Photos: Wiimbledon 2009 Look Book

The first annual Wiimbledon Wii Tennis championship was one of the very first NYC geek events Geekanerd ever covered; you may remember how co-editor Albo famously placed second in the inaugural tournament. It seems like only yesterday!

Wiimbledon is now in it's third year, and while Team Geekanerd was sadly absent in the field of play, I swung by anyway (get it, swung?) to grab some pictures of the competitors. True to it's Brooklyn Hipster-Nerd roots, Wiimbledon has always been as much an excuse to put together an awesome Tennis outfit as it is about playing imaginary wrist-tennis.





Check out our full gallery Geekanerd's Flickr.

Video: 2008 Wiimbledon Wii Tennis Tournament

The final serves have been smashed and the final beers have been consumed and after a long hard day of Wiimbledoning we lonely bloggers are back at home licking our wounds and kicking back with a few cilona-extract death sticks. This year's event was great fun. All our old pals from last year were back, but also present was a whole bunch of new blood that absolutely stomped us old-timers into the ground. I don't think a single person in the final eight played in the tournament last year. Last year's champion Russ Yagoda was eliminated in his very first match by John, and Benjamin Melinger, the winner of the Lexus Wii Tennis Virtual Open champion, was defeated in his first match by John's roommate Steve (who also later beat me). So I guess my point is, today was a total shakedown wherein previous titles meant nothing and some real superstars were playing the best Wii Tennis this chump has ever seen.

The top prizes were some sweet bowling-style Wii carrying bags stuffed with games (ooh, how I wanted one!), and there was a big pile of rackets and headbands and shoes and stuff from Prince that were handed out as well. AHR snagged some sweet tennis kicks for being in the right place at the right time with the right sized feet.

Continuing a theme from last year, much of the floor space was taken up by video teams from various media outlets. C|Net, Rocketboom, Jace Hall, Internet Week, Bush League and a bunch more I never identified all had people there to capture the showdown of hipsters and geekanerds. No square media like last year, but that was probably for the best as it felt like a more intimate Brooklyn hoedown without the stuffed shirts prancing around.

Anyway, it was a helluva way to spend a 95-degree Saturday. Props must be given to Lane Buschel and Steve Bryant, the kind gentlemen who made it all happen for no better reason than "why the hell not?". They sure know how to throw a party.

Related: Our photo post.

Photos: Second Annual Wiimbledon Wii Tennis Tournament

Today, the G'nerd crew spent seven and a half hours at Barcade in Brooklyn, watching and participating in the 2nd Annual Wiimbledon tournament. No, we didn't win, though we did drink beer for free. The fro-picking fellow in the above photo is Dylan Romero, who ultimately walked away with the title of 2008 Wiimbledon Tennis Champ. A full write-up and video highlights are on their way, but for now check out our photos on Flickr by clicking the above photo.

UPDATE: Here's the video. I hope you like exciting sports movies.

More Wiimbledon 2008 Details Emerge

Those of you who truly think you can BRING IT in Wii Tennis, the game of games, the true test of virtual prowess: take note. The Wiimbledon guys shocked the world (of New York gamers) when they announced they'd be taking the show on the road this year, traveling cross country in a Wiinebago and bringing the tourney to San Francisco. Lest ye be weeping due to fears you'll be left out as a Yorker, hear ye:

There will be a New York tourney at Barcade on Saturday, June 7. The winner will get a pair of roundtrip plane tickets to San Fran to compete in the big event on June 21. No word yet on what 2nd Place will get. I'm looking forward to that announcement, because that shit will be mine.

Check out our past Wiimbledon coverage, and stay tuned here for all the Wiimbledon info you can handle, or join their mailing list at their website.

UPDATE: Wiimbledon 2008 has happened! Check out our writeup, video and photos here!

Road Side Service: Wii Tennis Tournie Takes To The Road

2007 saw the birth of Wiimbledon, a Wii Tennis tournament held at Brooklyn's favorite video game themed bar, Barcade. The event was a huge hit amongst both participants and media outlets, with everyone from ABC News to us showing up with microphones in hand. Geekanerd editor Albo had the distinction of actually playing his way to the finals, that's the final round of competition, people, though he ultimately lost out to no less than Luigi himself. Seems a little suspect to me that employees of Nintendo, much less Nintendo characters, were even allowed to participate in the first place, but what's done is done.*

This year, Wiimbledon is spreading the Wii Tennis love across the country with a nationwide Wiinebago tour, culminating in the 2nd Annual Wiimbledon Tournament on June 21st, to be held in San Francisco. Given the NorCal location, I imagine a lot of serious software types will be in attendance so I'd advise any potential contenders to approach there technique from a highly technical, code-centric standpoint.

