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CNN Live Today

The Screen Dean

Aired August 18, 2003 - 11:49   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Here's what the shouting is all about, something called the video game industry's Woodstock. The seventh Quakecon tournament revved up this weekend in Dallas. Some 4,000 fans of ID Software's popular video games came to meet online friends in person and compete for a $125,000 purse. Serious money.
So, when all the on-screen explosions were over, John Hill was the Quakecon 2003 champ. Well, John and his father Jim join us now from San Diego this morning, the morning after.

And congratulations, John. John is also known as 04. John04Hill, you are the champ of Quakecon, how do you feel?

JOHN HILL, 2003 QUAKECON CHAMP: I feel great.

HARRIS: $125,000, is that the total purse, or is that your take?

HILL: That was the total purse. I won $20,000.

HARRIS: You made $20,000 playing video games for a weekend. How do you feel about that?

HILL: I feel great. A great three days of work.

HARRIS: You call that work?

Jim, as I understand it you also compete in these games as well, right?

JIM HILL, FATHER OF 2003 QUAKECON CHAMP: Yes. When he was 14 years old, he wanted to go to one of these tournaments, and I played the same games with him, so I said I'm going to enter myself also.

HARRIS: OK, so which one of you is the best then?

JIM HILL: Oh, I'm the best by far, no.

HARRIS: Still trying to keep him down, hum, dad?

JIM HILL: David and Goliath. He wipes me out.

HARRIS: Oh, really?

Yes. But the two of you make money doing this on a regular basis?

JIM HILL: I don't make money. JOHN HILL: yes, I'm the one who makes money.

HARRIS: Oh, John, so you are the one who is actually making money. How much money have you made playing video games?

JOHN HILL: Over the past three and a half years, I have made around $140,000.

HARRIS: You've actually made enough money to live.

JOHN HILL: yes.

HARRIS: So are you? Is this something you plan on going into as a career?

JOHN HILL: It's definitely an option. I plan on going to college next year, attend a university.

HARRIS: Which university?

JOHN HILL: Santa Clara university.

HARRIS: So Santa Clara University is about to get a video game nut, who is actually going to be a very wealthy one showing up there on campus. Are you going to compete while you're in school?

JOHN HILL: I plan to focus on studies first, but if I get a chance, yes, I'll keep up with it.

HARRIS: Explain something to me, because this is totally new to me. I must say, John, I didn't know until this morning it was possible to go out and make money playing games for a living. How do you do that? How do you train for something like that and how do you find out about contests where you can enter and make money?

JOHN HILL: I have just been playing online for around four years. I practice like an hour to two hours a day. And you just start hearing about these tournaments, like the locations, when they are, and then you just attend them, you sign up and attend.

HARRIS: So, dad, you come home from work and you your son there playing whatever game he's playing, and instead of being like most dads out there, saying quit playing games, get out and get a job, or get ready for school or whatever, you say it's OK, fine, keep doing what you're doing, buddy?

JOHN HILL: Well, definitely that's his job. So I don't make him go get a summer job or whatever, but sometimes I have to reel him back for his studies, there is no doubt about that.

HARRIS: Would you recommend this kind of thing for other families, for other kids across the country?

JIM HILL: Absolutely. I think gaming -- there are so many benefits in gaming that it's just unbelievable. It's like you said yourself today, you were not even aware of what's out there and what's going on in the gaming industry. I think the physical, mental benefits of playing games is so superior it's unbelievable.

HARRIS: Are you saying that because this gaming is going to pay for his tuition to Santa Clara?

JIM HILL: I think he is still sticking me with the bill for that. But no, I'm not saying that at all. To compete, these kids learn how to multi task like you and I can't even fathom it. It's eye/hand coordination. Believe me, the benefits are -- you just can't believe how positive it is for their lives.

HARRIS: That's amazing. All right, John, on the way out of here since you are the champ now, you are sitting on top of the pile, if you are looking for some more oncomers, you're looking for challengers, where would you tell kids out there, or parents who want to get into this thing as well who are watching right now, where would you tell them to go look to find out how to get into the next tournament?

JOHN HILL: I would tell them just play online, have fun, and just keep playing.

HARRIS: All right. John, John Hill, aka 04, congratulations on the big win over the weekend. And good luck in college.

And, Jim Hill, thanks to our viewers as well for the time this morning. I sure do appreciate it. You guys sound like a very fun group. Take care.

JIM HILL: Thanks, Leon.

