Perhaps they don't even realize it, but these few, these champions of a dying bit of pop culture, come to Las Vegas to scream into the approaching long night of arcade gaming.

Each year EVO gathers the best among fighting gamers to celebrate arcade culture, to stave off, at least for one week, the creeping death that has turned arcades into family fun centers, filled 7-Elevens with console games and not cabinets, swept public gaming from the face of America.

"Arcades have gone away but the culture is not gone," said Seth Killian, one of the group's founders. " It was such a great experience that we’re not willing to say it’s gone."

It's no surprise that a shared passion for fighting games is what sparked the EVO Championship Series.

In the early 90s games like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter replaced pool as a viable way to shark for money. Most college arcades had its own Street Fighter muscle, Mortal Kombat expert.

In 1995 a group of top arcade fighters, sick of arguing over a newsnet who the player was, decided to gather at an arcade on Broadway in New York City to finally decide it.

"We all came from the street fighter arcades," said Seth Killian, director of EVO and community manager at Capcom. "Everyone coming to that thing was like the kingpin of their local arcades."

There were 40 people at that first throw down. It was played on Super Street Fighter II Turbo.

But turns out that didn't settle things permanently. The one-off gathering of cabinet gamers turned into an annual pilgrimage. They met in Boston, they met in California and finally the settled on Las Vegas as venue best suited for the match-up and inevitable side bets.

As the meet-ups grew each year it coalesced into something more formalized. Now the the group is run mostly by the community that gathers each year to play. Though a few like Joey Cuellar (administrator of the fighting mecca at shoryuken.com and former manager of famous Southern Hills Golfland arcade), Vik Steyaert (founder of Tekken-zaibatsu.com and elite French chef), Tom and Tony Cannon (aka “the Cannon twins,” shoryuken.com cofounders, and Tony created the amazing GGPO.net), and Killian help keep things in order.

"It was all completely organic," Killian said. "The structure was born out of "Shit we have way too many people showing up to these things."

So they started introducing more traditional tournament rules, finally settling on double elimination, to help determine who the best Street Fighter was. The annual gathering also grew in reputation, soon attracting gamers from around the world looking to cut their teeth on a tournament known for it's skilled players.

With the growth, the group of gamers behind EVO have had to make some tough decisions. Because they run tournaments that require more cabinets than exist on the whole continent the group decided to start using consoles for game play four years ago.

"It was an extremely hard decision," Killian said.

The tournament, which used to hold four qualifiers a year in the U.S., last year held qualifiers in Chicago, Los Angeles, Sao Palo, Brazil and London. Its from these tournaments that famous moments, like the Daigo full-parry video, are born.

And the meet up each year in Las Vegas isn't just about competitive fighting games, it's also a chance for gamers to hang out, have fun and celebrate quarter on the cabinet arcade console.

"We’ve recreated this experience," Killian said. "The arcade experience is so awesome. People become friends. That’s part of why we started throwing this tournament.

"Its about fighting games and competitions, but arcades are the crucible that sparked the awesomeness. I don’t know what awesome is made up of, I don't know the physics behind awesome, but I know it when I see it."

Fighting games, in particular, are about direct confrontation, Killian points out, and playing in person magnifies that feeling, gives it more personality.

"If Street Fighter only came out on consoles and never were in arcades I don’t think it would have been as popular," Killian said. "EVO isn't about bringing back arcades, but preserving this fire, this passion, this connection.

"The arcade machine is such a ziggurat, you have to engage with it. It’s not disposable, it’s a statement.

Not according to Gamer Grub which just announced that they have been named the official snack supplier of the World Cyber Games USA 2008. That means they will be providing their brand of snack-things to the players in the Tournament Area and Player Lounge at E for All in LA this week.

Gamer Grub comes in three (atrocious) flavors:

Action Pizza: Which is a jar of Pizza Cashews & Pitas, Tomato Sesame Sticks, Tomato Almonds, Cheese Pitas and Mozzarella Peanuts.

Racing Wasabi: Which is Wasabi Soy Almonds and Peanuts, Wasabi Peas, Honey Mustard Sesame Sticks and Pita Chips.

Strategy Chocolate: Which is Almonds, Chocolate Raisins, Cherries, White Chocolate Chips.

and

Sports PB&J: Peanuts, Peanut Butter Chips, Strawberry Jelly Chips, Bread Cubes.

OK, so I'd be down with checking out Action Pizza and Racing Wasabi, and maybe, maybe the chocolate one. But Bread Cubes and Peanut Butter Chips? Sounds like the business end of a peanut butter and whiskey all-nighter.

GAMER GRUB(TM) BECOMES OFFICIAL SNACK SUPPLIER FOR WORLD CYBER GAMES USA 2008

SAN DIEGO, CA – October 2, 2008 – Biosilo Foods today announced that Gamer Grub™ has become the official snack supplier of the World Cyber Games (WCG) USA 2008 (www.wcg.com/usa). Through this partnership, Gamer Grub will supply its great tasting, healthy line of performance snacks to the gamers participating in WCG USA at E for All in Los Angeles, CA from October 3 – 5, 2008.

Additionally, Gamer Grub will sponsor the reception for World Cyber Games USA players and VIPs during E for All to honor the top WCG USA competitors that will attend the WCG 2008 Grand Final, held from November 5 – 9, 2008 in Cologne, Germany.

“World Cyber Games USA is extremely excited to partner with Gamer Grub and introduce it to America’s and the world’s elite gamers,” said Michael Arzt, general manager of World Cyber Games USA. “We believe that this new innovative performance snack product is a great asset to pro and recreational gamers alike and can become a ‘must-have’ new accessory in the market.”

Designed for hungry gamers who want to continue playing games while consuming snacks, Gamer Grub is a great tasting, healthy line of performance snacks. With a patent-pending formulation to support cognitive functions, gamers will have the opportunity to boost core gaming systems and speed reaction times for maximum gaming performance. The ergonomic packaging design maximizes fast-action dispensing of the snack—eliminating the potential of keyboard crumbs and greasy fingers.

“We are honored to have this opportunity to become the official snack supplier for WCG USA 2008. We believe we have tapped into a whole new category of peripherals with Gamer Grub and will help gamers reach a new level of performance,” said Keith Mullin, founder and CEO of Biosilo Foods.

Gamer Grub is currently offered in four tasty flavors; Action Pizza, Sports PB&J, Racing Wasabi and Strategy Chocolate. Gamer Grub will be available online and at retail stores beginning in 2009. For more information on Gamer Grub, visit www.gamergrub.com.

About the World Cyber Games

The World Cyber Games (www.WCG.com) is the premier blue chip global video game tournament and festival. First founded in 2000 to promote global harmony through e-Sports, the WCG has grown steadily ever since and often been referred to as the “Olympics of Gaming” by several notable media outlets. Behind the slogan "Beyond the Game" and with more than 1.5 million contestants from over 70 countries expected to participate in this year's Grand Final event in Cologne, Germany, the World Cyber Games has developed into a true global phenomenon with unquestioned prestige and arguably the largest annual prize amounts at stake.
Gamer Grub

The idea is that the special glasses cut down on glare, and reduce distracting external light to reduce eye strain. The wrapped frames and lenses are crafted, I was told, to create a "microclimate" around your eyes, blocking out dry air and slightly increasing humidity around the eyes.

Initially it sounds a little silly, but the more you think about it the more sense it makes. I know my eyes are usually pretty worn out after a day of blogging and gaming. The company recently started selling their glasses and have already started plans to craft glasses designed specifically for gamers, in particular PC gamers.

The gamer glasses will have offer all of the same benefits, plus special stems designed to be more comfortable under headphones. I plan on checking out a pair and writing up my impressions in about a month.

I can see gamers getting behind the idea, even if only for the look of the glasses.

Gunnar Optiks

Blake convinced his folks (that is, "We couldn't take the complaining anymore," said his mom) to let him drop out last September. They hired in-home tutors to continue his education there, at least, but there's no doubt priority number one is Guitar Hero. There's a vaguely defined goal of Blake playing it professionally, either through Major League Gaming or by winning prizes in a national and international competitions. But so far he's only made about $1,000, most of that value realized in meals and other freebies won at local competitions. The other pro gamer the reporter contacted for this story said he's cashed in about $25,000 in his entire career.

The description of Blake's room, his interests (or lack thereof) , and his folks' decision to let him do this just ... well, they don't make anyone look good. It would be one thing if the guy was a bona fide music or athletic prodigy. However quixotic a career in either field might be for the majority who pursue it, at least there's a long history of it paying off if you are that good enough. But Blake's never touched a real guitar (cue up the get-a-life bait). He didn't seem interested in much of anything in high school (a Christian academy where his parents had enrolled him) and wheedled his way out of going by complaining that it was a waste of time. (That line should sound very familiar to my folks. If only playing Master of the Lamps on the Commodore 64 could have won me some free Chik-Fil-A. I might have had better luck.)

