Sometimes, when you least expect it, dreams threaten to become reality.

For the past few years I've been talking to folks around town about how to build a citywide gaming championship.

It has been sort of a dream, sort of a logistical nightmare. But everyone I've talked to thinks it would be just plain cool if we could make it happen.

Then, a few months ago, I met Jason Montoya, head of the National Video Game Association.

His group started in New Mexico and already has spread to six other Western states.

His thoughts: Why think small?

Montoya's idea is to build a national gaming championship in Albuquerque.

So far, there isn't an all-encompassing national gaming championship anywhere.

There are gaming leagues popping up across the country, but so far, none is really dominant.

And with the privatization of E3 - the yearly gaming convention that used to host 65,000 gamers and game companies - there's a whole army of gamers looking for a new venue where they can check out the latest toys and play against each other.

So about a month ago, Montoya asked me to come along as he took his arguments to the city of Albuquerque.

I was somewhat surprised - although maybe I shouldn't have been - that Fred Mondragon, head of the Albuquerque Economic Development Department, took us seriously and is interested in the idea.

So is Terry Yates, vice president of research and economic development at the University of New Mexico, who has agreed to be on National Video Game Association's board.

These are guys who can get things done - and they realize gaming is a growing phenomenon.

Especially as Gen X, the first generation of avid video game players - but certainly not the last - starts to move into its 40s.

After discussions, our little growing band is now investigating what our championship/convention will look like.

We're talking to the Albuquerque Convention Center. We've looked at the space.

We even have a target time for this shindig: Memorial Day weekend 2008.

The dream is to make this a comprehensive, four-day gamers' heaven.

In one hall, we want to have championship PC and console matches going 24/7.

In another, we want 100 or more booths, filled with cool gamer gadgets and new products that will make gamers' eyes pop out.

Then there's the educational component. We plan to have folks from computer gaming programs around the state, and maybe the country, talk to everybody about how to make games and how to get into the industry.

We might even have a homespun video game championship for the best flash game, with scholarship prizes.

What else? We're looking at an old-school arcade room and an anime fest.

This could be an amazing party, right here in Albuquerque - placing us squarely on the map as the city of gamers.

It's a world full of possibilities. And it's good for the city and the state.

Maybe we'll see a boom of new gaming and animation companies sprouting up around the state, dovetailing with our growing film industry.

Get excited. This could be a blast.

I'll keep you all up to date.

Sue Vorenberg wants gamers to one day rule the world.