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WCGNZ News: WCG 2010 New Zealand Qualifier Winners! |
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With the massive gaming that went on all weekend, the WCG New Zealand Qualifiers certainly took centre stage, with some huge match ups on the qualifying events, with particular attention on the revived Starcraft players, and also that of the Guitar Hero face off between Rudeism and massi4h. The results were as follows:
 Sponsored Counter-Strike 1.6 Cup
1st parallax
2nd Halcyon
3rd maelstrom
 Sponsored Starcraft: Brood War Trophy
1st expe
2nd TerrorBlade
3rd Wytaliba
 Sponsored Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne Trophy
1st TerrorBlade
2nd NewZealand
3rd Snoop
 Sponsored Trackmania: Nations Forever Trophy
WINNER Yam
 Sponsored Forza Motorsport 3 Trophy
1st Paradoxx
2nd zeusNZ
3rd Injustice
Sponsored Guitar Hero 5 Trophy
WINNER Rudeism
Sponsored Tekken 6 Cup
WINNER Belth
The winners for each of these competitions qualified for the World Cyber Games Grand FInals in Los Angeles, USA later this year. Well done to each of them on the effort they put in, and the results they achieved! |
Posted by Arseynimz on Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 17:38:51 New Zealand Standard Time |
 
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Big congratulations to those who played in all the exhibition tournaments. There was a number of exhibition tournaments played, and these all went well:
 Sponsored Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Conquest Cup
1st Team Sidewinder
2nd Team Exile5
3rd Affliction
 Sponsored Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Squad Rush Trophy
1st Team Exile5
2nd Team Uprising
3rd Team Sidewinder
 Sponsored Call of Duty 4 Cup
1st Archaic eSports
2nd Team Uprising
3rd LeftLean
 Sponsored Counter-Strike: Source Cup
1st Watch Me Clutch
2nd Streamline
3rd parallax
 Sponsored Team Fortress 2 Trophy
1st ysw
2nd On The Piss
3rd 9 inches
Sponsored Halo 3 Trophy
1st Team Sidewinder
2nd Mmmm Where's Your God Now
3rd Once Were Warriors
Sponsored Super Street Fighter 4
WINNER Kira
These teams and players took the top honours in the respective games, and showcased some awesome gaming. We look forward to seeing them all in action again very soon! |
Posted by Arseynimz on Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 17:28:26 New Zealand Standard Time |
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With a few days to go and the WCG PC production line in full swing, we can now add to that mix the Samsung Display which is confirmed to be the P2370H. Not a bad looking couple really:
With the confirmation of the P2370H we see 1080p gaming goodness come to xLAN on a 23 inch Samsung display which has the Samsung gaming standard 2ms response time. These displays have a 45W power usage to show as well as being powerful they are green. Combine these with the WCG Stage PC's which comprise the AMD Six Core 1055T CPU, with 4GB of Ripjaw Memory from G.Skill, MSI's 890 Motherboard, and their Hawk R5770 Graphics Card, and you know you have combination of epic gaming goodness.
The best part is the fact you can take these home after xLAN!! Playtech have the PC, and the display available for purchase now, and pickup directly after xLAN or shipped to you following their safe return to Playtech's warehouse. You can find either the PC purchase or display purchase here on the Playtech site.
The displays are going at the discounted rate of $310, while the PC will be clocking in at $1,449. A further small discount will apply if you buy the two together at $1,749. |
Posted by Arseynimz on Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 19:00:52 New Zealand Standard Time |
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Firstly, thanks for supporting this event, without you guys, we wouldn't be able to get something like this together for New Zealand gaming and the LAN scene. We've got over $15,000 of prizes, and some very supportive sponsors who have provided xLAN & the WCG New Zealand Qualifier some huge support - so make sure you show them your support! And now...... for the main event!!!!!!!
Tournaments
All tournament teams are now locked and final. For those participating in WCG qualifying events, you will need proof of residency to be eligible for these tournaments - this is best in the form of either your passport or birth certificate.
Seating
If you have not yet picked your seat - please go ahead and do so with haste. These will be locking off Tuesday night at midnight, so you need to have a seat picked by then, else you face the wraith of the randomiser.
Where's this thing again!?
xLAN 2010 and the New Zealand World Cyber Games Qualifiers are being held at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre, 770 Great South Road, Manukau, Auckland. Entry is at the South end of the building (the end furthest from the Manukau motorway off ramp).