You gotta read it to believe it, and nearly three weeks after it was first published, it is still one of The News & Observer's top e-mailed stories. Try to keep it civil in the comments, gang, especially if you aren't a parent. I'm not, but I'll admit this blows my mind.

Update: Reader yoagner. points us to an .mp3 of an American Public Media feature on Blake. The story's page is here.

'Guitar Hero' Whiz Aiming Higher [The (Raleigh N.C.) News & Observer, via davelozo.com, thanks tooji]

(Also: Don't tip me on my commenter page, as I check it infrequently. If you've got a tip, send it to me at owen@kotaku.com on the weekends, or tips@kotaku.com for the rest of the staff midweek.)

Even if you know all about Chike — iamchris4life — put down your urge to dismiss his fame and read the story. It is a very, very positive portrayal of a young video gamer, something we rarely see in mainstream media, much less The New York Times. The best we usually get are condescending features on local news, read over by with-it reporters faking lingo. Writer Dave Itzkoff goes to Rochester, Minn. to get the full story, and then expands on the future and potential opportunities for super-expert or professional gamers.

Chris Chike is Guitar Hero's Hero [The New York Times, thanks Yeliab]

World’s Top Gamer “Fatal1ty” will not be at the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX)

PAX is proud to announce that they will not be welcoming E-sportsman Johnathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel to the event.

“There is no one else in the video game industry quite like Fatal1ty and we’re thrilled that he won't be attending our show” said Gabe, Chief Executive Officer of the Penny Arcade Expo, the greatest video game festival in the universe. “Seriously, if he even tries to come we'll kick him out.”

Fantastic news! Hey, I wonder if Gabe and Tycho will let me submit a list of other people who won't be welcome at PAX... let's see...

Penny Arcade

She even warns readers not to snicker, seeing that ESPN broadcasts the even less athletic pro poker tourneys. It doesn't take long for the article to enter familiar territory, pinning the hopes of pro gaming on Johnathan "“Fatal1ty" Wendel, who wraps up the shortish story with this doozie of a quote:

“It’s the same way with the big rock-’n’-roll stars,” he says. “You think it’s all glitz and glamour, but it’s a lot of time on the road, away from your family, sleeping in strange places. It’s fun for now, but it’s also a lot of work.” But, he adds with a sly smile, “nobody can say video games are a waste of time anymore. I’m living proof of that.”

Sly smile? Yikes!

While I understand this was meant to be more of a gee-whiz article, it would have been nice to really dig into the world of pro-gaming and dredge up some sort of conclusion about the likelihood of its success. What about DISH Network's pro-gaming efforts?

Video-gaming strives for respect. Is it a sport?

If you're a "young male viewer" you might be "passionate" about the CGS-G4 announcement, which is just after the jump. The release doesn't specifically mention what CGS teams will be playing, so we'll assume it's everything, from Counter-Strike to Dead or Alive 4 to World Of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAMING SERIES BRINGS PROGRAMMING TO U.S. CABLE TELEVISION FOR FIRST TIME WITH EXCLUSIVE G4 DEAL

Combined CGS distribution will now reach more than 425 million viewers worldwide

LOS ANGELES – June 16, 2008 – Championship Gaming Series™ (CGS), the only worldwide professional video gaming league, today announced an exclusive deal with G4 Media that brings broadcast programming of the league’s competitions to United States cable television for the first time.

G4, the only destination on television for video games, web culture, and the latest must-have tech gadgets, will air four 90-minute episodes beginning July 16, including the CGS 2008 North America Finals and the CGS 2008 World Finals.

“During our first season, Championship Gaming Series established itself as the creator of the world’s most compelling and engaging television programming dedicated to professional video gaming,” said Andy Reif, Chief Executive Officer for CGS. “Although we were a brand-new sports league in 2007, we created an incredibly powerful global television platform with partners including DIRECTV, DIRECTV Latin America, BSKYB, STAR and ESPN-STAR Sports, through which nearly 50 million cumulative viewers tuned in to watch our programming worldwide during our inaugural season. For our second season, we continue to grow our audience and worldwide reach and this new deal with G4 will help fans connect to CGS via US cable television, for the first time.”

“G4’s young male viewers are passionate about video games,” said Neal Tiles, President, G4. “By bringing Championship Gaming Series to the network, we are giving our audience the rare opportunity to watch some of the world’s best gamers in action. The competition is certain to appeal to our viewers.”

CGS programming will debut July 16 on G4 with the league’s 2008 North America playoffs. The network will air four 90-minute episodes in total: the 2008 North America Final on Wed., July 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT; 2008 World Final Quarterfinals matches on Sat., July 19 at 10 p.m. ET/PT; 2008 World Final Semifinals matches on Sat., July 26 at 10 p.m. ET/PT; and the 2008 World Final Championship Match on Saturday, August 2 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

This announcement is the latest in a series of moves by CGS to expand its global broadcast and online audience. The G4 deal follows the league’s April 22 announcement of a groundbreaking deal with European sports broadcasting giant Eurosport to broadcast CGS matches throughout Europe and the launch of a dedicated YouTube channel for CGS on May 23.

About Championship Gaming Series

Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, the Championship Gaming Series™ (CGS) is the only worldwide professional video gaming league. Launched in 2007, and a joint venture among BSkyB, DIRECTV and STAR, CGS features teams of the world's best gamers from North America, Latin America, the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. The league distributes entertainment content to more than 425 million viewers worldwide via DIRECTV in North America and Latin America, BSkyB in the UK, and STAR in Asia and Australia. For more information, please visit thecgs.com.

About Comcast Entertainment Group

Based in Los Angeles, Comcast Entertainment Group operates E! Entertainment Television, the 24-hour network with programming dedicated to the world of entertainment, and E! Online; The Style Network, the destination for women 18-49 with a passion for the best in relatable and inspiring lifestyle programming; and G4 offering the last word on gaming, technology, animation, interactivity, and "Internet culture" for the male 18-34 demo. E! is currently available to nearly 94 million cable and direct broadcast satellite subscribers in the United States. In 2006, E! launched the E! Everywhere initiative underscoring the company's dedication to making E! content available on all new media platforms anytime and anywhere from online to broadband video to wireless to satellite radio to VOD. The Style Network currently counts 59 million cable and satellite subscribers and G4, the #1 podcasted cable network in America, is available in more than 64 million cable and satellite homes nationwide.

And I'll throw it out here, too, does anyone remember "TV Powww!" (hope I got the right number of Ws). That was a mirror into just how hamfisted folks were to make a buck off the video game craze. Kids would call the studio on the phone, and then say "Pow! Pow!" whenever a spaceship floated across the crosshairs on the screen. If anyone's ever played that, let me know

Starcade! Complete Episodes [Starcade.tv]

Is it me or is pro gaming is so 2007?
Moon, Sky Carry [GGL Thanks, Craig!]

Your participants (let's do this arena-intro style):

• For KANSAS, from Alorton, Ill., age 23, RO-LAND FULLLLLLLLLLLER!
• For MEMPHIS, from Sayreville, N.J., age 20, KEVINNNNN RYANN!!!!
• For UCLA, from Pawnee, Ill., age 20, JONAS ... THE PARK BENCH ... PARKER!
• For NORTH CAROLINA, by way of Webster, Texas, age 20, JAAAAAAAMES WHITE!

KU and UNC were both rated 88 when the game came out, tops of all teams. Although I'm thinking Kevin Ryan, with Memphis, might be a good sleeper pick. The Tigers have great size and individual talent, two characteristics that an elite gamer can turn into a strong advantage. But a news release says the four above survived a field of more than 8,000, playing more than 200,000 games, so I have to think at least one of them could win with NIT runner-up Ole Miss UMass.

2008 Pontiac Virtual Final Four [2K Sports]

ESPN will be on hand at all of this year's MLG Pro Circuit Competitions, with coverage appearing online at ESPN360.com at the very least. Thrilling, no? The prospect of hearing from your favorite wispy virtual athletes with extremely toned thumbs? Sign us up!

Additionally, we've signed a content agreement with the press release. Our contractual obligation is after the jump.

ESPN Enters Content Agreement With Major League Gaming

ESPN.com, the leading online sports destination, today announced it has entered a content agreement with Major League Gaming (MLG), the leading professional video game league.

ESPN will serve as a primary outlet for news about MLG, providing extensive digital coverage of MLG's 2008 Pro Circuit Competitions, including exclusive streamed matches, pro player interviews, and scores and stats. Additionally, MLG will host ESPN co-branded online video game tournaments.

