High school Halo 2 tournament quashed by school officials
by Tony Carnevale 
{ Apr 2nd 2007 at 10:06AM }
The Ann Arbor News reported this weekend about a high school junior's plans for a school-sanctioned Halo 2 tournament, which was canceled after local police got wind of it. Zach Wigal had hacked through a jungle of bureaucracy for nine months while planning the tournament, spending $650 of his own cash on a permit, printing 2,500 fliers, and clearing the idea with school officials.Four days before the event, Wigal's dad made a courtesy call to the cops, letting them know than an estimated 300 gamers were about to descend on the high school commons, suggesting that the officer might want to attend for security reasons. That set off a chain reaction of concerned phone calls that ended up with the school officials rescinding their permission for the tournament, ostensibly because "kids 17 and under playing an M-rated game for money is not something appropriate for the high school." A reasonable decision, but one that they were perfectly capable of making, oh, nine months ago.
Zach Wigal had better hope he gets that $650 back.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Bluebreaker @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:12AM
Failure to communicate. Very classy.
And after all of this the guy is probably really mad at his dad for all of this which would be not fair but I could see happening. I got mad at my parents for lesser stuff than this and I didn't lose $650 over it.
Will @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:19AM
get his money back!? ha! you've clearly never dealt city gov't.
Matt @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:31AM
Shoulda went with smash brothers...or some non-overrated game.
sheppy @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:21AM
Hmm, can't help but think this is reactionary bullshit.
"Holy crap! 300 teenagers driven into killing frenzies by heated competition from those murder simulators?!? Why, I bet the infernos of their ensuing riot is quite certain to reach the whorehouse and Krispy Kreme. This cannot happen, quick... to the PorkMobile!"
Seriously though. Tournaments are not uncommon. Likewise, prize moneys given to top winners in such activities is not overly uncommon either. And if the kids are in the tourney, the parents know about it. It's simply reactionary bullshit that COULD have been prevented if the father wasn't trying to do the right thing and let police know how many would be attending.
LaughingTarget @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:22AM
He's not getting his cash back. They'll come up with some claim that they weren't properly informed 9 months ago that Halo 2 is an M rated game.
Duncan @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:24AM
Could they not just have had parental permission forms? It isn't like it is illegal to play an M rated game if you are under 17.
Zento @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:30AM
Wow, gotta love people with power forcing their own opinions down on smaller people.
To post 1, the kid did everything he could to communicate what he was doing, what with getting the permit, putting out flyers and ads in the school newspaper, and sitting down and talking with school officials about it. I woudn't blame the father either, he was just looking out for all the young participants because, as experience has taught some of us, you're bound to get a few bad apples at one of those things.
But I do give props to the kid for putting everything together. Kudos to you, Sir Wigal.
jay @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:33AM
Should have had a Smash Bros Melee 64 player tourney instead.
CAL_GORE @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:35AM
Worst. Dad. Ever.
Tim UF @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:39AM
Yea, just get participants to provide permission slips signed by their legal guardians.
And pull the stick out of your ass. The kid went the legit way to get the thing organised. Its not his fault whoever pushed the paper didnt read the fine print.
Kaemon @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:40AM
Ah, I see... so its perfectly fine for retarded liberal english teachers to show rated R movies in the classroom, but we can't play a game? Huh, this makes perfect sense.
Dave @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:40AM
I'm sure the kid's dad feels bad enough. He was only trying to do the right thing. Of course, it would have helped if he'd tried to do the right thing before his kid spent $650. The guy's only human, though. I'm sure he wishes he hadn't called.
Akseladden @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:42AM
The dad did nothing wrong. It was the other concerned parents after that.
DeltaOps101 @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:51AM
Hey, that's my school!
It's sad really, because he spent all of his time and money doing this, just to get shut down by the cops.
GamerG @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:59AM
"Land of the free"?
Diskoboy @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:00AM
If I were that kid and his family, I'd be suing everyone in the entire school district. Then the citys police force.
It is not illegal for kids to play an M rated game.
This 'political correctness' bullshit is destroying America.
James S. @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:08AM
Let this be a lesson to everyone here. If you're going to organize a big time tournament, have proceeds go to charity. Let's see them try to shut down that one.