Registration, Entry Times, ID & Consents
You can pre-register on Thursday the 8th from 2pm until 4pm. During this time, you will be given your pass, and have your ID checked. This will allow you to simply walk past the queues on Friday, and come in as you please for the weekend. Your ID needs to be photographic - Driver's Licence, Student ID, Passport, or similar. In the unlikely event you don't have photo ID, please bring something nationally recognisable (e.g. Birth Certificate) and an official letterhead from a bank, or IRD or similar addressed to yourself.
You can register on Friday the 9th from 10am. If you turn up after 4pm on Friday the 9th, it is the likely the registration desk will have moved down the venue to the helpdesk. In this instance, you will need to enter the Events Centre, and travel the right hand corridor until you hit the mass of people - the helpdesk will be marked.
If you are 16 or 17 and attending xLAN 2010, you must provide a consent form. The 2010 consent form can be found here. This is compulsory if you are aged 16 or 17.
Entry to the venue will be from 10am on Friday morning the 9th of July. You will be allowed to come and go as you please with your equipment until midnight Friday and Saturday, after which no equipment will be allowed to leave the Events Centre until 8am the next morning when the doors reopen at the main entrance.
Parking
The South carpark (entry through Gate 3 & 4) is fully paid for by xLAN Limited, and is available for use by all LAN attendees ONLY. Visitors need to park in the North carpark (entry through Gate 1 & 2), which is a pay carpark area. To gain entry to the southern carpark after Friday afternoon, you will need to have your event pass on you which you will receive after registration.
What do I bring?!
The list is endless, but the important things are:
- Your PC and/or console (depending on your sign up).
- A display, your peripherals (mouse, keyboard etc), and any necessary cables (monitor, power for your PC etc).
- A multi socket power board - you have one plug socket available to you at the LAN.
- A network cable of at least 10m.
- All necessary software including those games that require verification of purchase (i.e. non digitally distributed) for tournament entry.
- Any tools you may need as a 'just in case'.
- Toiletries and anti-smell funny stuff.
- Any bedding, blankets, sleeping bag and pillows if you are planning on sleeping at the LAN.
Playtech will be on site with network cables, and other cables, but they may not carry everything at the time, so be sure to double check your bag just in case!
Basic but Important!
Make sure your you set your PC to Automatically assign and IP address and DNS settings. This accounts for a large amount of 'OMFG, I can't do &*^% all' when people arrive at xLAN.
Stage Matches and PCs
For those who get the chance to go on stage and enjoy the atmosphere and pressure of such a match, there are a few things you will need to know. You will need to take your own peripherals on stage. You are not allowed any other equipment or items on stage, other than a small sipper bottle of liquid - this is to reduce the risk of any stage equipment being damaged by anything other than clumsiness! Yes you can bring a USB key with configs and/or drivers on stage, although these must have been allowed by the tournament admin and be loaded in quick time as all stage matches are on a limited time frame.
For those playing Battlefield: Bad Company 2 on stage - the game protections are such that we have installed the game as a disc only install. This means you will need to bring your DVD of the game on stage with you to play it. For those who have a Steam based install of the game, we will ensure there are some spare discs available thanks to EA, or at worst ensure there is a Steam install of the game on the machines.
Food, Alcohol, and other such riff raff
The venue cafe will be open, and will also have fried food trucks outside for you to purchase your greasy goodness from. The famous donut dude will be back also, and we have asked if he can stay for as long as possible through the night - he will do so as long as he is busy!
Just a reminder in respect to alcohol at xLAN - this is a no go. Anyone caught consuming alcohol, or found to be intoxicated will be escorted from the premises. Anyone who is clearly intoxicated and attempting to enter xLAN will be denied entry. This is a strict policy for the safety of the other attendees, the equipment at the venue, and also your own safety.
And of course, please don't be an idiot. We've gone to a lot of work to make sure this event is fun for everyone, and we sure don't want it ruined by any individuals who see it fit to try to ruin it for anyone else. Action will be taken against anyone who is not behaving appropriately.
Finally, HAVE FUN!!!!! Enjoy this event as much as we're enjoying bringing it to you. If you have any questions, or need to know anything else, then head on over to the forums.