ESPN will be on site at each of the 2008 MLG Pro Circuit Competitions, reporting news from its own coverage booth for various ESPN programs and platforms, including ESPN360.com, ESPN's signature broadband sports network.

Additionally, ESPN.com will launch a competitive video gaming section (http://sports.espn.go.com/videogames/mlg ) replete with all of the latest news, information and video as it relates to competitive gaming. The section will include background on MLG, interviews with marquee players, video from past competitions and the ESPN/MLG Top Ten, which includes regularly updated video highlighting top game play from MLG pros and players. ESPN.com will announce details of MLG's 2008 Pro Circuit season in the coming weeks.

"ESPN is committed to serving our fans, and we recognize the growing popularity of pro video gaming," said John Kosner, senior vice president and general manager, ESPN digital media. "Adding MLG content to our already comprehensive offering will help us continue to deliver the best news, information and entertainment to our growing gaming audience."

"Pro video gaming offers sports fans everything they love about sports—great teams, break-out personalities and stars, and exciting competition," said Matthew Bromberg, President and CEO of Major League Gaming. "MLG's digital properties now reach over four million fans a month, and millions more follow the League on TV, mobile devices, and X-Box Live. We're excited to build upon that audience with ESPN."

ESPN.com's video game section (ESPNVideogames.com) is the leading online destination for the latest sports gaming news, analysis, reviews, rankings, video, teasers, cheats, podcasts and the home of game simulations (including Madden, NCAA Football, NBA Live and NASCAR).

About ESPN

ESPN, Inc. is the leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company with over 50 business entities. Sports media assets include ESPN on ABC, six domestic cable television networks, ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com and other growing businesses, including ESPN360.com (Broadband), ESPN Mobile Products (wireless), ESPN On Demand, ESPN Interactive and ESPN PPV.

About Major League Gaming
Major League Gaming is North America's first professional videogame league, and its only sanctioning body for pro gaming. MLG operates the multi-city MLG Pro Circuit, presented by GameStop and powered by Xbox 360; produces compelling competitions for national television, broadband and mobile distribution; and exclusively represents the best gamers in the world. It also operates a thriving online community and online tournaments for millions of gamers at mlgpro.com. MLG, founded in 2002, is based in New York City and is privately held.

Of course I'm sure someone watches DIRECTV's Channel 101, where the Championship Gaming Series Word Final will be aired later this week, but if the press release for the finals is going to go all crazy with hyperbole by calling this THE most important event in television history, I think I'm allowed to counter that with anti-hyperbole.

What exactly happened to the Championship Gaming Series? It's certainly hasn't stopped airing, in fact it's chugging along quite nicely, but it seems to have failed to break free of the niche fans that have always followed pro-gaming. I don't have any hard numbers to back this up, mostly because none have been released, but anecdotally the main stream audience doesn't seem interesting in pro-gaming, still.

What's more, while I certainly was impressed with the vast amount of resources DIRECTV dumped into the Championship Gaming Series, I can't imagine the company will continue to do so, not with rumors of shake-ups and firings within the company surfacing.

One problem, I think, is that DIRECTV is started with a limited audience and trying to attract them to something that is a hard sell to people who aren't gamers, heck even to people who are gamers.

While I wonder if they series will survive, let along thrive, it might be better to start wondering when, not if this league will go under.

The Most Important TV Event in the History of Video Games to Air Exclusively on DIRECTV's Channel 101

-Top Teams from Around the World Compete in the Championship Gaming Series World Final for the Coveted Dew Trophy and $1,000,000 Prize Purse

El Segundo, Calif., December 3, 2007 — DIRECTV, the nation's leading satellite television service provider, is making sports history once again with the exclusive live broadcast of the inaugural Championship Gaming Series (CGS) World Final. The competition will take place December 6-14 at the Sony Studios in Los Angeles where more than 100 of the world's top professional gamers will compete for the league's first-ever World Champion title and a share of the $1,000,000 prize purse. All the action will be captured live and in HD on DIRECTV's original entertainment channel, The 101, starting December 6 at 10pm ET.

"This is the Super Bowl 1 of professional video gaming," said Eric Shanks, executive vice president, DIRECTV Entertainment. "We couldn't be more pleased with year one of the league and the excitement that it has created worldwide."

The CGS World Final will be the first-ever international gaming event to present all the action live, as it happens, allowing fans at home to experience the match-ups like any other sport. The groundbreaking coverage will commence with the start of CGS World Final on December 6 and broadcast three hours of single elimination competitions each night leading up to the championship game on December 14.

The playoffs will feature the top CGS teams from around the world as they compete in PC and console based games. Valve's Counter-Strike®: Source® and EA's FIFA 2007 are the official PC games for CGS while Tecmo's® Dead or Alive® 4 (DOA4) and Project Gotham Racing® 3 (PGR3) from Microsoft Game Studios will be played on Xbox 360. Each round of the World Final is single elimination and the last team standing will receive the coveted Dew Trophy as well as $500,000 in prize money.

In addition to the team playoffs, the World Final will also feature a special "battle of the sexes" DOA4 match-up where Vanessa Arteaga and Ryan "OffBeatNinja" Ward, the top female and male DOA players in the world, will battle it out for supremacy. The contest, dubbed the "Itagaki Challenge," is the brainchild of DOA creator Tomonobu Itagaki, who will preside over the face-off and present the winner with the ultimate DOA prize package, including a ceremonial Japanese Katana sword and a trip to Tokyo. The individual competition will air live on The 101 December 13 at 11:30pm ET.

"We're honored that DOA game creator and international superstar Tomonobu Itagaki recognizes the CGS as the world's leading professional video gaming league in the world," said Andy Reif, CGS commissioner and CEO. "We've set our stake in the ground and proved ourselves as a legitimate sport and look forward to growing the league and esports in the years to come."

In what will become an annual platform for the world's best gamers to compete professionally, the inaugural CGS World Final will be broadcast on television to more than 350 million viewers worldwide by DIRECTV's The 101 in the U.S., BSkyB's Sky One, Sky Two and Sky HD in the UK, ESPN STAR Sports in Asia, SKY in Mexico and Brazil, DIRECTV throughout the rest of Latin America, and across mainland Europe via additional soon-to-be confirmed broadcast partners.

CGS World Final event schedule is as follows:

December 6: CGS World Final press conference
December 6: First round day 1
December 7: First round day 2
December 10: Quarterfinals day 1
December 11: Quarterfinals day 2
December 13: Semifinals & Itagaki Challenge
December 14: Final

The official CGS teams participating in the World Final are as follows:

Berlin Allianz
Birmingham Salvo
Carolina Core
Chicago Chimera
London Mint
Mexico City Furia
Rio Sinistro
Seoul Jinhwa
Singapore Sword
Stockholm Magnetik
Sydney Underground
Wuhan Dragon

For more information, please go to thecgs.com.

The Cyberathlete Professional League today announced an open Halo 3 competition at the Extreme Winter Championships in Dallas in December.

The tourney, which runs from Dec. 18 through Dec. 22 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Dallas, will give away $1 million in prize money. The winner of the tourney will receive $250,000 in cash, with the rest of the cash paid out to at least 64 places. The competition is open to gamers worldwide and does not require pre-qualification. Team Kotaku need not apply.

CPL announces $1 million Halo 3 tournament [GGL]

WORLD CYBER GAMES ANNOUNCES TEAM USA

America's 22 Best Gamers To Compete Against Over 700 PlayersFrom 75 Countries In e-Sports' Biggest and Most Prestigious Tournament - The 2007 World Cyber Games Grand Final - Taking Place In Seattle Oct. 4-7

(Orlando, September 16, 2007) - The World Cyber Games (WCG) 2007 USA Championship: National Final concluded today at Universal Orlando Resort with 22 of the finest video game players in the country earning a share of $100,000 in cash and prizes and spot on TEAM USA's roster. Now the American Team will travel to Seattle, Washington October 4-7 to compete on the biggest stage in competitive gaming — The World Cyber Games 2007 Grand Final.

Earlier this year, over 10,000 gamers set out to make the United States' national team by enduring online qualifiers, live regional qualifiers and finally the WCG USA National Final. Those elite 22 players now comprise TEAM USA and will face off next month against 700 top gamers from 75 countries for gold medals and a share of nearly $500,000 in cash and prizes.