Jonathan Tran @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:07AM
Back in the day we ran:
Starcraft
Marvel v Capcom 2
Tony Hawk
tourneys at my high school for the comp sci team fundraisers. Plus it was a personal fundraiser since my brother won half the time. Honestly though it's not surprising that an FPS tourney gets shut down. Next time just do a Paper Mario tournament or something.
In the meantime the story would make a great inclusion in a college application essay.
Cheesehead @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:15AM
Halo 2 is M rated!! it has hardly any swearing and the violence is against aliens!! wtf?
In the UK halo2 is 16+ hahah
Matt B @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:17AM
I wish it had gone on so I could laugh at the funny stories about kids getting decked because they forgot that the person they just called a noob is in the same room.
Gilgad Drumheller @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:31AM
Yea, the issue is not surprising. In high school we were officially not allowed to play halo in the gaming club, for the same reason.
However, you would think that that decision rested with the school, not the police. Pity, but good idea on the parental permission slips.
Alejandro @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:31AM
He should just hold the tournament anyways, just at a different location. With 4 days notice it shouldn't be too hard to find a different locale, it would just be a real big hassle. He still had the permit to hold the tournament just hold it somewhere other than school.
Defenestrator2.0 @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:33AM
So it's all right to invade a country that doesn't have WMDs in order to "protect" ours, but it's not all right to kill aliens in order to protect Earth?
Phil @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:37AM
18. Halo 2 is M rated!! it has hardly any swearing and the violence is against aliens!! wtf?
In the UK halo2 is 16+ hahah
Posted at 11:15AM on Apr 2nd 2007 by Cheesehead
When you play multiplayer it is not agaisnt aliens. In the UK and the States R or M or 16+ is all the same thing. Only difference is the UK says you have to be 16 and the states say 17.
Oh yeah, and Joystiq and everyone else, the only person who should or could give the kid his money back is his Dad. What, do you want the permitting agency to give the money back for going thru the process of getting a permit? Or how about the print shop gives the money back for the fliers they printed? Both because the event couldn't take place? Do any of you do anything besides play videogames? Seriously, that is NOT how the world works. Who would then pay the government or the printshop for the money THEY spent? They did their job and deserve to get paid.
The school, on the other hand, should just be flat out SUED for making this delayed decision. And you can sue them for well over $650. I mean how much TIME did the kid spend to do this?
Jake @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:46AM
Oh, the tournament's off. I guess we'll have to buy some booze and go smoke drugs and have unprotected sex tonight instead.
GoonieGooGoo @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:53AM
@21
Wow.....how can you even compare those 2???
Super Smash Bros....IMO....one of the MOST overrated games of all time.
Let's fall off the ledge....again.....
Let's hit a button 1x and see 3000 moves occur...
C'mon...let's be honest....Smash Bros. extremely basic controls were designed with kids and party gamers in mind....and boy does it show.
My favorite line of people playing SSB...."How did I do that? I didn't even touch anything...."
Christopher7xii @ Apr 2nd 2007 12:13PM
Yeah... So volunteering to participate in this is wrong because the game is rated "M", for animated violence (no gore)... Yet my high school canceled two hours of class to show everyone a PG-13 rated movie back in the day. Very... classy.
On the topic... Why is violence in movies only worth of a PG-13, (or PG if it's animated), yet in games you get a 17+? Don't give me that "you play the one doing the violence" crap either, because movies are made for you to identify and relate(become, or think "that could be me") with the main character... Then it's depicted with real people, instead of incredibly fake looking characters.
What was Lord of the Rings rated? PG-13? That has drug use (the hobbit's pipe weed), alcohol use, plenty of violence, scary visuals, magic (witchcraft) to name a few things. How does that compare to Halo 2?
Very strange...
hvnlysoldr @ Apr 2nd 2007 12:22PM
@26 I have to do what now? I have to aim with my right thumb? But that's my button masher! I still have to move with my left thumb? What if I get the two confused? What if I can't adjust my right thumb as well as my left and completely miss every time? I have to hit trigger to shoot? There's two triggers? I can hold two guns? How do I reload? NO, I didn't want to switch guns. The sniper rifle isn't zooming in. The sword can't hit that guy way over there. Every time I manage to get a vehicle I can't drive it and then I either get jacked or fragged. I fell off the edge. Why is the respawn so much longer? I can't find any weapons. I got freaking sniped again. I just got respawned and a camper kills me again.
