Controllers clicked, the dice rolled and campus spirit filled as Cal State Monterey Bay clubs turned a collective gaming marathon into an impact for local children’s hospitals at Salinas Valley Health Foundation. By the end of Saturday, the event had raised $2,676.
Otter Esports, Super Smash Otters, Board Game Club, Poke-Trainers Club, Trading Card Games Club and Table Top Role Playing Game club joined efforts to host The Otters Gaming Collective for Extralife. Extralife is a program that allows anyone to make change for all kids by playing games. The goal was to raise $1,000 but the goal was reached so, they created a new goal of $3,000. Donations raised in the community support local hospitals at Salinas Valley Health Foundation.
Leonela Gonzalez, Children’s Miracle Network coordinator at Salinas Valley Health explained the money is sent to the local hospitals to support children’s access to buy medically necessary services and equipment.
“The money will go to the Salinas Valley Health Foundation, the Salinas Valley Health is a member hospital of Children’s Miracle Network,” Gonzalez said.
The students and families were provided with a passport, which was stamped when visiting the different clubs that were hosting the fundraising. When stamped, there was a chance to participate in raffles to win diverse Lego sets.
One of the winners was Michael Blalock, a computer science major with concentration in math. Blalock took home a Lego happy plant set.
“I love Legos but I don’t like buying them because they are expensive,” Blalock said, “so whenever I win Legos I’m very happy.”
The clubs organized diverse tournaments throughout the day. Some of them organized more than one tournament.
The Trading Card Games Club organized a Magic the Gathering Draft Tourney. The Table Top Role Playing Game Club organized two different events. The first one was Hunter Oneshot with Jeremy. The second Pathfinder Oneshot with Zelta.
The Poke-Trainers club organized a Trading Card Games Tourney and Pokemon S&V Doubles.
The winner from the Pokemon S&V Doubles Tourney was Jose Pantoja who beatCooper Westervelt, a third-year computer science major student.
“I feel good about winning,” said Pantoja. “I’ve been playing Pokemon since 2003.”
Otter Esports hosted a Marvel Rivals Tourney. The Battleship Tourney was hosted by the Board Game Club. Finally, Super Smash Otters hosted the Smash Doubles for data held by assistant professor of Kinesiology Steven Machek. Later at sunset, with the Super Smash Bros Ultimate Tourney with Smash Club until 10 PM which had the most people assisted.
Andrew Ramirez, a humanities and communications major, won the Smash Bros tournament with the username Toji, which defended his victory for the second time after his victory last semester at Super Smash Bros Tournament.
“I won the one that was hosted here in the ballroom,” Ramirez said. “I wasn’t expected to get this far because I haven’t played for a long time.”
Players thought that the vibe of joining forces for a cause by playing videogames is something you don’t find anyone else. That was the case for Camille Whitten, a humanities and communications student.
“It makes the competition very friendly,” said Whitten, “and it just brings a vibe to the space that I don’t think you find anywhere else.”
Photos by Isaac Gonzalez-Diaz