Team USA 2007 Includes:

PC
StarCraft®: Brood War™
Champion: Geoff Robinson (Mill Creek, WA)
Runner Up: Daniel Eidson (Reston, VA)

WarCraft® III: Frozen Throne™
Champion: Phil Crawford (Hopewell Junction, NY)

CounterStrike™
Champion: Team Emazing Games (eMg)
Michael Guevara (Queens, NY)
Scott Cavallero (Vineland, NJ)
Matt Beahan (Plymouth Meeting, PA)
Nazar Vynnytsky (Queens, NY)
Robert Irey Jr. (Birdsboro, PA)

FIFA Soccer 07
Champion: Felipe Stoyne (South Plainfield, NJ)

Need for Speed™: Carbon
Champion: Kamran Siddiqui (Orlando, FL)

Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars™
Champion: Shawn Teeter (San Diego, CA)
Runner-Up: David Lathrop (Fulton, NY)

Age of Empires® III: The WarChiefs
Champion: Ragave Phadke (Buffalo, NY)

Xbox 360 Games
Project Gotham Racing® 3
Champion: Wes Cwiklo (Camarillo, CA)
Brian Boyle (Lincolnshire, IL)

Dead or Alive® 4
Champion: Carl White (Toledo, OH)
Runner-Up: Jeremy Florence (Rio Rancho, NM)

Gears of War®
Champion: Team Infinite
Keith Haggen (Phoenix, AZ)
Jesse Cranker (Bowling Green, OH)
Michael Cannon (Harrisburg, PA)
Jesse Rodriguez (Chicago, IL)

Tony Hawk's Project 8TM
Champion: Dustin Valcalda (Reno, NV)

Widely regarded as the "Olympics" of competitive video game tournaments, this year's WCG USA National Final showcased some of the most exciting and competitive gaming action in e-Sports. With an audience of well over 10,000, packing the Universal Studios' Soundstage 33 over the course of the three day event, this year's WCG USA Championship series was by far the most competitive National Final in the league's seven year history.

"The high level of play at the WCG USA 2007 National Final not only exceeded my expectations, it was a great indication of the progression of e-Sports in this country," said Michael Arzt, General Manager, World Cyber Games USA. "TEAM USA has a tremendous opportunity to compete against some of the world's most renowned gamers and bring home some serious hardware. Next month's WCG Grand Final will certainly be an event not to miss."

The 22 players who comprise TEAM USA's roster will now travel to host city Seattle, WA on October 4th - 7th for the 2007 World Cyber Games Grand Final, taking place at Qwest Field.

The World Cyber Games 2007 National Final will be televised on Spike TV on October 12th. The Grand Final will be televised on November 9th.

GMP wrote in a statement that "the continuing challenges of securing adequate revenues to sustain the production of the WSVG's large scale events and television programming, in a very crowded field of competitive gaming leagues, has prompted us to re-evaluate our direction as an organization." GGL Wire writes in its post on the subject that other well known pro-gaming leagues are also showing signs of financial difficulty.

WORLD SERIES OF VIDEO GAMES CANCELLED [via the GGL Wire]

Dell is sponsoring a search for the "most hardcore, competitive female PC gamer" to offer her a spot on the Frag Dolls, as part of their sponsorship of the Ubisoft gaming team.

"We can't wait to welcome a new Frag Doll to the team," said Morgan "Rhoulette" Romine, Frag Doll team captain. "One of our goals is to be advocates for gaming on all platforms and Dell is an ideal partner to help us make this a reality."

Dell is also sponsoring Swedish pro-gamers Team Pandemic, setting the team up with Dell XPS systems and then sending them around to universities to host on-site and online collegiate gaming tourneys.

Hit the jump for the full release.

GET PWNED! DELL SPONSORS FRAG DOLLS AND TEAM PANDEMIC
Female Gamers to Compete for Spot on Frag Doll Roster


ROUND ROCK, Texas, July 20, 2007 - Ready to get PWNED by the most talented gamers?
Two of the world's most recognized gaming teams - Team Pandemic and Ubisoft's Frag Dolls - have scored sponsorships from Dell, the company announced today. The deals bring together some of the best professional gaming talent in the industry, male and female, and the best PC gaming products, specifically Dell XPS™ gaming platforms.
"With these sponsorships, Dell is ratcheting up its ability to network and play directly with college student and women gamers, via gaming events, online forums and other digital media," said Susan Kittleson, director of Dell games and customer marketing. "Dell wants to showcase PC gaming at its highest level, and there's no better way than to partner the best talent with our awarding-winning hardware."
As part of the Frag Dolls' sponsorship, Dell and the team will launch a search for the most hardcore, competitive female PC gamer and offer her a spot in the unique lineup — and the opportunity to compete in tournaments around the world. Female gamers who think they're tough enough to go head-to-head against the world's best can sign up at www.fragdolls.com. Applicants will have the opportunity for in-person interviews Aug. 2-5 in the Dell booth at QuakeCon in Dallas. Qualifiers will compete in the finals on games like Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six® Vegas at Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) in Seattle, Aug. 24-26. The winner will be offered a spot on the team.
The Frag Dolls, a team of seven dedicated female gamers assembled by game publisher Ubisoft, are recognized as some of the best players in the world. In addition to attending gaming events, members of the unique and popular gaming team will post monthly columns with tips and trends, participate in podcasts and interviews, and post blogs on a special section of Dell's new interactive web destination, www.delllounge.com.
"We can't wait to welcome a new Frag Doll to the team," said Morgan "Rhoulette" Romine, Frag Doll team captain. "One of our goals is to be advocates for gaming on all platforms and Dell is an ideal partner to help us make this a reality."
The Dell University program is also sponsoring Team Pandemic under the Dell Unleashed banner. Team Pandemic will be the first pro-gaming team to exclusively game on Dell XPS systems featuring Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processors and Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Ultimate.
"Dell's college initiative provides us the opportunity to work closely with the industry's technology leaders," said Chris Lemley, president of Team Pandemic. "With Dell Unleashed as a title partner, we have a unique variety of media to further reach the college-aged gamer."
This fall, Team Pandemic and Dell will travel to several university campuses to host on-site and online collegiate gaming tournaments. Top individual prizes will include a trip to Sweden with Team Pandemic for the World Series of Video Game finals. For more information about Team Pandemic's Unleashed activities, go to www.TeamPandemic.net.
The Dell University program offers education discounts and customized PC bundles, including XPS systems, for students, faculty, and staff at hundreds of participating schools across the country. More information and eligibility requirements are at www.DellUnleashed.com.

When the Air Force uploaded a feature on its website of the military life of gamer Im Yo-han, known as the king of the Terran tribe in Starcraft, it was temporarily overloaded with a crush of video game fans trying to access the page. Visitors to the Air Force's website have doubled since it founded its gamers team.

The pro game industry has welcomed the establishment of the military teams. Many pro gamers who have postponed their military service start dates will have to don their uniforms by the end of this year.

The Army is also considering starting their own team. The Navy team will be going by the moniker "Aegis" while the Air Force has dubbed their team with the slightly cooler name of ACE (Airforce Challenge E-sports).

Korean Navy to Launch Online Game Team [Digital Chosun Ilbo - English Edition]

"Coverage of the World Cyber Games Grand Final is a great addition to our lineup as it appeals to our core demographic," said (SpikeTV Marketing VP Dario) Spina. "Interest in professional gaming is starting to explode and the World Cyber Games brings together the best gamers in the world for an unmatched competition. The fact the Grand Final is in the United States this year makes this the perfect time to begin covering this world class event."

How does something 'start' to explode? I mean, either it is exploding or it isn't..and professional gaming isn't. Blossoming perhaps, but when the best coverage you can get is on a show that made my 60 year-old mother stay up till 1:30am to watch her son on TV you definitely aren't exploding.

WORLD CYBER GAMES ANNOUNCES COMPREHENSIVE BROADCAST AND INTERNET COVERAGE ON SPIKE TV AND MTVN DIGITAL NETWORKS

Spike TV To Telecast WCG Grand Final And Feature WCG Event Highlights On Weekly Original Series, Game Head

MTVN Websites Xfire, GameTrailers, and Spike TV.com/IFILM To Run Original WCG Content Leading Up To Grand Final
NEW YORK, NY, June 28, 2007 - The World Cyber Games (WCG), the recognized blue chip leader for international video game competitions, announced it will present and distribute proprietary WCG content across Spike TV and MTVN's cross-platform network of broadcast and digital media outlets. This marks the largest multi-media platform deal for the WCG and the first time Spike TV will telecast the WCG Grand Final. The announcement was made by Michael Arzt, general manager of International Cyber Marketing USA, organizer of the WCG, and Dario Spina, senior vice president of marketing for Spike TV. The World Cyber Games on Spike will be presented by Worldwide Partner Samsung Electronics and others.

"We are pleased and fortunate to unite with a premier global media partner and brands like Spike TV and MTV Networks to deliver cutting edge e-Sports coverage and storytelling to the world," said Hyoung Seok Kim, CEO of International Cyber Marketing.

