The purpose of Wikipedia is to create an encyclopedia. Period. Everything else is tangential to that. We have been fortunate in seeing that a strong community has emerged as a result of this common goal, but that is precisely the point. The community emerged because a bunch of people around the world are trying to create something together. People who are not interested in that goal have all the rights in the world not to be involved in it.
Nevertheless, we have recently seen quite a bit of game-playing on Wikipedia. If it is not stopped now, it will continue to grow. We already have chess, checkers, hangman, N degrees of separation, and I am sure that there will be more to come.
Not only does this clog up an already overburdened Recent Changes page. It is an insult to the many people who have given of their time and money so that Wikipedia can become the world's greatest encyclopedia. It detracts from the serious nature of the project, and has the potential to turn it into yet another gaming site. As for referring to the people who oppose these games and tournaments as "killjoys," this is a very upsetting ad hominem attack. In essence it means that the people who keep Wikipedia's goals in mind are "killjoys." I hardly see how that helps Wikipedia.
Jimbo has offered a place on Wikicities for people to play. He has even suggested on mIRC that it might be ad-free. I hope that these games are moved their immediately. I am still astounded that this is even a matter for a vote.
Danny