The College of Communication and Education recently hosted a vibrant retro PC gaming event, marking the introduction of its newest program, Computer Animation and Game Development (CAGD). The atmosphere was alive with the pulsating beats of the Unreal Tournament soundtrack, complemented by the mouthwatering aroma of a towering stack of pizzas that welcomed attendees into the festivities.
Celebrating Storytelling in Gaming
Dean Angela Trethewey expressed her enthusiasm for the CAGD program, emphasizing the intrinsic link between compelling storytelling and successful games. This synergy, she believes, will pave the way for innovative projects that will emerge from the college’s creative environment.
As the event unfolded in Tehama 105, the room buzzed with excitement, with students eagerly engaging at various gaming stations. An emulator setup featuring arcade-style joysticks allowed groups of four to relive classics like “Sonic the Hedgehog” and “X-Men.” Nearby, laptops showcased student-developed games alongside a vintage Macintosh running beloved 8-bit titles.
In one corner, an old Commodore computer hummed as players navigated the dungeons of “Eye of the Beholder” on dual monitors, while another pair of laptops offered a nostalgic journey through “Ultima Online,” a groundbreaking role-playing game from the late 90s that continues to attract a dedicated player base.
CAGD Instructor Jeff Underwood reminisced about his own experiences with the game, humorously admitting, “I wasted a ridiculous amount of time on that game. I’m not surprised the servers are still live.”
The event’s highlight was undoubtedly the fierce competition in “Unreal Tournament” and “Duck Game.” The 10-station Unreal Tournament quickly escalated from matches ending at five kills to a thrilling 30 as players embraced the chaotic run-and-gun action.
The eight-player mayhem of Duck Game consistently drew a crowd, as participants took on the roles of quirky two-dimensional ducks armed with an array of weapons, vying for victory in a series of hilarious rounds.
Local non-profit E-waste company Tech Toss, founded by Dakota Rose, contributed equipment and games for the event. Rose highlighted the importance of such gatherings, not only for enjoying retro games but also for fostering community dialogue about the growing issue of electronic waste.
The event encapsulated the joy and camaraderie that local co-op games can inspire, as laughter and cheers echoed throughout the room. While modern gamers may relish the thrill of leading their college football team to victory or engaging in realistic online shootouts, there’s an undeniable charm in the whimsical chaos of shooting a friend’s duck avatar with an ice-ray gun and triumphantly tossing their frozen form into a lake of lava.
Sean Shanks can be reached at [email protected].
