Home Gaming StarCraft 2 Invitational, more than just a tournament

StarCraft 2 Invitational, more than just a tournament

3 min read
34

be there

You all know about the StarCraft 2 Invitational this weekend, and I really don’t want to rip off its arm and beat it to death with it any more. So here’s some information about the event you might not know about and more insight as to why everyday gamers should go.

The event is organized and brought to us by Megarom, Internet Solutions, AMD and the MSSA. These noble gentlemen (and maybe some ladies too) are making sure that we have a venue, a cash bar, bandwidth, prize money, a feature match with two international stars and the opportunity to jam the game (StarCraft 2: Heart of the swarm) with our friends and possibly take on the pros ourselves.

Now I’ll be completely honest and say that from an outsider point of view, the event itself wouldn’t be vey alluring if I only knew some guys were going to play StarCraft 2; a game I don’t even really play –  and that’s it. Not every one is into spectating games, never mind a game they don’t understand. But it really isn’t going to be just that.

It’s important for the community to support this event and get a taste of what it’s like for gamers abroad.

Venue

I don’t think we’ve ever had a tournament just after a game’s launch event that was this big and held at such a big venue. Gamers always complain that our events don’t come close to international events; well this one is really getting there. And these things will never take off if we don’t have the community’s support. We’re having a tournament in a 500 seater auditorium for a single game title. This much space and opportunity for spectatorship, just doesn’t get allocated to a single title, not even at rAge. This in itself is pretty damn impressive already. The venue will also be pimped out in the StarCraft 2 theme, so it’s sure to look pretty awesome too.

Concept of what the event will look like.
Concept of what the event will look like.

Prize money

It’s not often that we see big prize purses offered to gamers in South Africa. It probably only happens once a year. This tournament will have a R35 000 prize pool for the players competing against each other and not in gaming gear or hardware or PC monitors, but in cash. This probably beats what other athletes stand to win in a single tournament that they would have dedicated years of their lives to compete in. It’s certainly more than the R5000 a Rugby player can earn for being player of the match.

Activities

Most people might wonder, what the exactly it is that they are suppose to be doing there. It’s quite simple though. You’ll be able to watch the games if you want to, many of which will be shoutcasted. Or you could have some drinks and do that thing that people do, you know, socialize. Or you could try out the game against your mates on some of AMD’s machines and maybe even play against one of the pros there to see how you stack up against them.

If you’d like to just skip the tl;dr part and get to the details, well, here they are:

Date: Saturday, 16 March

Time: 10:00

Tournaments: S.A’s best 12 StarCraft 2 players face off.

Showmatch between international stars Robert “PandaTank” Botha and Silvui “NightEnD” Lazar.

Shoutcasting: Yes

Venue: The Forum, The Campus, Sloane Street, Sandton 2191 (Google Map)

Refreshments: Cash bar

Age restrictions: None

Entry Fee: Free

RSVP: NB! RSVP is very important because the organizers need to know how many people they are accommodating. You need to RSVP here. It’s hassle free.

Attendance: Public – anyone is welcome to come.

This event is something really important to eSports locally. Some big companies are putting a lot of resources and backing into this. So we have to show them it’s worth it. I know many people who’d love to come live in other provinces, if we want events like these to be held across the country, we should make the first one count.

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Last Updated: March 12, 2013

34 Comments

  1. Matthew Figueira

    March 12, 2013 at 15:38

    BOOM! Think I will be there 🙂 WHO WILL I BE SEEING?!?!?! ZERGLING RUSHES EVERYWHERE!

    Reply

  2. Edwin le Roux

    March 12, 2013 at 15:39

    So I am def there.
    Just one question thou.

    If I find somebody on the day, that wants to come along.
    Can they, or must they RSVP first.

    Now, I did RSVP and so did the ppl I’m going with. But if I find some more on that day? What then. Can they just tag along?

    Reply

    • Devon Stanton

      March 12, 2013 at 16:05

      We’re looking for an approximate amount of people so if you’re bringing someone extra a long it really shouldn’t be an issue.

