Buffalo Esports gaming lounge opens its doors

Monday saw UB’s “LevelUp” gaming lounge open its doors to experienced gamers and curious students alike.

The lounge combines a large game room,“gaming console pods”and high-tech computers for work or leisure.

Located opposite Lockwood Library, “LevelUp” has its gaming provisions open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and its computing facilities from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. on weekdays. UBIT plans to expand the lounges hours to include weekends, but has not announced when the expansion will begin.

The space is vibrant, painted with Alienware accessories, consoles and a multitude of TV screens.

It boasts 52 gaming PCs programmed with over 25 games, including titles for Switch, Xbox and PlayStation consoles which are available for walk-in use, while the “pods” will be available by appointment.

This week is a “preview week to test everything because [the lounge] is on such a big scale,” UBIT Communications Officer Diana Tuorto told The Spectrum.

This is a big test run for UB’s growing community of gamers. The lounge will be an anchor and base for all things esports, and a “headquarters” for Buffalo Esports, Tuorto added.

But all students are welcome, new to gaming or not.

“I think it’s awesome… my computer can’t really run games too well so the fact that I can play games here is really fun. It’s just so much faster and the experience is so much better,” Jacky Kwok, a junior in business administration, said about the lounge.

Despite the dazzling set-up, some students have already found flaws in the lounge.

“I’m gonna bring my own mouse. The sensitivity is just a little weird, and I find the monitor’s a little dim, but there’s probably a way to change that,” Nathaniel Pock, a sophomore computer engineering major, added.

Ultimately, UB aims to allow students to use this space as a fun escape from the demands of daily life.

“I’m just excited that we have a place that students can take advantage of to have kind of a break from academics,” Tuorto said.

Correction: A previous version of this article said the lounge's computing facilities will close at 12 p.m. The facilities will close at 12 a.m. daily. A correction has also been added to clarify thatthe lounge hours will be expanded in the future.

Sophie McNally is an assistant sports editor and can be reached atsophie.mcnally@ubspectrum.com

Jack Pocari is the senior news editor and can be reached atjack.pocari@ubspectrum.com

Jack Porcari is a senior news/features editor at The Spectrum. He is a political science major with a minor in journalism. Aside from writing and editing, he enjoys playing piano, flow arts, reptiles and activism.

Sophie McNally is an assistant sports editor at The Spectrum. She is a history major studying abroad for a year from Newcastle University in the UK. In her spare time, she can be found blasting The 1975 or Taylor Swift and rowing on a random river at 5 a.m.