GET SOME!!!! We will be.
Arseynimz, prolax & the xLAN Crew! |
Posted by Arseynimz on Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 01:24:32 New Zealand Standard Time |
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Team Fortress 2 is a huge game world wide, and is arguably one of the most highly developed games ever made - even years after release it is still being poked, prodded, fixed and fiddled. Another stalwart in the IT industry is Corsair, and mixing the two together is what we're doing for xLAN and the New Zealand World Cyber Games National Qualifier for 2010!
The Corsair Team Fortress 2 Trophy will be all guns blazing, as 9 teams go toe to toe to take each other down in cartoon awesome style. Corsair hardware is riddled throughout xLAN's WCG Stage PC's so it is only fitting that they give the top 3 teams the chance to pick up on a taste of that great equipment, and some of the rest of their range. The Winners of the tournament will walk away with a Corsair Solid State Drive each valued at over $300 per drive, while the members in the 2nd placed team will pick up a Power Supply valued at almost $200 each, and 3rd will take away one of the awesome Corsair all in one CPU water cooling kits which are valued at $150 each.
These are some big prizes from Corsair, but they have a little something else coming too - keep an eye out for our little surprise we have that Corsair are helping us out with! In the meantime, for any and all your Corsair requirements, from Memory sticks through to a Power Supply or two, head on over to Playtech who have a variety of options for you |
Posted by Arseynimz on Saturday, July 03, 2010 @ 00:51:04 New Zealand Standard Time |
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But wait there's MOARR!!!!!!
MSI wants in on the action - as if having their motherboard and graphics cards for the WCG Stage PC's was not enough! They're stepping up and putting their name to a WCG Qualifying tournament in Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne.
Increasing their product range, and jumping back in to the PC market in recent times in a big way in New Zealand - MSI are rising from the quiet corner they were sitting in. This is just like Warcraft 3 which continues to push on, and the MSI Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne Cup will have 10 entrants battling for the title, and an MSI Hawk R5770 Graphics Card, so they can step up from the graphics of WC3, and beyond!!!
Of course, and of the MSI hardware you might have your eyes on can be purchased from Playtech, including pre-orders of the WCG Stage PC following the completion of xLAN! |
Posted by Arseynimz on Thursday, July 01, 2010 @ 17:58:40 New Zealand Standard Time |
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We know it's late in the piece, so spread the word ASAP - the seating module is live!
So grab your seat while you can over here and get seated next to your mates...... or next to your enemies......... your call.  The module has all the instructions on the page, and if you have any issues or questions, please head to this thread here.
11 days to go!!!!!! GET SOME!!!! |
Posted by Arseynimz on Sunday, June 27, 2010 @ 14:12:57 New Zealand Standard Time |
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Sponsors: Tournament Sponsor - XBOX New Zealand |
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With record numbers of console attendees at xLAN 2010, and the most popular game being Halo 3, it is great to see XBOX New Zealand getting in behind xLAN 2010. The leading force in party play, multiplayer, and innovation, XBOX is headed for a big year.
With the recent annoucement of the XBOX slim, and with Kinect due later in the year, Fable 3 in October, and a plethora of other titles and activities, who could forget that a little game called Halo Reach is also on the horizon! Due for release on the 14th of September, XBOX will be giving each of the podium placing Halo 3 teams a copy of Halo Reach's Limited Edition on release. The winners will find their copy inside the Legendary packaging! With an RRP of over $220 for the each of the members of the winning team, a prize pool of over ober $1,800 is on offer.
Playtech has all the upcoming XBOX titles and hardware available for pre-purchase, so make sure you head over there to get ready for the incoming swag of XBOX deliveries. |
Posted by Arseynimz on Saturday, June 26, 2010 @ 02:23:39 New Zealand Standard Time |
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With one hell of a week of sponsor announcements already, it is awesome to see that they keep on coming. Already mad keen gamign supporters in Australia, Creative has opened their coffers to New Zealand, and is pleased to be sponsoring the Call of Duty 4 Tournament at xLAN. With 11 teams in the running, including Australia's best in the form of Archaic eSports, this competition is destined to be one not to miss.