"Working with Spike TV is a great opportunity for the WCG to continue to showcase its unique brand of Olympic-style game festivals to a broader consumer audience than any other e-Sports property," Arzt added. "We want to utilize this partnership to create an elevated and immersive experience for the gamers, fans and our partners in the U.S. by further establishing e-Sports as a sports and entertainment genre for a new generation."

Spike TV will be designated as an official media partner at WCG domestic USA events and host broadcaster for the WCG Grand Final to be telecast in November in a one-hour special. The WCG will be featured on Spike TV's original series Game Head for several weeks leading up to the WCG 2007 Grand Final to be held this October at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington.

"Coverage of the World Cyber Games Grand Final is a great addition to our lineup as it appeals to our core demographic," said Spina. "Interest in professional gaming is starting to explode and the World Cyber Games brings together the best gamers in the world for an unmatched competition. The fact the Grand Final is in the United States this year makes this the perfect time to begin covering this world class event."

In each episode of Game Head, there will be a recap of the competitions leading up to the WCG Grand Final, behind the scenes look at this emerging world cultural festival, and profiles of the international e-Sports superstars. Spike TV will promote the show on-air with tune-in spots and online at spiketv.com/IFILM, GameTrailers and Xfire. Also, each episode in 2007 will be streamed on the Game Head page of spiketv.com for one week following the on-air premiere.

MTVN's GameTrailers and Xfire will combine forces to deliver coverage of the 2007 WCG through short form video segments. Additionally, Xfire will give the public the ability to test their skills against some of the teams that are competing in the WCG 2007 through sponsored "Play With The Pros" events.

With well over one million players from more than 70 countries, the World Cyber Games is widely regarded as the gaming world's premier tournament. Featuring online and offline events held throughout the world, the year-long series attracted more than 1.3 million competitors worldwide in 2006. The 2006 WCG Grand Final in Monza, Italy broke new ground as more than 24 million people tuned in to watch the competition unfold in real-time, marking the first-ever global, live satellite broadcast for an e-Sports event.

Registration for the WCG USA 2007 Championship Tournament is underway at www.worldcybergames.com/usa as are a number of WCG global market registrations. Interested players should consult their own country's respective WCG website, all of which can be accessed via www.worldcybergames.com.

In 2007, the United States will be at the center of the e-Sports world as the WCG Grand Final will take place in Seattle in October. Additional details regarding the WCG Grand Final and USA Championship Series will be released shortly.

Corporate partners for the 2007 WCG USA and Global programs include Worldwide Sponsor Samsung Electronics, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Games for Windows, Circuit City Stores, Philips amBX, Procurve Networking by HP, Samsung Digital Camera and Dust-Off. Additional partners will be announced soon.

A handful of companies have teamed up to throw together a team and singleplayer Resistance: Fall of Man tourney starting next month.

The tournament, sponsored by SCEA, the Global Gaming League and GameStop, will be broken into 1V1 and 3V3 bracketed matches that will run from July 7 through July 28 (hey, that's my birthday!). The 26 finalists will be flown to New York City to compete in the semifinals and finals from Aug. 10 through Aug. 12.

If you're interested hop on over to GGL to register and for the full set of rules. The prize list, though, is on the jump. Brian Crecente

Prizing - 3v3 Competition:

* First Prize (3 players) Platinum DVD Dream® System, $500 GameStop gift card per player, and $500 cash per player, ARV: $3,000.00 per player
* Second Prize (3 players) Ultimate PSP® Prize Package, $300 GameStop gift card per player, and $250 cash per player, ARV: $1265.00 per player
* Third Prize (3 players) $150 GameStop gift card per player
* Fourth Prize (3 players) $100 GameStop gift card per player
* Fifth Prize (6 players) $50 GameStop gift card per player
* Top six (6) teams win a Resistance: Fall of Man™ jacket and a round trip for each player, three (3) players per team, to New York, NY from 8/10/07 through 8/12/07, including airfare, hotels, airport transfers, and $100 spending money, ARV: $1,100.00 per player.

Prizing - 1v1 Competition:

* First Prize (1 player) Platinum DVD Dream® System, $500 GameStop gift card, and $1,000 cash, ARV: $3,500.00
* Second Prize (1 player) Ultimate PSP® Prize Package, $300 GameStop gift card, and $500 cash, ARV: $1,515.00
* Third Prize (1 player) $150 GameStop gift card
* Fourth Prize (1 player) $100 GameStop gift card
* Fifth Prize (4 players) $50 GameStop gift card per player
* Top eight (8) players win a Resistance: Fall of Man™ jacket and a round trip for one to New York, NY from 8/10/07 through 8/12/07, including airfare, hotels, airport transfers, and $100 spending money, ARV: $1,100.00 per player.

GGL, Sony, GameStop launch Resistance tournament [GGL]

The two bunnies stand shoulder-to-shoulder smiling at nothing in particular. Behind them the faded blue of the Playboy Mansion's rock-lined pool. In front of them a seething mass of gamers, mostly men, VIPs, mostly men, and journalists, mostly men.

They stand, they pose with passers-by, but mostly they just smile.

And then a voice cuts through the crowd over the speaker system. The Championship Gaming Series draft is about to start, everyone needs to go inside the tent.

The bunnies seem confused.

"Games?" asks one to the other, while playing with the fluffy white pompoms attached to her white faux fur top.

Pro-gaming's first ever draft was, in many ways, like those Playboy bunnies: Interesting to watch, but not very deep.

Unlike the DirecTV -backed league's two invitationals last year (which one attendee described as very "Nickelodeon"), last night's draft had a very distinct sports feel to it, but it still seemed a bit too superficial. As if the event was more about the presentation than the results.

But it was still a step in the right direction it what will most definitely be an uphill battle. One that will continue in July with the airing of the first ever live competitions.

Last night decided who would make up the new leagues six teams, giving 60 of the attending 225 pro-gamers a career in the burgeoning sport. Each of the gamers selected were signed on with a $30,000 base salary and a chance to win much more during the regular season of competition.

So for them, the gamers, last night was every bit real. It was, as league commissioner Andy Reif said, gaming history, a night when a league was born.

For Reif, and the others behind the scenes of the new league it was a night long in coming.

"When (DirecTV president) David Hill approached me about doing this I said I'm not a gamer. He said he wanted me to do this because I had already experienced the pain of building a sport," Reif said.

It was Reif who was instrumental in the mainstreaming of the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour.

He said that like in pro-beach volleyball his greatest challenge in pro-gaming will be in both growing the audience and maintaining the current fans of pro-gaming.

"Video games transcend all cultures and races of the world," he said. "Most sports are experiencing a shrinking audience, video games are exactly the opposite."
"But if you lose the hardcore audience, you can forget about it."

DirecTV decided to host the draft at the Playboy mansion because in part they wanted to remind everyone that pro-gaming is an "irreverent sport" and because they wanted to make the event memorable for the draftees. It also, of course, fit into their strategy of attracting a new audience while maintaining the old one.

"We were looking for an iconic place, a place that for gamers would represent that they had arrived," said Steven Roberts, vice president, general manager of DirecTV.

Roberts knows that to make pro-gaming work they're going to have to rely on more than just the sport itself. As with a sport like NASCAR, the personalities will be key in driving the league's success.

"There are some great personalities here like in any sport," he said. "What we do and we do best is tell stories. That's what it's going to take to make heroes out of these people."

One of those stories, perhaps the one most interesting to those not plugged into the burgeoning sport, was of Vanessa Arteaga, a 20-year-old receptionist turned pro-gamer who wasn't just the first woman selected in the draft, she was the first gamer selected.

Arteaga, who was signed with the San Francisco OPTX for their Dead or Alive 4 Woman's team, was shaking when she left the stage. Her hands trembled as she held the team's shirt up for a picture.

"I knew potentially I was going to be a first pick," she said later. "But it was just amazing when it happened, it was such an awesome event. Sitting in the crowd and seeing all of the draft picks happen was awesome."

Arteaga said growing up she loved to play games, something her mother didn't always support.

"My mom hid my Xbox controller a couple of times," she said. "But we finally had a talk and she realized how excited it made me feel to play games and that I was good at it so she became very supportive."

She said that she also hopes to be a role model to other female gamers, to inspire women to become pros. Male gamers "had a head start, but I think females are starting to pick up," she said.

And despite the male-dominated sport, and setting she was excited to be a part of the evening.

"It's exciting being here because it's the Playboy Mansion," she said. "I may not be excited about seeing the bunnies, but it's a once in a lifetime experience. I can tell my kids and grandkids that I was drafted here."

The night also saw the selection of the six teams new general managers, five men and one woman who will now spend their days scouting players, developing their skills and building the teams' fan bases.

Jason Lake, general manager of Complexity LA said the new league job has come with a steep learning curve, but that he thinks this is the best thing that can happen for pro-gaming.

