College expenses can be daunting: textbooks, notebooks, graphing calculators and “Grand Theft Auto III”? Video games have become as much a part of the college experience as rush parties and tailgating. In a Pew Internet and American Life Project survey released in July of 2003, of the 1,162 students surveyed, all had played a video game at least once in their lives, and at least two-thirds still play them occasionally. Once thought to be an isolating and anti-social activity, video games have evolved into major social events on colleges across the country. Forty-six percent of the respondents to the Pew study played multi-player video games, and 9 percent played multi-player games on a PC.
“NCAA 2005” and “Halo” tournaments take place weekly on Nicholls campus. Particularly popular with students in the residence halls is “Halo.” An Xbox exclusive first-person shooter title that takes place on a ring shaped world, “Halo” can also be played in capture-the-flag and slayer mode, where up to 16 players fight to the death. “NCAA 2005” is a brand new football game ported for all platforms that, for the first time, features Nicholls State as one of the competitors.
“After one round of ‘Halo,’ I was hooked,” Zach Sampson, freshman from New Orleans, said. “It’s a great way to have fun with my buddies.” Sampson also said he enjoys hooking up multiple consoles to play more competitors. “It can get pretty wild,” Sampson said. “It’s hard to keep your wits when you have 15 other people shooting at you.”
Matt Stephenson, culinary arts junior from Hattiesburg, Miss., uses his PS2 to alleviate stress. “They (games) kill boredom between my classes and are a great way to unwind after a stressful day in the kitchen,” Stephenson said.
Some students enjoy games simply for the thrill of beating an opponent.
“It’s all about the competition,” Walter Richard, culinary arts senior from Thibodaux, said. “There’s nothing like the feeling of thrashing your buddy in a wicked game of ‘ESPN 2K5.'”
Choosing a console can be confusing with all of the options available in the market place. Each unit appeals to different types of people; it is simply a matter of picking the right system for your gaming needs.
The Big Three
Nintendo GameCube
The GameCube is the first CD-based gaming console released by Nintendo; all of their previous systems were cartridge-based. Aimed at a younger market, the GC is available in black, silver or purple and include sports characters that attract the pre-teen set. With game franchises like “Zelda,” “Pokemon” and “Donkey Kong” performing well, Nintendo has branched out, using third-party developers to create titles for a more mature audience, the most successful being the Resident Evil series.
Priced at only $99, the GameCube is the perfect entry-level console for the young or beginning gamer. With an optional 56 kbps and broadband adapter now available, the GameCube is slowly making its way into the online gaming arena.
Xbox
Released in 2001 to critical acclaim, the Xbox system is Microsoft’s answer to the more popular Sony PlayStation 2. With an 8GB hard drive, Nvidia GeForce graphics card and a Pentium III 733 MHz processor, the Xbox is built for speed. By connecting two to four Xbox systems together through a router, thus creating a Local Access Network, or LAN, up to 16 players can experience the action at the same time. A built-in ethernet connection also allows for easy connection for online play or for hosting a LAN party.
With the launch of Xbox Live in 2003, Microsoft has begun to launch games geared specifically for online multiplayer action. Titles currently available for Xbox Live include “ESPN NFL 2K5,” “NFL Madden 2005” and “Magic: The Gathering – Battlegrounds.”
Aimed at an older, more tech-savvy gamer and priced at only $149, the Xbox has built a solid following with its exclusive titles like “Halo” and “Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay.”
PlayStation 2
Launched in 2000, the Sony PlayStation 2 has sold over 10 million consoles worldwide according to its website. With this advantage, the PS2 has created a strong fan base with its adult-themed titles like “Grand Theft Auto III,” “Manhunt” and “Gran Turismo 3.”
Priced at a competitive $149 and with a broadband connected console at $179, the PS2 has only recently begun to actively promote its online division.
