Posted on by nianders

Video Games as Art — What’s in the Library?

Screenshot from video game "Super Mario Odyssey" for the Nintendo Switch.

Ahhh, video games. My number one distraction from homework. My number one detachment from interpersonal relationships. My number one point of disappointment from my parents. Believe it or not, however, video games do bring more to the table than just that little serotonin boost from beating a level, scoring an achievement, or absolutely dunking on your friends. Yes, reader, I tell you that we have come a long way from the days of the Atari where absolutely nonsensical garbage like E.T. was marketed and forced down the gullets of customers. Video games have evolved as a medium, its expressions of creativity and artistry matching that of any other form of media. So if your professor is giving you grief for staying up too late and not doing any of the assigned reading, maybe give some of these games a whirl so you can explain how you are, in fact, expanding your worldview and engaging with philosophies in an interactive field! There’s something for everybody on this list, and you can find all of these games in the UW Bothell / Cascadia College Library game collection located on the first floor across from the Course Reserves Textbook section near the lobby (here’s a link to our page about the collection). By no means is this a comprehensive or exhaustive list, the collection features hundreds of games! If you see your favorite omitted from here, do not fear or think that I am disparaging your choice. There’s a good chance I like that game, too! 😁

Mass Effect series — Xbox, Playstation

Artwork depicting characters and events from the "Mass Effect" video game series.

Because this is my article and I have a platform to preach my own biases, I am going to start with my favorite game series of all time; Mass Effect. A space opera of epic proportions, Mass Effect is sure to itch the scratches of any lovers of Star Trek, RPGs, shooters, and romance. Players take control of Commander Shepard, a space marine, tasked with saving the galaxy from the threat of the enigmatic Reapers, a machine race whose threat has not been seen for fifty thousand years. How Shepard tackles this (and how Shepard is represented; the game has a very in-depth character creator!) is ultimately up to the players. The series is well known for its conversation and morality systems, where players choose how Shepard interacts with characters and decisions presented to them. These interactions and decisions end up having long term effects on the series, with save files actually carrying across all 3 installments, creating a cohesive narrative directed by the player. Players will find themselves falling in love (both in real life and in game) with their crew-mates and in awe of the vast worlds they can explore across the galaxy. Very few games out there give the player this much agency over the story and world they create. You can reserve a copy of the first game from Suzzallo and Allen, while the second and third games can be found in the UW Bothell / Cascadia College Library game collection on the 1st floor!

Tags: Sci-fi, space opera, single player, RPG, action, dialogue heavy, LGBTQ+

Portal 2 — Xbox

“All right, I’ve been thinking, when life gives you lemons, don’t make lemonade! Make life take the lemons back! Get mad! I don’t want your damn lemons! What am I supposed to do with these? Demand to see life’s manager! Make life rue the day it thought it could give Cave Johnson lemons! Do you know who I am? I’m the man whose gonna burn your house down – with the lemons!”

Portal 2‘s dialogue and narrative contain just as much wit and smarts as is required to crack the mind-bending labyrinth of puzzles found in the abandoned facilities of Aperture Science. Equipped with a portal gun that operates exactly as advertised, players must get creative to make it through each level. You can take on the single player campaign, accompanied by the nervous robot Wheatley (voiced by Stephen Merchant) and evil AI-turned-potato GLaDOS (voiced by Ellen McClain). Alternatively, grab a friend and play through the co-op campaign as bipedal androids ATLAS and P-Body. The physics of the portals as well as other substances in the game make it a blast to play, and the level design displays the creativity and thought put into this unique adventure. Plus, it’s developed by local games giant Valve! Show that Pacific Northwest pride! Portal 2 can be found in the UW Bothell / Cascadia College Library game collection.

Tags: Puzzle, single player, co-op, sci-fi, comedy

Super Mario Odyssey — Nintendo Switch

With The Super Mario Bros. Movie entering movie theaters, there’s never been a better time to don the red cap and hop on some goombas! On the same shelf as Bugs Bunny or Mickey Mouse, Mario has enjoyed widespread fame and has embedded his moustachioed visage into the fibers of pop culture. Super Mario Odyssey is the latest entry in the storied franchise that features the red plumber on a global trek across several kingdoms to stop the Koopa King, Bowser, from marrying Peach! This is a must play for any fans of the franchise or well polished platformers. The intercontinental caper sees a diverse range of level designs, full to the brim of charm and wonder, and a bevy of new mechanics breathe fresh air into the Mario formula.

