Game Club’s VR team plans collaborations in the new year
Games are serious business, and at the forefront of gaming innovation is virtual reality.
VR provides players a three-dimensional environment that they can explore and interact with using a stereoscopic headset and handheld controllers.
Some of the top VR games currently are “Beat Saber” (a rhythm game), “Half-Life: Alyx” (sci-fi action), “Moss” (puzzle adventure), “Resident Evil 4 VR” (horror), “I Expect You to Die 2” (spy game), “Blade & Sorcery” (combat game), and “Creed: Rise to Glory” (boxing game). According to industry estimates, the consumer VR market is projected to grow from less than $16 billion in 2024 to more than $18 billion in 2025.
Members of the Gaming Club at FSU Panama City, drawn by the immersive quality of the VR experience, have formed their own VR team within the larger club, said club president Brendan Young. It’s just part of the wide world of games that they enjoy, including board games and role-playing games.
FSU PC Gaming Club president Brendan Young, right, joins club member James Washington to demonstrate VR gear
the Digital Design Studio.
Originally from Spring Hill, Young came to FSU PC because of its small class sizes, focus on students, unique programs and closeness to the beach. His love of gaming began at age 10, with an Xbox 360 and an introduction to “Minecraft.”
“From there, I got into indie games,” he said. “Now I’ve moved into VR games like ‘Breaches VR.’” As he talked, he worked at cleaning and fitting a plastic gun stock for his VR controllers, which he will use when playing “Breaches.” He made it on the Digital Design Studio’s 3D printer.
The club is a recreational and social gathering, Young said. Its membership varies, with some people only dropping in for a game, but it’s usually around 15 persons. Current plans are to collaborate with other clubs in the new year, as well as establishing a server to play “Minecraft” as a team.
“We also want to begin Dungeons & Dragons game nights and playing other tabletop games together,” said Young, who is a Computer Science major.
In 2025, the Gaming Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays in the DDS. The VR Team will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. Students from Gulf Coast State College are also welcome to participate, Young said.