M Lounge

SMU/DALLAS (April 16, 2009) -- In the ‘50s, the best university student centers had bowling alleys and one color TV. In 2009, Southern Methodist University is setting a new standard with the help of the world’s largest video game and entertainment software retailer, GameStop, and opening a lounge complete with a 161-inch high definition DLP projector, 24 game consoles, a top of the line Alienware gaming system, and a stage for budding rockers to rock out to Rock Band and Guitar Hero.

The M Lounge features six modules provided by GameStop that each house two Wii consoles, two PlayStation 3 consoles and two Xbox 360 consoles. Students can check out a variety of games for all console systems and the PC, and play not only fellow SMU students, but also students at universities across the nation.

The M Lounge also will serve as a living laboratory for The Guildhall at SMU, the nation’s premier digital game development higher education program. SMU students can test their team games, and GameStop can use the lounge as a consumer testing site.

In 2008, a SMU task force recommended that better on-campus late-night options be made available to students. In response, SMU not only extended the hours of the Student Center, but also committed to improving the Center’s activity options. The M Lounge will also be open for extended hours.

“We can’t thank GameStop enough for their partnership on this,” Dr. Peter Raad, founder and executive director of The Guildhall at SMU, said. “This is not only an important addition to our program for the testing and development of our student produced games, but we are especially pleased that it will aid the university in providing on campus activities for SMU students.”

“I think we are all aware of the negative stories about video gaming,” Raad went on to say. “We can only hope that this story on how video games can be used as a positive force will get the same coverage.”

About The Guildhall at SMU

The Guildhall at Southern Methodist University is the premier graduate video game education program in the US. Many of the school’s founders are industry icons, and classes are taught by industry veterans. In five years, the program has graduated over 250 students and alums have worked at more than 80 video game studios around the world, with several graduates now serving in leadership positions. SMU offers both a Master’s degree and a graduate Professional Certificate of Interactive Technology in Digital Game Development, with specializations in art creation, level design, and software development.

For more information, contact Ron Jenkins at jenkinsr@smu.edu and visit www.guildhall.smu.edu.