poloplayr
09-26-2005, 06:53 AM
Video `Super Bowl' Debuting in Texas
JAY JORDEN
421 words
31 January 1990
The Associated Press
English
(Copyright 1990. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
DALLAS (AP) _ Thousands of finger-twitching Nintendo enthusiasts will test their skills in "the Super Bowl of video games," a nationwide playoff that promoters announced here Wednesday.
The Nintendo World Championship, beginning here in March, is expected to draw more than 40,000 video game enthusiasts.
The competition eventually could involve as many as 1.2 million contestants as the playoff moves to 29 other cities in the United States and Canada. Winners from each city will compete for the championship in Orlando, Fla., in late October.
While providing a forum for true enthusiasts to show their stuff, Nintendo also hopes to draw non-competitors and will have games on hand for them to try. The company also will give competitors sneak previews of new software.
The Japanese game company is sponsoring the contest, but local promoters are arranging competitions in each city, Dallas promoter Danny Eaton said.
"Since we are the first, all the other promoters have been calling me," Eaton said.
Promoters in other cities also are expecting to draw 30,000 to 40,000 people to what Eaton called "the Super Bowl of video games."
The Dallas playoff will be held March 8-11 at an exhibition hall nearly the size of two football fields at the city's fairgrounds. The competition features more than 100 game stations.
One portion of the hall, called the "power walk," will preview the new software, with game counselors on call to handle questions from stumped players. Games will be played at two-minute intervals.
Players will move to the second or "super stage" where they can get tips on the games and question counselors. Costumed Nintendo-character musicians will sing lyrics based on the games, while counselors read correspondence from stumped players in a "mail room."
The third section is the two-level competition stage. A video game triathlon, the competition will combine elements of Super Mario, Rad Racer and Tetris games.
The top seven players from the Dallas playoff and contests in other cities will be invited to Orlando for the national finals, Eaton said.
They will compete for prizes that will include a 5-figure savings bond, a car and Nintendo software for life, said Laurie Muslow, a company spokeswoman.
A ticket to the championships costs $9.50 for children and $12.50 for adults. Competitors have to pay an extra $3, Eaton said.
The Nintendo World Championship was created by EMCI Rockbill, a New York-based worldwide entertainment marketing company.
JAY JORDEN
421 words
31 January 1990
The Associated Press
English
(Copyright 1990. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
DALLAS (AP) _ Thousands of finger-twitching Nintendo enthusiasts will test their skills in "the Super Bowl of video games," a nationwide playoff that promoters announced here Wednesday.
The Nintendo World Championship, beginning here in March, is expected to draw more than 40,000 video game enthusiasts.
The competition eventually could involve as many as 1.2 million contestants as the playoff moves to 29 other cities in the United States and Canada. Winners from each city will compete for the championship in Orlando, Fla., in late October.
While providing a forum for true enthusiasts to show their stuff, Nintendo also hopes to draw non-competitors and will have games on hand for them to try. The company also will give competitors sneak previews of new software.
The Japanese game company is sponsoring the contest, but local promoters are arranging competitions in each city, Dallas promoter Danny Eaton said.
"Since we are the first, all the other promoters have been calling me," Eaton said.
Promoters in other cities also are expecting to draw 30,000 to 40,000 people to what Eaton called "the Super Bowl of video games."
The Dallas playoff will be held March 8-11 at an exhibition hall nearly the size of two football fields at the city's fairgrounds. The competition features more than 100 game stations.
One portion of the hall, called the "power walk," will preview the new software, with game counselors on call to handle questions from stumped players. Games will be played at two-minute intervals.
Players will move to the second or "super stage" where they can get tips on the games and question counselors. Costumed Nintendo-character musicians will sing lyrics based on the games, while counselors read correspondence from stumped players in a "mail room."
The third section is the two-level competition stage. A video game triathlon, the competition will combine elements of Super Mario, Rad Racer and Tetris games.
The top seven players from the Dallas playoff and contests in other cities will be invited to Orlando for the national finals, Eaton said.
They will compete for prizes that will include a 5-figure savings bond, a car and Nintendo software for life, said Laurie Muslow, a company spokeswoman.
A ticket to the championships costs $9.50 for children and $12.50 for adults. Competitors have to pay an extra $3, Eaton said.
The Nintendo World Championship was created by EMCI Rockbill, a New York-based worldwide entertainment marketing company.