NOTICE
TOMORROW'S NEWS World Cyber Games
The World Cyber Games, or WCG, is recognized as the leading international video game competition. It's the professional video game tournament, the Olympics of the e-sports world—and it's about to take Germany by storm. In less than two months, the WCG will hold its sixth international championship tournament in Cologne.
According to the WCG, more than 30 million people watched the televised and streamed coverage of last year's WCG Grand-Finals held in Seattle, showing just how popular professional video gaming has become.
With games ranging from first-person shooters, strategy RPGs, street racing to soccer, there's something for just about everyone—if you can make the cut.
But the WCG isn't just about high scores, hairpin turns or body counts. There's a cultural phenomenon taking place as well. These tournaments are making the world a little smaller by bringing people from diverse and distant lands together in a medium where language, age, race and religion
have no importance; and only love of the game and a healthy sense of competition matter.
"United by gaming, the World Cyber Games competitions span continents, language barriers, and social and political differences," a WCG promotional video claims. "Through the World Cyber Games, e-sports are emerging as a new cultural trend that combines the passion of gaming and the pure enjoyment of digital entertainment."
In addition to the annual WCG championship tournaments, the WCG also hosts regional Pan-Championship tournaments. These are invitational contests that pit the best players from around the world against each other for cash and prizes. The WCG 2008 Samsung Euro Championship was March 6-9, during which about 250 players from 30 countries competed for $100,000 in prize money and the much sought-after title of SEC-Champion.
But that's nothing compared to the $448,000 in prize money that was up for grabs at the 2007 WCG Grand-Finals in Seattle, or the $468,000 at stake in 2006 at the WCG in Monza, Italy.
This is serious business, with real winners and major money to be made—both by the players and by the companies that promote and profit from the sale of games and hardware.
The 2007 WCG Grand-Final tournament hosted more than 700 competitors from 74 nations. This year's tournament is expected to be the largest yet.
National championships are happening all over the Americas, Europe and Asia through October.The winners of these national championships will be sent to duke it out in Cologne, Germany, November 5-9, for the 2008 WCG.
Matt Bechtold
the it factor: 2008 presidential election
All over it: I'm pleased with McCain's
choice for vice president. Palin has great experience as governor. She's a woman of strong conviction and
scruples. It's nice to have a real Reagan- conservative to run with McCain.
Over it: I'm annoyed with people who are so quick to blame everything that's wrong with the economy on conservatives because we have a semi-conservative in the White House.In reality,it's Congress that determines our economic fate
—Glen Reeves Kansas City, Kan., junior
All over it: I like the attention it
draws to our system of government, and the enthusiasm it inspires in many people. Over it! I can't stand
necessity for a candidate to constantly toe the line of public opinion and political correctness.
Thornton Thompson Lenexa senior
Over it: Though I'm certain Sarah
Palin is an intelligent woman and fairly capable politician at the local level, she has no national or international experience.The selection of Palin for the vice presidency is frightening and offensive. It's clear that McCain is pandering to women, hoping that they will vote with their vaginas rather than their brains.
—Robbie Gordy
Omaha, Neb., junior
All over it: I like that the election
makes people interested in politics and we are almost forced to hear about what is going on in our country.
Over it! I don't like the different campaign commercials with the mudslinging. I also don't like how candidates just list their opponents' weak points or what they have done in the past that is bad. I just think that's playing dirty.
—Shawn Stevens Overland Park junior
—Carly Halvorson
September 11,2008
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