Tags: Platformer, single player, vibrant, all ages

The Last of Us — Playstation

If you’ve been watching the hit HBO series, consider giving the source material a run! While Pedro Pascal’s beautiful smile does not grace the screen here, the emotional storytelling and intense action are just as present. A truly cinematic game experience.

Tags: Post-apocalyptic, story, single player, action, survival

Persona 5 — Playstation

The latest installment in the best-selling JRPG series, Persona 5 is a nuanced adventure chronicling a group of high school students who have awakened supernatural abilities through physical manifestations of their psyches, their titular Personas. Together, known as the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, the students become vigilantes exploring the Metaverse, a place born out of the subconscious desires of humankind, to steal the evil from within adult’s hearts. Give Persona 5 a go if you’re interested in exploring both a modern-day Tokyo and fantastical realms, a story built on your interpersonal relationships that you develop as the player, love Pokemon, or want a game with the funkiest soundtrack around!

Tags: Anime, RPG, single player, story, jazz fusion

Uncharted series — Playstation

From the creators of The Last of Us and Crash Bandicoot, the Uncharted series is a must-play for any fans of high-octane, blockbuster adventures! Players take on the role of Nathan Drake, an infamous treasure hunter, as he treks the globe plundering the spoils of Marco Polo and El Dorado and earns the ire of a many other treasure hunters and bandits. Channeling the feeling of Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider, this series has it all; betrayal, romance, and guns a-blazing.

Tags: Action, adventure, single player, cinematic

Fallout: New Vegas — Xbox

A transgressive look at a post-nuclear war America, the Fallout series has always offered deep political commentary on the nature of democracy, capitalism, and xenophobia. Perhaps the most sophisticated installment of the modern era, Fallout: New Vegas takes players into the Mojave Wasteland, where the titular New Vegas is warred over between the New California Republic, the imperialistic Caesar’s Legion, and the enigmatic businessman and proprietor of the New Vegas strip Mr. House. Fallout: New Vegas takes players through a story where greed is a savage force and they must determine whether to play it straight or load the dice.

Tags: RPG, post-apocalyptic, dystopia, hardcore, dialogue-heavy

Journey — Playstation

A prime example of what games as a creative medium is capable of, Journey takes players on, well, a journey through a vast desert littered with ruins of civilizations that once were, haunted by loneliness and isolation. This quiet and melancholic tale is full of eye candy, and asks gamers to ponder the world around them as they wander the vast dunes before them. If you have a PlayStation Network account, other players can actually be placed into your game where you can explore together. While you cannot communicate with this other player, there is something to be said about sharing a moment with a stranger.

Tags: Single player, adventure, casual, vibrant

Life Is Strange — Xbox

Set in an idyllic seaside Oregon town, Life Is Strange is an episodic adventure game where the story centers on 18-year old Max Caulfield and her discovery of the incredible ability to rewind time. Max finds out that every decision of hers creates a butterfly effect, as players take control of her actions and witness their unfolding in the narrative with emotional consequences. This is a must-play for anybody a fan of interactive storytelling in games, as well as fans of young adult fiction.

Tags: Single player, choose your own adventure, young adult, LGBTQ+

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice — Playstation

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice offers gamers one of the most accurate and respectful depiction of psychosis in media to date. Taking on the role of titular Senua, in a Norse and Celtic inspired dark fantasy, players are tasked with traveling the depths of Helheim to save the soul of her dead lover from the goddess Hela. A unique blend of puzzles and combat, Senua must survive tests of strength and intellect, as well as boss encounters with gods and creatures alike, all while managing a “curse” of voices and illusions.