"This is the big time. This is the show," he said. "This is what people like me have been waiting for."

While last night's event may have seemed a tad overblown to those not directly involved, it did herald, I believe, a change in the way pro-gaming will be viewed. It showed that the sport has potential, though perhaps the sweet-spot for mainstream viewers hasn't yet been found.

So far the Championship Gaming Series' first ever draft is every bit as surreal as I had hoped it would be.

Mike McWhertor and I caught up at a parking lot outside of some shopping center in Beverly Hills where we boarded a bus that took us to the Playboy Mansion.

Once inside we were elbow-to-elbow with a bunch of other "VIPs", media, competitors and women that I wasn't thoroughly convinced were really playmates. Mike assured me they were, adding that he knew most of their names.

After an hour or so of standing around, eating, drinking and talking, the whole mass of people were rushed into an outdoor tape where a draft stage had been set up. On the stage were six desk manned by the managers for the new league's six teams. Facing the stage were the finalists for the draft. Mostly men, though I did count about a dozen female gamers who made the cut.

Right now I'm sitting at the table waiting for the draft to get under way. We are, I'm told, about five minutes out. They're streaming the draft live over on www.thecgs.com. You can go there to check it out or hang here and follow along with me as I sorta live blog it. I suspect I'll mostly be making smart-ass comments. Hit the jump to sing along. Brian Crecente

They just introduced the six team managers for the league and showed a short clip on the managers.

Now they've got Fatal1ty and some other talking heads yapping away like we're watching football. I like video games and they've lost me.

The first selection for the first pro-gaming draft ever is.. a woman. DOA gamer Vanessa Arteaga, 20, who hails from Clan PMS. Now she's playing for the San Francisco OPTX. Second choice is Counter-Strike team compLexity who will now be playing for... LA Complexity. At least they won't have trouble remembering their new team name. Pick number three is Emmanuel "Master" Rodriguez for DOA 4 who will now be playing with the Dallas Venom.

I spotted Master earlier this evening grooming himself near the bar talking to Arteaga about which one of them would be picked first. He does have a nice hat. Pick number four for this draft is Team 3D who will, oddly enough be playing for 3DNY. Again, easy name to remember for them.

That's funny. I just noticed that there are a bunch of strobe lights attached to the frame holding the tent up. When a draft select takes the stage they all fire off randomly as if hundreds of photographers are taking their pictures. Trust me... they aren't.

The fifth pick in the draft is PGR 3 gamer Wesley "ch0mpr" Cwiklo for the Chicaco Chimera. And the final pick for the first round for this first draft ever is DOA 4 gamer Ryan "OffBeatNinja" Ward for the Carolina Core.

We're into the second round now, but I'm not going to track every selection. I think it's not going to get interesting until the last round when there's a whole bunch of people out in the competitor pool who realize they may not become a salaried pro-gamer afterall.

I happen to be sitting at a table that is right next to where the men, women and teams that are selected walk past right after finding out that they are now officially pro-gamers. It's kind of interesting to see their reactions. Vanessa, for instance, was visibly shaking when she came off the stage, but Master seemed as cool as a cucumber, a cool cucumber. It is obvious that no matter what this draft means to those outside of pro-gaming, to those in the league it means everything, which is certainly a good start.

Alright two rounds down, FOUR MORE TO GO.

Whoops sorry for that sudden ending. The press WiFi just died on the vine in the middle of the event.

I don't know which is more surprising; that Time only listed Shigeru Miyamoto as number 92 in the Time 100 or that they got Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel to write the short piece for the magazine about the Nintendo dev.

In it, Wendel talks about his first Nintendo experience (at age 4) and how the Wii has once more drawn him into the loving arms of console gaming goodness. Then he totally drops into his Championship Gaming Series shill mode and starts talking about how wonderful pro-gaming is and why it should be like pro football or pro basketball.

Kinda jarring, but still a neat approach to the short story. Brian Crecente

Shigeru Miyamoto [Time]

The Championship Gaming Series is getting its own draft and it's going to be held at the Playboy Mansion in L.A.

The new series, which has bonuses and salaries of $5 million for the 2007 season, will kick off with the draft on June 12.

"This is the moment the gaming world has been waiting for," said CGS Commissioner Andy Reif. "We will be paying salaries and bonuses to our players in excess of $5 million dollars during the 2007 season. The time has come for a new era of professional gaming as sports entertainment. Your chance to be a part of history starts on April 28."

Counter-Strike: Source and FIFA 2007 will be official PC games for 2007 while Dead or Alive 4 and Project Gotham Racing 3 will be the Xbox 360 titles for the DirecTV backed league.

Hit the jump for a run down of qualifiers and team make up. Brian Crecente

Los Angeles, CA - The Championship Gaming SeriesTM (CGS), the first global professional gaming
league, today announced that worldwide salaries and bonuses for the 2007 season will exceed $5 million,
a new benchmark for professional gaming. CGS has also announced the official games and schedule in
its North American region for 2007. Qualifying for North American league play will begin April 28 and the
first draft in history will take place on June 12 at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles.
"This is the moment the gaming world has been waiting for," said CGS Commissioner Andy Reif. "We will
be paying salaries and bonuses to our players in excess of $5 million dollars during the 2007 season. The
time has come for a new era of professional gaming as sports entertainment. Your chance to be a part of
history starts on April 28."
Valve's Counter-Strike : Source and EA's FIFA 2007 will be official PC games for 2007. For the Xbox
360, CGS will feature Tecmo's Dead or Alive 4 (DOA4) and Project Gotham Racing 3 (PGR3) from
Microsoft Game Studios.
The official CGS 2007 event schedule will feature online and live qualifiers where players will battle to
reach the Regional Combine, scheduled to take place at the legendary Fox Studios in Los Angeles from
June 8-10. Players from the Regional Combine will then be drafted onto one of six city-based teams at
the 2007 CGS Draft on June 12 at the Playboy Mansion. CGS online qualifiers for the North American
region begin on April 28, 2007 with the first live qualifier to be held at The Bridge Cinema de Lux in Los
Angeles on May 11-12.
Each CGS team will feature a total of ten athletes per team, each of whom is a specialist in one of the
official league games. Five of the ten players will comprise a Counter-Strike: Source squad who will
compete in five-on-five matches. The soccer title FIFA 07 will be played one-on-one. Each team will have
a mixed-double team of two DOA4 players, one man and one woman, who will play against other teams
in one-on-one matches on Xbox 360. The racing game PGR3 will be represented by two players on each
team and matches will be played in a two-versus-two format.
Soon-to-be announced dates for the full global slate of 2007 CGS events in the UK, Europe, Asia,
Australia, Latin America, and the Middle East will yield regional representatives for the CGS Grand Slam
and World Championships, to be held in Los Angeles this October.
CGS events will be broadcast in North America on DIRECTV's The 101. For more information, please go
to www.thecgs.com.

Technical issues have curb-stomped the Gears of War tournament.

A Warzone Leaderboard reset was supposed to kick in at 12:01 GMT on April 9, but it still hasn't gone through. Tourney play will resume tomorrow at 12:01 a.m. GMT and run through 11:59 p.m. GMT May 13.

Is anyone in this thing. I wanted to try, but I keep forgetting. Brian Crecente

Tournement Registration [Xbox Live Tournament]

That's weird.

The Championship Gaming Series, DIRECTV's take on pro-gaming, just announced a commissioner for their sport and he's the former COO of the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour.

I understand that sports are sports, but it would be nice if there was a little bit of cross-over between Andy Reif's previous job and his new one.

Reif will oversee the establishment of the league and its development in North America, South America, UK/Europe and Asia/Australia.

"The opportunity to start a major sports league, with global television coverage in more than 100,000,000 homes through DIRECTV (North America and Latin America), BSkyB (UK), and STAR (Asia and Australia), has never happened before," said Reif. "No other major sport started with such an arsenal of media. We have been assembling the very best talent from the gaming and broadcast worlds and CGS will change sports entertainment forever. We are going to provide an unparalleled entertainment experience to rival any other major sports league."

"Our 2006 invitational events were a tremendous success," said Eric Shanks, Executive Vice President of Entertainment at DIRECTV. "Now with the arrival of Andy, we're ready to elevate pro gaming to the world stage. DIRECTV is committed to seeing that professional gaming has the best production team in the industry and we will be creating more than 30 hours of programming for the 2007 season in North America alone, which is an unprecedented level of coverage for the sport."

