WCG 2005

700 gamers to do battle for share of $744,000 pot

STARTING today, 700 gamers from 67 countries will begin the battle of their lives as they attempt to race, kick and shoot their way to glory and a share of the US$435,000 (S$744,285) prize pool at the World Cyber Games grand finals.

The world's largest computer games tournament and digital entertainment festival opened with a bang yesterday at the Suntec Convention Centre.

Considered the olympics of cybergaming, the tournament will see more than 1,000 matches played over the next four days in the eight official games, which include popular strategy games StarCraft: Brood War and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, as well as renowned shooting game CounterStrike: Source.

Officially opened amid a blaze of pyrotechnics by Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan, the event will also feature cultural performances such as a hip-hop dance competition and trade events like the WCG 2005 Game Conference for games developers.

The games are expected to generate more than $53.5 million in tourism revenue.
Fans of South Korean star gamers have flown here to support their idols. South Korea, known for its top cybergamers, is fielding a team of 26, the largest national team this year.

Other star gamers include the world's number one WarCraft III player, 19-year-old Dutchman Manuel Schenkhuizen, and the United States' most decorated CounterStrike team, Team 3D, which earns so much in sponsorship they can afford to fly business class to international competitions.

Top Chinese CounterStrike team, wNv, are attempting a comeback after their disqualification for cheating in the Cyberathlete Professional League world tour CounterStrike tournament held here last month.
In his opening address, Dr Balakrishnan said the cyberathletes would 'display the many winning qualities of sportsmen, such as dexterity, determination, exceptional sensory coordination, decisiveness and team-spiritedness'.

Said the minister: 'The number of professional gamers in Singapore is growing. Some of them will compete alongside the world's best in this competition and that will go some way in helping us achieve our vision of developing Singapore as a hub for the games industry.

'We are already home to major digital entertainment studios like Koei, Genki and Lucasfilm where Singapore creations will be made for global consumption.

'We hope in the next few years, you will be playing some of our very own games in international gaming tournaments.'

- Straits Times, 17 Nov 2005.

Maybe we can come up with our very own Phu Chu Kang game!!!