If you ever had Pac-Man fever as a kid, you might want to reserve your spot in a hospital emergency room right now.
Canada's largest group of competitive video game players is bringing its joysticks and calloused hands to the Canad Inn Club Regent this weekend.
Alex 'Imported' Djukanovic plays Halo 3 at the Canad Inns Club Regent yesterday.
The Pro Gaming League will host an expected 250 video game players, most of whom are local but a number of "professionals" will be in attendance as well.
Kyle Gronning, PGL's owner, said he's expecting teams of four players from as far away as New York and Arizona will compete.
He said player ages typically range from 10 to the late 30s.
"It's usually guys looking to take it to the next step of competitive gaming, face-to-face, something beyond their Xbox Live experience," he said.
There are no old-school games in the tournament, so if you used to have the high score on Frogger, Galaga, Donkey Kong Junior or Joust at your local 7-Eleven, you'll be in for a rude awakening. Instead, competitors will put their skill and reflexes to the test in some of the most popular video games around today -- Guitar Hero 3, NHL 08, Halo 3 and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Preliminary matches will be held today while playoffs and finals will go on Sunday.
The competition will be shown on 26-inch televisions and three projection screens. If you can't attend in person -- up to 500 spectators are expected to fill the hall -- streaming video of the competition will be available at PGL's website (progamingleague.ca).
This weekend's competition is the fifth one of the year for PGL, which was formed last November. Future 2008 events will be held in Ottawa, Vancouver, Montreal, Halifax and Toronto.
Gronning said the video gaming industry took in $10 billion in the U.S. last year with an estimated $1 billion spent north of the border.
geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca
Guns, guitars, and
sticks, oh my!
WHAT: Pro Gaming League's Halo
3/Guitar Hero III/NHL 08/Super
Smash Bros. Brawl Tournament
WHERE: Canad Inn Club Regent,
Ambassador Room
WHEN: Friday, 6 - 10 p.m.; Saturday,
9:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Sunday
12:30 - 6:30 p.m.
WHY: Aside from the thrills of playing,
the minimum giveaway of the
tournament is $5,000
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