The new league will kick-off with a qualifying period and a draft. CGS said they will be announcing North American online qualifiers soon as well as offline regional qualifiers in New York and Los Angeles. Brian Crecente

Sure, Korea is the place for professional StarCraft players. There are 225 pros (including three lucky foreigners) registered with the Korea e-Sports Association. But, imagine this: You are a Korean pro-gamer with good hair who stinks at StarCraft. What do you do? Think Europe! The best Korean Warcraft players have hooked up with Denmark's Meet Your Maker (MYM) gaming club. Says Danish MYM manager Jakob Dreyer:

Korea has some of the world's very best Warcraft players, which is why it is natural to hire our Korean gamers, who are still being among the best in the world... Our Korean players normally meet up offline. They live, train and meet in the area around Seoul, either in Internet cafes or private... When it comes to overseas traveling, MYM pays everything related to traveling and accommodations.

Interesting, but what is it with Korea and StarCraft? I mean, seriously, what's with the default setting? Brian Ashcraft

Non-StarCraft Players Must Go Elsewhere [The Korea Times]

Because we can never have too much about Snoop Dogg.

Hip Hop Gaming League commissioner Dogg will be facing off against Pro Baseball Gaming League commissioner Johnny Damon to raise money for their bitches charity of choice.

The Hip Hop Gaming Leagues' Battle of the Commissioners will take place during the Super Bowl Weekend in Miami, Florida and it has nothing to do with getting Snoop free tickets to the big game.

Snoop is playing for the Snoop Youth Football League, and Damon is playing for The Wounded Warrior Project. MLB.com has added $10,000.00 in prize money for the charities — the winner's charity gets $7000, the loser's gets $3,000.

Gamertag Radio will be covering the event live from Miami. Brian Crecente

Hip Hop Gaming League Super Bowl Event In Miami, FL [Gamertag Radio]

Razer's 3G infrared gaming mouse, the DeathAdder, hit stories today for $60 a pop.

Th right-handed mouse tracks movement 2.25 times faster than a standard 800 dpi optical sensor mouse, has rubberized, non-slip buttons, and allows you to tweak dpi settings in-game and on-the-fly.

Do any pro-gamers use balls, or are mice the only way to go for pros? Brian Crecente

January 17, 2007 - Los Angeles - Razer , a leading manufacturer of high-end precision gaming peripherals, announced that the DeathAdder 3G Infrared Sensor Gaming Mouse, a state-of-the-art 3G infrared right-handed gaming mouse, is now available at all major online retailers (Amazon, Tiger Direct, GoGamer and NewEgg), for a retail price of ($59.99).

"With all gamers in mind, the Razer team of specialized engineers designed the Razer DeathAdder from the ground up to make this the perfect right-handed gaming weapon," says Robert Krakoff, president, Razer USA. "The Razer DeathAdder is truly in a league of its own."

The Razer DeathAdder 3G Infrared Sensor Gaming Mouse contains the following distinguishing features:
* The right-handed ergonomic design of the Razer DeathAdder Gaming Mouse with its rubber coated buttons provides slip-resistant grip and improved comfort during intensive gameplay.
* Powered by Razer Precision , the new 3G infrared sensor on the Razer DeathAdder lets you move 2.25 times faster when compared to a standard 800 dpi optical sensor. Before the enemy sees you, he's already dead.
* The Razer DeathAdder allows gamers to program their button functions while Razer's Hyperesponse technology reduces latency.
* No action is too fast for the Razer DeathAdder. Its 16-bit ultra-wide data channel allows latency-free gaming on all battlegrounds.
* Watch the Razer DeathAdder glide and slide as you experience the true meaning of smooth gaming.
* With On-The-Fly Sensitivity drivers, you can use the Razer DeathAdder to switch dpi settings right in the midst of a fierce battle!
* The fast response time of the Razer DeathAdder means you never have to wait for the mouse - no matter how quick you are.
* Always-On capabilities give gamers virtually no latency when the Razer DeathAdder goes back into action from idling.

DIRECTV today unveiled some more details about the pro gaming league they are creating and planning to broadcast internationally.

The broadcast company is in talks with British Sky Broadcasting and STAR Asia to secure international broadcast of their newly formed Championship Gaming Series, according to the company.

They also announced that long time pro-gaming poster child Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendell will be trading in his keyboard and mouse for a microphone, taking on the role of the new comp's play-by-play commentator, spokesperson and advisor.

"We couldn't help but notice that gaming had actually become a sport. Not only in the way the gamers created teams to compete, but also in their conditioning and mind set and dedication while playing. So it wasn't a quantum leap to then determine if it was becoming a sport, we should cover it like a sport, said David Hill, President, DIRECTV Entertainment. "The reaction to our first production, the Championship Gaming Invitational, was little short of phenomenal, so it was a no-brainer to take this next logical step to create the series. We believe the combination of a world wide broadcast platform, coupled with forward thinking partners like Mountain Dew, will create a brand new sport which is truly universal. Championship Gaming Series has the potential to become the next soccer in terms of world wide appeal."

The Championship Gaming Series will be based in five regions around the word: North America, Latin America, UK, Europe and Australia/Asia/Middle East.

Each region will host online qualifiers and live tournament events to determine the teams which will represent each area. From those competitions, twelve champion teams will emerge and compete in the league's Grand Slam round. Grand Slam winners, both individuals and teams, will advance to the Championship Gaming Series World Championship, which will be hosted in the United States.

Championship Gaming Series teams will consist of squads dedicated to playing specific game genres, including racing, fighting, action/adventure/strategy and first person shooters. In the United States, the series will have six regional teams comprised of the best players in each gaming genre.

Sounds like a pretty solid plan and with the combined support of so many pro-gamers and organizers as well as some pretty huge sponsors and of course DIRECTV, I suspect this could be the one that finally brings pro gaming to the ungamed masses. Brian Crecente

LAS VEGAS —(Business Wire)— Jan. 8, 2007 DIRECTV, the nation's leading satellite television service provider, announced today at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show that it is taking the sports entertainment world by storm with launch of the Championship Gaming Series, an international video gaming league which will broadcast to over 100 million homes worldwide starting in Spring 2007 and airing nationally on DIRECTV's The 101. The Series, which was originally announced last year, will expand to feature teams from North America, Latin America, United Kingdom, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia as the world's top pro gamers battle in cyber-space for the international title and over $1 million in prize money.

DIRECTV is in final discussions with global entertainment giants British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) and STAR Asia, among others, to build an international network and to broadcast the Championship Gaming Series. In addition to international televised distribution, the series will partner with Internet powerhouse IGN Entertainment, a unit of Fox Interactive Media, to provide online coverage, creating a multi-platform opportunity to bring gaming to the masses.
Gaming legend Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel will capture the action as the exclusive play-by-play commentator and global league spokesperson and advisor. With a roster of the best pro gamers in the world, unparalleled production values and best-in-class televised sports-style coverage, the series will be the dominant force in professional gaming worldwide.

The series will take the exploding phenomenon of professional gaming to the next level with high-definition televised league play using advanced technology to take viewers inside the games themselves. For the first time in the history of the sport, team members who qualify for the Championship Gaming Series will be drafted by franchises and paid salaries as full-time pro gamers. Team franchises will be led by salaried General Managers, who are established leaders in competitive gaming.

"We couldn't help but notice that gaming had actually become a sport. Not only in the way the gamers created teams to compete, but also in their conditioning and mind set and dedication while playing. So it wasn't a quantum leap to then determine if it was becoming a sport, we should cover it like a sport, said David Hill, President, DIRECTV Entertainment. "The reaction to our first production, the Championship Gaming Invitational, was little short of phenomenal, so it was a no-brainer to take this next logical step to create the series. We believe the combination of a world wide broadcast platform, coupled with forward thinking partners like Mountain Dew, will create a brand new sport which is truly universal. Championship Gaming Series has the potential to become the next soccer in terms of world wide appeal."

The series will employ industry giants to transform the game action into compelling television for both gamers and non-gamers alike. Fatal1ty, who after dominating the sport for seven years, will take on a new role as exclusive play-by-play commentator for the Series. Eleven-time Emmy Award-winner Mike Burks will control multiple high-definition cameras, as well as virtual cameras to cover all the action, both on and off the playing field. With its unparalleled production value and televised sports-style coverage, the Championship Gaming Series will set the standard for professional gaming competitions worldwide.

"DIRECTV really understands the nature of gaming and has figured out how to turn the sport I love into something that gamers and non-gamers will enjoy on television," said Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel. "I can't wait to take over the microphone and play such an important role in the evolution and expansion competitive video gaming. Championship Gaming Series is going to be the best platform for aspiring gamers to realize what it takes to become an international gaming champion."

"We are excited about the Championship Gaming Series and look forward to becoming the lead gaming and broadcast partner for the Series in the UK and Ireland. Gaming fits squarely into Sky's strategy for providing an unmatched in-home entertainment experience and we look forward to moving ahead with the project," comments James Baker, Managing Director of Sky Networked Media.

