3 minute read
Dodge the Gaming Nerds
Impact’s Gaming Editor Alice Bennett playfully explores the gaming landscape in Nottingham, and the top places to visit for UoN’s newest arrivals!
Despite no longer homing the National Videogame Museum - which has, unfortunately for us Nottingham-based gamers, moved to Sheffield - Nottingham has plenty to offer in terms of its gaming scene. This includes clubs and societies at the university, as well as places to visit in the city. Here’s a guide to Nottingham’s gaming landscape for you gaming nerds out there (or for those of you who want to avoid them)!
Within the University of Nottingham, there are plenty of societies to join. There is the Role-Playing and Wargames Society for Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: The Gathering fans. Or perhaps Board Game Society is more your thing, with weekly board game nights in the Trent building (in case Crisis isn’t up your alley). GameSoc is for video gamers; the society hosts a weekly game night and has Esports teams for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends and Overwatch in the National Student Esports and The National University Esports League.
For the niche gamers out there, Warhammer World is your safe haven. It attracts gamers from around the UK - solidifying Nottingham as a prime location for gaming fans.
The city is also home to board game café Ludorati. For the board gamers out there, this place is a must! It is the perfect destination (if Starbucks doesn’t do it for you) to meet with friends for a quick game and a coffee. It has a library consisting of 750 board games with a wide range of genres, providing something for everyone. Visiting the café is a great way to discover new board games and to try out some. Whilst you’re there, you may as well treat yourself to some cake or try their “Ludo-shakes’’ and “Ludo-Lattes”.
Finally, let’s not forget a classic destination for students on a night out: Penny Lane. Not only are the cocktails unique and creative (my friend once ordered a skittles cocktail that came with a pack of skittles attached to the glass), it also has a range of arcade games including air hockey, basketball and a foosball table. Penny Lane is a safe bet to take your non-gaming friends. And somehow, they’ll probably beat you in the mini-games (my gaming skills sadly did not translate into my air hockey playing abilities).
If you are a fresher joining the University and are interested in gaming, every one of these societies and places mentioned is a must-visit over the next few years.
By Alice Bennett
Illustration/Page Design by Zainab Shakeel
