Clemson University - Taps Yearbook (Clemson, SC)

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improve hand-eye coordination. Many of today ' s weapons require the skills that it takes to win at a video game, that is quick thinking, good aim, fast response and in- tellegent use of resourses. Most of the machines already appeal to fighting in- stincts in their players. What does the future hold for these video games? Who knows, one day there may be a game that will be used in Chem- istry class to make learning more fun. by Lisa Smith Even the Dillard building sports video games. From now on, washing clothes will involve more excitement than looking for a lost sock (upper right). Brilliant displays, intriguing missions , and sound effects that seem right out of a science fiction movie provide the almost irresistable attraction to such games as Space Odyssey (lower right). The only limit on the popularity of such games as Defender will be the imagination of the designers and the number of quarters that people have to spend (sequence below). I I I I I I I I I I I I I l l I I l I I I I I I I I I I | | I |. I I I i, . I 1 I » I I » » ' ' ' ' ' I I I I I I I I I I I ' i hi m m ih hi m m » I I I I | | | | | | | I I ' l • MM tail I Kit llll ! 111) . llll I III! , 111 II I I I I [ I I • I « llll Ml II t I | I I I I • I ' llti till It) II I I lllll.il Itlllil Mil ' III II I I I I I I I I I I I I Ml III || | | . r 0DV55EV I ) t i i i » » W W IH Ml |, , 1 , 1 I » I I I I I I I I I 1 JLJL, JLJL « i i photos by Richard Baldwin titsTRpyltiffncKiWB u

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Video Mania Hits Clemson Four cities have been destroyed and only two are left. The enemy bombers are in sight and four missies are descending. Another city is hit and destroyed. You alone control the fate of the final city as you quickly fire your missies towards the enemy. No, you are not the head of stra- tegic air command — you are playing the popular video game Missile Command. The video machines are an increasingly popular pastime sweeping the country. They first appeared a few years ago, and as the machines became more intelligent, video games began to take over pinball ' s place in bars and arcades. In Clemson, the games are not limited to downtown. Video machines have been installed in the canteen and in the Dillard Building. With many people the games become an obsession. Every addict has his favor- ite machine and knows his high score. One student admitted to having spent fif- teen dollars at one sitting playing the games. Another addict explained his obses- sion, When I am doing good with a ma- chine, I keep playing to beat my high score. When I am doing badly I have to keep playing to prove the machine can ' t beat me. One downtown bartender said that the games were popular because they can be played alone. The player is competing with the machine, comparing scores with other players comes later. The early video machines usually required two people to compete. The bars have machines to attract cus- tomers and to help keep beer prices down. One bar that opened during first semester, Penny Annie ' s, has its selec- tion of video sports as its main selling point. The number of quarters a game makes demonstrates its popularity and deter- mines how lon g the machine will stay. They (the patrons) don ' t demand of me verbally but they demand of me by put- ting quarters in the machines, what kind of games I have stated one downtown proprietor. According to several area merchants, this year ' s most popular game is De- fender, a game where the player pilots his spacecraft through two dimensions while firing on enemy ships. Other popular games are Missile Command, where the player defends cities from bombers and airplanes with missiles, Pac Man, where the good guy is chased through a maze by four monsters and Space In- vaders, the big hit of 1979. The games themselves are generally owned by a local dispenser and are only loaned to the bar or game room. Usually the profits from the machines are split between the merchant and the dispenser. A good machine in a location such as Penny Annie ' s c an gross on the average $200 dollars a week. The split for the merchant is straight profit since the ma- chines are supplied without charge. Most of the local games come from Ralph Alex- ander Inc. located in Seneca. The U.S. Army also got into the video business this year when it announced that it was experimenting with the games to Hand-eye coordination is a prerequisite for mas- tering Pac-Man , one of the most popular video games on the scene (below). = hi

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Organization ' s Day 1981 A special day for many campus clubs and organizations was Organizations ' Day. This annual event, since 1973, was held on Sept. 9 on Bowman Field. The participants tried to inform freshmen, transfer students and others about their organizations. Approximately 100 clubs exhibited booths and other types of eye- catching displays. With the help of the student govern- ment, club leaders, and members, Orga- nizations ' Day was once again successful. This year, Cindi Jones, Organizations chairperson, organized this event. Preparations included the publishing of a booklet which listed the many different clubs and organizations along with a brief description of each. This gave students a chance to see exactly what clubs are available to them. Strange, unusual, and detailed are just a few words that described the extrava- gant exhibits. A lot of preparation and effort went into the displays. While the sports-oriented clubs displayed various types of equipment, (the sailing club brought a boat) other clubs included everything from livestock to machinery in their presentations. Good advertising has always been the most effective way to attract new members. The purpose of Organizations ' Day is to let interested students know about the variety of clubs and organizations. The assortment of clubs include those of mili- tary, scientific, athletic, and religious as- pect. Fraternities and sororities were also well represented. Students are free to ask questions and become more informed about the clubs activities. These clubs feel that students need to become in- volved. After all, there is more to college than going to classes and studying. Becoming involved with extracurricula activities en- hances the mind as well as the body. Many times students do not know about these various clubs and organizations. Organizations ' Day helps to solve this problems. by Becky Johnson Gunter Wiedemann Water ski club members Tony Scruggs and Marc Stecker show of their Ski Nautique motor boat and assortment oft skis (top left). Student body president, John Pettigrew eluci- dates on the ombudsman role of student govern- ment in making the administration aware of griev- ances (right). Rob Connor and Pete David of the sailing club explain the precedures for checking a sailboat be- fore it is allowed into the water (above). Janet Fnck 28 — STUDENT LIFE