Thirty students attended the Video Game Freeplay this past week, hosted by Tabletop Club, at the Mortola Library. Most of the students who attended the event were non-club members. Video Game Freeplays are held twice a month, the first Friday of the month and on a Wednesday. These Freeplays are popular on campus. Andi el-Saieh, president of Tabletop Club, states that these Freeplays have “been attended by as many as 60+ people.”
At the Freeplays, students can relax and socialize with their peers. el-Saieh states, “The goal of the Video Game Freeplays is to give students a chance to connect with others (who they may not know) and relax while playing their favorite video games. It’s a nice way for students to step away from the stress of classes and assignments to just play some games.”
Games played at the Freeplays include Mortal Kombat and Tekken. Students are also welcome to bring their own videos to the Freeplays and recommend different games. el-Saieh states, “While we bring a PS5 and a Switch (provided by the Center for Student Engagement), we also allow students to bring their own consoles & games. We encourage students to tell us what games they would like in the future so we may purchase them.”
Tabletop Club hosts a wide variety of events, such as Costume & Clues and Murder Mystery. The club will host a Murder Mystery & Costume Contest on October 22nd at 8 PM in Kessel Gottesman. The club will also hold a Video Game Tournament, in which students play Mortal Kombat, on Friday, October 24th at 6 PM in Elm 127. Another Video Game Tournament will be held this upcoming November. The club will host a Jackbox Game Night in collaboration with PacePerk.
Other events that are regularly held by Tabletop Club include Dungeons and Dragons and other Role-play Game-based events like beginner-friendly OneShots and short-term campaigns. The club also hosts Game Nights, which are held monthly, and Friday Video Game Freeplays. Game Nights and Video Game Freeplays are held in collaboration with Mortola Library.
Students can also attend Tabletop’s General Body Meetings, which are held every other Tuesday in Mortola Library. el-Saieh states that at the meetings, “students can recommend games or other events they would like to see from the Tabletop Club.” Board members of Tabletop Club include Andi el-Saieh, Josh Wilson, AJ Kopec, Nicholas Sosa, Isaiah Cintron, Genesis Andujar, Jason Lemonda, and Makhyla Allen.
Students can learn about upcoming events held by Tabletop Club on SetterSync. Students will also be sent polls and information so they can help the club determine what events students want to attend. Students can also follow Tabletop Club on Instagram @pacetabletopplv, as the club posts events, updates, and polls on Instagram.
In addition, students can email Andi el-Saieh at [email protected]. el-saieh states, “Students are also always welcome to reach out to me directly whether they have a question about an event, are interested in collaborating, or just want to suggest an event, I am very responsive!”