Time not well wasted
Something every Mother can be proud of:
“Toronto student heading to Madden finals
Canadian Press
Kris Newman can hardly believe his video-game skills are giving him a shot at winning $100,000 (U.S.). The 21-year-old University of Toronto literature student won the Canadian EA Sports Madden Challenge national final Saturday, defeating Mohamed Abdulle of Mississauga, Ont., 40-32 in the championship game.
Newman will join 26 champs from the U.S. plus representatives from Britain, China, Germany and Mexico at the International EA Sports Madden Challenge in Hawaii during the Pro Bowl on Feb. 10 with the big prize on the line.
“I can’t think about it, not until I’m there,” Newman said after leading the Cincinnati Bengals past the Indianapolis Colts. “I’m still trying to catch my breath from this. [Abdulle] had his whole posse here and their words are still ringing in my ears.
“They were really giving me the business.”
He scored the winning touchdown with 45 seconds left and a last-play interception ended Abdulle’s hopes for a comeback.
Newman was one of 500 Toronto video gamers drawn to compete with 20 regional winners, Abdulle among them, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The local gamers were randomly drawn from more than 6,500 who registered for a chance to compete. Wide receivers Chad Johnson of the Bengals and Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals were on hand to watch.
Newman has been playing Madden football for two years, ever since his brother prompted him to buy the game. He plays about two hours a day during the week and six hours on the weekend, mostly against online opponents.
“I entered [the championship] just to see what kind of competition is out there,” said Newman. “I wanted to see who was the best in Toronto.” Newman is more than just a video game junkie, however; he’s played football since he was 12 and will try out for the Varsity Blues next fall.
Perhaps his cool under pressure will impress coach Steve Howlett.
“I’m pretty excited,” he said of his Madden win. “I scored with 45 seconds left and then almost blew it. My safety made an unbelievable interception to save me.”
The Madden video game franchise has sold some 54 million copies to date and generated $3.2-billion in revenue.”
With our investment in Dreamcatcher Interactive, this story caught my eye. Even if John Madden is only taking $2 per sale, that’s still a great run. Better than most football players can hope to coin. Dreamcatcher hasn’t seen sales quite ike that with their Painkiller series, but it is still nice to have the #1 FPS, as they did in 2004.
The other math is more fun. Two hours a day for two years, with an extra four hours each day on the weekends. 2,292 hours to earn a spot at the US$100,000 Tournament. Maybe perfecting Texas Hold ‘Em would’ve been a better investment of time, given the pots are just slightly larger.
MRM
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