Tags: Action, adventure, single player, puzzles, psychological horror

BioShock — Xbox

No Gods or Kings. Only Man. Embroidered on a blood-red banner under the menacing visage of tycoon Andrew Ryan, BioShock‘s city of Rapture makes its ideals viscerally known at its front gates. This city, an underwater art-deco hellscape, is home to an essentially abandoned civilization where genetically-modifying drugs harvested through parasites implanted into orphans have warped its citizens into super-human monsters. If that doesn’t paint the picture vivid enough, I don’t know what will. Simply one of the most transgressive shooters in history, as the game touts a sophisticated RPG leveling system that gives players a suite of abilities like telekinesis or pyrokinesis. Play this one for a scathing take on Ayn Rand-ian philosophies!

Tags: Shooter, single-player, RPG, dystopic fiction, political commentary, body horror

 

 

 

Posted on by libraryvoices

Ad: Codependent Reader Seeks Same

In the realm of privileged people problems, nothing is worse than getting a chocolate-covered cherry stain on your favorite shirt…except maybe being single on Valentine’s Day.

In the current state of society, we are conditioned to believe that “single” = sad. Singles Awareness Day (S.A.D.) was an unfortunate acronym. In actuality, being single is Fierce, Uplifting, and Nirvana (F.U.N.)! No offense to all the lovely couples out there, but being single is pretty much the best thing ever. Here’s why:

When you’re single, instead of going out to engage in activities you don’t enjoy, eat food that is too expensive, and agonize as you watch romantic comedies without the comedy, you can literally do WHATEVER YOU WANT on Valentine’s Day. Shopping for new clothes? Sure. Do-it-yourself spa day? Doable. Drinking too much Red Bull and doing amateur parkour stuff around Capitol Hill? Why not?

Or – get this – you could avoid all the Valentine’s Day traffic and have a comfy night in by yourself (or with your single besties) and read a BOOK! I know.

If you are so inclined, the Campus Library would like to help you with this final option. The “Blind Date with a Book” display is now up and running in the Campus Library, your match is waiting for you…Instead of living the real-life romance (with all of its pomp, frill, and subsequent complicatedness), why not read about it? Better yet, why not read a super-spy thriller, an outdoor adventure, a drug-addled memoir, a historical murder-mystery, a beloved classic or a love story parody?

The thing about “Blind Date with a Book,” is you don’t know what you’re going to get, which only increases the anticipation! As you unwrap your blind date, consider how lucky you are to have someone who cares about you so deeply. Someone who loves you so completely, that they dedicate themselves to you, and you alone, 24/7. I read a meme somewhere once that said something like: “There are millions of cells in your body and all they care about is you.” Kind of similar to what I’m trying to say, but not really.

What I mean is that being single is not the end of the world, neither is being in a relationship. Whatever your relationship status this year, just remember that the Library understands. So whether you need a significant other or are looking for a new one, pick up a blind date in the library lobby and fall in love…with reading.

(Cheesy, I know, but don’t care.)

<3

Posted on by libraryvoices

Dos and don’ts of studying in the Campus Library (just in time for midterms)

✓ DO!

  • DO take breaks from reading, writing, researching etc.
    You know the feeling. You’ve been in the library for three hours, reading through your Organizational Behavior textbook and taking meticulous notes. The words on the page are starting to make no sense, you had to go back and read the same paragraph four times, and you’re starting to feel like you might lose control and scream in the middle of the silent reading room. If this is happening to you, it’s time to take a break. When you’ve stopped being productive, there is no sense in forcing yourself to keep working. Get up and stretch, get a bite to eat, go for a walk down to the campus wetland, or what have you. Come back to your work when you’ve given yourself a decent break.
  • DO ask for help if you need it.
    The library circulation staff, technology consultants, and research librarians are here to assist you. If you need help locating a certain title or want to use a textbook for your class, come to the Circulation Desk. If you need help printing or logging on to the Wifi, go to the Tech desk, and if you need help with more complex research questions such as how to find scholarly articles or gain access to databases, see a reference librarian at the Reference Desk.

