Avid video game players are invading the Treasure Cove Casino this weekend as the first major E-Sports tournament makes its way to the northern capital.
It’s part of the Volcanic Summer Events Tour hosted by Volcanic Gaming.
The tournament begins today and runs until Sunday with over $6000 in prize money up for grabs.
Organizer, Shawn Caldera explains the type of games that will be featured as well as the large volume of players from Western Canada.
“The games like Super Smash Brothers are just tapping into these local markets and we have people throughout the country coming out, people from the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Alberta and, Saskatchewan.”
He believes the demand for E-sports is growing in places like Prince George thanks to the recent presence of several retailers who have popped up onto the scene.
“We have stores like Game Quest, Wonderland, Great White and they really help bolster that kind of effect and gives us a platform to bring awareness of E-sports and to create those gaming communities.”
The event consists of both singles and doubles competition.
Caldera adds the large amount of prize money that is up for grabs can make a huge difference for some of the gamers.
“It’s pretty exciting to see that much going out to our competitors and people actually walking away with something to help pay for their rent, their gas and actually pay for parts of their lives by actually doing gaming in Northern BC.”
“For Smash Brothers we have a pot of three grand and that is distributed throughout all the singles and team events and then for Arms and Dragon Ball Fighters there will be about two grand distribution.”
This events is part of a summer tour that included stops in Vancouver, Fort Saint James, and Prince Rupert and is the first E-Sports Summit of its kind in all of Western Canada.