      Reply

  3. Sir Captain Rincethis

    March 12, 2013 at 15:39

    Why no Cape Town!? I don’t play Star Craft, but am hella eager to meet up with peeps. My dungeon has gotten rather quiet of late, probably to do with me loaning out my minions to Michael Pachter, I know he is going to need help with the Nintendo crowd currently marching on his keep. To those able to go, please do! Show of force people, Hoooo!

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Erwin

      March 12, 2013 at 15:40

      Airplane, climb, come here nao

      Reply

      • Sir Captain Rincethis

        March 12, 2013 at 15:48

        I wish! Though truth be told, I fear Darryn will try and put me in some Inception Meme as Batman playing him playing Batman as payback for something I did a while ago…

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief Erwin

          March 12, 2013 at 15:49

          genugtig, what did you do? 😛

          Reply

          • Sir Captain Rincethis

            March 12, 2013 at 15:50

            Well, I put him in an Inception meme as him playing Batman in a dream where I was playing him… 0_o

          • AndriyP

            March 12, 2013 at 15:52

            Wait wut?

          • Sir Captain Rincethis

            March 12, 2013 at 15:53

            Dammit, now I can’t find the sodding thing…

  4. Admiral Chief Erwin

    March 12, 2013 at 15:41

    Wedding anniversary, wont make it. Enjoy dudes!

    Reply

    • Edwin le Roux

      March 12, 2013 at 15:42

      Whats better for an anniversary than eSports 🙂

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Erwin

        March 12, 2013 at 15:43

        Well for one, a certain few activities that I do NOT want to partake in with the ppl there 😛

        Reply

        • Edwin le Roux

          March 12, 2013 at 15:51

          We are only there to spectate. Not participate. 😉

          Reply

          • AndriyP

            March 12, 2013 at 15:51

            LOL pwnage

          • Admiral Chief Erwin

            March 12, 2013 at 16:02

            There shall be no spectating!

          • Andre116

            March 13, 2013 at 07:21

            Live streaming?

          • Admiral Chief Erwin

            March 13, 2013 at 07:49

            Man, a lot of interest in watching me perform, wtf?

          • Andre116

            March 13, 2013 at 07:53

            Will you be wearing your Superman outfit?

          • Admiral Chief Erwin

            March 13, 2013 at 08:04

            Nope, just me

  5. Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

    March 12, 2013 at 15:41

    Now I am suddenly lus to play some SC2

    Reply

    • Skyblue

      March 12, 2013 at 16:35

      Myself included but between the 3.5 gig left to download and Mweb being fukken horrible today I’ll be lucky to play before dinner.

      Reply

    • Kobus Nel

      March 15, 2013 at 14:04

      LOL, same here 😛

      Reply

  6. Kaya

    March 12, 2013 at 15:56

    I am going to be late sadly, but I have RSVP’d and I’ll be there!

    Reply

    • Estian Jaco Hough

      March 12, 2013 at 17:55

      Unfortunately I’l be late as well. Bloody semester test… blegh..

      I might be arriving late but I’l certainly be there!

      Reply

  7. ElNicko

    March 12, 2013 at 16:21

    Enjoy Guys – ill be getting sunburnt and drunken & disorderly at Ramfest.

    Reply

    • Sir Captain Rincethis

      March 12, 2013 at 16:36

      Wasn’t that last week?

      Reply

      • ElNicko

        March 12, 2013 at 16:38

        that was the CT leg , this weekend JHB is letting loose…….shits gonna be insane

        Reply

        • Sir Captain Rincethis

          March 12, 2013 at 16:39

          Ahh, my younger boet went. He is still smiling like a lunatic! Enjoy mate!

          Reply

          • ElNicko

            March 12, 2013 at 16:40

            thank you good sir – shall be a great weekend with lots of good music and copious amounts of good booze

  8. Ryno Lategan

    March 13, 2013 at 07:41

    I can only arrive at 11:30 how mutch will I have missed?

    Reply

    • Colin Webster

      March 13, 2013 at 13:00

      You will not have missed much. The group stages start at 10H00. The test match is at 14H30. The knock-out then resumes at 16H00.

      Reply

    • A

      March 14, 2013 at 07:46

      The main event only starts at 2pm

      Reply

  9. ElNicko

    March 13, 2013 at 14:41

    so heres a question – what does the Grand winner win out of that R35000 ??

    Reply

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