JOHN HILL: Thanks.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired August 18, 2003 - 11:49   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Here's what the shouting is all about, something called the video game industry's Woodstock. The seventh Quakecon tournament revved up this weekend in Dallas. Some 4,000 fans of ID Software's popular video games came to meet online friends in person and compete for a $125,000 purse. Serious money.
So, when all the on-screen explosions were over, John Hill was the Quakecon 2003 champ. Well, John and his father Jim join us now from San Diego this morning, the morning after.

And congratulations, John. John is also known as 04. John04Hill, you are the champ of Quakecon, how do you feel?

JOHN HILL, 2003 QUAKECON CHAMP: I feel great.

HARRIS: $125,000, is that the total purse, or is that your take?

HILL: That was the total purse. I won $20,000.

HARRIS: You made $20,000 playing video games for a weekend. How do you feel about that?

HILL: I feel great. A great three days of work.

HARRIS: You call that work?

Jim, as I understand it you also compete in these games as well, right?

JIM HILL, FATHER OF 2003 QUAKECON CHAMP: Yes. When he was 14 years old, he wanted to go to one of these tournaments, and I played the same games with him, so I said I'm going to enter myself also.

HARRIS: OK, so which one of you is the best then?

JIM HILL: Oh, I'm the best by far, no.

HARRIS: Still trying to keep him down, hum, dad?

JIM HILL: David and Goliath. He wipes me out.

HARRIS: Oh, really?

Yes. But the two of you make money doing this on a regular basis?

JIM HILL: I don't make money. JOHN HILL: yes, I'm the one who makes money.

HARRIS: Oh, John, so you are the one who is actually making money. How much money have you made playing video games?

JOHN HILL: Over the past three and a half years, I have made around $140,000.

HARRIS: You've actually made enough money to live.

JOHN HILL: yes.

HARRIS: So are you? Is this something you plan on going into as a career?

JOHN HILL: It's definitely an option. I plan on going to college next year, attend a university.

HARRIS: Which university?

JOHN HILL: Santa Clara university.

HARRIS: So Santa Clara University is about to get a video game nut, who is actually going to be a very wealthy one showing up there on campus. Are you going to compete while you're in school?

JOHN HILL: I plan to focus on studies first, but if I get a chance, yes, I'll keep up with it.

HARRIS: Explain something to me, because this is totally new to me. I must say, John, I didn't know until this morning it was possible to go out and make money playing games for a living. How do you do that? How do you train for something like that and how do you find out about contests where you can enter and make money?

JOHN HILL: I have just been playing online for around four years. I practice like an hour to two hours a day. And you just start hearing about these tournaments, like the locations, when they are, and then you just attend them, you sign up and attend.

HARRIS: So, dad, you come home from work and you your son there playing whatever game he's playing, and instead of being like most dads out there, saying quit playing games, get out and get a job, or get ready for school or whatever, you say it's OK, fine, keep doing what you're doing, buddy?

JOHN HILL: Well, definitely that's his job. So I don't make him go get a summer job or whatever, but sometimes I have to reel him back for his studies, there is no doubt about that.

HARRIS: Would you recommend this kind of thing for other families, for other kids across the country?

JIM HILL: Absolutely. I think gaming -- there are so many benefits in gaming that it's just unbelievable. It's like you said yourself today, you were not even aware of what's out there and what's going on in the gaming industry. I think the physical, mental benefits of playing games is so superior it's unbelievable.

HARRIS: Are you saying that because this gaming is going to pay for his tuition to Santa Clara?

JIM HILL: I think he is still sticking me with the bill for that. But no, I'm not saying that at all. To compete, these kids learn how to multi task like you and I can't even fathom it. It's eye/hand coordination. Believe me, the benefits are -- you just can't believe how positive it is for their lives.

HARRIS: That's amazing. All right, John, on the way out of here since you are the champ now, you are sitting on top of the pile, if you are looking for some more oncomers, you're looking for challengers, where would you tell kids out there, or parents who want to get into this thing as well who are watching right now, where would you tell them to go look to find out how to get into the next tournament?

JOHN HILL: I would tell them just play online, have fun, and just keep playing.

HARRIS: All right. John, John Hill, aka 04, congratulations on the big win over the weekend. And good luck in college.

And, Jim Hill, thanks to our viewers as well for the time this morning. I sure do appreciate it. You guys sound like a very fun group. Take care.

JIM HILL: Thanks, Leon.

JOHN HILL: Thanks.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com