Gamers who look forward to showcasing their skills at Halo and Guitar Hero 3 at Western’s Gameathon will still be able to play, despite fears of cancellation.

Rent-A-Center, who has provided the Gameathon with equipment in the past, has agreed to cover the basic expenses of event after the U.S. Army stopped sponsoring the event.

The Army, Gameathon’s only financial sponsor in 2005 and 2007, agreed in October 2007 to provide a minimum of $3,000 dollars to help host the 2008 program, said Cliff Shaluta, assistant professor of journalism and broadcasting.

Shaluta said on Jan. 22, Lee Elder, chief of advertising and public affairs for the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion in Nashville, contacted him to tell him that the Army wouldn’t sponsor the event.

The Army began sponsoring the program to generate interest in the army and to recruit, Elder said.

At the end of each year, the Army evaluates every event they sponsor based on the return on investment. While the Army enjoyed being a part of past Gameathon’s, their budget this year didn’t give them that flexibility, he said.

Rent-A-Center and Gamestop are providing the Gameathon with equipment, such as televisions and gaming systems.

Rent-A-Center will be covering the basic expenses of the event but they are still looking for additional sponsors to increase the budget for prizes and promotions, he stated.

The event has a minimum budget of $3,000. This money will be used for advertising for the event, to pay for game referees and other assorted experiences.

“I am cautiously optimistic that someone will provide the funds to make it happen,” Shaluta said.

Western doesn’t offer financial support, but does allow the event to be in Mass Media and Technology Hall.

When the program began in 2005, other businesses refused to sponsor alongside the Army, saying it wouldn’t be the best event for them, Shaluta said.

The event began with the intent of recruiting undeclared students who are interested in technology, and to draw attention to the advertising program itself, said Mark Simpson, assistant professor of journalism and broadcasting.

Last year, the event was also used as a senior project for Jeff Kemper, a public relations alumna.

The 2005 and 2007 Gameathons allowed the students working the event to graduate from Western with an impressive portfolio, Shaluta said.

There was no Gameathon in 2006.

Registration for the 2008 Gameathon will begin on Feb. 23 at www.gameathon.org.

Reach Danielle Bullock at news@chherald.com.