Friday, April 7,2006
Page 4
CAMPUSVOICE
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Above: The Game Expo offered fans an opportunity to show off their gaming skills.
Game Expo draws hundreds here
How could one gather hundreds
of people of different ages for nine
hours straight on a Saturday at
Wayne Community College? Have
a video game expo!
On Feb. 4, Wayne Community
College held its first annual
Video Game Expo. The event was
presented by Phi Beta Lambda and
sponsored by EB Games, NCisp.
net, Bawls energy drink and ITSS
Inc.
It took place in the WLC building
and showed .off the many video
game platforms available, along
with the most popular games for
each system. Platforms such as the
Playstation 2, Nintendo Gamecube,
the Xbox and the Xbox 360 were
all there.
The main attraction for many
was the Xbox 360. It is the newest
of the systems and also supports
the best graphics. However, with
only a limited number available in
town, for many gamers the expo
offered the only chance they had
to experience it.
Along with the modern game
Top, left: Gamers enjoy a game
of Dance Dance Revolution.
Bottom: The arcade brought
a retro feel to the Expo.
Story and photos by
CANDIDO VEGA-CRUZ
consoles, the mighty arcade was
also at the event. With titles such
as Marvel Vs. Capcom, Pac-Man,
King of Fighters and Contra,
older gamers had the chance to
relive some memories with the
now endangered species.
Other big attractions were the
game tournaments. Gamers had
a chance to show off their skills
competing against other players
in games such as Halo 2 and
Madden 06. The winners of each
tournament received trophies
and prizes.
Many of the people who
showed up for. the event were
WCC students. One of them was
Tim Smith.
“I am a fan of videogames,”
he said, “and play about 3 hours
a day.”
WCC student Kentrell
Chadwick said, “I came for the
game play. I am a big fan, and I
have been playing for years.”
The event also showed that
videogames appeal to different
age groups. Tim Hobson, 13,
said, “I came in particular to see
Madden 06. I love video games
and I have been here (at the expo)
since it started.”
Dana Hill, 21, said, “I came
to enjoy gameplay with fellow
gamers.”
The expo helped to do away
with the notion that videogames
only appeal to guys. With a
steady balance of guys and girls
present, it was obvious that the
gap was closing on the once
male-dominated pastime.
Present at the event were the
co-founders of WomenGamers.
com, Phaedra Boinodiris and
Ismini Roby. They offered advice
to gamers on how to get into
the videogame industry and
what they might expect if they
made it.
“Get involved in the IGDA
(International Game Developers
Association), beta testing,
artwork, and have a portfolio
ready,” Ms. Ismini said. “The
job market in the videogame
industry is very competitive, so
get involved and be able to show
your passion.”
With several hundred people
attending, the gaming expo was
a huge success, leaving many
gamers satisfied with the wide
array of games and prizes.
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