Its here... are you in? Sunday 10:30 Rules and details:

Rules for SSB: 

Starts at 10:30, players can arrive after 10:00

1 vs 1 best of 3 (depending on number of players we may do a round robin) - Double Elimination or top two qualify if RR is used

Bring your own controller (there is some stock but please do not complain)

You want to use a Gamecube better bring the adaptor with your stick

Meta Knight is not an eligible character for this tournament

Rules will be based roughly on this wiki: http://www.ssbwiki.com/Tournament_legal_(SSBB)

Lets keep it fun!

Madden 16 rules will be based on MLG gaming rules (these are a sample of rules for Xbox but it is only on PS4):

http://gamebattles.majorleaguegaming.com/xboxone/madden-nfl-16/tournament/1v1-madden-16-kickoff-09-04/rules

Madden tournament will start at Noon.  Depending on when Smash ends it may be delayed.  Pack your patience.

Must use own controller there is some stock sticks but I do not want to hear about it.

This is the first one in the area if you want them to continue please come on out and join us!

Hope to see you Sunday!

New Tournament Information for Monclova Ohio on August 30th

Video Game Tournament

Monclova Community Center

$15 per player (Choice Game)

Includes “Players Only” raffle Ticket

Sunday, August 30th

Smash Brothers Wii U starts at 10:30 am

Madden 16 PS4 starts at Noon

Amiibo Raffles and Blind Bags

For More information:

 email saveandcontinuegaming@gmail.com or Visit

http://thisoldgamer.blogspot.com

Smash will be limited to first 64 players

Madden will be limited to 32 Players

First Video GameTournament Information Incoming

Coming to Monclova, OH August 30th 2015

Monclova Community Center

Smash Brorthers (Wii U) starts at 10:30 am

Madden 16 (PS4) at Noon

$15 person (price includes "players only amiibo raffle ticket"

Amiibo Raffles and Various Blind Bag Prizes

#settleitinsmash

More information coming next week

Limited to 64 players per game

Tables for Merchandise Sales available

Virtual Reality - Please go in front of me

I have fallen for this song and dance once too many times.  After the all out blitz that was the Nintendo Wii I vowed never to let it happen again.  I have not.  Lets go down the list of the times that I have bought first day or sooner and been disappointed:

• Playstation 3 (first week, yeah it got better but man)
• 3D television (with glasses)
• Kinect
• Playstation Move
• Wii U (first day 32 GB)
• Playstation TV

I know some of these had their moments.  Fruit Ninja on Kinect was fun.  Playing Socom with the underutilized PS light gun was fun.  PS3 got better after a few years.  The Wii U finally got Smash Bros and Super Mario was not horrible.  Playstation TV... well we can't say all purchases I make are solid. 

Problem is I did board the hype train but always read the reviews.  Each of these purchases made promises they could never deliver so I am waiting on VR train, in line but waiting.  You know like when you at Disney and let that person go ahead of you because the monorail just seems too crowded waiting.  I know I will start with Sony becaus e they seem to have a line on my bank account but what about the others?  This year I signed up to go to E3 and I want to check them out.  Sony, HTC and of course Oculus are getting closer to "reality".  No one knows the cost, many have seen the demos but no one has come out with a game that is a must have or better yet name an actual game.  I have read the articles and each seems to have benefits but 2016 seems far away to start boarding the hype train.  With Amiibo-mania running wild and Disney Infinity 3.0 about to steal my wallet I think it is too early to tell.  If anyone from any of these companies gets down to my blog.  I get motion sick so I will be a great candidate to try out the process.  Let me know what you guys think.

My love/hate relationship with NHL 15 HUT

I am a huge NHL fan and have been for many moons (the fierce fish win the cup for those who understand) but about this time every year I start to hate NHL.  I am playing Hockey Ultimate Team and for those you do not want to look it up it is a virtual card mixed with your NHL.  Get better cards, build better team... lose anyway.  I am currently in Division 3 of 10 and am starting to think that this is where I am destined to be.  I am currently "ranked" the 40,XXX best player in the game.  I have faced the cheaters , the people that I am confident that this is their job, the gamers who must spend hundreds on this game and some people that I like to think I have a lot in common with.  I have tried to save up my HUT coins and get better players, made trades, watch the players on twitch but I cannot get past level 3 but I keep coming back.  With 2 kids I play at most 2 games a day but I check in with the game every day because I have to get the daily bonus.  I used my Vita remote play if I am travelling or too lazy to go in the other room to turn on PS4 and I keep coming back.  I tried Shadow of Mordor, Monopoly (play the card game its worth the price) and even LBP3 but I always come back to my personal demon NHL 15.  So now it is decision time do I sell all my players and try and go over after someone like Crosby or do I continue to save and plug away to try and get someone better who will push me at least into Level 2.  If anywhere out is reading and would like to donate a great player please hit me up on twitter, comment in the blog or something.  If you just want to play some NHL hit me up on psn.

