Leveling Up: the History of Video Games and Gaming at NC State

Photo of an NC State student playing the popular arcade game, Track and Field (circa 1984).

Photo of an NC State student playing the popular arcade game, Track and Field (circa 1984).

This post was authored by Special Collections Graduate Assistant, Katelyn Cuomo, and edited by Taylor Wolford.

NC State’s appreciation for gaming has existed for decades, with a culture of video gaming beginning at NC State in the 1970s. Since then, NC State students have been actively engaged in gaming, from casual gatherings in dorm rooms to competitive tournaments held on campus.

Students played popular games like PAC Man and Mortal Kombat at the local arcades.
Students played popular games like PAC Man and Mortal Kombat at the local arcades.

Video gaming reached mainstream popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, when arcade video games, gaming consoles, and home computer games were introduced to the general public. It was during this time period that NC State students began gaming in group settings and local arcades. In 1972, the Gaming Club student organization was formed for those interested in participating in organized gaming events on campus. Gaming conventions, like the 1983 Tri-Con, were held on campus to play role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. In the 1980s and 1990s, there were a few local arcades on Hillsborough Street like Jermiah’s Arcade and Blue Basson Arcade, which were frequented by students. 

Posters promoting gaming conventions on campus, such as the 1983 Tri-Con hosted by the NC State Gaming Society (North Carolina State University, Student and Other Organizations, Single Folder Organizations Records 1904-2013, Legalbox 6, Folder 24).
Posters promoting gaming conventions on campus, such as the 1983 Tri-Con hosted by the NC State Gaming Society (North Carolina State University, Student and Other Organizations, Single Folder Organizations Records 1904-2013, Legalbox 6, Folder 24).
Caption: Posters promoting various gaming conventions on campus, such as the 1983 Tri-Con hosted by the NC State Gaming Society (North Carolina State University, Student and Other Organizations, Single Folder Organizations Records 1904-2013, Legalbox 6, Folder 24).
Posters promoting a Science-Fiction/Fantasy Gaming Convention on campus (North Carolina State University, Student and Other Organizations, Single Folder Organizations Records 1904-2013, Legalbox 6, Folder 24).

By the early 2000s, a number of student groups emerged dedicated to gaming. This included student organizations like the Gamer Club, the Game Developer’s Club, and the LAN Gaming Club, which were all established in 2003. In the same year, the Game Master’s Club was founded for students who wanted to enter video game tournaments and play video games in group settings. Following this momentum, the Game Design and Development Club and the Multiplayer Gaming Club were formed in 2006, and the Video Game Development Club, which still exists as of 2023, was founded in 2008. The Video Game Development Club was founded under the principle that there should be a space for students interested in video game design on campus.

Game Master's Club constitution, 2003.
Game Master's Club Constitution, 2003.

An Esports team was active in the 2010s and was founded at NC State to “provide an environment for members to view, spectate, and compete in popular competitive and non-competitive gaming” (Esports Club at NC State University, Constitution and Bylaws, 2022). Today, NC State has Esports teams for Valorant, League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Rainbow Six Siege, Rocket League and Smite, and Super Smash Bros. The Esports team continues to compete in national tournaments with colleges from around the country. The Esports team also has Discord and Twitch accounts that have amassed quite a following with nearly 2,000 users and thousands of livestream views.

Technician, January, 19, 2016.
Over 500 participants competed in an Esports competition in the Talley Student Union in 2016, which was the first time an Esports competition of this scale was held on campus. Technician, January, 19, 2016.

In the past couple of years, NC State teams have competed in events in Raleigh like the 2019 Six Major and the Halo Championship Series Kickoff Major in 2021. Additionally, NC State has been the site for regional Smash Ultimate tournaments like Just Roll With It 12 and the Peabnut Formal. NC State Esports teams have been very competitive in the past few years, and as of 2022, the Rainbow Six Siege Team was ranked #1 in the nation. 

The history of gaming at NC State is one of students coming together, forming clubs and organizations, and engaging in spirited competition. Gaming culture on campus has grown significantly since the 1970s, and the university has since acknowledged the need to expand and improve infrastructure for video gaming and video game development. Recently, NC State announced the construction of a new Esports Arena on campus, which will be completed by 2025. The new Esports arena marks the culmination of a long and vibrant history of gaming at this institution, which will continue to grow in the coming years.

If you have any questions or are interested in viewing Special Collections materials, please contact us at library_specialcollections@ncsu.edu or submit a request online. The Special Collections Research Center is open by appointment only. Appointments are available Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm and Saturday, 1pm–5pm. Requests for a Saturday appointment must be received no later than Tuesday of the same week.