How to play games on campus

Welcome to Warwick, and congratulations on being accepted! If you’re reading this, then you’re probably looking for the best ways to game on campus. Here, we’ve compiled the ways you can experience gaming while at Warwick, as well as giving you a brief look at some of the ways to meet like-minded people during your time here.

As far as the technicalities go, you are allowed to bring consoles to your rooms. IT services say on their webpage that you should have no problems connecting to the Resident Wi-Fi on a console, though if you experience difficulties you can always see them and resolve the issue. Luckily, each room comes with a LAN port and LAN cable, giving you that wired connection for smoother, lag-free gameplay.  If you’re bringing a dedicated home console such as the PS4 or Xbox One (or are hoping to pick up a next-gen console when they launch), then remember to bring a monitor so you can actually play your games!

The Nintendo Switch will not connect to your residential Wi-Fi, given the fiddly way you need to connect via a login

The Nintendo Switch is a great alternative for campus gaming, given you can play it in handheld mode for when you don’t want to bring a monitor, or want to play a few rounds of Smash Bros procrastinating in the library. Of course, you can use a monitor to play Switch games on a larger screen, which will likely make you popular amongst your new flatmates if you bring along Mario Kart. However, be warned! The Nintendo Switch will not connect to your residential Wi-Fi, given the fiddly way you need to connect via a login.

Older handhelds like the 3DS and PSP still remain great alternatives, as does mobile gaming. Many people are still quite invested in games like Pokémon Go, which can also provide you with social opportunities to meet new people exploring the PokéStops on campus. With cloud streaming now enabling students to play the likes of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Untitled Goose Game, and Forza Horizon 4 on mobile devices via xCloud, you don’t even need a console to enjoy the latest gaming experiences, although it remains to be seen whether the campus Wi-Fi can support that level of streaming.

Warwick is well-known for its plethora of societies, and thankfully there’s a wide variety of gaming ones. Whether you only care about casual gaming, or are more invested in the hobby, Nintendo Society provides something for everybody, holding weekly events and tournaments for a variety of games including Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. 

If you’re into Minecraft specifically, Minecraft Society is the place for you, holding weekly events that focus on unique variations of the game, including the Hunger Games-style game mode. If you’re more of a Dota player, then there’s also Dota Society that hosts fortnightly LAN tournaments, as well as tournament viewings. Warwick Esports unites many competitive players in a variety of games, and regularly places 1st and 2nd in competitive events. They support the likes of  Overwatch, League of Legends, CSGO and Rocket League, as well as many others.

If you’re more interested in the technical aspects of gaming, then Warwick Game Design offers an insight into the world behind the screen, even if you’re a complete beginner, hosting a weekly drop-in session where you can socialise and learn about programming, all in a friendly and supportive safe space for all. Warwick’s Computing Society hosts weekly social and gaming events, including LAN parties, online gaming nights, and academic talks about varying subjects. 

Finally, if you’re more interested in more traditional tabletop gaming, then there’s Tabletop and Roleplaying Society, that hosts a wide range of activities from casual card and board game events to Magic: the Gathering draftings and Live Action Role Playing.

Of course, societies aren’t limited to these specific events, and will also hold pub quizzes, laser quest nights, and other socials to help people get to know each other, offering a welcoming place to everybody. Once again, welcome to Warwick, we truly hope you’ll find great ways to pursue your interest in gaming here, and we hope you have an amazing year!