3d Cyber Games get underway

World Cyber Games 2003 kicked off yesterday at Olympic Park in Seoul. Beginning with the opening ceremony, the third annual event will feature computer gaming tournaments, business conferences and exhibitions throughout this week. Some 600,000 gamers from around the world participated in regional competitions to be entitled to test their mettle in South Korea, said Chung Heung-sup of International Cyber Marketing, which organizes the games. About 600 contestants from 55 countries were selected to compete in the finals. They will battle it out for a total purse of $350,000 in prize money in seven categories ― six computer-based games and one video-console game. South Korea, which took team honors at the first two World Cyber Games, fielded a 21-member team. San Francisco will host next year’s event, marking the Cyber Games’ first foray outside of South Korea. by Kim Hyo-jin