CULLMAN, Ala. – The air was rife with competitive edge as players of all ages settled in for a long night at Gamer Geeks on Saturday, Sept. 23. In every corner of the store you could hear the ticking of plastic card holders as players nervously made last-minute adjustments to their decks, braggingly shared their rare holographic cards and chatted with friends they hadn’t seen in a month. With a full-scale Pokémon tournament ahead of them, every player wanted to bring home the bragging rights of being the very best, like no one ever was.
While some may not have seen a Pokémon card in person since the late 90s, Dalton Crigger, tournament organizer who is nearly finished with his Pokémon Professor certification, noted the store stays packed on tournament nights, with many spectators reduced to standing room only. With a buy-in of only $10, a guaranteed booster pack even if you lose and a growing sense of community, it’s not hard to see why this nostalgic card game is making a comeback.
Crigger laughed that he is “Here every week!” at Gamer Geeks, saying that while of course, they are the premier destination for all those rare and collectible cards, they’ve also done a great job at fostering a genuine, inclusive community that showcases the positive and communal side of gaming, erasing the parody view that many have of gamers screaming into a headset or rage quitting.
Crigger said Colt Freeman, Pokémon Professor of the original Gamer Geeks location in Warrior, has been a huge asset in getting these tournaments up and rolling in Cullman.
“I can really thank Freeman, who is the professor at the Warrior location,” he said. “They’re a great community; they’re always very inclusive. Anyone can play, come out and have a good time.”
Besides the sense of community, players learn valuable real-world skills. Pokémon requires both critical and analytical thinking and provides players an opportunity to deal with complex situations by flexing their problem-solving skills. The game is fast-paced, keeping players engaged and entertained – all without a screen in front of them. Quite a feat for this digital age.
“I mean, a lot of it is for the kids. Their whole focus is just building community. They’re not in it for profit by any means!” said Crigger, who said the store even hosts holiday events for its regulars, some who may not have anywhere else to go or anyone else to celebrate with on holidays.
Crigger said that for anyone who wants to learn, but may be hesitant in a competitive setting, he’s usually up at the shop every Monday around 6 p.m., and is happy to help potential players understand the game in a more casual atmosphere.
“Any kids that want to learn to play, I’m here to teach them,” smiled Crigger.
Results of the tournament:
Kids’ Division
First place: Gage Johnson
Second place: Tytus Stracener
Third place: Makenna Cancino
Adult Division
First place: Preston Burgett
Second place: Douglas Wyres
Third place: Jacob Atchley
Gamer Geeks is located at 2046 St. Joseph Dr. NW, Ste. E. Find out more at www.facebook.com/GamerGeeksCullman.
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