Gamers get set for battle
Irish startup, n00b gaming, will host the eSports professional video game competition in Cork, with a €10,000 prize fund on offer for the top Starcraft gamers.
N00b gaming, founded in Cork last March, say over 200 people have registered for their n00b c0n event already.
And they expect to have more prizes announced in the coming weeks.
The two-day event will include exhibits, casual gaming and four pay-in tournaments.
N00b gaming founder Paul Allen, a duty manager with Voxpro, said the concept of facilitating Irish e-sports was something he always envisioned, but he never imagined it would take off like it has.
“It’s just something I messed around with in the evenings after work. I didn’t think it was actually going to become a full-on company. Once we started to see numbers we started to build plans behind it,” he said.
The site has more than 2,500 members and is growing. From initially running 32 to 64 player knock-out tournaments, they now run large leagues, with 400 games played in last month’s tournament.
E-sports is a multibillion- dollar industry, with professional players and commentators earning a living online and attending offline conventions.
The United States, South Korea, Sweden, and Japan have embraced it, but until now there has been no dedicated company for it in Ireland.
N00b c0n takes place on Nov 16 and 17 in the Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork.
* Tickets will be available from www.n00bgaming.com or on the day.
