Event Planning
Creating an event takes a lot of organization, but it's a fun way to build community and raise awareness for an organization. A friendly Mario Kart Tournament, planned for Berry College Alternate Realities, was made with the intention of doing just that. This was a campus wide event that took three weeks to come to fruition. Pre-planning began on Wednesday, March 20th and the event was held on Saturday, April 6th of 2024.
Background
Berry College Alternate Realities (BCAR) is Berry College’s one-stop destination for anything related to fandoms of all types, from board games to anime. As an officer of the club for 3 years, as of writing (currently co-president), I have gone through the preparation process for campus-wide events several times. Planning campus wide activities has gone well in the past, we have hosted tournaments for the video game Super Smash Brothers: Ultimate for the Nintendo Switch to appeal to the competitive side of gamers across campus. While the smash bros franchise has brought large audiences from across campus, I couldn’t help but notice the mostly male demographic. Compared to smash bros, Mario Kart 8 for the same console is known to have a more inclusive competitive fanbase, allowing us to raise awareness of the club and raise spirits during a tumultuous time for many students.
Pre-Planning
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Troubleshoot the idea with other officers
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Find a bracket website to plan the tournament beforehand
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Utilize a whiteboard to illustrate the bracket to spectators and participants.
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Schedule rooms and solidify a date through the school’s event scheduling website
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Create a poster/flyer to post around campus, including a sign-up code
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Find four consoles to operate in both rooms
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Select and purchase prizes
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1st: Nintendo eShop gift card
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2nd: Super Mario themed LED lamp
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3rd: Super Mario character plush toy
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Goals:
While the smash bros franchise has brought large audiences from across campuses, I couldn’t help but notice the mostly male demographic. Through utilizing a new game with a perceivably wider fanbase, we can hopefully cast a wider net and raise awareness of our organization, while making it feel more inclusive. As a club that tends to focus on topics that have historically been geared towards a male audience, it is important that we widen our scope and foster an inclusive atmosphere, as to allow anyone to explore what they love.
Poster
Outcome
The tournament was a success with twelve participants playing each other in close matches. Hosted in Evans, the friendly yet competitive atmosphere filled the room and the competitors with a sense of determination. As the tournament began, players selected their characters and eagerly awaited the races ahead.
The tournament itself featured four rounds per race, with each round presenting new challenges and tracks for everyone to enjoy. Popular tracks included the thrilling yet classic Mario Kart Circuit, a favorite amongst the third-place winner, Ryan, and the ever-challenging Rainbow Road. In fact, due to players being able to select their tracks instead of the typical Grand Prix pre-selected format, there was one race with two different rounds of the terrifying Rainbow Road. Each track showcased the players' skills and reflexes with every race providing new challenges and shortcuts.
As the competitive spirit grew, two participants even became commentators for the races, further intensifying every match. In the final rounds, tensions ran high as the most skilled racers battled it out for first place and that sweet, sweet Nintendo eShop gift card.
In the end, only one player emerged on top, with second place taking home a Mario themed star lamp, and third taking home a Fire Mario plush toy. Amidst the cheers and applause, the champions claimed their prizes. As the tournament ended, participants and spectators departed with smiles and memories of a fun-filled time.
Images
