Xbox tournament in West Palm Beach draws fervent gamers - Palm Beach Post

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Gary Coronado/Palm Beach Post

Ernst Beliard, 14, left, of West Palm Beach, and Rashard Koonce, 18, right, of Riviera Beach, practice on Madden 2011 before competing in the innaugural Get Your Game On XBOX 360 tournament at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach on Saturday. Tournaments were held in Madden 2011, NBA2K11, Black Ops, Marvel Vs Capcom 3 and Mortal Kombat.

By Cynthia Roldan

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Updated: 5:25 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011

Posted: 5:15 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011

WEST PALM BEACH — Allen Menegee says Spider-Man is his favorite hero, which is why he picked him to be part of his fighting team during the first Xbox tournament held in West Palm Beach on Saturday.

The six-year-old first grader was a participant in the Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 video game round . It was his first time playing the game, but he made it through all of the rounds against the computer and even beat the final game boss - Galactus.

Though he had a few rough rounds and retreated to exchange his three characters, rarely did he swap out Spider-Man.

"I like his costume," Allen said, referring to a black and green variant that was used during a story arc in December. The Hulk and Deadpool were his two other favorites.

His mother, 29-year-old Daysi, of West Palm Beach, said the Menegees are a "gaming family." She said Allen and his father, 30-year-old Chris, often play NBA2k11 together. Chris was participating in the tournament as well, in the NBA2k11 gaming round .

The tournament was held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center as a fundraiser for Our Fathers Project, a West Palm Beach non-profit organization that encourages single fathers to spend time with their children.

With the funds raised on Saturday, co-founder Clarence Brewton hopes to take 30 fathers and two of their children to celebrate "A Day with Dad at Disney" during the summer of 2012.

Brewton, 34, said the organization chose to host a gaming tournament because it was something "out of the box," something both gaming adults and children would like.

NBA2K11 participant Michael Karpinski, of Lake Worth, said his chances for winning looked "good so far," as he waited for his next challenger.

The 18-year-old Park Vista Community High School student said that he's been playing the game for about five or six months, and often plays it with his friends at home.

The team he chooses to play with: The Denver Nuggets.

"They are the best all-around team and I like their jerseys" Karpinski said. "You gotta look fresh when you win."