Going old school: Retro gamers wanted for Spooky’s Game Night
MONROE — Gamers are going old school at Spooky’s Game Night. The family-friendly event will feature a variety of retro games to play with friends.
Participants of all ages are invited to settle in for some classic or old school gaming. Hosted by Jimmy Rothman of Crazy Squirrel Graphics and Stelios Stylianou of Spooky Spooky Films, game night takes place 4-9 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6 at Our House Games, 1211 S. Monroe St.
Patrons pay $15 admission to be eligible for “all the games you can play,” tournaments and casual play (no competition). A raffle is planned along with snacks and drinks, including pizza provided by Lane’s Pizzeria of Maybee.
In March 2023, Rothman, graphic designer for Insane Wrestling Revolution and Monroe Comic Con, wanted to create a venue where there was something to do — play games. He teamed up with Stylianou to sponsor game night, not realizing it would be so successful. They sponsored their second event in May. This is the third round with more activities to do.
Saturday’s event will also offer appearances by Black Swamp Ghostbusters, IWR’s The Rodragous One Rod Lee, Shawn “Ace the Magician” Wooley and Josh Guisbert and Tyler Muniz, hosts of Tabletop Takedown of BrainJerk Entertainment.
Both men agree holding the event at Our House Games makes perfect sense. The tabletop gaming store, owned and operated by Kristian (Kris) Bezeau and Erika Branstetter, features family, board, card, role playing and miniature games including gaming accessories. Customers can buy and borrow games.
“We’re not bringing many of the modern games,” Jimmy Rothman said. “Some of the games available will be ‘Super Mario Bros. 3,’ ‘Guitar Hero,’ old school wrestling like ‘WWF No Mercy’ and ‘Wrestlmania 2000.’”
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A variety of board games will be available, including “Risk,” “Clue,” “Battleship” and “Monroe-opoly.”
“We’re trying to bring back the couch co-op community experience,” he said. “To be able to sit next to your buddy and actually sit down and play as opposed to playing online with someone you don’t know. I like playing online but I’d rather talk smack to the person next to me.”
Rothman said “Guitar Hero” seems to be the most popular game with guests. First released in 2005, players use guitar-shaped game controllers to simulate playing.
Stylianou admits “Guitar Hero” tops his lists of favorites.
“I’ve always liked that game and it’s fun to watch your friends play,” Stelios Stylianou said. “I also really enjoy the old school wrestling games.”
For Stylianou, nostalgia coupled with offering families something to do and enjoy together is the reason why hosting game nights is so appealing.
“Jimmy and I enjoy seeing families interacting with each other,” Stylianou said. “We wanted to offer them something to do before school starts after the holiday break and everyone gets back to their regular routines.”
Plans are in the works for the next game night with a possible lock-in event with movies and food that will run all night or to the wee hours of the morning. Details will be posted on Crazy Squirrel Graphics’ Facebook page at facebook.com/CrazySquirrelGraphics and on Spooky Spooky Films’ Facebook page via tinyurl.com/SpookySpookyFilmsFB.
— Contact reporter Lisa Vidaurri-Bowling at lvidaurribowling@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Going old school: Retro gamers wanted for Spooky’s Game Night