The Creative Call of Duty 4 Cup is a perfect alignment for Creative. Masters in sound for the PC, they have a long standing pedigree of excellent product which pioneered sound on the PC through the SoundBlaster label. Still going strong years later, it is not a coincidence that their X-Fi chipset can be seen in Motherboards, Sound cards, and even their competitor products. Call of Duty 4 is hugely reliant on sound in game, and so it ties together that Creative sits alongside the Call of Duty 4 tournament to indeed make the Creative Call of Duty 4 Cup. They will be bringing cash to the winners of the Cup, and prizes to the podium place getters to the value of over $2,000!!!
Creative will have toys on show at xLAN alongside the Playtech stand, and certainly this product is not to be bypassed - the latest HD sound card will blow your mind, and if you haven't tried their ever growing headset and speaker range - xLAN is your chance! |
Posted by Arseynimz on Saturday, June 26, 2010 @ 02:09:13 New Zealand Standard Time |
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Well Arsey fell asleep at the wheel last night, so a double update for you tonight!!!
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 has two huge tournaments at xLAN being one of the most popular recently released titles in the FPS genre. The Conquest tournament is followed by what some woudl call a more fun styled Squad Rush Tournament. But with 4v4 set ups, and smaller maps, and reliance on communication and accurate shooting - very quickly things will get hot and heavy, and this is even more so when you put ASUS in to the mix with over $1,000 in cash for the top 3 place getters!
The ASUS Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Squad Rush Trophy will be on the line as almost 100 players across 19 teams will look to rampage each other in what is sure to be some massive action. ASUS's Republic of Gamers line is some of the best gaming hardware you can buy, and this will be shown off with some demonstration machines, and Squad Rush Republic of Gamers stage PC's!!! Fitted with ASUS's finest gear, these will be some amazing machines to play a game of equal awesome! Of course, ASUS hardware is and will be available to purhase from Playtech both now and on the weekend of xLAN.
So if you haven't looked at Squad Rush as an option for a tournament, then you might want to consider it to pick up some cash in what will be an intense couple of days of Battlefield - and also so you get the opportunity to play on ASUS's finest hardware in one of the stage matches |
Posted by Arseynimz on Thursday, June 24, 2010 @ 19:14:52 New Zealand Standard Time |
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With a huge variety of peripherals, and certainly some of the best on the market, we are please to announce LOGITECH as a tournament sponsor for xLAN 2010. With trusted and true products from gaming mice such as the resoundingly popular MX518, through to the mouth watering G19 gaming keyboard, and over to speakers such as the Z-2300 they have all your gaming products, but taking it step further, they've also got your lower end day to day products as well - perfect for business or your family computer, Logitech has the full range to satisfy all requirements and budgets.
Logitech will be sponsoring the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Conquest tournament - a perfect match up with the huge variety of options a game such as Bad Company 2 gives in game! They'll be putting up cash for the top 3 teams of over $2,000! The Logitech Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Conquest Cup will be the official name, and with over 100 competitors it is the second biggest competition at xLAN 2010.
If you haven't teamed up in the Logitech Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Conquest Cup, then it would pay to do so to go nuts for your chance at some $ to take home. Otherwise, support Logitech for the support they're giving gamers in 2010 by heading over to Playtech and looking at the huge range of Logitech goods they have available.
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Posted by Arseynimz on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 @ 16:46:41 New Zealand Standard Time |
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With xLAN less than three weeks away, and the curiosity of the prizes on the line in your chosen tournament being shown, we are pleased to tonight announce Razer as the first of our tournament sponsors.
With a pedigree of gaming specific peripherals, and a huge following in New Zealand and the Asian region, we are hugely excited to have the Razer dudes jump on to this year's event. They'll be sponsoring the Counter-Strike 1.6 Tournament, which will now be officially known as the Razer Counter-Strike 1.6 Cup. With CS 1.6 being one of the most popular team FPS games in the world, and being the World CyberGames flagship FPS, it is only fair that a global gaming peripheral be alongside the CS 1.6 tournament for xLAN 2010.
The winners of the Razer Counter-Strike 1.6 Cup will not be disappointed - as well as earning the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles in September, they will also walk away with a full Razer suite of peripherals including a DeathAdder Mouse and Goliathus Mouse Pad to make your aim supreme, a Lycosa keyboard for precision response, and a set of Megalodon headphones for surround sound goodness. Second place will get the mouse, keyboard and headphone package, while third still walks away with a mouse for a good weekend of Counter-Strike gaming.
