Gamers will have a chance to relive the past on Oct. 17 with the fifth annual New York Tecmo Super Bowl Tournament in Astoria.
Break Bar & Billiards will host the tournament, where gamers are expected to gather from across the country to compete in the popular ’90s video game on the original Nintendo system.
Japanese video game company Tecmo released the game in 1991, and it was ranked one of the top 100 video games by gaming publications Electronic Gaming Monthly, IGN and GamesRadar. It was also named the best sports video game of all time on ESPN’s “The Doug Gottlieb Show.”
Each roster has 30 players with 11 defensive players that cannot be substituted or injured, and 17 offensive players. The game incorporates the exact 1991 NFL regular season schedule, the playoff format and the Pro Bowl game.
Tournament organizer Brian Rausse has been a Temco Super Bowl enthusiast for more than 20 years and got the idea to host a tournament after seeing a flyer for a similar tournament at Break Bar & Billiards in 2011.
“Break seemed like the ideal venue to host a tournament, being a sports bar that caters to gaming in any form, whether they be video games or table games like pool and ping-pong,” Rausse said. “It seemed like a natural fit.”
Rausse said the tournament attracts 30 to 40 participants from several states each year.
People with varying skill levels are encouraged to register and the top three finishers will receive cash prizes. The cash prizes have been about $400 split between the top finishers. All participants can participate in raffles throughout the day, which include an ESPN 30 for 30 BluRay box set, a Tecmo Bowl.org T-shirt and a Barry Sanders throw pillow. The top three winners each receive their own New York Tecmo Super Bowl Tournament trophy.
The tournament begins with a round-robin, followed by single-elimination bracket play, and all players are guaranteed at least four games.
Interested participants can either pay $30 cash at the door or register online to receive a 20 percent discount. Those looking to brush up on their skills can attend the practice session at Break & Billiards on Oct. 14 from 6 to 10 p.m.
Break Bar & Billiards is located at 32-04 Broadway. Registration starts at 10 a.m. and the tournament begins at 11 a.m.
