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It's all in the thumbwork
Sunday’s Madden Challenge is proof that playing video games can pay.
By KEVIN GRAHAM
Published October 29, 2006
TAMPA — Television screens lit up the second-level concourse of Raymond James Stadium on Sunday like a line of slot machines in a Las Vegas casino.
An enthusiastic crowd of mostly young men was all too eager to compete in the Electronic Arts Sports 5th Annual Madden Challenge. More than 500 would take part in the Tampa regional competition of the popular football video game.
Only one would walk away with a ticket to the February championship in Hawaii for a shot at $100,000.
“I’m not the best, that’s for sure, but at least I’m not the worst,” said Andrew Benjamin, 15, of Tampa.
He competed in the tournament last year and lost during his first game.
Nick Stafford, 16, of Seminole has had better luck. He placed seventh last year and showed up Sunday for a third year in a row.
“It’s amazing, because a lot of people show up to show off their skills,” he said. “Even if you lose, there’s still stuff to do.”
Like visit the Best Buy Lounge, where losers took to a big screen TV or one smaller to play Madden NFL 2007, described by fans as one of the “more intense” video games around.
“It takes a lot of skill and thought to win a game,” Stafford said.
Gamers played versions of Madden on XBox and XBox 360. It was a first for Zach Volpi , 23, of Tampa, who usually plays the game on his PlayStation. He won his first game.
“Getting to the next game,” he said. “That’s all that matters.”
John Lafferty, 27, of Boston will have competed in 16 cities when the Madden Challenge comes to an end. The Web site www.straightgamers.com is sponsoring him and several others on the tour.
“We play every day,” he said. “At least six to eight hours a day.”
The challenge tour, which stops in 26 U.S. cities, heads to Houston on Saturday. To learn more about the madden challenge log onto www.maddenchallenge.com Kevin Graham can be reached at (813) 226-3433 or kgraham@sptimes.com.
[Last modified October 29, 2006, 22:46:28]
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