Gamers Weekly Throwdown
The very first video game ever created was called Spacewar; a space combat video game initially designed by Steve Russell back in the 1950’s. Spacewar was run on a microcomputer at MIT. In the 70’s, improvements in coding and technology was evident in the game Pong. From the last 70’s to early 80’s arcade games were popular. In the 1990’s, video games began to develop detailed graphics, animation, strategic quests and multiplayer formats for the personal computer and console. PlayStation, Xbox, Wii and Nintendo was in almost every household, however gaming tournaments have been going on since the 1980’s.
Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter and Super Smash Bros are fighting games played competitively, but this wasn’t available for those that lived in the Hernando County area before David Scinta and John LoBianco started organizing local tournaments. Players would have to travel to Tampa or even Orlando to compete.
“There is nothing like this around here, if you want to go to a tournament or play games with other people that play the same games as us, you [would] have to go to Tampa or go to Orlando,” LoBianco said.
Every Thursday, the Euphoria Emporium Hookah Café hosts a night for gamers. There are tables set up with computer screens, cables hook ups and even live streaming. It is a one on one competition and gamers are listed on a competitive bracket system which leads to semi-finals and finals.
“In the fighting game community, this gives you the opportunity to come to this event and kind of test your skill level with everyone else,” Scinta said.
Tournaments are worldwide and for some, gaming is a career. Local tournaments provide contenders with a way to advance their skills for much bigger tournaments like the one held in Orlando called CEO Gaming.
“Everyone comes here and they practice and learn all the strategies, they get the tournament nerves out of their system,” LoBianco said.
In the gaming community, pregame jitters can have dire consequences. The hours and even weeks of perfecting different moves and the ability to predict your opponent’s actions are crucial. Nervousness is something your opponent can utilize as your weakness.
Thursday Night Throwdown is a place where anyone of any age can participate. These guys are hardcore gamers and love what they do.
Gaming is actually a very competitive sport; competitive enough to be streaming on ESPN2, which aired in the Evolution Championship Series for Street Fighter V back in July.
“There are actually colleges offering scholarships to gamers,” Scinta said.
Students from middle school to high school are actively involved in gaming and in order for them to play there are usually strict requirements from the parents.
“As long as I have straight A’s… I am good,” said Alex (luxxy) Pannozzo, a tenth grader from Nature Coast. “It’s one of the only communities that I’ve actually warmed up to and have really engrossed myself in.”
Even parents come to the tournament to watch their kids. “This is promoting these kids to do their homework and doing their chores because they want to be here, ” Cindy Oaks, owner of Euphoria Emporium Hookah Café said.
George Woerner handles all the tech for these tournaments. Woerner along with LoBianco and Scinta work really hard to make this an outlet for those that have the same interest in gaming.
“I have seen a lot of kids come in here shy, not talk to anyone and come out of their shell. It’s awesome to see these kids have a group they belong to,” LoBianco said.
Nicholas (SEEN.FD) Benedotto, a Central High graduate plays a variety of street fighting games. “I come here really for the community; it’s like another home for me.” Benedotto is going to Full Sail University and is studying game design.
Last Thursday Night Throwdown Gaming celebrated their 50th tournament at the Euphoria Emporium Hookah Café and the place filled up quickly with avid gamers. Conversation of ranks, game modes and strategic plays filled the venue.
“I think it’s the best group of people, respectful gamers that just have a passion and love the game, so they can come to these events and have a great time,” Scinta said.
Check them out here: http://throwdowngaming.com/
If you are interested in watching a tournament and test out the community visit them Thursday Nights at Euphoria Emporium Hookah Café 1381 Kass Circle Spring Hill, Florida
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