If you're not playing in the Razer Counter-Strike 1.6 Cup, you and your team mates have a week to get organised before tournaments are locked up. Else you can skip the whole tournament thing and head straight to Playtech.co.nz where they have a huge range of the Razer peripherals in stock for you to buy in advance of xLAN and the WCG NZ Qualifier for 2010.
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Posted by Arseynimz on Monday, June 21, 2010 @ 23:01:36 New Zealand Standard Time |
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Prizes and Partners and Toys, OH MY! |
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Holy smokes! xLAN and the New Zealand World Cyber Games 2010 is only 3 weeks away, and you only have 3 more days to get signed up and paid up to join the 570+ current attendees, competitors and crew. If you haven't signed up or paid up yet, then move you cheeks and get it done!!!! The payments close off this Sunday the 20th of June - there will be absolutely no more extensions to this date, so you need to sign up now! Remember too you can pay online using your credit card over here on the Playtech website.
News time! A busy few days we have and continue to have..........
OMG Prizes!!!!!!!
Well, everyone wants to play for something, and whilst we are still in discussions with sponsors, we are pleased to announce over in both product prizes and CASH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, you can take home cash from xLAN 2010! We'll post up on the xLAN.co.nz site what the prize line up is looking like once we've confirmed them all, and you can get yourself ready for some mega action to take those prizes home!
Playtech have put up the biggest prize to the Counter-Strike: Source tournament, which as an xLAN first will also have a plate play off! Top 8 go through to a single elim to try to grab their share of over $2,500, while the rest fight for some spoils in a plate play off battle to ensure the Counter-Strike community gets a full weekend of play!
Boot Camp - get in fast if you want to!
There are still some seats available at the Playtech LAN Arena for those who want to get together with their teams and get prepared for xLAN. Red Bull drinks, TelstraClear VDSL connection, and Playtech downstairs - sounds like the perfect combination for any gamer..... because it is!!!!!!!! Email Arseynimz to book this space for you and your team mates for FREE. Arsey just needs to know who your team is, and how many you'll have attending.
Hardware - before, during and after!
Typically xLAN brings along hardware specials for anything from cases, to displays, CPU's and of course the many gaming peripherals. This year is no exception, and in fact is elevated with the inclusion of a mini expo of the latest, greatest and all time favourites in gaming, PC or electronics hardware. We'll have a myriad of toys on show thanks to our sponsors and related exhibitors, and you'll be able to purchase most of them from Playtech or directly from the vendor. This said, Playtech will have a number of specials available before xLAN, and are offering free shipping for all orders over $70.
Keep an eye on the xLAN.co.nz website next week as the special codes come alive! You'll be able to order on the Playtech website, input your discount code at the checkout, and have your gear sent to you so you can have it installed, ready, and organised for xLAN!
Partner Announcements
Well not too many surprises on this one, but given the PC's we announced last, we are pleased to announce AMD & ATi as partners to xLAN 2010. Along with them is Western Digital who are providing some of their Black Hard Drives to assist with the event PC's overall awesome performance!
Add to the AMD & ATi and Western Digital mix the existing partners in GameConsole, Gamestah and we know we're starting to shape a WCG partnered event that will bring you everything you expect from a competitive gaming perspective, and making an overall excellent LAN experience.
 TelstraClear is a major sponsor of this year's event, and the major sponsor of ON3 Network. They provide us with a number of internet services, and also assist with the costs of making the event happen. All services provided by the ON3 Network are unmetered for those who, like ON3 Network, are powered by TelstraClear. So if you're looking for a new ISP, or want to take advantage of unmetered gaming here in New Zealand, don't go any further than www.telstraclear.co.nz because they are a true supporter of gaming in New Zealand, and we're damned proud to have them working with us.
 Too awesome for words this issue - just GET SOME!
 Powering your thirst, and relaxation, whilst also getting you the wiiings you need to get in the game!
The final word is to make sure you all get signed and paid up so you too are at this year's National LAN event! To all those who have paid, thank you again for supporting this monster event as we draw closer and closer to the fun of xLAN 2010 & the WCG National Finals!
If you have any questions, or need to know anything further about the event, then head on over to the forums on the xLAN site, or feel free to send us an email.
