From the old school ages of Atari to the latest in Xbox technology, video game enthusiasts will have a chance to reminisce as well as move forward with a video gaming tournament set for April on the campus of Jefferson Davis Community College.

Hosted by the City of Brewton the event is being organized by Brewton Program Director Connie Baggett and JDCCs Technology and IS Director Anthony Hardy.

Baggett said the event was the brainchild of a student at JDCC, but was being brought to reality by hosts and organizers of the event.

“We are still finalizing some major sponsorships for the event and pinning down the rules for the games,” Baggett said. “Anthony (Hardy) is helping to coordinate things at JDCC with a student who actually came up with the idea. We are hoping to hear back from some of our potential sponsors for the competition this week.”

Baggett said the sponsorship will help ensure cash prizes for those who finish on top during the competition.

“We will be featuring four video games in this competition,” Baggett said. “The winner in each of the games will receive a $500 cash prize.”

Baggett said the most popular games will be set up for competition that will be conducted in a tournament-style event.

“This will be a double elimination tournament,” Baggett said. “It should be a great competition event.”

Games to be included in the tournament will include the latest versions of Halo, Super Smash Brothers, Madden and Call of Duty.

“We will have the most current versions of the games ready to play,” Baggett said. “Halo, Madden and Call of Duty are Xbox games and Super Smash Brothers is a Wii game. We will have several of each system up and running for the competition.”

The event has been set for Saturday, April 6 with a 10 a.m. start time, Baggett said.

“We are going to be asking people to register early so that brackets can be set for the competition,” Baggett said. “There will be a $10 registration fee and registration information will be available soon.”

Baggett said the event will also give one group a chance to help raise funds for the John L. Fisher Community Center as it moves forward with improvements.

“There will be people there with American General Life Insurance selling lunch plates for $5 each,” Baggett said. “All of the money raised from the sale of the meals will benefit the John L. Fisher Community Center project. Actually, the company will be matching the money raised times two.”

As organizers continue to prepare for the April 6 event, a display of a variety of gaming systems and boards is being planned.  In an effort to show the evolution of gaming throughout the years, organizers are asking to borrow items to have on display. Items being sought include Xbox consoles; pinball machines; horseshoes; bridge and poker cards; Spades; Hearts; Atari; Nintendo; checkers; chess; Monopoly; Connect 4; cell phone games; dance and band games; and inflatable screens.

Anyone with items to be loaned for the day is asked to contact the Greater Brewton Area Chamber of Commerce at 867-3224 or Baggett at 867-3281.