all of his friends during the week because of conflicting schedules, but because of G2 he gets time to spend with them. Mitrano also stated that there is a solid 20 to 30 members who come every week and that new faces are always showing up.
All members agree that the atmosphere is very relaxed. President Lindsay Dutton says that the group is “low key.” Students can just show up and get involved in the action.
There are multiple Xbox 360 systems hooked up to televisions as well as a Nintendo Wii and Sony Playstation. Students bring in their favorite games and share them with others. If video games aren’t your style, you have the ability to play pool and ping-pong.
The room is also equipped with a card table, which can be used for board games like Monopoly and Risk. You can basically do whatever you want.
The best part is that everyone has an input on which games students want to play.
At each meeting members talk about business as well as go around and vote on suggestions for the next week, which means all have a voice.
They try to keep as much variety as possible and prevent it from becoming mundane. Vice President Matthew Perras said that if a member’s proposal isn’t chosen they need not fret or be disheartened because “they can easily swap out a game for a couple of minutes.” Students take turns, as they want to make sure everyone is happy and, most of all, has a good time.
Another reason why the club is such a positive environment is because it allows students an accessible location to go to without being pressured into drinking or participating in other activities of the sort.
Freshman Maxx Sandler said, “You can meet a lot of friends who aren’t just into partying every night and you’re never going to be judged here.”
Not only is it a place to engage in sober recreation, but also it’s somewhere to come wind down at the end of the hectic week, let go of worries, and reduce stress. Freshman Julian Helgeson said, “It is a great place to be on Thursday night since I don’t have classes on Fridays.”
The members usually get their game on from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., but there have been a number of occasions when games have gotten so intense that they have played until they were kicked out because the building was closing.
The Gamers Guild has been around for about half a decade now. Last year it struggled since the advisor wasn’t really around to help the E-Board and as a result, the club wasn’t going anywhere.
They also didn’t have the luxury of using the Owl’s Perch last year, which has been totally refurbished. This year is completely different as the funds are flowing and a collection of games is in the works.
The club has already held miniature tournaments, Dance Dance Revolution parties, Just Dance competitions, and jammed out to Rock Band.
G2’s next big event will be its Halloween party, which will entail a costume contest, food, prizes, and games.
The event name is the G2 Ghastly Gathering, which you should keep an eye out for in late October.
If you’re into playing games and meeting a pleasant group of people in a safe zone where you can be yourself, it’s time to check out the Gamers Guild at their next meeting.
Kateland Dittig can be contacted at kdittig@ksc.mailcruiser.com