Arseynimz, prolax & the xLAN Crew! |
Posted by Arseynimz on Thursday, June 17, 2010 @ 14:28:43 New Zealand Standard Time |
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xLAN News: xLAN 2010 - Update - Extended everything! |
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Well there was one week to go for sign ups to xLAN and the New Zealand World Cyber Games 2010, but we've pushed it out another week to get more of you along to what is shaping in to a very good looking event. If you haven't signed up or paid up yet, then it's time to jump over to the xLAN website and get it done!!!! You have another 8 days to go with payments now closing off next Sunday the 20th of June - there will be absolutely no more extensions to this date, so don't miss out!
Playtech have also come to the party and loaned us the use of their credit card portal for those who are caught mid pay cycle or waiting on cash in general! You can jump across to the Playtech website and search for xLAN (or just click this) to add a ticket (and a tournament or two) to the shopping cart, and follow through with payment. Make sure you put your reference in the shopping cart comments before you push the payment through!!!!
So what has the week brought us.......... Oh, well a whole host of news in fact!
xLAN 2010 Stage & Rental PC
As we mentioned in the last update, Playtech are putting together the rental PC's for the event for those who require them, but the most important part about these machines is that they are the stage PC's as well! So with the questions flying on the forums and Arsey's MSN as to what they'll contain...... wihtout further ado, we present you the Playtech xLAN 2010 Special:
On an MSI 880GMA-E45 Motherboard you'll find an AMD 1055T six core CPU, with some chilling thanks to an Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro heatsink. Helping those along is G.Skill's finest Ripjaw 4GB DDR3-1333 CL8 Memory. Complimenting that salivating foundation will be an MSI R5770 Hawk ATI Radeon HD 1GB DDR5 DX11 Graphics card - pwning at xLAN will never have looked so pretty! Add to that your Corsair HX 650W Power supply to make it all work; chuck in an optical drive and you only need two more things - Microsoft's Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit, and something to wrap it all up in............ Oh yes, a case to make it all complete!
If you want to rent one of these exquisite machines, then the rental package options are all available on Playtech's website right here. Of course, if you want to take one home after the event you'll be able to do so at one hell of a price for what you will see is one heck of a machine!
Guess the Case!
We've purposefully left off the case part of the specs on the Playtech xLAN 2010 PC. We'll post up a picture of the case on the xLAN website, and we want you to guess what this brand new to New Zealand case is. We'll have a page set up for you to put in your entry, and each correct entry will go in to the draw for a 320GB Portable Hard Drive which will be drawn at xLAN (so if you're attending you'll be able to pick it up then!). So keep your eyes peeled on the xLAN website. In the meantime, here's a sneak peek:
 A cheeky bit of leg for you!
Hardware - before, during and after!
Typically xLAN brings along hardware specials for anything from cases, to displays, CPU's and of course the many gaming peripherals. This year is no exception, and in fact is elevated with the inclusion of a mini expo of the latest, greatest and all time favourites in gaming, PC or electronics hardware. We'll have a myriad of toys on show thanks to our sponsors and related exhibitors, and you'll be able to purchase most of them from Playtech or directly from the vendor. This said, Playtech will have a number of specials available before xLAN, and are offering free shipping for all orders over $70 - so you can upgrade that Hard Drive, get that RAM, install Microsoft's Windows 7, or even get that pair of Astros!
Boot Camp - get in fast if you want to!
We have already had requests for 40 seats at the Playtech LAN Arena, leaving another 40 seats left. Red Bull have been their truly awesome selves and are dropping off some drinks early, so those at LAN will be wiiing'd up! The Playtech LAN Arena is also getting the tweak treatment from TelstraClear as well - their VDSL connection resides at the Arena full time, and is prepared for the onslaught of console and PC Gamers alike. So organise your team, and get booked in - the space is available for any time from the start of July to any team who wants to utilise, and of course it is being made available for free!
Remember, please email Arseynimz to book space for you and your team mates. Arsey just needs to know who your team is, and how many you'll have attending.
Sponsor Announcements
Stand by all, as this week coming we will reveal to you the businesses, suppliers, and brands that will be making xLAN 2010 possible, and a successful event.
First on the list to add to the stable of well recognised and respected sponsors and partners is the team from GameConsole magazine.
