Press: How long has the gaming club been running at IMS?
Ms. Perla: So I honestly don’t remember the exact date. I want to say 5 years and it started off as a place for board games and video games. It is kind of mostly video games but it is just a place for all students to get together with common interests with a place to play games and make friends.
Press: What are the main goals of this club?
Ms. Perla: The main goal is to have a social space but of playing games and competing and working together for a common goal.
Press: What do you think about the new ban on school games?
Ms. Perla: I am for the ban on school games just because I feel like a lot of students are addicted to games and gaming in general especially when it is not the time for it so there should be designated time for it outside of learning space. I feel like in the learning environment it is not the best thing.
Press: What games are popular right now in gaming clubs?
Ms. Perla: The most popular one is Super Smash Brothers because that is the one place where most people can come together to battle each other.
Press: How often do you hold tournaments for games like Super Smash Brothers?
Ms. Perla: We meet up every week so sometimes it is a tournament style, sometimes it is just free for all kinds of things.
Press: What is the most rewarding part of this club?
Ms. Perla: I feel like it’s how a lot of different people come together, different students, different experiences, temperaments. The way they can just sit down and enjoy and playing with friends
Press: For the people who are not competitive, what would you do to make them join a gaming club?
Ms. Perla: For the people who are not competitive there are other games so I usually bring in another system and I play with them and we just kind of walk around. Last meeting I played “Star of Valley” with one of my students. It is an exploring kind of game so it doesn’t necessarily have to be competitive, it could be non competitive.
Press: What equipment does the club provide like Nintendo and X box?
Ms. Perla: So we used to have a Playstation and an Xbox and we have an older system that some of them do not work anymore but we do have the Switch.
Press: What is the most exciting or intense match you have ever witnessed?
Ms. Perla:I think it is just Super Smash Brothers, they get really crazy and rowdy, sometimes people just get really into the game.
Press: Do you have any big events at the end of the year?
Ms. Perla: No, I mean we all just get together and play the same stuff that we usually play and next week is going to be our last week so I think they are going to play what they usually play with.
Press: So after next week there is not going to be a Gaming Club?
Ms. Perla: For this year, I haven’t heard anything about next year. I still want to run the Gaming Club next year. I feel like it is a good play for students and friends and is a fun place to get together.
Press: Thank you for your time and is there anything else you would like to add?
Ms. Perla : I think we got everything and you’re welcome.