Rob Holiday @ Apr 2nd 2007 12:25PM
Something needs to be done with these ESRB ratings. How can Halo 2 get the same rating as GTA or Saints Row??? This is ridiculous! Halo 2 should be at least 14 and older.
Slaziman @ Apr 2nd 2007 12:30PM
LAME!
umm...hello?? @ Apr 2nd 2007 12:53PM
@24
the school didn't make a delayed decision. they CHANGED their decision based on some stupid parental watchgroup and the township's public safety coordinator, which was brought to their attention AFTER the original decision was made.
I love the way society thinks nowadays...if it doesn't go YOUR way, it must be wrong and you should automatically just SUE someone else.
@27
because the movie industry ratings (MPAA) are a different company than the video game ratings (ESRB). also, movies have been around a LOT longer so the ratings are a lot less controversial (although you only have to go back about 10-15 years for a HUGE difference in ratings.
basically, everything that is PG-13 nowadays would be rated R back when I was growing up, and the ONLY difference between PG-13/R in most movies is nudity...although the MPAA also has a limit on the number of times you can use certain words before it goes from a PG-13 movie to R rating...
Shockgamer @ Apr 2nd 2007 1:17PM
Play Smash Brothers? You think a bunch of people getting ready to play a game like Halo 2 would accept having to play a dumbed down fighting game because it's "family friendly"?
"Sorry guys, the police said we can't play Gears. Hope you got your DSes, it's Pikachu time!!"
Vegan @ Apr 2nd 2007 1:30PM
Wow, Dad sounds like a Certified Dick. If I had a son that managed to organized a 300-person event in Jr. High, I'd be proud as hell.
t_m @ Apr 2nd 2007 1:42PM
if the school was properly informed, but then changed it's decision at the last minute then THEY shouldbe the ones liable for any lost expenses.
dave @ Apr 2nd 2007 5:50PM
to those making comments that it was the dads fault....get a life.... the dad did nothing wrong and I'm sure he spoke the son before he made the call, could you imagine 300+ people in one location and no police involvement!! I could only imagine what would be "said" if the there was an issue and no cops were around..
then half of the assholes here would say "why didn't they inform the police"
Jake @ Apr 2nd 2007 1:49PM
Game ratings are higher because games are more controversial. Less politicians and adult voters understand games. If you don't understand something, it is easy and enjoyable to hate it. In 30 years, games will probably be as acceptable as any other form of media.
Right now, though, many consider games to be murder training simulators. Because a game can teach you shooting someone in the head makes them die better than in the leg, we need to fear them. They also teach you that it is wasteful to use a BFG round on a common Imp. Save it for a flying skull demon. If the Columbine killers didn't know the BFG rule they wouldn't have been able to acquire illegal firearms and assault their school. Right guys?
SuicideNInja @ Apr 2nd 2007 1:49PM
If they don't meet the age of the game's rating, then they shouldn't be playing it. Forget the violence, it's "mature" rated since we don't want to play with kids. Halo and kids don't mix. :)
It's crap it took them that long to have a problem with it though.
benjamin @ Apr 2nd 2007 2:16PM
@#33: "Wow, Dad sounds like a Certified Dick."
Are you serious, man? It *sounds* like his Dad was trying to do the right thing and be helpful, I really doubt he expected the police to do anything other than brushing him off and saying "Yeah, yeah, do whatever you want..."
I really doubt he expected them to go all Nanny State on him.
If you're going to blame someone, blame the reactionary parental group, not the poor dad.
Roger @ Apr 2nd 2007 2:40PM
wow this is almost like what happened to my school when we were gonna raise money for katrina victims. a halo 2 tournament with prizes and all procieds going toword HK victims but NOOOOOOOOO; our "great" principle said that we were doing a read-a-thon! what a retarded way to make money. not only that but i found out the priciple kept the money to by a engagement ring for the teacher he was banging behind his wifes back!
Lordthanda @ Apr 2nd 2007 2:42PM
Ok, you guys (basically everyone who posted above me) needs to do a bit more research. There is a far better article from the Saline Reporter (the city that this happened in was Saline) http://www.salinereporter.com/stories/032907/loc_20070329001.shtml
and young Mr. Wigal maintains a myspace page that has the actual details of the tournament and why it was canceled.
