Students battle on Quad, test out game
In the shadow of Carnegie Library on Sunday, students found themselves in a warzone. The Quad was their battlefield.
Grenades were tossed, rifles were fired and dog tags were collected — all within the confines of the video game systems set up on the Quad for EA Games’ ‘Battlefield 3’ game play event and concert, sponsored by University Union.
Set for release Oct. 25, ‘Battlefield 3’ is a highly anticipated military shooter game set. At the event, students had the chance to play the game early and attend a free concert by rapper Game to promote ‘Battlefield 3.’
EA representative Marshon Floyd said college is the ideal environment for such an event. With work and classes, the opportunity to come out and play a game is a relief.
‘We’re looking to get people back to camaraderie and out of their rooms for this,’ he said. ‘With the Internet, you can play with people all over the world, and coming out and
doing this gives you a sense of that.’
EA frequently takes video games to college campuses to promote their releases. SU has hosted previous game play events, like the FIFA soccer games and the previous Battlefield game, ‘Bad Company 2.’ Floyd, who has been working with EA for five years, has traveled to colleges all over the country.
‘It’s the first time they’ve done a concert, though. We’re working hard on getting the word out there,’ he said.
The game play portion of the event took place at 3 p.m. and led up to Game’s concert, scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Students meandered in and out of the play area to use one of the 16 stations set up with a demo version of the game’s competitive multiplayer mode, in which players compete to rack up kills and complete objectives with their team.
Before the concert, hip-hop music played while EA representatives gave away Battlefield-themed merchandise and offered a free photo opportunity in which participants could pose in military gear.
‘I’m really glad they’re letting us play the game early,’ said attendee Joe Miranda, a freshman in the College of Visual and Performing Arts who spent about an hour playing the game.
He said that what was available for play was merely the game’s beta test, therefore, available for download to anyone with Internet connection.
‘But it’s still cool to come out and play with people,’ he said.
The event also attracted people who wouldn’t consider themselves gamers, including Mieka John, a senior biology major.
‘I thought it was interesting that they have all this set up here for everyone to play,’ she said.
But the event aroused her interest.
‘I’ll give this a try,’ she said. ‘That’s what college is all about anyway — exposing yourself to things you wouldn’t otherwise.’
Published on October 9, 2011 at 12:00 pm
