Jacob Flynn’s smartwatch typically reads 30,000 steps by the time Vandal Overnight Games ends. This Saturday will be no different.
The 9th annual Vandal Overnight Games, hosted by ITS and marketed as “the largest community gaming event at University of Idaho and on the Palouse,” will run Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. in the Bruce Pitman Center.
Flynn, the event’s co-founder and Information Technology Services (ITS) essential services lead, said he helps put out “fires” and makes sure the many different activities run smoothly throughout the day.
The event is free and open to the general public, and full-time UI students in attendance can win a $1,000 scholarship.
There are a number of new activities, including Quidditch scrimmages and an escape room, hosted by the Lewiston-based Just In Time Escape Rooms.
Flynn said the escape room takes place outside in a bus, and involves up to eight people solving a murder mystery.
“I haven’t done it myself — I really just hope I can find 30 minutes at some point to run it,” Flynn said.
While the event has previously been held in the Idaho Commons, Flynn said the venue change was necessary.
“Every year we’re asked about how many people attend the event, and we always have to estimate,” Flynn said. “Ultimately there’s 15 entrances to the Commons, and when we count 500 to 600 wristbands and 1200 meals, we have to find some average in there. Meanwhile, the Pitman Center has three, which makes it much easier to track and give us an accurate count.”
Square footage remains approximately the same, and Flynn said while it took time to redesign the layout, there is more than enough space to accommodate the various activities.
Additionally, he said student feedback had a tendency to voice confusion on where to find different activities.
“We consistently hear, ‘I don’t know where to find anything, I can’t find stuff to do,’” Flynn said. “That’s because we’re on the fourth floor, third floor, TLC, all over the place. Being able to have everything mostly on the same floor will really help attendees find what is going on.”
Flynn said food was initially a concern as well, since the Pitman Center lacks a food court. However, ITS is providing much of the same free food for the event, and students can expect a variety of options.
The Moscow-based Palouse Board Gamers will also be in attendance, providing more than 200 games for anyone, either by themselves or part of a group, to play for free.
Club founder Sherri Haight said the board games offer a more tactile experience for those interested, and club members will be on hand to answer questions.
“Even a video gamer is going to get a very different experience here,” she said. “A lot of us don’t enjoy online board games, since even if you’re playing against another person, you’re not getting that face-to-face, tactile experience.”
Haight founded the club in 2006, and said she always looks forward to meeting new members and figuring out what games they enjoy.
Palouse Board Gamers meets every week at Shari’s and typically attracts up to 30 members, with many bringing their own games.
“For many years, my games were the club’s only options,” Haight said. “Now we have so many enthusiastic people who bring their own games. Some of these are so expensive, I’m really proud they’re all dedicated enough to risk their property that way.”
She said there are games for every possible mood and situation — games that can be played in 10 minutes or over the course of six hours. Additionally, she said the club always tries to include a mix of hot, new games and older classics for those unfamiliar with board games.
“I don’t want anyone to feel intimidated — we’re in the golden age of board games,” Haight said. “There’s such a plethora of wonderfully designed games for all player groups. Even though they might seem expensive, you’re getting a great experience that will last for years and years.”
Other Vandal Overnight activities include virtual reality booths, karaoke and a variety of video game tournaments — League of Legends, Dota 2, Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart.
“When you find a game you like, you’re locking in years of great experiences with you and your friends — it’s worth a look to find something, anything,” Haight said.
Max Rothenberg can be reached at [email protected]