Games
Fan Expo 2007: The Gaming Scene
By Eli Green
August 30, 2007 - 15:30
|
Major League Gaming Canada |
It
is amazing what kind of changes can happen in just one year's time.
Compared to last year's meager showing of games at Fan Expo 2006,
this year's showing of three major video gaming tournament leagues
under one roof, added to the regular gaming exhibitors like G4 Tech
TV and Dork Army, was a mega event. To start, the World Series of
Video Games was hosting three different tournaments simultaneously –
a
Guitar
Hero II
tournament, a
World
of Warcraft
tournament and a
Quake
IV
tournament – but that wasn't all. Major League Gaming Canada was
hosting one on one battles between players from its pro teams and
anyone that dared to challenge them – any challenger that managed
to get one kill won an MLG t-shirt – and the World Cyber Games held
the final for its national championship, hosting the last games on
its own stage complete with three giant screens.
The
World Series of Video Games tournaments qualifiers began on Friday at
2 pm, two hours before the Fan Expo doors opened for all other
attendants, and things started rolling from there. Aside from the
current leg of the WSVG tournament series, open competitions were
held for those who registered to play. Some players even managed to
go up against the pros, either by surviving in the
Quake IV
arenas, the
World of
Warcraft
3 on 3 matches, or by
putting on a tremendous show in the first rounds of the
Guitar
Hero II
competitions.
|
Quake IV Competition |
Things
heated up on Saturday when the pros started taking over, and the
audiences were on the edge of their seats, wondering who would make
it to the finals. Most of the
Quake IV
and
World of Warcraft
matches were held next to the stage, with some being brought up on
the main stage for all to see. Those matches were closely watched by
those in the stands, some of whom came only to watch the WSVG
tournaments. More surprising than the fan reactions at some points
though, were those of the competitors, who could be heard shouting
and egging each other on throughout each round.
The
Guitar Hero II
competition
had its own share of surprises too, like seven-year-old Sal, who
rocked the first day of open competition so hard that he made it
through to Saturday and rocked the crowed again by playing
Psychobilly
Freakout
on
expert. The biggest surprise out of all three days, though, had to be
the argument between team
MoB TurtleBeach and team Yea We Lift during
the
World
of Warcraft
player
versus
|
Quake IV tournament winner - toxjq |
player match. At the end of the match on Saturday night, a
challenge was made against team Yea We Lift for the use of a
non-standard pet for his hunter, and the issue was argued until about
6 am, we were told by one of the WSVG staff. The match was replayed
on Sunday morning.
All
finals were held on Sunday, and both the teams and crowds were at
their maximum volume. Each of the competitions were played hard, but
only three players could come out on top. Johan “toxjq” Quick
took the
Quake
IV
tournament, taking down Tim
“DaHanG” Fogarty in the last minutes
of a best of three final. After the hunter dispute
was settled, and
the match replayed, team MoB TurtleBeach moved on, only to be taken
down by team Pandemic in the final. The
Guitar
Hero II
final
ended with a furious showdown between David “MoB WuLFe” Briers
and Nikolai “Pandemic-Kov” Shish, which Shish managed to win with
a barefoot performance of
Push
Push (Lady Lightning)
in
which he signed an autograph while playing.
The
only thing that would have made the weekend even better would be
knowing that the Toronto leg of the WSVG's tour was part of its
regular schedule. After speaking to one of the WSVG staff, we found
out that the Toronto visit was not initially part of the tournament
schedule, but rather a move requested by Intel, the WSVG's main
sponsor. CBS Sports, which regularly broadcasts WSVG events did not
even attend. We're sure Torontonians are certainly happy that Intel
got Toronto added to the list, we were, but we wonder why it wasn't
already there. Maybe this year's strong show of support will get the
event organizers thinking about bringing things North a little more
often.
|
Playing blindfolded |
Initially
planned or not, the weekend was a great success, for the WSVG, its
competitors and the fans. There was something there for everyone to
see, and plenty of excitement flowing through the air at each of the
tournament stages. Who won't remember the intense concentration of
the
Quake
IV
competitors
as they fought to survive, or the extreme showmanship of the
Guitar
Hero II
finalists, some of whom played blindfolded, one handed or rocked out
on the judges' table. We can't wait to see this again.
To
find out more about the World Series of Video Games, and to keep up
to date with standings, see videos from a number of WSVG events and
more, go to www.thewsvg.com.
For more information on Major League Gaming Canada, head over to
www.mlgcanada.com.
You can also find the World Cyber Games at www.worldcybergames.com.
Click images to enlarge
Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12