Video game enthusiasts from Texas and Oklahoma showcased their virtual skills while raising money to strengthen Oklahoma’s gaming community and to send talented players to national events during the second non-profit video game tournament held at OU, the tournament coordinator said.

The Oklahoma Monthlies Tournament featured the fighting games Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Arcana Heart 3, said Forest Sharp, tournament coordinator. The The tournament was held Saturday in the Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Heritage Room, tournament coordinator Forest Sharp, said. The tournament is a non-profit venture, but a $5 entry fee was collected for a community fund to send players to national tournaments.

“The goal of the Monthlies tournaments is to allow a venue for Oklahomans to play fighting games and to improve as players statewide,” Sharp said, “We also want to encourage our experienced players and new players to get more involved.”

The tournaments have created a welcoming environment for gamers, Thomas Vu, zoology and chemistry graduate, said.

“It’s a good chance to meet other people,” Vu said.

Letters senior Kyle Reinholt said he heard of the Monthlies tournaments through the Japanese Animation and Manga Society at OU. Sharp is president of the student organization.

Reinholt said he agreed with Vu that the Monthlies are a good venue for interacting with people who have a common interest.

“It brings a lot of Oklahomans together,” Reinholt said.

Sharp said his plan is to make Oklahoma a gaming state.

“We have a lot of talented players ranked on a national level,” Sharp said. “We have a lot of potential. I really want to see that potential fully realized so that the talent in our state can be recognized nationwide.”

In addition to drawing in gamers of all types, Sharp said that he wants to create exposure for games that people may not have heard of.

“We try to promote new games as they come out,” Sharp said. “We want to expose people to these quality titles, so it’s not only good for the community, it’s good for the [video game industry] as well.”

Despite the goals that Sharp seeks to fulfill, he said the tournaments have a laid-back atmosphere.

“More than anything, we just want everybody to have fun,” Sharp said.

The tournaments are held on the last Saturday of every month in the Heritage Room of the Oklahoma Memorial Union, Sharp said. The doors open between 11 am and 12 pm, and tournament registration begins at 12:30 pm, Sharp said. The next tournament will be June 25th.