The UW-Stout Library Gaming and Digital Innovation (GDI) Lab is a campus space dedicated to video games, video game history, and game development. The GDI Lab is an active learning lab and provides a hands-on opportunity to play, teach, learn about, and research video games throughout gaming history.

The GDI Lab features twenty-five major video game consoles, both new and vintage, as well as three high-end PCs loaded with productivity software and a digital games catalog of more than 250 titles. The GDI Lab also features a growing Vintage Game collection of over 500 titles, and the UW-Stout Library offers a circulating Video Game collection of over 1,600 titles for use in the lab or for checkout. Additionally, the GDI Lab offers the space and systems compatible with VR headsets, which are available at the Circulation desk on the first floor of the UW-Stout Library.

Location

Robert S. Swanson Library & Learning Center, Room 103, on the first floor of the library.

Semester Hours

Mon-Thur: 7:30am - Midnight
Friday: 7:30am - 7:00pm
Saturday: 10 am -6:00pm
Sunday: Noon - 10 pm

See library hours for special hours during breaks, holidays, summer, etc.

Video Games Collections

The University Library offers two video game collections: a circulating Video Game Collection and a Vintage Video Game collection.

Video Games Collection:

Students, faculty, and staff may check out these video games for 14 days, for use outside the library or in the GDI Lab. The Video Game collection is found on the first floor of the library and offers games for the following systems:

Vintage Video Games Collection:

Students, faculty, and staff may check out these vintage games for one day, for in-building use only. The Vintage Video Game collection can be played in the GDI Lab and offers games for:

Features and Equipment

Vintage Consoles and CRTVs for an Authentic Vintage Gaming Experience:

Vintage games, featuring hundreds of titles, are available for use with the GDI vintage systems, for in-building use only. Peripheral equipment is also available for vintage systems including a Duck Hunt Zapper, DDR mats, Donkey Konga bongos, and more, available at the Circulation desk.

All Major and Current Video Game Consoles:

Wireless controllers and peripheral equipment are available for checkout at the Circulation desk, including additional Switch controllers, Guitar Hero controllers, and Wii accessories.

Raspberry Pi Emulators:

Raspberry Pi emulators are miniature consoles with a suite of vintage games preloaded on them, able to be used without cartridges or discs. The GDI Lab has these versions available for use inside the GDI Lab:

VR Headsets:

Adaptive Gaming Gear:

PC Stations

1. Gaming PC & VR Station One
   HP Omen Gaming Computer:
   • AMD Ryzen 7 5700G with Radeon Graphics
   • 16 GB RAM (DDR3-1600)
   • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
   • ViewSonic 27" Widescreen LED
   • Logitech Webcam, Keyboard, Mouse
   • Audio-Technica ATH-M30 Studio Headphones
      
2. Gaming PC & VR Station Two
   TP Z4 Workstation:
   • Intel Xeon(R) (4.10GHz)
   • 64 GB RAM
   • Quadro RTX 4000
   • ViewSonic 27" Widescreen LED
   • Logitech Webcam, Keyboard, Mouse
   • Audio-Technica ATH-M30 Studio Headphones
      
3. Gaming & Workstation
   TP Z4 Workstation:
   • Intel Xeon(R) (4.10GHz)
   • 64 GB RAM
   • Quadro RTX 4000
   • ViewSonic 27" Widescreen LED
   • Logitech Webcam, Keyboard, Mouse
   • Audio-Technica ATH-M30 Studio Headphones

All PCs are preloaded with a collection of digital games through Steam, Epic, Battle.net, and Riot Games.

Virtual Reality (VR) in the GDI Lab

Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to use the VR equipment offered through the GDI Lab.

Gaming PC & VR Station One and Gaming PC & VR Station Two are compatible for use with the Oculus Quest 2 headsets available for checkout at the Circulation desk.

