With the move-in weekend behind us, the Storrs campus is bustling with students going to their classes for the first time, seeking the thrill of meeting a professor for the first time or finding a new building. But, once the day is done and the adventuring is finished, is there any time for gaming?
It may seem like a trivial question. After all, the University of Connecticut is first and foremost an academic institution. However, considering that a survey by Vorhaus Advisors found that nearly 76% of adults in the United States play video games, there must be an underlying interest on the Storrs campus. Likewise, although potentially biased, the Entertainment Software Association released a report in 2023 finding that games can reduce stress and anxiety.
Putting the pieces together, I realized that for first-year and returning students alike, gaming is a core component of unwinding and entertainment. If you’re living with a roommate or in a crowded dorm room, you may be worried about the noise or feel you’re unable to play with friends. In this guide, I’ll introduce the world of gaming on the Storrs campus and show ways you can fit it into your schedule.
Let’s begin with the place where you may be most likely to play games: the dorm room. Depending on your setup and location, the cramped and often shared space may not seem like a great place to game. But consider asking your roommate if they play, and maybe that can kindle some nostalgia and interest in similar games. And just like that, you’re gaming. Keep in mind, that’s an ideal case. I remember my first year at Storrs and it felt a little awkward keeping a screen on while my roommate tried to sleep. So, how can that be avoided?
It all depends on what games you play, and how you play them. For instance, the Nintendo Switch, awaiting a successor to be released in 2025, is a hybrid system that can be used portably and on a TV. In my estimation, it’s the best option for gaming in Storrs. Plus, if you’re worried about the screen keeping your roommate up, why not play under the blankets? You can also get products such as screen covers which help keep your late-night gaming experience enclosed.
However, the Nintendo Switch isn’t for everyone, and it’s seven years old. What other options are there?
Well, PC gamers may be hesitant to make the switch to a laptop, especially for more demanding titles. However,options like the Steam Deck, or the ASUS ROG Rally can help provide that portable, lightweight PC gaming experience.
All that said, if you have space for monitors or a TV, there’s no reason not to have some game nights or tournaments with roommates and friends. Not only is it a great way to break the ice, but it’s also a shared interest for so many students that it should be easy to find people interested in joining in.
Options for game nights may be simple, like playing some split-screen Call of Duty — keep an eye out for Treyarch’s zombies returning in “Black Ops 6” this October — or it may be setting up VR and taking turns in “Beat Saber.”
However, some have found an even better way to have a great game night. Let the nostalgia win over and bring up your family Wii (with 100 million units sold, you’re likely to have one, or know somebody that has one), or PlayStation 2. Older systems like these have plenty of games out. They’re also cheap and easy to find online. Best of all, if you played them as a kid, that fun comes right back when playing them now.
Despite this, after years of experience and the advice of some friends, perhaps the best console to take up to Storrs is the Nintendo Wii U. It features a tablet-like gamepad that serves as a Nintendo Switch alternative, and it allows for multiplayer games, including Nintendo Land — an excellent minigame selection — as well as full backward compatibility with the Nintendo Wii. That means mid-2000s classics such as Wii Sports are playable on the Wii U.
If you have one or are looking to get a new console, the Wii U is a solid choice. However, this just addresses the best way to play alone, or with some friends. If you’re looking to get involved with gaming in a new way at UConn, you have a whole world of options.
Next Wednesday, Sept. 4, is UConn’s Fall Involvement Fair. It’ll host all sorts of clubs and events, but gamers should keep an eye out for The UConn Gaming Club, Nintendo Club, Pokémon Go Club, Super Smash Bros. Club and many others.
In an interview with Daily Campus contributor and Vice President of the Super Smash Bros, Club Hayden Cromer, a fifth-semester communications major with a psychology minor, the question of finding clubs raised an interesting point. “Either just wait until Involvement Fair comes around, or you could Google what you want by name,” he said. “That’s what me and a few of my friends in the club did to find it in the first place.”
When commenting on the role that executive board members play in their clubs, Cromer added, “As an e-board member where you are kind of constantly searching for new club members, you learn they just kind of gravitate naturally to your club, especially running something gaming/e-sports related.” He noted, “If you want to find it, it usually won’t be that hard to find.”
He concluded, “Speaking from the perspective of someone who runs tournaments, everybody is pretty welcoming and easy to talk to because we’re all nerds, respectfully. We’re all there for one thing and love when people share the same passion/interests.”
More info about the clubs can be found on UConntact, but no matter how you choose to game this semester, make some time to unwind and have some much-needed fun.