The Michigan Daily-New Student Edition-University-Thursday, September 9, 1993 - Page 3 tPac Man' is here to stay *|'U' students fill need for video games in many ways by David Shepatdson week and the archive gets larger and dents free games for a few hours. Som daily Staff Reporter larger. Students are also free to copy say this is comparable to giving awa e ly As the current decade opened, the 5 year-old video game craze was pro- ndunced dead by most market experts. tEchewing "Asteroids" and "Q-bert," kids aged eight to 14 stopped buying Mnd playing as many video games, trad- Ing in their joysticks for hockey sticks snd other sporting equipment. But college students never got the message. Indeed, video games are a large part bf the overall activities at theUniversity pf Michigan, with students spending large amounts of money. On any given floorofaresidencehall, many Nintendo of Sega Genesis video game systems ae played. But that just scratches the surface. There areabout half a dozen ar- ,6des in Ann Arbor, taking in millions of dollars per year, much of it from University students. UTheUniversity operates an archive pf hundreds of games for all students to .use in computing centers. Traditional computer games, es- pecially "Tetris," on student computers remain extremely popular. * Students discuss video games on computerconferences, including "Game Guild," and play interactive Dungeons and Dragons-esque fantasy games us- ing pseudonyms on a computing net- work with students from other schools. . Gone are the "Pac Man" watches, but in their place these more advanced forms of computerized entertainment serve to relax, enfertain, and allow stu- dents to have fun. -; But most of all, they're addictive. Residential College junior Emmet Wagle says he goes to Pinball Pete's "once or twice a month" to play $2- worth of games. Among the games Wagle plays are "Mortal Combat" and "T2: Judgment ,Day," a pinball game based onthe movie. In recent years, pinball has seen a .resurgence, with many more students *playing pinball than ever before. "It's harmless. It's fun and it takes my mind off classes," Wagle said. Last spring, a new video arcade pened across from Middle Earth on South University, with the added attrac- tion of giving away free popcorn to lure students away from Pinball Pete's. There is an arcade in the Union, two .on South University, one on Packard, oneonWilliam andanotherin the works. Ann Arbor's arcades are admittedly grange places. In an atmosphere of .thick cigarette smoke, gamers break off into several categories says Michael _Richards, an RC junior. "Fifteen year-olds wearing black leather outfits and roaming in packs, 40 year-old balding men with nothing bet- ter to do and University students of all shapes and sizes." But why pay for games when the University will give you them for free? Under the file server on all Univer- sitynetwork computers is MacArchives. ,These archives contain fonts, study 4flaterials, information, and video games hundreds to be exact. Card games, Desert Storm re-enact- ,ments, board games like Monopoly and Risk, arcade-style games and fantasy games. New games are added every these games on to disks for personal use. At the Angell Hall computing cen- ter, many students play games as a way of taking a study break, even when under a deadline to finish a paper due the next day. In residence hall computing centers, students are not allowed to play games when others are waiting for computers. But students don't have to go to the computing center to play video games. One Residence Advisor at Markley speculated that at least 25 percent of the 1,100 residents regularly'played Nintendo or Sega video games last year. Recently-departed basketballer Chris Webber said in a Detroit Free Press interview that he played Sega free drugs. They argue that this gets students hooked on the University's video games. It is not, for example, uncommon in residence halls to see someone playing "Guerrilla War" or other video games at 4 a.m. In East Quad, one pinball game is somewhat"legendary" among residents for consistent play. "Joker Poker" is a pinball machine at least 25 years old. Gainers can purchase three games for 50 cents and play for hours. Many regulars said that, as kind of a neo-coffee house, the "Joker Poker" game allows students to get together, smokecigarettes and, most importantly, look for people to meet and flirt with. But in the East Quad Halfway Inn The campus recreation center weight rooms are popular places for those who want to become large. Campus rec centers have many cuso mers and differ in specialty by Jaeson Rosenfeld Daily Staff Reporter It was such an innocent plan. You were going tospendjustaminute on the couch and then go to class. But that minute turned into an hour. And then that hour turned into a day. The next thing you know, you have absorbed a month's worth of Brady Bunch reruns, are completely engulfed in a mountain of Snickers wrappers and can't remember your name. What's worse is the thing you thought was a pillow sitting on your stomach is actu- ally your spare tire. You are another hapless victim of the "freshman fifteen." But don't worry - there's help. The University's recreation buildings - the Central Campus Recreation Building (CCRB), the Intramural Sports Building (IM) and the North Campus Recreation Building (NCRB) -provide students with all the facili- ties needed to avoid the "freshman fifteen." More importantly, all you need for admittance is your student I.D. card. The CCRB is located on the corner of Geddes and Washtenaw, in the Hill area. It has three basketball courts, a pair of volleyball courts, as well as courts for racquetball, handball, wallyball, paddleball and squash. Addi- tionally, there are ping-pong tables lo- cated in the basement and tennis courts adjacent to the CCRB. "All reservations are free, there is only a small, nominal fee for (racquet- ball) racquets checked out," Assistant Director of the CCRB Debrah Webb said. While some courts are earmarked for reservation, Webb also noted that courts are also available for walk-in users. Perhaps one of the greatest strengths of the CCRB is its fitness equipment. It features an indoor running track, Stairmasters, rowing and climbing ma- chines, cross-country skiing machines, several other types of fitness equipment and a swimming pool. The CCRB's weight room is also state-of-the-art, containing an assort- ment of free weights and Nautilus and Hammer machines. Because of its large workout area, the CCRB has become. the preferred exercise emporium for many. "I go to the CCRB to work out and the IM to play basketball," Engineering senior Tom Voth said. Because it has four courtscompared to the CCRB's three, the IM Building -located on Hoover St.