In addition to the Oculus Quest 2 VR headsets, users are encouraged to experience VR through PSVR (for use with PS4) and PSVR2 (for use with PS5), both of which are also available for use in the GDI Lab.

Schedule a Class or Event

Instructors, students, and staff are encouraged to reserve the GDI Lab for classes, events, or student organizations.

For Room Reservations: GDILab@uwstout.edu

• Email GDILab@uwstout.edu at least a week in advance to reserve a time to use the GDI Lab for an event.
• Please include requests for specific games and additional equipment as needed.
• UW-Stout Faculty and Staff may reserve the Lab for up to three hours of class use. Classes may not be scheduled for a semester-long period.

GDI Lab Committee

The GDI Lab is a collaborative effort and is advised by the Gaming and Digital Innovation (GDI) Lab Committee whose membership includes:

• Cory Mitchell, Collection Development Librarian, Chair
• Zachary Weekes, Library Acquisitions & Periodicals Specialist
• Andrew Williams, SOAD, Faculty Representative
• Matthew Winkler, Systems Librarian
• Alex Dill, GDI Student Liaison

Access to Learning (ATL) funds two student workers to help support the GDI lab.

Contact Us

Gaming and Digital Innovation (GDI) Lab: Room 103 in the Library

General questions, donations, material requests?
Please email: GDILab@uwstout.edu

Zachary Weekes
Aquisitions & Periodicals Specialist
321 Robert S. Swanson Library Learning Center
715-232-1898
weekesz@uwstout.edu

Cory Mitchell
Collection Development Librarian
302 Robert S. Swanson Library Learning Center
715-232-2363
mitchellc@uwstout.edu

UW-Stout Gaming and Digital Innovation Lab Policy:

The Gaming and Digital Innovation (GDI) Lab promotes the study, design and development of games and digital media. The Lab is designed to foster the skills students need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. The GDI Lab is a place where people can come together, learn and create with technology.

THE LAB IS RESTRICTED TO UW-STOUT STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF

Checkout Policies:

• Individuals may checkout vintage games by bringing Game Cards from the Vintage Game Collection Binder to the Circulation Desk.
• The person who checks out games assumes responsibility for any damage that occurs to media and equipment while games are away from the Circulation Desk, whether caused by themselves or another player.
• Vintage games and controllers not returned to Circulation Desk before closing will immediately incur a $5 per day overdue fine. Items that are damaged or not returned will incur an additional replacement cost.
• Recurrent abuse of games, equipment, or GDI Lab policy will result in revoked Lab privileges.

Room Policies:

• Lab reservations will be posted at least 24 hours in advance.
• Personal memory cards, flash drives, and other gaming-related peripherals may be used in the Lab. The Robert S. Swanson Library and Learning Center is not responsible for damage caused to personal property.
• Noise levels must not disturb others. Please keep at conversational tone only.

Room Policies:

• Lab reservations will be posted at least 24 hours in advance.
• Personal memory cards, flash drives, and other gaming-related peripherals may be used in the Lab. The Robert S. Swanson Library and Learning Center is not responsible for damage caused to personal property.
• Noise levels must not disturb others. Please keep at conversational tone only.

Donation Policies:

• The UW-Stout Library appreciates donations of video games, systems, and controllers in working order.
• Donations may be added to the library's collection, offerings of the Gaming and Digital Innovation Lab, or used in classrooms.
• The library retains the right to refuse materials that do not meet the library's selection criteria. The library maintains unconditional ownership of donations and makes the final decision as to their disposition.
• The library reserves the right to decide the conditions of display, location and means of access to the gift materials. Items not added to the collection are offered to other libraries, sold at library book sales, or treated as weeded items.
• If the donor wishes to use the gift as a tax deduction, the donor is responsible for obtaining and appraisal from an appropriate professional outside the University Library. The library provides the donor with a letter acknowledging gifts but cannot legally estimate their value.
• For further information, please email GDILab@uwstout.edu.