 Having just renewed their vigour, brand, and look, GameConsole is a media reflection of ON3 Network, and just like us they're excited to be not only attending, reporting, reviewing, and covering the many facets of xLAN and the WCG National Finals for 2010, but they'll be giving away their latest edition hot off the press. The format is awesome, and it includes community contributions to truly make it a New Zealand Gaming magazine - just on this fact alone they deserve our support, so head out and grab one off the shelf to support them and read up on all the latest gaming news! GameConsole are the official media partner for ON3 Network and xLAN 2010 & the WCG National Qualifiers.
TelstraClear is a major sponsor of this year's event, and the major sponsor of ON3 Network. They provide us with a number of internet services, and also assist with the costs of making the event happen. All services provided by the ON3 Network are unmetered for those who, like ON3 Network, are powered by TelstraClear. So if you're looking for a new ISP, or want to take advantage of unmetered gaming here in New Zealand, don't go any further than www.telstraclear.co.nz because they are a true supporter of gaming in New Zealand, and we're damned proud to have them working with us.
Need we say more about the awesome of Playtech this issue? I think not, so just remember if you're looking for a crowd that knows, then make your first stop Playtech for your next PC or console related purchase.
A LAN weekend just isn't without an energy drink or...... 7!!!! Red Bull is providing us with their wicked product, and an area to kick back in, and entertainment across the weekend all the while making sure we get wiiings! The Hummer will be in to party across all three nights(!!!!!!) and we'll have the wiiings girls in the Red Bull Lounge - so when you're ready for a break from the gaming, you know you've got somewhere to relax!
The final word is to make sure you all get signed and paid up so you too are at this year's National LAN event! To all those who have paid, thank you for supporting this monster event as we draw closer and closer to the fun of xLAN 2010 & the WCG National Finals!
If you have any questions, or need to know anything further about the event, then head on over to the forums on the xLAN site, or feel free to send us an email.
Arseynimz, prolax & the xLAN Crew! |
Posted by Arseynimz on Saturday, June 12, 2010 @ 09:16:59 New Zealand Standard Time |
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Payments - Got credit!? |
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With the last minute rush of payments coming through, and a number of calls for a few days reprieve to get payments in - we've got GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!
Firstly, we're going to extend payments out to Sunday the 20th of June, and any payments received over the weekend will still be allowed. This will be the absolute final day for payment, as we will be squeezing our printers and other suppliers to push that date any further! So get yourself paid up with the extra few days grace we have for you!!!!!
Speaking of paying, Playtech has made available their credit card portal for us! This means you can pay via credit card if you would like this as an option. You just need to go to www.playtech.co.nz and search for xLAN, or go directly to this here link. They have made this available for those who are keen to come, but are waiting for funds to come in to their account - so grab your Mum's, sister's, brother's or your flatmate's credit card, and get signed here on the site, and then run over to Playtech and get paid up if you want to use credit card!
Last thing is the PC's available for hire and being used on stage - the specifications are slowly getting finalised, and these are better than we anticipated! We'll have a picture of these very soon, and you can go in the draw to win a 320GB portable Hard Drive if you guess the case name and manufacturer!!!!!
Keep an eye on your email in box tonight also for a big update of what we've been doing all week! |
Posted by Arseynimz on Friday, June 11, 2010 @ 12:42:28 New Zealand Standard Time |
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xLAN 2010 - Update time! |
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xLAN and the New Zealand World Cyber Games 2010 creeps closer and closer, and we are now just two weeks out from closing off payments for this year's event. If you haven't signed up or paid up yet, then hop to it over on the xLAN website. With 20 tournaments on offer, and the chance to play in more than just the one this year, xLAN is set and ready to go for another year!
So what's been happening? Well last update we promised you more news of prizes, sponsors, and a few general bits and pieces - so here they come!
General Items
Paintball - with the cost being a little over the top from the suppliers we looked at, this has been scrapped for this event, but we'll keep an eye out for future events.
The seat selection system implementation will be delayed until closer to the event to allow for final sign up numbers so we can adjust the seating plan accordingly and also ensure that we have the layout at optimum!
We're working on some new innovations for the xLAN weekend, including better network response for the weekend. Better pings on LAN? Is that even possible? Yep, that's what we're going for, and better performance as well for your chosen game(s) - some smart tricks by the network dudes, and they're looking forward to rolling it out.
