Leveling Up UB's Game Studies

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By Sarah Zamer
 IT Communications Specialist

Published October 1, 2024

The Replaying Japan Conference took place both at the University at Buffalo and the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester. The event featured a gaming demonstration at UB Information Technology's Level Up esports arena. 

Attendees at the Replaying Japan Game Studies Conference watch a video presentation at UB's Center for the Arts.

Attendees at the Replaying Japan Game Studies Conference watch a video presentation at UB's Center for the Arts. 

The 12th annual Replaying Japan Game Studies Conference kicked off at the University at Buffalo on August 19 bringing in over 90 participants, including scholars and gaming industry professionals from all over the world. 

The conference featured 24 panels held at UB’s Center for the Arts featuring topics such as video game preservation, AI technology, gender and gaming, and more. 

“This year’s theme is preservation, innovation and new directions in Japanese game studies and there are many papers that broadly fit this kind of theme,” says Mimi Okabe, PhD, Replaying Japan’s Program Chair and former assistant teaching professor at UB. 

The event’s keynote speakers featured Yoko Taro, a Japanese video game director and scenario writer best known for his work on the game NieR Automata which sold over 7 million copies and focuses on AI-themed storytelling.  

Dr. John-Paul Dyson, Director of the International Center for the History of Electronic Game and Senior Vice President for Exhibits and Interpretive Resources at the Strong National Museum of Play was another keynote speaker. 

“These presenters are experts on this and even better than that, they’re passionate about it,” says Ainslee Rose, a UB senior studying Asian Studies and Linguistics. 

UB Esports team takes center stage at Level Up

Part of the Replaying Japan conference included an exhibition match between UB and the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Esports teams as they battled it out at Level Up esports arena in a game of Rocket League.

“We’re here to demonstrate what we can do here at the collegiate level with esports,” says Jared Moskowitz, captain of the UB Esports varsity team and Computer Science student.

The UB Esports team and the RIT esports team playing an video game exhibiton match at UB's Level up esports arena while attendees of the Replaying Japan Conference observe the match.

The UB Esports Team plays a game of Rocket League against RIT at Level Up. 

The exhibition match also provided an opportunity for conference attendees to view Level Up in action, UB’s premiere esports arena and console lounge. Level Up features 52 Alienware gaming PCs and 8 console pods with Xbox Series X, Sony PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. It’s a popular location for UB students. 

“There’s a lot of variety here and just being a good place to hang out and relax I think is the best part of it,” says Moskowitz. 

For more information about UB Information Technology’s Level Up Esports arena and gaming lounge, visit buffalo.edu/ubit/levelup. 

UB Information Technology News keeps UB students, faculty, and staff informed about their IT services and showcases creative collaborations between UBIT and the campus community. Published by the Office of the Chief Information Officer at UB and distributed via email as The Monthly Download. Edited by Diana Tuorto, IT Communication and Engagement, dianatuo@buffalo.edu.