-has become the haven for many campus hoops afi- cionados. Besides the number of courts, there are differences in foul-calling traditions between the buildings, giving the courts a local flavor. At the CCRB, a made basket on a foul does not count; at the IM, fouled baskets count. Because of this rule, fouls are more likely at the CCRB, making its games a bit rougher than the IM building. In addition to basketball, the IM features much of the same exercise equipment as the CCRB, including an improved weight and fitness area over the last few years. One squash court is. filled with fitness equipment, and more equipment purchases are planned. "We will be adding on 10 to 12 pieces of new equipment for 1993-94," Assistant Director of the IM Building Robert Fox said. Among the purchases will be tread- mills, as the IM building lacks an indoor track. The focus on improvement of fitness equipment over the last several years has earned the IM an increase in users, Webb said. "I think the trend ischanging,"Webb said. "The IM building has worked hard the last couple of years to expand the number of exercise machines." In addition to the other facilities, the IM features a swimming pool, ping pong and courts for racquetball, squash, paddleball, handball and wallyball. For those who spend their life (n North Campus, the NCRB - located directly behind Bursley Hall on the corner of Hubbard and Murfin - has many of the same facilities as its Central Campus counterparts. The facility includes a basketball court, a swimming pool, courts for in- door racquet sports as well as tennis courts and ping pong tables. The work- out area features substantially less equip- ment than the CCRB and the IM. EVAN isRIb E/DiY LSA senior Corbin Bell takes a study break with a game of pinball. "constantly" with teammate Jalen Rose in South Quad during his first year. He is not alone. Residence hall students congregate in a room with Sega or Nintendo. No one has any idea how many different floors had "Techmo-Bowl" competi- tions last year, but the figure is probably mind-boggling. Video games and pinball machines are present in all residence halls. The University's Housing Division collects a percentage of revenue from vending machines and video games. Once, early in each semester, the owners of the video games give stu- that adjoins the room in which "Joker Poker" is located, employees have placed a sign that reads, "Quit leaving cigarette butts and trash in the video game room. Or we'll quit feeding your habit." But at a University where compe- tition is intense and students enter many classes knowing that because of a curve some of them will fail, video games provide an essential re- lease. An escape to another world to defeat problems and win the game. An escape many students feel they can get no other way than through video games. D gilient students find blow-offs at 'U' Curriculum has a few holes and there are certain places to look for them by Rachel Bachman aily Staff Reporter Got a few months to kill? Would you like to start studying for finals on the bus ride from North Campus? If so, get ready to join the ranks of countless students hunting for "blow-off' classes. Despite the University'snationalrepu- tation, come registration time, the call is heard from Angell Hall to the bowels of the Union: "I need three credits. What can ,J take for an easy class?" The word at local coffee houses and other places of congregation has it that almostall easy classes are found within the school of Literature, Sci- ence and the Arts. Courses in Communications, one- credit "mini-courses" in the natural sciences and introductory courses in Psychology and Anthropology are often dubbed "sliders." Because of the stereotype of the dumb jock, the school of Kinesiology (which ;lias a high percentage of athletes) is also notorious for hosting such courses. The article read, "Taking its rightful place in the university's catalog, be- neath 'Survey of British History From 1688' and 'Modern China,' this class showcases the school's equally promi- nent role in world history. "Term paper required on any subject remotely connected to the university, including but not limited to reviews of 'The Big Chill,' which features fic- tional alumni." In reality, when it comes to finding classes that are perennial breezers, there is no easy answer. Blow-off courses at Michigan are as elusive as the national title (in football, basketball or hockey, take your pick). "I've heard a lot of people talk about blow-offclasses... buttheblow-offclasses they took were still a lot of work because you still have todo the workin orderto get an 'A,"' senior Jon Rowley said. "Because it's only one credit, people think 'Coral Reefs' is going to be an easy class," Academic Advisor Toni Morales said, "but I've seen somanyFs professor. Since many classes (espe- cially larger, introductory courses) do not have the same professor in con- secutive semesters, it is difficult to count on even the topics covered, much less the amount of work you'll have to do. Frank said it was possible to land an easy course "if you get one of those cheesy profs," but stressed that there is no guarantee what a professor will be like until you step into the class- room. Morales's advice for students seek- ing blow-offs was to "do some research on a class" before enrolling in it. In the University's competitive climate, how- ever, sometimes prior knowledge still isn't enough. "No class is a blow-off because of the kids you're competing against," Frank said. "Half the university doesn't want to just pass," Rowley said. "This is Michi- gan - they want to do well." If you're in the half thatlooks forjust Climbing aboard the old Stairmaster a few times per week is a sure-fire way to avoid the "freshman fifteen." I1I a Look for it in the Daily Classilieds! LESBIAN-GAY MALE PROGRAMS OFFICE 3116 MICHIGAN UNION 763-4186 riAX*" IF r r A (akrxp' ae ,8ct Bau 9 ycla4 Perms, Colours, & Brow waxing Walk-ins Only Open Monday thru Saturday $11.00 & up ROTC specials available Corner of William and Maynard 741-0869 1 I i - 1 Michigan Student Assembly Your Central Student Government tv s r- r 1 I l s ti 1-1