Check out the official website to get on the mailing list, so you can know when the tour is coming to your town and even more importantly, when sign-ups start; last year, the registration rush crashed Wiimbledon's servers, leading to several horribly tense hours where the Gnred crew thought they'd missed the deadline. And for a look at last year's festivites, check out our extensive coverage.

*I lost in my first elimination round, 2/1. But my opponent did make it to the semi-finals, soo...there's that.

Photos: The Wii Tennis Virtual Open Has Crowned Their Champion

It all came down to these two gentlemen today at the Wii Tennis Virtual Open - Benjamin "Smelonzhay" Melinger (left), a player who had initially signed up for the tournament by chance while visiting a friend at Rockefeller Center, and Peter Reyes (right), who after winning his semi-final match, attempted to job-search the crowd by asking "Are there any principals here? I'm a fully qualified Special Ed Teacher!"

The final match was intense, and was decided only after several deuces. Hit that jump for total coverage and to see who won tickets to the Men's Final of the US Open and a 1-Year Lease on a Lexus IS F...

Melinger takes the gold! Ah, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Don't feel too sorry for Peter, whose smile never wavered throughout the heat of battle. He won tickets to the US Open Semi-Finals, although he admitted, "The car would have been nice." You said it, brother!

As corporate PR events go, this was a pretty sweet setup. The playing field was reportedly a scaled down replica of the actual US Open Tennis Court. Some fair sized crowds formed around the event, although the miniature stands on either side of the court never quite filled to capacity.


Upon first glance, it looked like the players might actually compete on separate sides of the court, but sadly game technology has not yet reached that level of realism - both players in a match faced the same screen, as per the usual.

Color commentary was provided by former professional tennis player Luke Jensen. At first he seemed to be a bit at a loss on how seriously to take the proceedings, but by the time the final four matches rolled around, he seemed comfortable using Wii tennis terms such as "fire serve" and "unreturnable return". In the above photo, Jensen confers with Nintendo's touring Wii Tennis Pro, El Diablo (not there to formally compete, just to showboat).



"How did the Virtual Open compare to Wiimbledon?", loyal G-Nerd fans may be asking. The biggest difference I could see, other than the considerable bankroll behind the Lexus-Sponsored Open, was the pageantry of Wiimbledon versus the more business casual attitude of the Open. No bear costumes or country club attire here. And no, the Rockefeller Center Guard uniform doesn't count as a costume.

It should be noted, however, that grand prize winner Melinger was wearing appropriate tennis attire, which may have given him just the edge he needed.


Here's a handful of other photos from the event, if you just can't get enough.

I still believe Albo could have won this car...

A rare example of physical enthusiasm

Fan Favorite Peter Reyes wins his semi-final match

Dude just won a car - you can't "fault" him for being excited (*dodges brick*)

And finally, what's a PR stunt without a wacky photo op?

Related: Geekanerd's Coverage of The Virtual Open
Geekanerd's Coverage of Wiimbledon (including video)

Today in Rockefeller Center: The Virtual Open Finals

For the past two days in Rockefeller Center, the Lexus Sponsored Wii Tennis "Virtual Open" has been bringing out the Tri-State gamers with dreams of victory, a sort of nerd doppelganger of the US Open. I'll be checking out the championship match later today, expect analysis and hot pics this evening.

Unlike the excellent and independently produced Wiimbledon, The Virtual Open Finals have not been decided by simple bracket competition, but by a qualifying round where you play the "Returning Balls" mini-game. WHAT?! If I had known that, I woulda gone! I can return serves till the wiimote runs out of batteries, it's that goddamn SERVE that eludes me. But enough about my personal failures.

