Battlefield 3

THE BUZZ: When your family, spouse, or friends tell you that playing video games will never get you anywhere, tell them that EA and Virgin would like to have a word with them.

At EA’s Vegas Game Show today, the companies jointly announced a partnership for an upcoming Battlefield 3 Tournament, one claimed to be “…the largest console videogame competition in gaming history and the biggest cash prize pool ever.”

The tournament will take part via the console versions of Battlefield 3, with players from around the world having the chance to compete online to win $1.6 million (among, we assume, other prizes). While no exact dates have yet been given, the Battlefield 3 Tournament will kick off in early 2012.

EGM’s TAKE: Tournaments like these are usually seen more often on the PC side of gaming, so it’s good to see console players given the chance to get in on the fun and win some cold hard cash. What do you think—any interest in participating in the tournament?