Students waited in line this past Thursday as Eastern Michigan University’s newly renovated E-Zone gaming center opened for the first time this year.
The gaming center is located on the first floor of the Student Center next to the Eagle Card Office and is open 11 a.m.12a.m., Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. 11 p.m. on Sundays. E-Zone was remodeled based on feedback from students, either by word of mouth or from groups of students who advise E-Zone on how to improve its environment. The decision to remodel E-Zone was made back in March. Renovations started this past month with the grand opening. One of the main objectives in the remodeling was to give the gaming center a more social atmosphere.
The grand opening took place Thursday from 12-2, with students waiting in line to get in. Gaming and entry to the event were free, and included free merchandise such as candy, a complementary EMU plastic mug and food giveaways. About 30 students had gathered outside the gaming center when it finally opened. Rob Schilke, a senior majoring in art design checked out the new E-Zone for himself just as the doors were opening.
“I was really curious what changes were made at the E-Zone,” said Schilke.
To help create a more social environment, a team of about 10 workers removed a number of dividers that had previously split the room up into different cubical spaces where one person played a single game. Instead, screens are now mounted on the wall along the perimeter of the room. Lighting in the gaming center has also been made brighter. While some students enjoy E-Zone being better lit, students such as Schilke prefer the dimmer lighting.
While the dimmer lighting of the E-Zone helped to reduce glare from TV screens, the gaming center has since abandoned this approach to help create a more social environment for players.
In remodeling, the E-Zone has strived to center on gamers.
“This was built by students, for students,” said Carlos Costa, director of the Student Center.
E-Zone now has new carpet as well as a new foosball table and darts. The inside has been repainted to match the rest of the Student Center and has been made handicap accessible. Additional interior windows facing the food court have also been added. All the TV screens formally used for gaming in the previous E-Zone have been replaced.
Students wanting to play at E-Zone can buy membership passes for $50 a semester up front. Members are charged $3 for one hour of playing, $12 for five hours, $30 for fifteen hours and $45 for twenty-five hours. Non-members can purchase a $10 day pass. Charge rates for non-members are $3.95 for one hour, $15 for five hours, $35 for fifteen hours and $50 for 25 hours.
When playing at E-Zone, students are first assigned a TV that contains numerous preloaded games for students to play. As new games become available, E-Zone adds them to the system. The gaming center does all it can to stay up on the latest and greatest games. E-Zone acquires new games on the same day they are released on the public market.
“To promote [how social it is], we have more lounge,” Costa said.
Costa hopes the new E-Zone will give students a reason to hang around campus on the weekends more often.
“We were not shy to show our Eagle Nation spirit and our love for green.”
David Saltsman, assistant supervisor of E-Zone and an EMU grad student says past attendance fluctuated. As far as past attendance Saltsman says, “You have your high points and low points throughout the day.”
With the remodeling however, Saltsman has hopes of attendance rising.
“This year we’ve had a pretty good crowd coming through.”
The money to remodel E-Zone was self-funded, raised by the gaming center’s own revenue. Although the exact cost of the renovation has not been determined yet, Costa said, “It will pay for itself in the next two years.”
E-Zone opened, along with the rest of the Student Center, in 2006.
“In that time, we’ve learned about the social environment,” Costa said.
From the time it first opened, the gaming center has had several demands made by students to change different aspects of E-Zone. Brighter lighting and more open space were commonly suggested. Some students, however, do miss certain parts of the previous E-Zone. According to Costa, at least one student was dissatisfied with the new lighting.
“There was one person who said, ‘Boy I wish it was dark like it use to be.’ ”
While E-Zone constantly strives to keep up on the latest games and technology, history major and junior Eric Fuderer believes the gaming center could work more to preserve older games.
“I’d prefer to go back to the old school arcade setting,” Fuderer said. “Bring back the classics like Mario, Donkey Kong, Mortal Kombat.”
In addition to the games, Fuderer feels the environment of the remodeled E-Zone might be too modern as well.
“It’s too current,” said Fuderer. “They just cater to the top 40 taste.”
But E-Zone could also improve other things in addition to its game selection.
“I think a bar area would be really awesome to be honest. I think it would bring a lot of people in,” said Fuderer, who feels a bar could help add to the social atmosphere.
“People are just in there all by themselves, I think a bar would just bring them together.”
E-Zone will host three gaming tournaments throughout the fall semester with the first taking place Sept. 30 from 8-11 p.m. The tournament will make use of the game Madden 2011. Players will face each other in a series of elimination rounds.
