Thursday, September 11, 2008
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.
Creative writing major for 500, Alex
Mark Petterson competed on “Jeopardy!” on Monday where he placed second for ...
KU duo in national quarters tournament
The team will compete in Las Vegas for a prize $25,000.
Holtz: Patriotism and soccer go hand in ...
How many U.S. victories will it take for Americans to catch on?
Graduate uses photos to save lives
Former student holds competition to raise money for wells in Africa.
School of Business holds competition
Finalists will present powerpoint presentations over their business ideas in the hopes ...
Contest could bring free DMB concert to ...
AT&T will choose a winner based on the number of votes submitted ...
Adams: Government must do more to improve ...
The job market is open in the world of cyber security.
Group hosts competition to benefit children organizations
More than 309 organizations entered their projects to addressing issues such as ...
Three journalism graduates earn awards
Two of the graduates placed in the top three at the Hearst ...
Hayes: Jeopardy auditions insightful
“College Jeopardy” gives chance to support KU.
New award program funds future entrepreneurs
Winners can use prize money for any business-related needs.
Winfield senior takes home first in SUA's ...
Student Union Activities hosted the third annual International Film Festival this weekend ...
Appalachian State raises more questions about ranking ...
At the end of each college football season, a normally controversial bowl ...
The march to 2,000 victories
As the Jayhawks approach the historic mark, The Wave takes a closer ...
Where will all the Jayhawks go?
As three Jayhawks hope to become first round picks in Thursday night's ...
Career Center produces ‘Jayhawking’ video
Video modeled on ‘Tonight Show’ segment will highlight men’s basketball pre-game show.
Q&A: Remy Ayesh
Because we have questions. Celebrities have answers.
Local poker club offers opportunities
Lawrence poker enthusiasts play for keeps in club
Students go ‘all in’ for community poker
Lawrence-based entertainment company, Poker Pub Inc., plays host to no limit Texas ...
Club soccer anticipates national tournament
The national club soccer tournament is this weekend in Pensacola, Fla. Both ...
Women's soccer faces tough qualifier
Once thought to have advanced to its 10th straight Big 12 Tournament, ...
Crowd votes Will Nots as winner
Boogie and soul group takes champion title of Farmer’s Ball battle of ...
Blog: MLS Preview
Preseason rankings for the entire MLS
Buser: Searching for scholarships
There are scholarships out there for everybody, even if you aren't particularly ...
Poker catches on at Lawrence bars
Trapped in a game
Students who encounter video game addiction could face job loss, poor grades, ...
Pushin' Booze
The Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament sponsored nationally by Bud Light was more ...
Regional matchups make league recognized, respected
The Hispanic fan base in the U.S. takes interest in international games ...
Playwrights compete in own Final Four
Four student plays will be performed at the English Alternative Theatre in ...
Freshman establishes KU Dance Marathon
Philanthropy event organizers hope to raise $250,000 for Children’s Mercy Hospitals.
Doubles pair fight for national championship spot
Senior Ekaterina Morozova and sophomore Dylan Windom will experience a role-reversal this ...
League draws World Cup-esque matches
Soccer fans who can’t wait four years between World Cups should check ...
Jayhawks not strangers to Final Four
It started in 1940, when Phog Allen led the Jayhawks to their ...
Former Kansas basketball great dies
Howard Engleman, former Kansas basketball player and head coach, will be remembered ...
Tennis doubles team ranked top in the ...
Ekaterina Morozova and Dylan Windom are headed to the ITA/Riviera All-American Championships ...
Students show homemade race cars
The Jayhawk Motorsport team unveiled its self-built cars, including one hybrid car, ...
Shroyer: Time is now for BCS playoffs
Playoff system would need plenty of planning, but it couldn’t be much ...
A new ‘Title’ for Lawrence?
Lawrence is one of 20 finalists in ESPN’s ‘TitleTown USA,” contest. The ...
Spreading the love
Ellsworth Hall students celebrated cultural diversity Saturday with “Around the World in ...
For the love of the game
Several one-time KU basketball players have missed out on the riches of ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID