SA Gamers throw down gauntlet to Minister
Heals, 17-Feb-10 » One of South Australia’s largest video gaming associations today formally invited the Hon.Micheal Atkinson to attend one of its gaming events. Valhalla LAN Parties has held more than one hundred events over more than ten years, including some of Australia’s largest gaming events. In that time, more than forty thousand people have attended these events in Adelaide’s west, and more importantly, there hasnt been a hint of violence or inappropriate behaviour.
Valhalla LAN Parties remains staunchly opposed to the general attitude toward gamers displayed by the Minister in recent times. Video gamers include people of all ages, in fact, according to recent studies1 the average age of the gamer is now in the 30-40 year bracket as opposed to being limited to teenagers. Many of these people work respectable jobs in government and industry. Gamers include members of both sexes – the last two years has seen the number of female attendees at gaming events increase more than 300%.
Valhalla event manager Jason Lassey said, ”Despite thousands of people coming to these events every year, from all walks of life and all kinds of socio-economic backgrounds, there has yet to be a single incident of violence. Hundreds of people attend these events every weekend across Australia and I’m unware of even a single issue.”
In order to address these misconceptions, Valhalla LAN Parties believes the minister must come and witness the community not as a single person, but in its most vibrant elements – hundreds of gamers joining together in a celebration of gaming. Its just a happy coincidence that these events fall in his own electorate.
The Invitation:
Valhalla LAN Parties remains staunchly opposed to the general attitude toward gamers displayed by the Minister in recent times. Video gamers include people of all ages, in fact, according to recent studies1 the average age of the gamer is now in the 30-40 year bracket as opposed to being limited to teenagers. Many of these people work respectable jobs in government and industry. Gamers include members of both sexes – the last two years has seen the number of female attendees at gaming events increase more than 300%.
Valhalla event manager Jason Lassey said, ”Despite thousands of people coming to these events every year, from all walks of life and all kinds of socio-economic backgrounds, there has yet to be a single incident of violence. Hundreds of people attend these events every weekend across Australia and I’m unware of even a single issue.”
In order to address these misconceptions, Valhalla LAN Parties believes the minister must come and witness the community not as a single person, but in its most vibrant elements – hundreds of gamers joining together in a celebration of gaming. Its just a happy coincidence that these events fall in his own electorate.
The Invitation:
| Quote |
| Dear Hon. Mr. Atkinson, MP., It is with some concern that we read your remarks regarding gamers in general as reported in the Advertiser today. We are proud to run some of Australia’s largest video gaming events in South Australia, as both Valhalla and Reloaded gaming events. Some of these are even partially supported by state government funding. There are hundreds of gamers of all ages at this event, from teenagers to the elderly. They come from all walks of life, many are employed in a wide variety of jobs, and come from all sorts of economic backgrounds. More than 200 people attend an average event and almost a thousand attended the Reloaded event held in January. These events have always passed without incident. In ten years and over a hundred events there has not been a hint of violence or other inappropriate behaviour. We would like to formally extend an invitation to you, the Minister, to come and witness the experience of video gaming on an extraordinary scale. Our next event is on February 27th, and our next Reloaded event - Australia’s largest LAN event - will be held on July 10th. Both events are held at the St Clair Recreation Centre at Woodville in Adelaide. By happy coincidence, we believe these events also take place in your own electorate. We believe that your attendance may help to enlighten you as to the actual attitudes of gamers in regards to their gaming, not in a piecemeal fashion, but in their hundreds as they game in a friendly and harmless environment surrounded by their peers. You can find us on the internet at www.valhalla.net.au or www.reloadedlan.org. Yours Sincerely, Jason Lassey Valhalla LAN Parties Committee Reloaded Events Director |
Related Articles
Image unavailable
Want more of the same? Check out these articles:
Want more of the same? Check out these articles:
Articles by Author
Want to read more of Heals's articles? Check out these:
Article Stats
| Category: | Gaming News |
| Posted: | 17-Feb-10 9:37:32 am |
| Author: | Heals |