This past weekend marked the first time Devastation has teamed up with Big Boys & Their Toys Expo, providing their largest arena to date at the Phoenix Convention Center. I had the honor of being there all three days! Every morning, when I walked into the lobby to set up for the day, there was a huge line of incredibly dedicated gamers waiting for the chance at some very large cash prizes. Who said you can’t make money playing video games?

Bookmans has supported Devastation in the past, but this year it was in a much larger capacity. With the hall sharing space with Big Boys & Their Toys, I saw much, much more than just the typical “gamer." And since it was Father’s Day weekend, many families were taking their pops out for a fun time. I reminded everyone to “hug your dads.” Why? Because my own is living in Nashville, Tennessee and I was only able to tell him that he rocks via text message… Why? Because I was working at one of the largest video game tournaments in the country! I met folks who traveled from as far as New York.  The #1 fighting game champ in the country? Who knew there even was one. I consider myself a casual gamer at best, and it was exciting for me to rub elbows with the country’s elite. 

While Bookmans sponsored Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, the hottest titles were Street Fighter IV (due to its recent release), Tekken 6, and King of Fighters XII - all games I have never played before. ou needn’t have played before to enjoy the energy, hype, and dedication that stems from the players, not to mention that they all enjoyed themselves while chilling at the Bookmans booth. By day's end on Sunday, I was completely wiped out of ALL the neato freebies I brought with me.

Stay tuned later this week when we find out who gets to take home the awesome, complete Nintendo Power Set , plus a load of NES games and related toys!

Live locally and want to know more about local gaming events? Visit The Temple Arcade, an organization dedicated to the continuing development and promotion of gaming communities and players around the world. Plus they own and operate the Devastation Expo!