Sacramento State’s social clubs make it simple for students to find a niche for themselves on campus. For those who love a video game controller in their hands and friends cheering for them to win it all, the Specialized Electronic Gaming Association is the spot. This social club is centered around video game tournaments and friendly competition so members can cultivate and employ their skills among fellow gamers.

Sac State alumnus Som Keophiphat said that he started the Specialized Electronic Gaming Association in fall 2009 after discovering he was not the only student looking for a legitimate reason to game it up between and after classes. His inspiration for starting the club developed after realizing how often he played fighting games in the campus arcade between classes.

Senior kinesiology major Raymond Monsada, a member of the Specialized Electronic Gaming Association, has also found his niche in the video-gaming world.

“When we had the arcade (on campus), I played every time (I was here),” Monsada said.

An avid “Marvel vs. Capcom” game player on PlayStation 2, Monsada’s passion for fighting games continued to evolve into the need for social competition, resulting in the motivation to join the club.

Keophiphat cultivated his talents in fighting games when he became the seventh nationally ranked competitor in the Tekken Evolution Championships, a tournament based on the popular PlayStation 2 fighting game. Monsada said the club “plays a lot in computer games,” but also dabbles in PlayStation 2 and 3, as well as some Sega Genesis. While the officers of the club, such as current president Denny Ngo, tend to be loyal to fighting games, they are “trying to have more variety” in genres Monsada said. The club has been loyal to fighting games from the start, but switching up genres will help to bring in new members and generate greater interest in joining.

Ngo, senior international business major, took over as president of the Specialized Electronic Gaming Association in fall 2010. He usually has the club meet in a classroom environment where three to four TVs are set up as different gaming stations. Members are polled to decide what game will be played on which station.

Games, like Ngo’s favorite, “Super Street Fighter IV,” are typically turned into tournaments for the enjoyment of friendly competition. Although the club’s next meeting has yet to be scheduled, any interested students can contact the club by emailing the officers at [email protected].

For students looking for a way to socialize and compete while gaming, the Specialized Electronic Gaming Association is the ticket.

Kayla Oliveriocan be reached at [email protected]