I pulled into Chicago Thursday night looking forward to being at my first MLG event. For me this was going to be better than any local gaming tournament, LAN party or other type of gaming venue I have been around……or so I hoped. I arrived at the event Friday morning at 9am looking for the GotFrag table watching all the future icons and wanna-be’s of gaming. Security had their hands full trying to keep all the gamers back until the doors officially opened which became more difficult once they announced registration was moved from 10am to 10:30.

I received more than a couple jealous looks as I walked past everyone and entered the event hall. As I walked around the room taking in the set up, which by the way, as grand as it was…..it was smaller than it appears on TV (and for all you guys…..yes EVERYTHING is bigger on TV). Somehow I couldn't help but feeling like my 9 year old son when he first walked in to the Pokemon store in NY City.

Taking everything in before the show got under way I noticed a match of Shadowrun going on in the corner. I came to realize it was the MLG officials and staff. I pulled up a spot and watched for a bit and I came to a conclusion: Though these guys were having a great time, I know why they were officials and not contestants. I know gamers everywhere are saying “come on or if you think it is easy you do it,” but when you hear the official ask “How do you know who to shoot?” You have to ask yourself….”what the hell”?.

1:35 PM Chicago time, registration is over and the doors open. It looked like a tidal wave of bodies running to the closest Xbox they could find. It was not the official competition, just simply free play and everyone was running to their favorite game; Halo 2, Gears of War, Shadowrun and Rainbow Six: Vegas. As I watched from the GotFrag table one would almost think some of these guys were playing in the finals and not just a round of 3 eliminations freeplay.