Games Media Properties today announced the first-ever World Series of Video Games international gaming competition, set to kick off in June 2006 in Louisville, Kentucky with four subsequent circuit events taking place throughout the year and culminating in a final event in December 2006. With $1 Million in cash prizing, the World Series of Video Games will combine PC and Xbox games to establish true world champions under standardized rules and procedures across a circuit of multiple tournaments. The 3-5 day events will be open to the public and will encompass 150,000 square feet of tournaments, exhibitions, concerts and other attractions. The World Series of Video Games is presented by Intel and sponsored by Xbox 360. The announcement was made by Games Media Properties executives Matthew Ringel and Scott Valencia.
"Video games are the entertainment of choice for millions of people worldwide and competition and achievement are of paramount importance to gamers," said Matthew Ringel, President and CEO, Games Media Properties. "In bringing together some of the most well-known tournaments, the best gamers and unprecedented media exposure, the World Series of Video Games will help promote a new class of champions, and bring the excitement of gaming competitions to a wider audience."
The World Series of Video Games has forged partnerships with some of the world’s largest and most well-respected competition organizations and is working closely with these organizations in the selection of tournament games and the establishment of standardized rules and procedures to create a uniform platform for video game competition. Participating organizations include The Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL), Lanwar, and E-Sport Entertainment Group (DreamHack). Akin to the structure of such established sports franchises as the PGA Tour and NASCAR, the World Series of Video Games will establish the first video game competition circuit that features a series of "Major" tournaments on multiple gaming platforms that culminate in final rounds at which true world champions emerge.
"To date, video game competitions worldwide have been narrowly focused on one platform or another," said Scott Valencia, Executive Vice President, Games Media Properties. "The professional gaming movement requires a structure and an inclusive platform in order to grow. The World Series of Video Games embraces PC and console platforms and several of the most important game titles and communities. This approach increases the value and excitement of the events for the players, sponsors and a mainstream audience."
The World Series of Video Games will kick off at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky June15-18, 2006. Events will include PC and console tournaments, a 3000-user "Bring Your Own Computer" ("BYOC") and first ever "Bring Your Own Xbox" event, concerts, consumer electronics exhibitions and more. This event is timed to coincide with DreamHack, the world’s largest LAN (Local Area Network) party, to be held in Jonkoping, Sweden during the FIFA World Cup. American and European teams will have the ability to compete against each other from these two events, and the events will vie to set a world record for the largest LAN party ever held. Additional details for this event and the dates and locations of the remaining circuit events, including the finals, will be announced soon.