  • DO find a space that works for you.
    There are lots of places to study in the library, but some may be more suited to your needs than others. If you are looking for a place to spread out, maybe meet with a peer, eat your lunch, etc. and you don’t need complete silence, the first floor is your best bet. There are lots of tables scattered across the first floor that are great for working as an individual or as a group.
    If you want your own space with a whiteboard, TV monitor, maybe even a computer to collaborate on a group project, you want to reserve one of our study rooms. You have to call dibs on these, and they fill up fast so if you know you will need to use one, you can reserve it up to two weeks in advance online.
    Lastly, if you’re on your own and you just want a quiet place to read or study, the Quiet Study Room up on the third floor is where you should be. This is a cell-phone free, conversation free, completely silent zone. If you’re like me and can’t focus on a single thing when it’s noisy, go here.

🙁 DON’T

  • DON’T try to accomplish everything at once.
    Whether you’re behind in your assigned readings, studying for an exam, or working on a project or essay, you can’t expect that your pile of work is going to pull a Houdini and disappear in one sitting. Set reasonable goals for yourself during your study session. Prioritize and then pick one, again ONE, task to complete. If you start out thinking you’re going to get everything done at once a) you’ll end up over-working yourself or b) you’ll get nothing done because you’ll be too worried about everything that you have to get done and you’ll drive yourself crazy. So, be logical and pick one thing to accomplish, then move on to the next thing.

  • DON’T allow yourself to be distracted.
    Speaking of accomplishments, nothing gets in the way of getting work done like those pesky distractions. For example, out of nowhere you have a craving for a taco, your phone is buzzing from people liking your Facebook post, or you can’t help eavesdropping on the people next to you who are talking about the Breaking Bad finale from a year ago. Whatever it may be, don’t allow yourself to be distracted when you’re supposed to be working.  If you need to, move to a quieter place where you can focus.
  • DON’T assume. It’s dangerous
    Here in the library, we have an abundance of resources for our students to use. One of them are Reserve items. Teachers can choose to put required readings and videos on reserve for their classes. Media Reserves and Closed Reserve are kept behind the front desk, and Open Reserves are straight ahead when you come into the library. These items are restricted access, meaning they are for 4 hour, 24 hour or 72 hour check-out and they are first come first serve. So, if you need to use a textbook or DVD for a study session in the library, just be aware that the item you need is not guaranteed to be there. Reserve items have shorter check out because of their high demand. Come check with us at the front desk if you need to use a reserve item and we can help you locate it.

Now go on, get out there and study.

 

Links to the art:
Just one more pageHermione
Do all the homework!
Secret Window Depp
30 Rock excitement

Posted on by libraryvoices

Ode to a required reading list

oh, how you dishearten me
to see such a long list of
texts to be bought, shipped, read.

there is no hope for my wallet
nor is there hope for my social life
which will ultimately whither away
having been replaced by endless reading.

lest we not forget I am but a college student
bound by ever-expanding tuition rates and
my ever-shrinking savings fund.

what is a girl to do?
how can one remedy this injustice
and find a more sound, economic solution?

just when all seemed futile,
I found the answer in a likely
yet unlikely place.

a simple search within the catalog revealed
each and every reading required was
but a mouse-click away!

whether on closed or open reserves,
in the UWB stacks or in a land far away,
my books were waiting.

Hark! my wallet has been spared!
as for my social life however,
we are still waiting for a pulse.

Posted on by libraryvoices

Getting Acquainted With the Library!

Welcome Fall 2014 students!

At the UWB/CCC Campus Library, our friendly staff and librarians are ready to help you have a great start to the 2014-2015 school year! The Library is a shared space located between UW Bothell and Cascadia College. Regardless if you are new to campus or a graduate student, here are some (hopefully) helpful tips to maneuvering your way around the library.

Library Organization and Art

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The library has three floors, each serving slightly different purposes. All levels include tables and chairs for studying, restrooms, and water fountains. Artwork specific to PNW and Alaskan Natives (titled the “Rose Collection”) is also scattered amongst the different floors. More information about this intricate collection can be found at: http://library.uwb.edu/arttour/about.html.

