by Ashton Walcott
The sixteenth-century Spanish card game, Ombre, has shaped the style of card games as we know it within Western society, from its revolutionary Entrada and Vuelta bidding mechanics to its exact, unforgiving calculation of cards needed to win. These aspects of Ombre have influenced other well-known classics such as poker, blackjack, and even newer card games such as Yu-Gi-Oh.
While students aren’t able to find Ombre within the walls of JHS, they’re still able to find many other popular games that have derived from it at Games Club, including Pokémon TCG, Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons, and even Yu-Gi-Oh.
JHS math teacher Cory Densford takes note of his younger and older students’ insights and interests, which were used to create Games Club.
“13 years ago, I was teaching an Algebra I class, and we had a ton of free time at the end of the year,” said Densford. “A student brought in the card game Yu-Gi-Oh and asked me to play. I instantly found it extremely fun! So when the next year came around, we started what’s now known as Games Club.”
Densford said the best part of the club is getting to know students better.
“My favorite part of Games Club is getting to know the kids in a non-classroom setting and getting to understand them on a better level. We don’t have a whole lot of downtime while in class, so I feel like this is a great way to connect with them more.”
Games Club is a friendly and inviting environment. Densford is always looking for more participants. Students who may be just starting or have been involved in these games for years are welcomed. Many students already involved in this club enjoy getting to know their peers outside of a classroom and making friends with similar interests.
Junior Samuel Stifler, who is a one-year veteran at Games Club, gave his insight into the nature of the club.
“I love that it allows aspiring gamers to come together, play games as a group, as well as learn about other games. I do wish there were a little more game variety, but that is a change planned for the future.”
Stifler said the club interested him from the beginning.
“As a freshman, I noticed that the club was an option through the school Pride Slides, and I was instantly interested. I had a group of friends that wanted to start a DND session, and now I can easily contact the group and play a game of our choice. Games Club provides a perfect place to meet with friends outside of school and build a world that we can all be a part of.”
Junior William Ponsford, who’s a former Games Club member, stated the club helped him meet fellow gamers.
“I joined Games Club because I wanted to meet new people and socialize through games; I find it very enjoyable to game, and I can socialize with my peers around me while expressing myself through gaming.”
Ponsford said the atmosphere of the club is a bonus.
“What I personally like and find the most enjoyable is how much game variety there is. You’re able to be very open-minded, express your ideas freely, and there were a lot of different people with unique personalities. I loved Densford as a teacher and president of Games Club because he is a very kind and warm person,” he said.
Ponsford said the club helps members be more creative, too.
“My favorite part is that it’s a place where many people, no matter their social status, are able to meet up, have fun, express creative ideas, expand game culture, socialize, and really open people’s minds to different games in general,” said Ponsford.
Junior Kenneth Norton, who’s in his second year of Games Club, agreed that Games Club is a wonderful place to meet new people.
“I love that this club allows me to play games with the people that I like, as well as people that I haven’t ever met before,” said Norton. “I’ve gotten to learn and experience games with other amazing students that I didn’t know very well beforehand.”
