Well, I live in San Francisco and am currently unemployed, so I thought I might as well check out the World Cyber Games (WCG) while it was in town. I wasn't really sure what to expect, having never seen anything WCG-related before, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. It was very professionally presented, with large screens to broadcast current games and headsets which could be adjusted to get audio commentary on the televised matches.

The WCG really is a very good event for the video game world. Unlike E3, the WCG celebrates gamers, by highlighting their abilities and similarities and giving anyone interested the chance to try their skills. Adults may find video games a waste of time, but when one has the chance to earn real money playing them, they suddenly look more legitimate. Video games suffer from a lack of credibility, but by focusing on the reality of gamers, not games, we can affect the perception of games. The WCG is bringing gamers together from around the world, something significant in an increasingly politically tense time. Gamers focus on their similarities, putting cultural and language barriers behind to bond through a mutual interest. Winning is important at the WCG, but it isn't everything; building a community is the goal.

There were some negatives. The press presence was very light. This isn't overly surprising, but it is disappointing. The game commentators seemed to miss the point, describing a FIFA match like it was a real soccer game, not a contest between two gamers. Brazil wasn't winning, the Chinese player controlling Brazil was winning. The Exhibition areas were small and felt more like a big commercial than an expo of skill. You could sign up to play Fatal1ty, but who wants to wait 20+ minutes to get wasted by the "world's best player". There were musical acts and extreme sports demos outside, but they felt out of touch with the indoor contests.

All in all, I enjoyed my time, but was ready to move on. After watching several matches, listening to the latest speakers and sound devices, and trying out World of Warcraft, I can say that the WCG is an excellent event for the video game world. With more publicity and interest, this event could help convince sceptics that there were positives along with the negatives.