Category Archives: Gaming

This Summer’s Tournament: You Choose the Game!

Calling all St. Charles gamers! On July 18,2013 we will be running two video game tournaments. We just don’t know which! We are relying on you to tell us which are your favorite among three games. Two will be chosen to take place in the morning and the afternoon.

Please leave a comment, indicating your grade level this school year and your two favorite games among Mario Kart Wii, Kinect Just Dance 4 and Super Smash Bros Brawl. Due to the rating, only students who have completed 5 – 8 grades will be eligible to register for a Super Smash Bros tournament, should that game be chosen. Thanks!

Take a Break and Kinect in Youth Services

joyrideIf you haven’t visited the Library lately, you will be surprised to know that kids have been playing Kinect games in the Youth Services Department after school and on weekends. Each day our gaming cart is set up with a different game, right next to the Ask Me desk. Kids can just start playing when they visit or join others in friendly competition.

twister-mania-kinectFavorite games right now are the old standard, Kinect Adventures, and Twister, a new “twist” on the old Hasbro board game. Other games that cycle in are Kinect Sports, Kinect Sports Season 2, Carnival Games and Kinect Joy Ride. Each day is a new challenge! Come on by and try something new or boost your skill at an old favorite.

 

Momentous First Pokémon Battle Revolution Tournament

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On January 4, eight boys in grades 3-5 joined in competition using DS handhelds with their own trainers and collections of Pokémon in our first-ever Pokémon tournament. We chose Battle Revolution because it is the Wii game that can be played using the DS as a controller. This way, we were able to project the battles up on the big screen so that everyone in the room could watch and participate. The competition was heavy all the way to the end as the combatants were fairly evenly matched in skill. One emerged as Pokétopia Master. We were very happy to have Gabriel agree to judge. He even played an exhibition game against the winner. If you would like to see more tournaments like this, please let us know!

Pokémon Battle Revolution Tournament Information and Rules

On January 4 from 1:30 – 5:00 PM, we will have our first ever video game Pokémon tournament. There is room in our registration for more students, in grades 3 – 8. Please contact the ASK ME desk in Youth Services to register, or register on our online registration calendar. Students from outside the library district may register in-person at the ASK ME desk for $2.

The general information and rules are:

When you arrive at the tournament, you must check in with the tournament organizers.
• Tournament sign-in will be open from approximately 1:15 – 1:25 PM. Walk-in registrants will be accepted only if pre-registrants have not arrived by 1:25 PM.
• No new registrations will be taken after 1:25 PM. We will begin the tournament once all players are signed in.
• All players may remain for the entire tournament. Cheer your friends to victory!
• Trash talking is allowed, but no swearing or bad behavior.
• Prizes will be Target gift cards.
• The tournament may end early.

Tournament rules
• Players will combat using their own DS handhelds and their Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, HeartGold, SoulSilver or Platinum.
• Certain Pokémon are forbidden. The forbidden list can be accessed at Smogon University’s Uber list.
• Players will be assigned numbers at registration and will be paired randomly.
• Players 5 or more minutes late to any round will automatically take a game loss.

A Great Time for All on International Games Day

This past Saturday, November 3, was International Games Day. The St. Charles Public Library celebrated by having open video and board gaming in the morning and afternoon. Preschoolers, elementary and middle school students– even one high school and one college student–participated with parents or by themselves. Some took advantage of our Rock Band set and played LEGO Rock Band. Some tested their skills on Kinect Adventures and Twister Mania. One family really had a great time playing the board game Labyrinth, provided for this event by Ravensburger Games.

Several students tried their hand at achieving their best time to compete with libraries all over the world in the Mario Kart time trials. Our top three players have compared very well against other libraries. Ethan’s time came in second on Luigi Circuit, Sophia’s time was second lowest on Mario Circuit and on Mushroom Gorge. Everett’s time on Coconut Mall is, so far, the best. All libraries haven’t been posted on the leaderboards yet, but St. Charles players are stacking up very well.

