Bleep-blops and bloops of a video game are heard down Gilchrist Hall's third floor - the home of Club Mario.
The wide open door and plain, informal atmosphere of the club headquarters, room 328, is indicative of its members' enthusiasm for roots-style gaming with friends.
Members congregate around a large flat-screen television encased in a weathered wooden entertainment center with a modified Xbox and Nintendo Game Cube on the shelves.
Club President and Co-founder James Provost enjoys a game of Monopoly on a worn gray couch - a video game version of the classic board game - with club spokesman Ed Lake.
Provost, a telecommunication, information studies and media senior, is better known as Head Plumber by the club's 10 members. Lake, a no-preference sophomore, is commonly called Mushroom Retainer.
"We keep the door open to welcome anyone who wants to stop in," Provost said.
"People are always coming in to play or hang out," Lake added. "It's cool when you can play games, hang out with a bunch of people and not even have to leave the room."
The members of Club Mario, which was established last fall, meet almost every night to hang out with residents and play mostly classic Nintendo and arcade-style games.
Club officers make competitions and goals for members to accomplish. Last year's goals included a 100 percent classic Mario game completion, where members attempted to beat the original Mario Bros. games without the use of cheats or codes.
"We appreciate the stripped-down basics," Provost said. "We love the skill involved with classic games where it's not about the shoot-em-up flashy graphics but just you and your talent."
Some technological advancements in the gaming world are not welcome at Club Mario. One such tool is Game Genie, typically used to make games less difficult.
"We stick with pure skills," Provost said. "In our goal to complete all the classic Mario games 100 percent, no warp zones were allowed."
The only place level warping or codes are allowed is speed trials, competitions where members try to beat the game as quickly as possible.
"I can beat Mario One in under seven minutes," Provost boasts.
Now a fifth-year senior, Provost had the idea for a video game club his freshman year.
"The hall was pretty boring before the club began," Provost said. "But now there's so much excitement flying around when the playing gets heated.
"Ten or eight people yelling at each other over Mario Kartis pretty funny."
Club members are now planning events and competitions for the new year, including another tournament and a Mega Man completion contest.Members also are planning fundraisers and contacting sponsors for future events.
"So far we've called Nintendo and a few other big companies, but we're searching for more," said Colin Zimmerman, club treasurer and general business administration and pre-law sophomore.
Provost expects about 10 or 15 new members but encourages anyone who wants to join to stop in any evening.
"The point is to have fun," Provost said.
