ORC pairs entertainment, technology

While technology-driven entertainment began many years ago, recreation commissions — including Ottawa’s — just recently jumped on board in providing their customers with gaming options, Therron Dieckmann, ORC director, said.

“The popularity always precedes the trend,” he said, adding that rec commissions generally began thinking about and adding gaming programs within the past five years.

The ORC offers an annual X-box tournament for its gamers.

“Recreation does include gaming, and we’ve tried to offer some options,” Dieckmann said.

This year’s X-box 360 tournament is scheduled for 11 a.m. March 18 at the Don Woodward Community Center, 517 E. Third St. The deadline to register is March 17.

Though participation in the ORC’s gaming events has been modest, Dieckmann said he expects it to rise.

“Those who have been involved have really enjoyed it,” he said.

Dieckmann said he wasn’t here when the tournaments started, and he wasn’t sure about the reason for trying the new events.

He said he suspected that staff created the program themselves in light of other recreation commissions’ successes.

National trends show that in the past several years, more recreation commissions are offering more technology-based recreation options, primarily for the 18 and under crowd, Dieckmann said.

“It’s a new way to offer recreational services for that age group,” he said.

Dieckmann said an arcade would be another great option for local gamers, but he hadn’t heard much feedback from kids on whether they’d frequent one.

As for the ORC, Dieckmann said he and staff are always open to ideas and suggestions from the public on gaming programs or special events.

And while more recent gaming systems like the Wii have games that require more movement from their players, Dieckmann cautioned against too much sedentary entertainment.

“We shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking those products should replace exercise,” he said.

Herald staff writer Jodie Garcia can be e-mailed at jgarcia@ottawaherald.com.