First Floor

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On the first floor you will find our library’s media collection, which consists of DVDs, VHSs, CDs, and video games. This floor is also the home to special collections and/or displays such as new books, faculty publications, career/writing/topic books, Reference, as well as Reserves. Upon entering the library, you might notice the long line of three different yet interconnected desks. The area closest to the entrance is the Circulation Desk. If you need to check out or look up any materials, reserve a study room, or ask any general direction questions, circulation is the place to go! Further down in the center of the desk you will find the Technology Consultants. This is an area where students can check out laptops, as well as receive assistance in the library’s large Information Commons space. The Technology Consultants also assist students with printing, adding money to Husky Cards, scanning, and making change. At the far end of the desk are the wonderful Reference Librarians! They are available to help with research questions, accessing and utilizing online databases, and so much more. Each librarian has her/his own field of expertise, ranging from chemistry to art, so if the librarian at the desk is unfamiliar with a particular assignment, you can set up an appointment to meet with your course’s specific librarian.

 

Second Floor

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The second floor of the library mainly houses offices, classrooms, and UWB’s IT Helpdesk. If you happen to look at your schedule and notice that one of your class is scheduled in the library, there is  a very high chance that you will be able to find that room on the second floor. There is also ample study space on the second floor. From the peaceful atmosphere of the skybridge to the open tables and chairs at both ends, this floor is a great space to work freely without needing to remain completely silent. Down the hall to the left of the lobby, you will find the Viewing and Listening Stations. These four carrels are equipped with DVD/VHS players and large monitors for watching films.  (Great for screening media reserves that have to stay in the library!)  They require headphones for audio, and those can be checked out on the first floor at the Circulation Desk or borrowed from Technology Consultants. Talking is allowed on the second floor but because the rooms lack soundproof walls, the noise should be kept at an adequate level as to not disturb classroom sessions.  Circulation student employees also create a special Children’s Literature display each month, located next to the skybridge off of the main lobby. You should check it out!

Third Floor

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The third floor of the library is the quiet floor, where group work and cellphone use is not allowed unless it takes place in a study room. On this floor you will find the library stacks, the largest collection of books. These items tend to have the longest loan period (4 weeks for undergraduate students).  Along with the stacks are four other collections of books: Curriculum, Children’s Literature, ESL, and Folio. If you are looking for a quiet place to study on the third floor, but find it difficult to concentrate, check out the Reading Room located across the skybridge just off of the main lobby area. Aside from this room’s great atmosphere and view of the wetlands, it is so quiet that you can hear a pin drop. It is not advised to study in the Reading Room if your activities require making any noise. Other study area options include the seventeen group study rooms, all of which include whiteboards and are equipped with televisions/DVD/VHS players and monitors for laptop plug-ins. For those students looking for a small room to study in alone, there are two individual study rooms just outside of the Reading Room. Please note that all other study rooms require groups of two or more in order to be reserved! To find out more information on how to reserve a study room or review the policies, please visit: http://libguides.uwb.edu/rooms. Computers can be found scattered throughout all areas of the third floor, and can be used on a first come-first serve basis.

Accessing Materials

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All books in the library are shelved using the LC (Library of Congress) Call Number system. After looking up a book’s call number and verifying which collection it is in, locating the book should then be a very quick and easy process. In any case where you are unable to find a book or other item, come see the staff at the Circulation Desk. We would love to help you search or troubleshoot the problem. Because the UWB/CCC Campus Library is one of many libraries in the UW system, students and faculty alike have the option to place holds and have items of all kinds sent between libraries… for free! An item traveling to UWB from another UW library usually takes 2-3 days to arrive, and will sit on the hold shelf behind the Circulation Desk for up to seven days. Many items available for checkout are renewable, and that process can be done over the phone, online, or in person, either with or without the item present (Reserve and ILL/Summit items are the exception).

Next time you are looking for a place to study, head on over to the UWB/CCC Campus Library. For any additional information, please visit the library website (http://library.uwb.edu/) or call any one of our desks. Best of luck getting started with Fall Quarter!

Contact us!

Circulation: 425-352-5340
Technology: 425-352-3145
Reference: 425-352-3146
UW Library Account Services (Seattle): 206-543-1174