Championship Gaming Series will be structurally based in five regions around the world - North America, Latin America, UK, Europe and Australia/Asia/Middle East. Each region will host online qualifiers and live tournament events to determine the teams which will represent each area. From those competitions, twelve champion teams will emerge and compete in the league's Grand Slam round. Grand Slam winners, both individuals and teams, will advance to the Championship Gaming Series World Championship, which will be hosted in the United States.

"The Championship Gaming Series has the potential to transform the professional gaming industry," said Frank Cooper, vice president, flavored soft drinks, Pepsi-Cola North America. "As a founding partner of the series, Mountain Dew sees this as a unique opportunity to redefine our role in the world of gaming, supporting a unique initiative that enables gaming enthusiasts get closer to the latest technology."

Championship Gaming Series teams will consist of squads dedicated to playing specific game genres, including racing, fighting, action/adventure/strategy and first person shooters. In the United States, the series will have six regional teams comprised of the best players in each gaming genre.

DIRECTV's first U.S. Championship Gaming Invitational (CGI), which aired in July of 2006, was held in a 16,000-square-foot airplane hanger, at the former Treasure Island Naval Base in San Francisco. Competitors faced off in games such as Electronic Arts(TM) Battlefield 2(TM), Microsoft Game Studio's(TM) Project Gotham Racing(R) 3 and Halo(R) 2, for prizes and instant money payouts. First prize winners included complexity, 20ID, Jason "FiddyownsU" Hodges, Joe "Phantom Hitman" Tackett and Emmanuel "MASTER" Rodriguez. The second CGI took place at Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, CA on December 16 and will premiere on DIRECTV's The 101 in February, 2007.

Kyle Orland over at Joystiq points to this sad story of a pro-gamer in Sweden who recently killed himself after accruing massive debts from online gaming.

Christian "divino" Sellergren, the 21-year-old who led Team Eyeballers to the 2004 CPL Counter-Strike championship, transitioned from pro-gaming to online gambling eventually losing his job and $13,000 to his addiction.

Sellergren was found dead by his parents on Nov. 3. His parents recently talked about the death to a Swedish newspaper, according to website MeetYourMakers, who provided this translated summary of the interview:

Christian bet everything he had on online poker and lost. He lived a double life that his parents didn't know anything about. But it saddens his parents to know that he chose to leave it all behind, when they could help him to solve the problem.

The life that his parents knew about was that he had a job, an apartment, a girlfriend and tons of friends. However the part of his life that they didn't know about was that he had actually lost his job, because he was gambling there too. When his parents called his job, they where told that he hadn't been working there for few months, but the parents had been picking him up there still. When his parents turned on his computer, they found tons of icons and links on his desktop to online poker sites. After couple of days after his death, a letter came about throwing him out of the apartment.

Divino was as many of you know, the manager of the team that won the CPL Summer Championship in 2004, Sweden Eyeballers. He got to travel to The US. got to ride in limos and live in luxury hotels. A few things not many people have experienced.

Christian had over 200 000 Swedish Kroner (About 18 144 Euro or 13 867 American Dollars) in loans from the bank, with these loans he also bought a car, though he didn't have a drivers license. He also loaned some money from his parents which the deal was that he would pay some of it back each month. However in November he called to say that something didn't go right when he tried to wire it over to his parents, but he later got it transferred. But his parents learned that he had actually loaned the amount he was supposed to transfer to them from a friend. The rest of the money he loaned from them disappeared in online gambling.

His mom said that she was mad and felt kind of betrayed that he chose that way out and didn't come to them and talk to them about it, why didn't they get to help him? But she also tells Aftonbladet that she as his mother feels that they are at fault that they didn't see that he wasn't doing so well.

MYM has the full story. It's tragic whenever someone takes their own life. There's always a way out, no matter how bad things get. Always. Brian Crecente

"Gambling Claimed His Life" [MYM]

Amy "Valkyrie" Brady, Emily "Seppuku" Ong, Nelly"Psyche" Morel and Alyson "Calyber" Craghead won after taking down the previously undefeated team The Unknown.

"There were a few good teams that we were worried about especially with the team compete team but we were confident about our team work," said Nelly Morel "Psyche." "It was a very long tournament that started at 7:00 p.m. and ended at 1:00 a.m.. I kept counting down the clock, we were up by a good amount of kills and after we won it was such a relief - it was an amazing feeling."

Team captain Morgan "Rhoulette" Romine said the team has been playing Vegas up to 12 hours a day since it came out.

"We have been getting more experience with competition and playing under pressure by playing in pro-circuit tournaments like MLG and WSVG over the past year," she said. " Being able to come here to play Rainbow, always our favorite multiplayer series, and bring our experience with both online and live event competition made for an ideal combination. We played as a team, communicated well, stuck to our strategies and won."

That's it, Team Kotaku totally has to get their asses kicked by the Frag Dolls, it's written in the stars. Brian Crecente

Says founder and CPL president Angel Munoz:

The potential for [drugs] being an issue absolutely concerns me. It should concern anybody in eSports, because as the stakes get larger, as in any sport, people will look for an edge.

The league's primary concerns are stimulants such as crystal meth and even the prescription drug Ritalin, not the performance enhancing drugs common in other sports that require you to stand upright or move your lower torso at some point.

Sadly, this confirms that I'll never be a professional competitive gamer, as I have a strict "Never Play Sober" policy. Just kidding, mom and dad! Michael McWhertor

CPL Prepares for Pro Gamer Drug Testing in 2007

Micah Ernst, 23, of Meadville, Penn., took the Verizon FiOS Grand Tournament, Verizon announced today. The gamer won $100,000, the largest single prize in an online tourney, in the 6,000-person tournament. The finals were played live in Hermosa Beach, Calif. over Verizon's FiOS Internet service.

"We congratulate Micah on his impressive win," said Brian Angiolet, director of Marketing for Verizon. "It was exciting to see him and the other finalists compete live against each other, using a 30 Megabit-per-second FiOS Internet connection delivered over our new, all-fiber network. It's clear that FiOS Internet is breaking the barriers to fun on the Internet and is creating new levels of interaction for everyone who uses it."

Ernst plans to use the cash to pay off his student loans, buy a big-ass TV and make a trip to New Zealand, while I would have used the $100k to pay someone to build me a mansion out of watermelon flavored Jello.

Oh well, each to his own. Hit the jump for the finalists and their pay-outs. Brian Crecente

Name/Hometown Prize

1. Micah Ernst, Meadville, PA $100,000
2. Scott Rogoff, Trumbull, CT Alienware Prize Systems & Monitor
3. Zachariah Kendall, Colville, WA Alienware Prize Systems & Monitor
4. Kenny Wells, Towson, MD ATI Radeon X1900 XT Series Video Card
5. Brian Kihneman, Austin, TX ATI Radeon X1900 XT Series Video Card
6. Dominic Anderson, Portland, OR ATI Radeon X1900 XT Series Video Card
7. Richard Oliver, Virginia Beach, VA Saitek Gamers Keyboard
8. Stefan Hock, Trumbull, CT Saitek Gamers Keyboard

8 Sonic Driver Gaming Headphones
Dedicated amplifier for each channel
99% Oxygen-free cable
Built-in uni-directional noise-cancelling microphone
On-The-Fly Positional volume control over each individual pair of drivers
2 Sub-woofer drivers for clean, powerful bass
Built-in Razer HD-DAI for dedicated connection to Razer Barracuda AC-1 Gaming Audio Card

Oh and they sell for $130. I don't know, I think I'll stick with one of the ratty pair of headphones that live in the nest of wires and cables under my desk. Brian Crecente

The Wall Street Journal recently ran a story about an interesting pro-gaming cottage industry: Pro-gaming trainer.

The story looks mostly at 18-year-old game tutor Tom Taylor who runs Gaming-Lessons.Com. The site has a number of people working for them, teaching about games including famed 8-year-old gamer Lil Poison.

Gaming-lessons.com says its youngest "Halo 2" instructor is 8-year-old New Yorker Victor De Leon III — better known by his online gamer name, Lil Poison — who has given several lessons a month since late last year, fitting the classes in after he has done his homework. His father, also named Victor, says his son has used some of the money he earns from lessons (hourly rate: $25) to buy a hamster, named Cortana after a character in the game. Richard Jefferson, a forward with the New Jersey Nets basketball team, says several professional gamers, including Mr. Taylor, have helped him "raise his game" through "Halo 2" coaching sessions. Mr. Jefferson, 26, says he didn't pay anything for lessons, though he did give away some tickets to basketball games. Mr. Jefferson holds

Very interesting story and it shows a lot of forward looking by the WSJ to find a story about pro-gaming that hasn't been told yet, at least not in the mainstream press. Brian Crecente

Want to get good at videogames? Hire a kid [WSJ]