Short responses:
It's not his dad's fault, the two of them had discussed safety and agreed that it would be beneficial to notify the department of public safety.
The school, while having no obligation, IS compensating him for the money spent.
zwarren69 @ Apr 2nd 2007 2:53PM
Everyday... this politically correct bullshit keeps weeding it way in...
Push for Creationism...
Heavy Metal/Rap kills people...
Video Games kill people...
Gun Companies kill people....
Don't teach Holocaust(I'm talking to you Brits)...
Don't teach the Crusades(Brits, again)...
It seems society and its judical laws and rulings are sayin this:
1. You have a right to not be offended.
2. What your children do, is not your fault.
3. You have a right to distort the truth, if it is something you don't want to hear. (See rule 1)
4. Do not think rule 2 means people can tell your fucking kid what to do, you can sue them for that.
5. If people don't do what you want, sue them. You will win, if you word your argument correctly.
I feel bad for the kid. The majority of this country doesn't know a damn thing about games. They are not clinical psychologists. They are not doctors. They do not know a damn thing about what really causes violence. But who needs evidence, anymore? You can just make it all up. Who cites? Who checks? So games kill people, thats exactly what they are designed for. Heavy Metal warps your brain functions, and causes actions society deems not normal. Guns and their makers are possessed by demons, which kill for pleasure. Hell, I can become a writer for New York Daily Times!
-Zach
k0llateral @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:32PM
@ 25. (Jake)
Great point.
These are high schoolers we're talking about. There are so many things they would probably be doing anyway that are worse ways to spend time
Nicolas Redfern @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:33PM
@40 Creationism is not politically correct (or correct in any other way), at least us Brits know that much.
zwarren69 @ Apr 2nd 2007 4:55PM
@42
Yea, man I know. America is much more PC than you guys. I was so shocked to see that teachers and schools, over there, are debating whether the Holocaust and Crusades should be taught... because people don't believe they happened. Some people think the Holocaust didn't happen, wow! And Muslims don't think the Crusades happened or happened the way people teach. Well, if these things didn't happen, I think these groups should prove it. If they can prove an epic conflict and 9 to 11 million dead bodies are all fairy tales, then I will be on their side.
AssemblyLineHuman @ Apr 2nd 2007 5:06PM
Cheesehead: "Halo 2 is M rated!! it has hardly any swearing and the violence is against aliens!! wtf?
In the UK halo2 is 16+ hahah"
You have to be 16 or older to buy it in the UK?
In the USA anyone can legally buy Halo 2 because we have free speech. hahah
Mr Khan @ Apr 2nd 2007 5:06PM
First off, i applaud this kid for actually putting some effort into something he believes in, shows some hope for my generation, that's for sure. And no, i don't think he'll get his money back (damn beareaucrats)
I believe the people who suggested Smash Bros weren't suggesting it was a better game, just bringing it in as an E-rated alternative (even though melee was for some wierd reason T-rated)
But while the pandora's box is open...
If anyone here claims melee isn't a hardcore game, then you're clearly one of those people who think that if it doesn't involve realistic violence, it isn't hardcore. That game has difficulty modes that are easily as intense as the more intense difficulties of Halo/2
Smash Bros is NOT a dumbed-down fighting game, just different. In most fighting games, excellent combos will insure your victory (less strategy, more coordinational skill), and your goal is to do X amount of damage. In Smash Bros the key to victory is persistence (more strategy, less coordination skill), you have to use many different tactics to keep your opponent flying, so you don't need to know all the best combos, but you do need to constantly re-adjust your strategy
end rant
Au @ Apr 2nd 2007 5:11PM
SSBM is awesome, anyone thinking otherwise is a pretentious f4g.
Joe @ Apr 2nd 2007 5:32PM
At my school, in the past year, we've played Dead or Alive 4, Halo 2, and a few other M-rated games. Of course, if the school gestapos had known, we'd be f*(%3d.
Vince @ Apr 2nd 2007 5:18PM
LOL @ people bashing SSBM. You guys really have no idea.
GoonieGooGoo @ Apr 2nd 2007 5:39PM
We aren't bashing SSBM.....it is a good game.....but to compare SSBM vs. HALO in "overrated-ness"....
Well....That's the pot calling the kettle black.....or in an Nintend-anology...
A Pikachu with Red hat calling A Pikachu with a Wizard Hat...the color Yellow.