Stationed on the East Lawn outside of Norris University Center, Nintendo kicked off their official Nintendo Switch: Together Tour. On Monday and Tuesday this week, the video gaming company set up multiple Switch systems, large televisions, Nintendo props and prize booths for anyone to enjoy for free.

At the event, participants played many of Nintendo’s premier Switch games. Some games, like “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,” “Super Mario Party” and “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate,” encouraged students to play in groups, while others such as “The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening” and “Super Mario Maker 2” were designed to be played alone. Hosts of the event led groups in games of “Just Dance” on the main screen.

Nintendo’s tour took advantage of the nostalgia that many college students have for classic video games.

“Countless college students over the last 25 years have memories about Nintendo,” the company wrote in a release. “To introduce the newest generation of college students to the newest generation of Nintendo games… Nintendo is enrolling in college campuses this fall.”

The event attracted many Northwestern students who passed by the gaming trucks while walking around campus. Doctorate candidates Anthony Silvaroli and Sean Koyoma happened upon the event and were enticed to stay when they saw the free opportunity to play Mario Kart.

“It’s been really fun,” Silvaroli said. “It’s great that you can play with a bunch of your friends and come out here and compete against each other.”

Embracing the spirit of togetherness in the Together Tour, some participants made new friends by playing games alongside one another. McCormick junior Dylan Bercu and fourth-year doctorate candidate in engineering Charlotte Abrahamson, for example, were already deep into a spirited match of “Mario Kart” before they learned each other’s names.

Bercu and Abrahamson, who each own a Switch, said they were particularly excited for the event after hearing the news that Nintendo would be coming to campus.

“I had actually gotten an email about it from Nintendo because I have a Switch, and they probably used cookies to track me, but I signed up over the weekend and completely forgot about it until I saw it (on campus),” Bercu said.

Aside from just Northwestern students, some Evanston residents also took excursions to check out the experience. Paul Von Hoff brought his three young kids to enjoy some four-player games.

Competitors who completed tasks at a minimum of six stations got to collect a prize. Von Hoff’s son Christopher won a Mario fanny pack for his video game prowess.

Some participants said the marketing event was successful in making them more excited about Nintendo than they had previously been.

“It’s probably going to get me to train in ‘Super Smash Bros.’ more,” Bercu said.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @zachblank22