Hello everyone, my name is Anthony Samms, a student in the College of Fine Arts at Carnegie Mellon University. I am an upcoming officer of CMU Rhythm Game Club, a student organization dedicated to the captivating world of rhythm games at Carnegie Mellon University. 

Myself and so many others in Pittsburgh are passionate about Japanese rhythm arcade games. However, our closest option is Ikigai Arcade in Oakdale, which can be over a 30-minute drive from our Oakland campus or over an hour by bus and rideshare. This distance poses a significant challenge for students without access to personal or reliable transportation. The time and cost of travel may deter interested students from joining the club. This applies to non-students as well.

Ikigai Arcade would be willing to partner with CMU to bring these games and more to campus, but we need your support!

The proposed arcade location would be open and accessible to the public, so those who are not students or alumni are not left out. Everyone will have the ability to play/enjoy these extraordinary and entertaining arcade games! The aim is to provide an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome. Additionally, CMU students would benefit greatly from student perks Ikigai Arcade would offer!

Now Japanese rhythm arcade games are not just entertaining; they promote cognitive development such as increased processing speed and attention span in addition to boosting motor skills (source: Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 2019). They also offer an immersive cultural experience that can foster understanding and appreciation for Japanese culture among students, as well as provide international students with a familiar recreation from their home region.

Pittsburgh has always been known for its vibrant art and diverse cultural scene, with hundreds of cultural organizations. By bringing these unique arcade games to campus, we can further enrich its artistic and cultural landscape. These games introduce many aspects of art and culture not organically found outside of Japan, such as music genres (J-Core, J-Pop, J-Rock), art styles (Anime, Ukiyo-e), and instruments (Taiko, Shamisen) - all while providing cheap and accessible entertainment options for students and the residents of Pittsburgh.

This partnership would provide an opportunity to build and foster communities around a shared interest in Japanese culture, both inside and outside of rhythm games. We believe that having these arcade cabinets on campus would significantly increase on-campus student engagement due to the subsequent growth of related communities and their activities.
Let's make the campus more diverse and fun by introducing Japanese rhythm arcade games!