Summary
Super Smash Bros. is “a brawling, battling, action-packed video game that features a varied roster of characters for four-player simultaneous melee,” according to its official website. Players choose their characters; some choices are classic Nintendo characters such as Mario, Link, Zelda, and Peach. When players hit their opponents, their damage meter builds up and is represented by a number in the bottom corner. When more damage builds up, the opponent flies farther back each time he or she gets hit. Eventually, players are flying around the screen and can fly off in any direction. There are different modes of play, and in some modes, when you KO (knock out) an opponent, you earn points. The bouts are timed and the purpose of some modes is to see who can shoot their opponents off the screen the most times during a timed interval. There are different worlds or stages where players can choose their battle settings to be. For example, there is a desert, space, castle, and summit. Libraries with Wii systems can set up an event through a gysystem site (like http://aadl.gtsystem.org) so players in their library can play with others around the world.
Critical Evaluation
While setting up a gysystem site and creating an event is free of charge, the library must purchase a Nintento Wii system with controllers and have a screen available. A Super Smash Bros. Brawl Tournament most recently took place on November 12, 2011, which was designated as National Gaming Day @ your library by ALA. Information about this day can be found at http://ngd.ala.org/. While some people might argue the relevance of video games in libraries, this site explains, “what comes through loud and clear is that National Gaming Day @ your library continues to strengthen communities and bring diverse groups of people together. As the heart of the community, the library remains the most viable institution to bridge generational gaps, enable new social interactions, and reinforce positive connections in a truly inclusive environment.” According to this site, 27,767 players participated in NGD11, and 39 libraries participated in the 4th National Super Smash Bros. Brawl tournament. One benefit that excited players was playing with others across the country. A librarian at Commerce Township Community Library in Michigan commented, “The teens LOVED it when I could look at the Smash screen and tell them 'Your opponents are in (insert state name here).' It opened up a whole new world for them. Also, there was one boy who attended with an older sibling and had special needs. He was neither chronologically nor developmentally a teen, but the teens adopted him as one of their own, allowing him to have his turn and play alongside them. I was so proud of my teens!!" Therefore, while Super Smash Bros. is not a book, it is serving as a way to bring people, especially teens, into the safe harbor of a library and letting them see their libraries in a new light.
Super Smash Bros. is also available to patrons for check-out.
Genre
Video Game
Action
Why did I include this title?
Before researching this topic, I had no idea that the ALA had an initiative to celebrate and promote gaming in libraries. Obviously, libraries are much more about books. I found this information at http://ilovelibraries.org/gaming/ and http://ngd.ala.org/. There is a library press kit with downloadable posters and other information to promote the event, and libraries of all types are invited to participate. I wish I had known about this event this year so my library could join in the fun.
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