twitch - must see TV

So last night after pulling a 4-3 come from behind victory on NHL 15 in HUT League Division 3 (win the next game and I move up to 2) I was figuring out what to do next.  On several occasions I have watched different games on twitch to see if  I think I would like the game.  It worked for Shadow of Mordor but failed on Evolve but last night I watched NHL 15 on a few channels and realized how people get addicted.  Last night I started watching iceinmyvain on twitch.  A great NHL 15 player who was not only playing the game, holding raffles, giving away HUT cards (another crack-like addiction) and all in all interacting with the viewers.  I know twitch is not new.  I know people become overnight sensations on the "interwebs" but I watched this guy play for an hour.  Hell, he has his own currency for raffles - icebucks.  It was amazing to watch how him giving a shout out made these players days.  During my time watching I found myself not only picking up tips and tricks but actually cheering for this guy.  I "smashed" the follow button as he asked all the new "crew" to do when we came in. If you have not already tried twitch or if you are not using it to check out the game you are on the fence on... do it.  I have to log back on tonight for some icebucks.

Video Game Tournaments - Lets Try This!

E-sports are starting to creep into the main stream and I want in.  Events and prizes are getting bigger every week and this past week ESPN 2 dipped their toe back in the pond (http://kotaku.com/espn-airs-video-games-twitter-freaks-out-1700333433) and it made me wonder could I do this in my hometown?

So I thought why not give it a try.  I started the same way that everyone does... Google.  As I went down the rabbit hole my head started to spin:

Is it Legal in Ohio?

How much do I charge?

Can I make anything on it?

What games?

How many systems would I need?

Now before I answer some of these questions, let me tell you a little about my background.  I have dealt with venues and I do have experience booking bands so some of this is vaguely familiar to me

So like most folks I retreated to my basement to draw up a simple plan to see how I could make this work.  I started very simply.  $1,000.00 was my budget.

1.  Pick the games.  This was very easy Smash Brothers for the Wii U and Mortal Kombat for PS4

2.  Equipment:  To start I would have 2 - Wii Us and 2 PS4s .  3 - 32" TVs and one projector (for the Main Event)

3.  Venue: something close, I don't want to have lug this stuff around town

4.  Rules: Learn the rules... this was something that was difficult.  I needed to make sure I had the correct firmware and version for the game

5. Set the prizes: Is it legal?

6.  Could I get some sponsors?  What about asking the developers for some DLC or something

7.  What else would gamers want?  Raffles (those Amiibos are out of control).  Food?  No alcohol for sure

This seemed fairly simple.  I asked a lawyer friend who gave me a lawyer answer.  I asked is this legal and he quickly pointed out that video games are games of skill and not chance.  I asked " Have you ever played these games because luck seems to be a contributing factor"  He suggested everything from getting involved with a charity to starting my own league.  His final words still haunt me "I think if you keep it low key no one is going to hunt you down".  Really that is what passes for legal advice over drinks. 

So this lawyer friend got me wondering how did MLG get away with this in Columbus?  They had a huge event at the Convention Center and actually had Police work the event.   It was packed.  Again as planning and set up goes all I saw my video games hooked to TVs.  A few sponsors, you think you do not need a $100 joystick till you see others buying them and you think it does improve my reaction time by half a second. This event was $40 just to watch.  Once again $40 to watch.  The longest line at this event was the souvenir line.  They had some League of Legend Plushies and a few other exclusive items and did some raffles.  The line was HUGE.  This was simple I have had to read riders and meet with sound and stage folks and deal with rock stars. I left awestruck by the event.

Decision time:  I'm going to try it.  I should have a date tomorrow.  I'm looking forward to the challenge and think its time to pursue the dream.  I have started gatorzcap gaming and who knows maybe if I buy the right equipment I may turn this into a business or go after a big fish and start an EVO of my own.  I hope to have information here in the next few weeks.

Follow me on Twitter @gatorzcapgaming #thisoldgamer