Gaming News - March 2007

New York, NY (March 5, 2007) - The World Cyber Games today announced the games to be used in competition for their 2007 global tournament.

From WCG:

In 2007 the following ten games will be contested in 70+ Nations worldwide on Windows PC and/or Xbox 360 in WCG’s 2007 global tournaments that lead to the WCG 2007 Grand Final:

1. Starcraft: Brood War (PC)
2. WarCraft III: The Frozen Throne (PC)
3. Half-Life: Counter-Strike(PC)
4. Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars (PC)
5. Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs (PC)
6. FIFA Soccer 07 (PC)
7. Need For Speed Carbon (PC)
8. Gears of War (Xbox 360)
9. Dead or Alive 4 (Xbox 360)
10. Project Gotham Racing 3 (Xbox 360)

Registration for the 2007 WCG USA Championship Tournament opens on March 5th at www.worldcybergames.com/usa. WCG global market registrations are locally driven, so international players should consult their own country’s respective WCG website, all of which can be accessed via www.worldcybergames.com.  The WCG is still evaluating titles and may announce 1-2 extra Official Games shortly.

Additionally, the World Cyber Games has named Circuit City Stores, Inc. the official entertainment, electronics, and video game retailer for the WCG USA Championship Series and a WCG “Premier” partner for the next three years. As a Premier partner, Circuit City will receive official designations, event signage, event and online advertising, and brand exposure. The announcements were made by Michael Arzt, senior vice president and general manager of International Cyber Marketing USA, organizer of the WCG, and Peter Weedfald, senior vice president, chief marketing officer of Circuit City.

Also as a result of the partnership, The World Cyber Games USA and Circuit City are discussing plans to launch the “WCG Circuit City Circuit” – an exclusive series of online and in-store gaming tournaments that would feed winning players into the World Cyber Games USA Championship Series. Circuit City also will execute a multi-million dollar co-branded media and advertising campaign and contribute to the WCG prize purses.

“As e-Sports continue to explode, companies like Circuit City are recognizing that there is no better way to reach the technologically savvy young male demographic,” said Arzt. “As the biggest and most recognized e-Sports events in the world, the WCG seeks to only partner with top-tier brands. Circuit City is one of the premier electronics and entertainment retailers and we are thrilled to welcome them as a partner for the next three years.”

“Circuit City truly believes in the value of video gaming and e-Sports as a means to reach our audience. These events are not only here to stay, but they are only going to continue to expand in size and stature,” added Weedfald. “The World Cyber Games is at the center of this expansion and an important boost to our company’s gaming strategy. They are the best and most admired e-Sports event and, because of their global reach and impeccable reputation, we are thrilled to join in this exciting project.”

With well over one million players from more than 70 countries, the World Cyber Games is widely regarded as the gaming world’s premier tournament. Featuring online and offline events held throughout the world, the year-long series attracted more than 1.3 million competitors worldwide in 2006. The 2006 WCG Grand Finals in Monza, Italy broke new ground as more than 24 million people tuned in towatch the competition unfold in real-time, marking the first-ever global, live satellite broadcast for an e-Sports event.

In 2007, the United States will be at the center of the e-Sports world as the WCG Grand Finals will take place in Seattle in October. Additional details regarding the WCG Grand Final and USA Championship Series will be released shortly.
Announced partners for the 2007 WCG USA and Global programs include Worldwide Sponsor Samsung Electronics and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Games for Windows. Additional partners will be announced soon.