Airmen compete in undead warzone

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  A futuristic warrior surrounded by zombies held his pose in the middle of a dark room. As the fog blanketed the floor and the lights illuminated the room, members of team Barksdale made their way to an entertainment center.

Nov. 16 and 17, the Barksdale Stripes Club ballroom was transformed into an undead warzone for the base's first, quarterly first-person shooter tournament called Game-Tastic Fest. The Commander's Cup was held on the first night of the tournament, and the youth and adult tournaments were held Nov. 17.

"With the initial release of Halo 4 and Call of Duty Black Ops 2, we figured it would be a good time to do a base-wide gaming tournament," said Tony Flowers, 2nd Force Support Squadron Barksdale Club general manager.

For the Commander's Cup, each squadron submitted two Airmen to compete. After each game, the teams' scores were counted, and the lowest team was eliminated. The winning team received a $300 cash prize, the second place team received a $200 cash prize and the third place team received a $100 cash prize.

Master Sgt. Kenneth Montenegro and Staff Sgt. Travis Geiger from the 26th Operational Weather Squadron won the Commander's Cup, but participants still had one more chance to win big.

Though the placing prizes were the same, the youth and adult tournament had more competition.

"A lot of people came out to play," said Airman 1st Class Matthew Harrington, 2nd Operations Support Squadron Game-Tastic Fest tournament commissioner. "Altogether we had 27, two-man teams."

Participants were able to enter as a team, and individuals without a teammate were assigned one. Team work and cooperation were vital to a team's success.

"You have to communicate with each other so you can take out the enemy," said Senior Airman Daniel Frielpolega, 2nd Communications Squadron. "Cooperation is key, you have to find someone you mesh with."

The teams battled it. After each round, one team was eliminated. The top six teams emerged and moved on to the finals.

Ultimately team #1 won the tournament, and took home the $300 cash prize. Team Xcitement came in second, and team Honeybadger placed third.

The winners of the competition weren't the only ones to leave with prizes. Several raffles were drawn throughout the night giving away video games, memorabilia and even a limited edition gaming console.

"They gave away a Scorpion Tank with all of the game's developers' signatures on it," said Frielpolega. "That was absolutely the coolest thing I've ever seen in a raffle."

Participants in the event enjoyed the scenery and the game play.

"The decorations were very impressive," said Frielpolega. "It reminds me of a hardcore tournament that you would see on TV. This is a good turn in the right direction for morale and the Airmen."

With all the hard work and months of preparation, raising the Airmen's morale was just what Flowers and Harrington had in mind for the event.

"I loved seeing the tournament come together," said Harrington. "Our goal is to get the dorm Airmen with nothing to do out, so they can have fun, and get to know each other better in a safe environment."

The next tournament's details are to be determined, however, Game-Tastic Fest is scheduled to be a quarterly competition.

Flowers' vision is to include other bases in the tournament, and eventually spread Game-Tastic Fest Air Force wide.