CHAMPIONS OF GAMING - YOU vs TIGER
11.13.08
Champions of Gaming TournamentAre you ready to tame the Tiger?
By Alain "sk88z" Quinto
To be the best you have to beat the best.
This month EA SPORTSTM has teamed up with Gillette® in the first ever CHAMPIONS OF GAMING TOURNAMENT. The tournament will bring together the world's best gamers who will compete online via XBOX LIVE for an opportunity to put their game up against the likes of Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Thierry Henry and Derek Jeter.
Let's take a closer look at one of the athletes who gamers will have the chance to compete against on the virtual golf course in TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR® 09, none other than Tiger Woods himself.
Everyone knows the stats and achievements Tiger has garnered over the years as a pro: 14 majors, the Tiger Slam, 65 PGA Tour victories which is third all-time, 11 international wins, and even though he hasn't swung a club since his US Open victory this year he remains the number one ranked player in the world.
Ok, I'm impressed.
But my question, Can Tiger bring the same A-game on the sticks and will he be as effective in the virtual world as he is in the real one?
Listening to Community Manager Will Kinsler's podcast with Tiger earlier this year, sure he had an Atari 2600 back in the day when he used to rock the joystick to Asteroids and Pac Man, but when he puts in a copy of his own game has he got the thumb skills to take on the world's best gamers?
"I hate to lose," Tiger states when asked how he goes about playing video games.
Since 1999, he has been the face of EA SPORTS TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR and the nine time PGA player of the year has watched over the years as the game has become ever more realistic.
"The game helps you have a better strategy when you play on a real course," he says when asked if the game can assist players on the real links. "The knowledge you gain in the video game is applicable to real golf."
So what strategy will Tiger have when he plays one of the world's best gamers?
"I never play as myself. I'll play as one of two user created players, one buff guy and one beefy guy," replies Tiger sharing a chuckle with Kinsler.
I'm not saying that he's being cocky, maybe his in-game character is just ‘too good' and he just likes to challenge himself. Though I would suggest for the tournament when he goes off against the best, he might want to select his virtual self as he will be going up against some tough competition.
"I'd say that Tiger's putting in the video game is not at the same level as his real game," comments the game's Executive Producer Michael Taramykin. "I've seen him crush his drive and follow up with a great approach like he usually does on a confident Sunday afternoon, though he's been known to misread a virtual putt...or two. So if you ever find yourself playing the game against Tiger, I'd save my trash talking for the greens; especially when he's got a particularly long putt to make."
"Tiger just says that he's very thankful that he's better at real world golf than virtual golf," Kinsler adds.
Being a Tiger fan and following his career over the years since he won back-to-back-to-back amateur titles in a row, I can vouch for his aggressiveness and constant desire to win. I imagine with the tournament he will be a great showman as he is with every opportunity he has with the public.
With registration and gaming now underway, I challenge all our virtual golfers to sign up now for your chance to rise to the top of the leaderboards and take on Tiger himself.
One question remains though: Will one of our gamers be able to tame the Tiger in an opportunity of a lifetime or when the time does come, will Tiger do whatever it takes to win as he's done his whole career?
I'll bet he ends up playing as himself for the first time.