E-sports, using various forms of electronic gaming, has been growing in popularity during this past decade. Over the summer, THG brought you coverage of the United States' largest events: Million Man LAN 3, the Summer Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL), and Quakecon 2004. From October 6th to the 10th, an Asian invasion broke new ground in North America when San Francisco was the host for the World Cyber Games (WCG) 2004 Finals.

Cable car and the Golden Gate Bridge, two of San Francisco's most well known landmarks.

There are many competitions in which winning prize money and being named the top player of the event is the focus. At an event like the CPL, the main focus is on the pro gamer and their winnings, but the experience of the participant is also a key component. An event like Quakecon or Million Man LAN is more oriented around being a vehicle for gamers get together to have fun, while leaving a lasting impression of the overall experience of the person attending the event.

It is true that gamers are flown in from all around the globe at the expense of the WCG to compete for the title of world champion in their eight events. The core of the WCG is competition, and they do have a lot of prize money for the winners of their respective games. However, those are not the only reasons that draw players to San Francisco from 63 countries and across six continents. The World Cyber Games is the largest event of its kind in the world.

WCG President and CEO Hank Jeong had this to say: "This is only the fourth year, but it is not easy to offer this kind of worldwide level event every year. We have included more than 60 countries to be involved; we had a selection process for the national delegates who have to go through a national final. We then bring those best players from the delegate countries to San Francisco to compete to be the best of the best champion. We have a total main purse of over $420,000. We have eight games that we distribute this to. We pay $50,000 to the first place Counter-Strike team and $25,000 to the Warcraft and Starcraft individual first place winners, which is no small amount. It goes beyond the prize money though, because it is honor they bring to themselves and for their countries. We try to create something sportsman-like. You know, games are a universal language. They go beyond culture, beyond gender, beyond color, and beyond the geographic location of the player. The players do not pay for their airfare. We try to create harmony among the youth of the world where they can create friendships and something of the heart."

Out in front of city hall, the stage is set for the games to begin.