Griff’s Gone Geeky

by Kenneth Bullock

A college bar is mixing more into the lineup than just alcohol.

Griff’s Tavern held the Game Vortex pub from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. at St. Clair College on Feb. 20. The animation club came with board games, cards, portable game systems and laptops for a gamer party. Some club members came in costume, dressed as characters from video games.

The supervisor for the event said the animation club holding the pub is something new.

“Animation club has never done a pub and we never go to the pubs,” said Maggie McDowall, third year animation student and co-organizer of the Game Vortex.  “We’re in a fishbowl and never go outside it, so we thought it’d be cool to put ourselves out there and do something social

McDowall said the animation students don’t really get opportunities to branch out socially and other college students only see them in their natural environment.

She said the proceeds from the pub will be going towards the animation group’s trip to the International Animation Festival in Ottawa.

According to McDowall, this is a good event for students to meet people in the animation industry.

“It can be a difficult industry to be in, so the festival is an excellent opportunity for students to establish connections,” said McDowall.

Participants at the pub said there are a few things they would change to make a better video game pub. Rhianna Gumiela, dressed as Dark Link from The Legend of Zelda series said the lighting made it difficult to read cards.

Dressed in an assassin robe and dress, Cassandra Giles said she likes the idea but having some more TVs and game consoles would be good for those who prefer console gaming. Giles also said having power bars would allow for more laptop gaming.

“This event brings out more of the geekier community,” said Chelsea Bastien, another animation student co-organizer and worker at  Griff’s pub. “I really wanted to get students who aren’t usually comfortable in social environments together to relax and maybe have a few beers.”

Bastien said she’s also on the Student Representative Council’s event staff. She said this helped keep the event running smoothly.

The pub had over 30 people show for the event, McDowall said she will likely do another pub based on the amount of people who attended.