Geekanerd is admittedly a bit biased against this very corporate event, since we all had such a "ball" at Wiimbledon. It's worth mentioning that the Wiimbledon Champion, Russ Yagoda AKA Luigi, seems to be absent from the Virtual Open finalist board. But the real tragedy is that Geekanerd's own Wii Tennis Prodigy Albo (1st Runner Up at Wiimbledon) was unable to compete, due to a top secret training exercise in the swampland of the southern United States. The unfortunate timing of this excursion has cost the Geekanerd crew our chance at winning an Lexus IS F (what's that? - Ed.) which we would have tricked out to look like the Batmobile. So you'll forgive us if our coverage of this event seems reserved. I already had the decals all ready to go.

Related: Geekanerd's Coverage of The Virtual Open
Geekanerd's Coverage of Wiimbledon (including video)

Play Wii Tennis for a Lexus!

Now I don't know if you're aware, but I'm something of a Wii Tennis demi-champ, which is why I'm very sad the Lexus Virtual Open is going down while I'm out of town. The winner of this three day tournament will walk away with a one-year lease on a Lexus and Luxury Suite tickets for the US Open finals. I'm not sure if the one-year lease is that great of a win (gas is expensive, parking in NYC is expensive, you don't need a car in NYC, you don't own the car so you can't sell it, etc etc) but it's still worth a shot for anybody that is any good at all in Wii Tennis.

Read the full statement from Lexus after the jump.

Lexus brings Virtual Open to Rockefeller Center New Yorkers can participate in ultimate tennis experience for chance to win a one-year lease on a new Lexus IS F NEW YORK --As the world's professional tennis players vie for greatness at the US Open, New Yorkers will have the opportunity to share the experience at the Lexus Virtual Open at Rockefeller Center during the second week of the tournament. Participants can compete on a scaled down version of a tennis court for the chance to win a one-year lease on a new Lexus IS F and tickets to the US Open finals.

Tennis and gaming enthusiasts will take to the virtual courts at Rockefeller Center, in the heart of New York City, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sept. 4-6. Professional tennis player and ESPN on-court analyst Luke Jensen will instruct participants and provide commentary as they compete on Nintendo's Wii console. For each serve hit during the virtual tournament, Lexus will donate $1 to the Andy Roddick Foundation (up to $30,000).

"As a sponsor of the US Open we created this event to bring the excitement of Flushing Meadows to Manhattan," said Steve Jett, Lexus national marketing communications manager. "There's nothing like the thrill of competing in the US Open, and while tennis enthusiasts may never experience the roar of the crowd and feel the courts beneath their feet, the Lexus Virtual Open at Rockefeller Center gives them the opportunity to get a taste of it--and win a one-year lease on a new IS F performance sedan, the same vehicle Lexus is awarding to the Men's Singles Champion."

The top two scorers will compete on Sept. 6 for the chance to win the grand prize, a one- year lease on a Lexus IS F and two tickets to watch the US Open finals in the Lexus Luxury Suite on Sunday, Sept. 9. The runner up will receive two tickets to watch the US Open semi-finals on Sept. 8 in the Lexus Luxury Suite.
The event is open to the public. For more information about the Lexus Virtual Open at Rockefeller Center, participants can log on to myownpursuit.com.

Via Kotaku.

Weekanerd: Pianos, Poltergeists and Product Placements in Disguise

MONDAY, JULY 2

• Transformers Premiere
• Anytime, anywhere

The latest in essential geek cinema. Waiting till next week is for posers.

• Wii Tennis at Pianos
  
• 9pm, Pianos, 158 Ludlow at Stanton, FREE
  

If you are bummed you missed Wiimbledon a couple weekends back, now's your chance to get in on the Beer and Wii Tennis Social Club.

TUESDAY, JULY 3

• Guitar Hero: Blood Sport Edition at Pianos
  
• 10pm, Pianos, 158 Ludlow at Stanton, $8
  

It's back to Pianos again tonight for an amped up edition of their weekly Guitar Hero Party. This one's gonna set you back eight clams, but it appears to be a competition based on the name. I'm trying to get word from the venue if we can expect prizes of any kind.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4

• Independence Day Sale at Jim Hanley's Universe
  
• Hours: 8:30am-11pm, 4 W. 33rd St, NYC, alternate location on Staten Island, sale runs Mon-Wed.
  

Get yer new books at a significant discount in honor of the 11th Anniversary of Independence Day.

THURSDAY, JULY 5

• Ghostbusters at Landmark Sunshine Cinemas
  
• Midnight, 141-143 Houston Street, NYC
  

There's something strange in the neighborhood.