Dogs are old news - today's pet of choice is a hedgehog.
From Sonic the Hedgehog to the Mario Brothers, video games have become a daily part of life for millions of consumers. When the Nintendo Entertainment System became popular about a decade ago, students began choosing computerized blips and beeps over homework and sleep.
LSA first-year student Dave Jackson, who lives on the 6th floor of South Quad, said his roommates play Sega and Sony Playstation constantly. "They play instead of studying - it's a method of procrastination," Jackson said. "It's funny - none of us played video games before college."
Jackson said that instead of playing Sega games, he plays a computer game called Duke Nukem. "The whole hall plays on a network," Jackson said. "There's just some joy at blowing up someone across the hall. Maybe it's a testosterone guy thing."
Jackson said his roommates play one computerized football game more often than any other. "They had a tournament awhile ago," he said. "They played five or six games a day."
Jackson said that if he had enough willpower, he would throw out the video games and the television set.
Finn Jensen, an employee at Pinball Pete's on South University Avenue, said he encourages students to leave their rooms to play video games in an arcade atmosphere.
"Coming here is different than locking yourself up in a room," Jensen said. "This is a social environment. It gets competitive and it costs more, but it is still going out."
On an average weekend night, Jensen said about 300 people go to Pinball Pete's. Most patrons stay about two hours, he said.
"People are addicted to video games," Jensen said. "It takes skill to play. It's good entertainment, and an escape from everyday problems. Nothing else matters when you're playing a video game."
College students aren't the only people who visit the arcade. Seven-year-old Marshall Thomas, a student at Northside Elementary School in Ann Arbor, said, "I come in here whenever I don't have school. Well, I come in about every day, anyway."
"I like the fighting games best. I like the uppercuts and drop kicks, but sometimes I just beat them up fast," Thomas said.
He demonstrated his skill at the game, but ultimately suffered defeat at the hands of Reptile, a snakelike enemy who spurts green blood.
LSA senior Chris Van Elk said he visits the arcade at least four times a week.
"I come mostly on weekdays," Van Elk said. "It's on my way home, so I stop in."
Van Elk said that for him, playing arcade games takes precedence over homework. "I play a Sony Playstation at home, and come in here. Lots of times I do it instead of studying. I don't think it makes much of a difference grade-wise though," he said.
The variety of games, including the number of new games, attracts him to the arcade, Van Elk said.
Jensen said one recent game cost $18,000.
James Jones, a junior at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, also goes to Pinball Pete's regularly.
"I come three or four times a week to play X-Men vs. Streetfighter," Jones said. "I stay about three hours each time."
Jones said his addiction to video games has a negative effect on his study habits. "My grades would probably be a lot better if I didn't come in here," he said.
JENNIFER BRADLEY-SWIFT/Daily
Ann Arbor resident Harlin Newcomb plays "Elvira, Mistress of the Dark"
pinball game at Pinball Pete's on South University Avenue.