This was the fifth year that libraries across the country have set aside a National Gaming Day. The popularity grew to include libraries around the world, and the day has been renamed International Games Day.

International Games Day This Saturday!

Drop in and join us this Saturday, November 3, for International Games Day. We will be running video and board games, from 10 am-Noon and 1-4 pm, in the Huntley Meeting Room.

Calling all Mario Kart players! New this year will be Mario Kart trials. We will be comparing our highest scores against scores from libraries all over the world!

Even if Mario Kart or video games aren’t your thing, we hope you will join us for board games. The online game company, Ravensburger, has donated their new game, Labyrinth, a race for treasures in a moving maze. We’re looking forward to trying it out.

After hours, from 4:30-9 pm, Humans vs. Zombies will be roaming through the Library. You must be in high school or older. If you would like to test your survival skills, register by November 1 at the Information Services desk on the main level of the library. Parents of students under the age of 18 must sign a permission form.

Yu-Gi-Oh Tournament was a blast!

There was great competition at last Monday’s Yu-Gi-Oh tournament. Simon, who won our last two tournaments, came with plans to win again. Brothers once again combatted brothers in the final brackets of competition. And Simon’s best friend, Daniel won, beating Simon, whom Daniel said he has never been able to beat before. Peter Thompson, who runs tournaments for us, brought some of his best cards to give to players who didn’t make it to the final 3. Third place winner, Zeph, walked away with the Order of Chaos Special Edition deck. Simon took home a Wave 2 Galaxy –Eyes Photon tin. Daniel won the Duel Academy Years box.

Want to join our next tournament? On January 4 we will have a Pokemon Battle Revolution tournament. Registration begins on September 8.

A Summer of Family Gaming at the Library

We are looking forward to opening Family Gaming this July. New this summer is a schedule of games. Monday, July 2, from 2-3 PM, will be MarioKart and XBOX Carnival Games. Tuesday, July 3, from 10:30-11:30 AM, we will set up Wii Sports Resort and Kinect Adventures.

To help you recover from the Fourth, on Thursday, July 5, from 4-5 PM, we’ll have Dora’s Big Birthday Adventure on Wii and Kinect Sports. To finish the week, on Friday, July 6, from 10:30-11:30 AM, we’ll set up LEGO Rockband on Playstation and Kinectimals. Of course, board games will also be available. Just drop by and show your family’s St. Charles Library card. Students 8 years old and older may join in without parents.

Of course, we will not abandon gaming the rest of the summer. The schedule for the rest of July will be: Monday, July 9, from 10:30-11:30 AM, Mario Party 8 and Kinectimals; Monday, July 16, from 4-5 PM, LEGO Rockband and Great Dinosaur Escape and Thursday, July 26, from 2-3 PM, Wii MarioKart and Kinect Adventures. While you are here, you can pick up the schedule for August or just watch this space.

Check-out our YS page for more events and programming available this summer!

 

Another Great National Gaming Day

National Gaming Day on November 12 was an entertaining day for everyone. 16 families came by and tried their hands at Kinect Sports, Mario Kart Wii and LEGO Rock Band. Some even broke out the board games and tried our two newest, The Greatest Day Ever and Loaded Questions Jr, which were provided to libraries across the country just for participating in National Gaming Day.

It never ceases to delight me that gamers are a sharing group of kids. They all seem willing to give each other hints on how to play the game. Seven families qualified for the drawing by staying an hour or more. The winner has been notified by email and a gift card is on the way through snail mail.

If you missed this year, National Gaming Day is a yearly event. We also have regular drop-in gaming events. You can find the dates in Discover Your Library and on the Youth Services Event Registration Calendar.

National Gaming Day 2011

Get ready for the next all-day gaming event, as St. Charles Public Library once again takes part in National Gaming Day, on Saturday, November 12. Open games will be held in the morning and the afternoon. Tell your friends, bring your family! Be sure to bring your St. Charles Public library card.