Qualifiers For The NZ WCG Team Begin

Nearly 800 competitors are set to battle around the clock for a place on the New Zealand team for the World Cyber Games 2008.

The reality of this huge event, where more than 1.5 million gamers from 74 countries compete for a place at the final for a chance to win approximately NZ$3.6m in prize money, was pressed upon the Kiwi hopefuls when the official torch for the World Cyber Games (WCG) arrived in New Zealand from Korea today.

xLAN Limited World Cyber Games New Zealand Strategic Partner Managing Director Susan Baikie says the torch relay underlines the growing interest in gaming here.

“We were very honoured to have Mr Daniel Kim, Senior Manager of Strategic Partnership from the World Cyber Games headquarters in Korea officially hand the torch over to New Zealand. The aim of the relay is to raise awareness and understanding of the World Cyber Games and eSports, which is an emerging sport in New Zealand,” she said.

The torch was handed over both electronically and physically, by Mr Kim to New Zealander Hamish Parker who won a silver medal at the 2007 Asian Championship. The torch leaves New Zealand on April 20 for Singapore.

The three-day New Zealand qualifier for PAN Asia and WCG Grand Finals will be held non-stop, around the clock, from July 11-13 at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre. The competition games are Counter Strike 1.6 (PC), Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne (PC), FIFA 2008 (PC) DOTA All-Stars (PC), FIFA 08 (PC) Guitar Heroes 3 (Xbox360), and Virtua Fighter 5 (Xbox360). Exhibition matches will be played in Team Fortress 2 (PC), Call of Duty 4 (PC), SpamTin Memorial Trophy Counter Strike: Source (PC), Halo3 (XBOX360) and Act and Dress like a rockstar on Guitar Heroes 3 (Xbox360), PC World Case Modding Competition and also the Legendry Food Eating Competition.

A team of up to 15 people will be named following the New Zealand Qualifiers to represent New Zealand to compete in the WCG Grand Final in Cologne, Germany on 5th-9th November. Some will also compete at the Asian Championship in Singapore from 7th - 10th August.

“We’re excited to announce the date of this year’s New Zealand World Cyber Games and confirm the competition games chosen for this event. Gamers take this competition very seriously, and the games chosen are hugely significant in terms of who will have a chance to attend the World Cyber Games event,” Susan Baikie said.

The demand for eSports content is growing globally at a huge rate. Worldwide, more than $51.5 billion was spent on video games last year. In New Zealand last year more than $100m was spent. Over the last five years the revenue from video games has increased 20%.

The New Zealand WCG Tier 1 sponsorship partners are TelstraClear, Samsung Electronics New Zealand and Microsoft New Zealand.

To register for the 2008 New Zealand WCG visit www.wcg.net.nz. Ticket price is $85 for the three-day event. Gamers compete for a place to the World Cyber Games Grand Final, Pan Asian Championship and prizes from sponsors.