School officials scrap student-organized Halo 2 tourney

While this isn’t really Halo 3 news, FPS fans might want to peruse this little news bit. According to MLive.com (“Everything Michigan,” so the website says), a 17-year-old Saline High School junior’s plans for his first videogame tournament were “zapped at the last minute by school officials over concerns raised by local police about the game’s content.”

Using about US$ 600 of his own money, Zach Wigal went through the whole process needed to organize a Halo 2 tournament, including getting a permit through Saline Community Education to rent the high school commons for use as the tournament venue. Admission was supposed to be at US$ 5 per person. This would cover the rental cost, the US$ 300 first-prize and US$ 150 for second place.

Wigal said he spent nine months organizing the tournament, and more than 300 people had expressed interest in joining. Four days before it was to be held, school officials pulled the plug on the tournament. “The trigger for us is that we were contacted by our police,” said Scot Graden, district community education director. “… We reacted accordingly, understanding we wanted to protect the integrity of our district.”

Pittsfield Township Public Safety Director John Phillips, who informed school officials about the game’s content, said he became aware of the event after Wigal’s father, Rusty, inquired about the availability of an uniformed officer to provide security. “I’m not saying boycott the game, I just think that kids 17 and under playing an M-rated game for money is not something appropriate for the high school,” Phillips said.

Wigal’s parents, however, had no problems with their kid playing Halo 2, and were quite proud and impressed at the hard work Zach put into organizing the event and his entrepreneurial spirit that nearly brought a creative idea into reality. Wigal is currently considering other venues for the tournament.

Via MLive

While this isn’t really Halo 3 news, FPS fans might want to peruse this little news bit. According to MLive.com (“Everything Michigan,” so the website says), a 17-year-old Saline High School junior’s plans for his first videogame tournament were “zapped at the last minute by school officials over concerns raised by local police about the game’s content.”

Using about US$ 600 of his own money, Zach Wigal went through the whole process needed to organize a Halo 2 tournament, including getting a permit through Saline Community Education to rent the high school commons for use as the tournament venue. Admission was supposed to be at US$ 5 per person. This would cover the rental cost, the US$ 300 first-prize and US$ 150 for second place.

Wigal said he spent nine months organizing the tournament, and more than 300 people had expressed interest in joining. Four days before it was to be held, school officials pulled the plug on the tournament. “The trigger for us is that we were contacted by our police,” said Scot Graden, district community education director. “… We reacted accordingly, understanding we wanted to protect the integrity of our district.”

Pittsfield Township Public Safety Director John Phillips, who informed school officials about the game’s content, said he became aware of the event after Wigal’s father, Rusty, inquired about the availability of an uniformed officer to provide security. “I’m not saying boycott the game, I just think that kids 17 and under playing an M-rated game for money is not something appropriate for the high school,” Phillips said.

Wigal’s parents, however, had no problems with their kid playing Halo 2, and were quite proud and impressed at the hard work Zach put into organizing the event and his entrepreneurial spirit that nearly brought a creative idea into reality. Wigal is currently considering other venues for the tournament.

Via MLive