38
ILLUSTRATIONBYGRAHAMROUMIEU
AMERICANWAY
NOVEMBER 1 2007
G A M E O N !
Here in the States, the concept of profes-
sional gaming is beginning to catchon. The
ChampionshipGamingSeries, for instance,
whichwas launched earlier this year byDi-
rectTV, now has six franchises, including
the Carolina Core and the LA Complexity.
Plus, gaming legend Johnathan “Fatal1ty”
Wendel has signed on as the league’s of-
fi
cial spokesperson, and he will also do the
league’s color commentary. That’s just like
gettingMichael Jordan to sit in the booth
forNBAgames…only, uh, different.What’s
bestofall, though, is that theChampionship
Gaming Series has promised to give away
more than $1 million in prizes during the
inaugural season. I could really use $1mil.
And how hard could the competition be?
For themost part, the league is dominated
by teenagersand20-somethings.Didanyof
them set theMs. Pac-Manhigh score atmy
grandfather’sbar?No.No, theydidn’t.
In fact, Iwas something of a gamer dur-
ing my youth. It’s been a while since I’ve
played regularly, but it has to be just like
oRAWhIlE,
I had expec-
tationsanddreams.Istart-
edmywriting career at an early age,
so I was almost always the youngest
guy in the newsroom. Like
an up-and-coming athlete, I
was aprospect— a little raw,maybe,
butwithenoughpromise thatpeople
would usually say things like, “You’ll
goplaces,kid.” Ineverwentanywhere.Well,
Iwent toDallas, but that’s about it.
Recently, I turned30andabandoned the
ideaofbecoming thenextJosephHellerand
started thinking about becoming the next
Bazooka Joe — I could, you know, maybe
start penning those comic strips that are
wrapped around bubble gum. That seems
like solid work. The truth is, when I take
stock of my life, it seems a little sad. I fi -
ured I’d be married by this point; instead,
I recently ended a serious three-year rela-
tionship. I thought I’d own a spectacular
home on abeach somewhere, but in reality,
I rent an apartment, and you have towalk
HowHeavyKevy, Fool, andFatal1ty showedme the light
—and then showedme thedoor.
ByJohnGonzalez
down an alley and past two dumpsters to
get there. I thought I’d have a dog (I have
anobese cat) and that I’dbe famous (nope)
andmature (definitelynot).
This ismy versionof amidlife crisis.
I realize that all of this means I won’t
live very long, but, asmy fatherwas fondof
saying, “Que sera, sera.” However, there is
a positive side: All this self-evaluation has
led to a sort of epiphany. I’ve figured out a
way togetmyact together— toget backon
track and point myself toward something
meaningful. Sure it’s a little cliché to have
amidlife crisis and then snap out of itwith
some grand discovery, but wait until you
hearmy idea.Ready?
Videogames.
I know. Puregenius.
I’vedecidedtobecomeaprofessionalgam-
er.As it turnsout, this is anactual vocation,
the digital equivalent of competitive eat-
ing. In Japan, professional gaming leagues
are a big deal— thematches or contests or
whatever they’re calledarebroadcast onTV.
TheMaddenCurse
