The Stettler Public Library came abuzz on Saturday evening, March 26 as kids started arriving for Game Over 2016, a night of gaming at the library from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. the next morning.
Having offered this event for over seven years, the library considers this one of its more successful programs catered for the children.
"The kids really seem to enjoy it when they are here engaged in this," said Crystal Friars, assistant manager at the library. "They get to interact with their friends and can game all night without their parents telling them it is bedtime."
Brennen Andrews, one of the participants, said that he decided to come because all his friends were coming, "It's better than a normal sleepover because you don't have to sleep."
Seventeen-year-old Amanda Simpson had nothing better to do and decided to try it out.
With 20 attendees, the library was thriving with activity as all the computer screens flickered through the night with different video games.
"We decided to hold it this weekend because we thought that it would be a great way in which to kick off the spring break and it would give them the kids time to recover from their lack of sleep before returning to school," said Friars. "I'm sure that most would try to do this at home during spring break anyways so why not have it at the library, giving them a change of environment."
From Smash Bros, dance games to some massive multiplayer on-line role play games (MMORPGs) like Heros and Generals and Star Wars, everything was tried out with only gamed rated M and over not being allowed.
"If we didn't have kids that loved gaming, there would be no such thing as Game Over," said Friars. "We do this for the kids to have a night in which they can be kids with no responsibilities, or expect them in keeping the library clean."
"It wasn't a time in which we teach the kids, in fact they teach me," she added. "I learnt so much about the wonderful kids that came to this program that I can't help but be involved in the next one and the next one and the next one."
