A 24-hour LAN party is underway at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences in Mechelen, Belgium, bringing together students and faculty to celebrate gaming and foster a sense of community. The event, known as Gamefest, began Friday at 4 p.m. And will continue until 4 p.m. On Saturday.
Organized by students from the E-sportsmanagement and Media & Entertainment Business programs, alongside the Student Information Network and student services, Gamefest aims to showcase the connective power of gaming. The event underscores a growing trend of recognizing gaming not just as a solitary activity, but as a platform for social interaction and team building.
Campus De Ham’s cafeteria has been transformed into a gaming arena, where students are setting up their personal computers to participate in a variety of competitive and casual games. The lineup includes titles like Overwatch, Just Dance, and VR games, as well as a live-streamed Dungeons & Dragons session from a dedicated TV studio. Game developer Thomas Van Bouwel will also be presenting a demo of his new game, Laser Dance.
“Gaming has an unfair reputation for being a solitary pursuit,” said coordinator Bart Van Eemeren. “During Gamefest, it’s about playing together, winning together, and losing together.”
This year’s Gamefest also includes a focus on accessibility, with Accessible Gaming providing adapted controllers to ensure that gamers with disabilities can participate. The organizers emphasize that Gamefest is about more than just competition; previous editions have led to the formation of new friendships, teams, and long-lasting gaming groups.
Telenet is sponsoring the event, providing network support and catering. More information about Gamefest can be found at the event website. Recent coverage of the event can also be found on Radio Reflex and in De Krantenkoppen.
