Gamespot: There is no stable, broad platform - "If professional competitive gaming is going to grow and attempt to capture a wider audience of spectators, it has to move away from Quake-only tournaments and allow more games into the field" - Jennifer Ho Features Editor. "One of the inherent problems with professional gaming is that specific games must be used for competition: These games aren't getting any newer with the passage of time, and other games are constantly being released" - Andrew Park Associate Editor.

CHWD: These are well-known obstacles to the growth of pro gaming, but I feel they get overstated here. In order to get a wider audience you could broaden the gaming appeal to other games, but this can equally well dilute the heat. It's a balancing act and we know it's why the CPL is expanding into counterstrike very carefully, but also the fundamental "Quake genre" is critical because it is where the real action and skill is, no doubt about it. Whether or not the future DOOM will be viable, and whether the current crop of top players can migrate to it are genuine questions for the transition to future platforms, but we already have players who started with the old DOOM. The crop of competitive players is continually growing, despite changes from Quakes 1 2 and 3. Players have shown they can be flexible. So there are two issues here - one is expanding the market size by taking on counterstrike etc, and the other is how to keep growing the FPS set despite the transition to new platforms. Neither are obstacles that are insurmountable, if managed well. However, neither will in themselves generate the sort of revenue required to make pro gaming viable at the level Gamespot is talking about. For that you need the holy grail.

"At best, professional gaming will be a niche industry with a very small but devoted roster of regular players. Very few people are inclined to watch games; fewer still are inclined to participate in professional play; and even fewer still are good enough to win their living at it. Without a larger fan base, professional gaming won't be able to attract promoters. And without promoters, there will be no prizes and no money, and thus less incentive for gamers to participate in an already shaky industry. Sorry gamers, but you'll have to find real jobs, because games are meant to be played for fun, not for money".

Gamers.com: Thresh, are you ever going to enter competition again?

Thresh: Uh… (pauses)

Makaveli: He's scared of Makaveli.

(Everyone laughs.)

Thresh: (to Makaveli) No, I don't think so. I think you need to be reminded of who taught you, dude. (Smiles)

In the other matches, Emplate from Canada defeated =I.D=Apple from China while Trinidy from Sweden defeated Python from Australia. It looks like that the Swedish still have a chance to grab the title that is if Trinidy manage to beat Zero4 who defeated ZyZ from Germany.Well it looks like the battle of the titans.

Anyway in the loser's bracket all is not lost for Lakerman. I mentioned earlier that he had to meet Stelam. Well looks like he won his match and will be meeting another German which is Stinger who defeated =I.D=Apple from China. Our only Asian hope is Elan who defeated ZyZ from Germany and will be meeting with Python who beat DOomer.

The next matches will around 4.30pm Korean time (uh what time would that be for us?). Another great match to be watched should be Fatality vs Emplate. Who will emerge champion of America? Just can't wait for their demos.

Warzone League
[ 4:39 PM | Mavik | 135 comments ]
Looks like our local quake clan Kraken has a matchup against NBR today at Warzone3 which is located at Section 14 near Metrojaya. Anyway they aren't playing quake but NBR is actually Stryker-X's younger brother's team. Well maybe with abit of luck and some quake skill maybe I might get some frags. Wish me luck but still good luck to everyone who is playing in the league. Anyway this would be my last league match this month until my finals are over. gg SAM finals!

Change Of Plans
[ 4:35 PM | Mavik ]
OK I talked to Keil today and he told me that it would be better that the meeting be held on Saturday night. Well maybe because most of the Backroom and Atomic fellas are there at Warzone2 during that time. Anyway will be at Warzone2 on Sunday afternoon playing an official one on one match with Kopitiam and maybe even La-Vache. Anyway anyone who is interested can come on both Saturday or Sunday. I just want to discuss how the format you all would like to have for the trials to choose the national team. I really need your support so help me out okay? gg Quake 3 Arena!


Wednesday - October 11 2000

1.17 vs 1.25
[ 3:09 PM | Mavik | 8 comments ]
Just came back from Warzone a few mins ago. Again and again I felt that the 1.25 patch has really changed the entire gameplay. No wonder a lot of people are boycotting it. Well for me it just seems that everything is moving slower and strafe jumps seem to be harder to execute. Even all the fancy jumps and shit is getting too hard to execute especially the Q3Tourney4 jump from health to health. But to some it is a blessing. No more bugs (not that I know of) and you can't seem the shoot a fella from underneath anymore. The damage doesn't go through the platform and this makes the tactics for Q3Tourney4 completely useless. Looks like camping at the top will ensure victory unless you rail like a nightmare bot. Still we shall see what the players think. By the way, no more Rocket Arena. =(

Warzone League Updates
[ 3:01 PM | Mavik | 2 comments ]
Looks like Clan SI has beaten Team Omaha(2) 18 to 6 yesterday at Warzone 2 while NBTD trashed TGA 20 to 1 at Warzone 3. Yes it is the third day of the Warzone League which will last for 3 months until December. Today's match up will be Clan TGA vs Clan Ghost at Warzone1, Clan PSU(2) vs Clan WPGS at Warzone2 and Clan [E.I.D] vs PLAM(1) at Warzone3. So far the favourites for the league is NBTD (Nothing Better To Do) and PLAM(Play Like A Man) but things could turn out differently.

WGCC Matches
[ 12:27 PM | Mavik | 4 comments ]
After reading about the sad news that the Singaporeans are out of the game, well there is always a next time. The upcoming matches are to be held tomorow which is the 12th of October and so far many people's predictions about who will reach the quarter-final stage is coming true but anything could just change.

Here are the upcoming matchups in the winners bracket,
LakermaN(Swe) VS Fatal1ty(US)
=I.D=Apple(Chn) VS Emplate(Can)
Trinidy(Swe) VS Python(Aus)
Zero4(US) VS ZyZ(Ger)

Upcoming Matches for the Losers Bracket
Silent(UK) VS Slinger(Ger)
s37.Elan(Kor) VS Scoob(Aus)
Giant(Ger) VS DOomer(Swe)
Stelam(Ger) VS LoBsta(Aus)
All these matches will be held on the 12th of October. Head over here to get the demos.