Geeks and Gamers Festival

Video games and books seem to have little in common. Games are often seen as pure entertainment, media that offers no intellectual or artistic merit. Books have always been held in high regard as a method to exchange ideas and inform the masses. The widely-held belief is that if books are the fruits, vegetables, and whole grains of an intellectual diet, then games are the candy, soda pop, and potato chips.

While most popular games that appeal to consumers are designed primarily for entertainment and diversion, there are many games that examine human emotion and experience, politics, and literary themes in a serious manner. Likewise, many books exist as guilty pleasures, delivering stories that do little but fill up the reader’s free time. Games such as Metal Gear Solid 3, Halo, and America’s Army mirror current topics of interest such as warfare and terrorism. Titles like Shadow of the Colossus and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic introduce elements of morality and human ethics into their game design. And of course, the ever-popular computer game The Sims emulates human social interaction and the concept of a hierarchy of needs for the playable characters. It’s hard to argue that all video games are merely expensive toys when presented these games; much like it’s hard to concede that all books are valuable learning tools when shown Harlequin romances.

Both games and books are important and useful. A skilled gamer has strong analytical thinking skills. They are good at solving puzzles, formulating strategies, and making decisions. There’s a reason that computer technicians and mathematicians are known for being avid gamers; the two worlds merge well together.

Likewise, avid readers are creative and philosophical. They enjoy exchanging ideas and opinions, discussing and debating current issues, and trying to understand abstract concepts such as love, grief, or friendship. And since many games allow you to create your own characters and explore fantastical worlds, its not hard to imagine a person who loves to read and create being an enthusiastic gamer.

Of course, a person who is both an avid gamer and a fervent reader has the potential to develop especially sharp thinking skills.

The Wayne County Public Library would like to acknowledge the value of video games—as well as their predecessors, board games—with the first ever “Geeks and Gamers Festival” to be held on September 16th and 30th in the Gertrude Weil Auditorium at the Main Branch of the Library. The event will appeal to avid gamers, readers, and anyone interested in gaming culture.

Not only will the library have various board games open to play and displays of science-fiction and fantasy books (all of which will be available for check-out on that day), but as our main event there will be a tournament for the video game Dance Dance Revolution on each day. Sign-up is necessary for participation in the tournament, but anybody is welcome to come participate in the other activities. Though gamers range in age from children to professional, working adults, this is an event with our youth in mind; kids and teens from 10 to 19 years of age are eligible for the tournament and many of the activities will most readily appeal to them.

For more information, call the Wayne County Public Library at 735-1824 ext. 5100 and ask for Brandon. More details will be made available at a later date.