PC and/or Display Rental
Playtech are stepping up again, and will be making available both PC's and Displays to be rented the weekend for you out of towners or just generally for those who don't want to bring their own! These machines are still under construction in respect to final specs, but rest assured they'll be able to handle any measure of game sent their way, as they'll be the same as stage PC's. We'll be looking to announce the PC's specifications in our next mail out - so stand by!
The cost of rental for these PC's will the same as last year at $60 for the PC, or $60 for the Monitor, or obviously $120 - all for the duration of the event. The rental package options will be available on Playtech's site to purchase, and the overall packages will include a bond as part of the purchase. Payment options are via credit card from their site, or direct credit to the Playtech account. Playtech have informed these will be on their site from Tuesday the 8th of June - so head over to www.playtech.co.nz to get your order in then.
Boot Camp!!
Playtech have an already set up LAN area above their shop in Mairangi Bay, Auckland. In the lead up to xLAN, any teams are welcome to book in to use the Playtech Arena as a chance to boot camp before the main event, and get in some time together as a team. With high speed internet at the Playtech Arena provided by TelstraClear and with power and gigabit network to your desk, this is the perfect free warm up venue for xLAN teams who are looking to go the distance!
If you're wanting to book in space at the Playtech Arena, please email Arseynimz.
Sponsor Announcements
 TelstraClear is a major sponsor of this year's event, and the major sponsor of ON3 Network. They provide us with a number of internet services, and also assist with the costs of making the event happen. All services provided by the ON3 Network are unmetered for those who, like ON3 Network, are powered by TelstraClear. So if you're looking for a new ISP, or want to take advantage of unmetered gaming here in New Zealand, don't go any further than www.telstraclear.co.nz.
Powering the main stage, secondary stage, and making sure you have the latest and greatest toys to play with across the weekend - Playtech is one major sponsor we could not work without. These guys have gaming PC's on lockdown, and if you're looking for a crowd that knows, then make your first stop Playtech for your next PC or console related purchase. Whether it's a laptop, a hard drive, or just a USB stick, the guys and girls at Playtech will make sure you get all the advice you need, and at the right price. With specials throughout the weekend on hardware, and being the main provider of anything technical for the xLAN event, they make a huge contribution to ON3 Network.
 A LAN weekend just isn't without an energy drink or...... 7!!!! Red Bull is providing us with their product, an area to kick back in, and some entertainment across the weekend all the while making sure we get wiiings! The Hummer will be in to party on Saturday night, and we'll have the wiiings girls in the Red Bull Lounge - so when you're ready for a break from the gaming, you know you've got somewhere to relax!
We have a few more sponsors at final stages, so be prepared to show your support for those supporting us and you at this national event! We'll have announcements very soon.
Reminder!!!!
Payments close on the 15th of June - so you must be fully paid and have your tournament payments in to ensure we don't miss you off the list! So get signed and paid up ASAP, as we're starting to see a steady influx of payments as we get closer and closer to close off!
If you have any questions, or need to know anything further about the event, then head on over to the forums on the xLAN site, or feel free to send us an email.
Arseynimz, prolax & the xLAN Crew! |
Posted by Arseynimz on Saturday, June 05, 2010 @ 00:09:55 New Zealand Standard Time |
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xLAN News: xLAN 2010 - on target! Are you ready? |
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It's coming up to xLAN time, and if it's crept up on you, don't panic you've got a little under 30 days till payments and tournament signups close. So make sure you've signed up and paid up for this year's xLAN and the New Zealand World Cyber Games 2010. If you're paid up - then make sure you've signed up for your tournaments, and organised your team mates and friends to get paid up too!
As new management, we've been hard at work to make sure this year's event is as good as last years and has a few extras to make sure the incremental improvements keep coming. So be assured that this already successful event will be even more enjoyable and exciting for all who attend.
We've brought back the expo, so you'll be able to look over the latest toys and technology from all the major brands when you get a break. Along with this, we've allowed you to play in multiple tournaments and with this we have over 20 options available to all attendees - more than ever before seen!
What have we got to come over the next few weeks?
- Paintball anyone? Check the forums to see details of this.
- Announcement of cash prizes!!??!
- The seat selection system to let all the paid attendees select their exact seat.
Of course, a lot of what we do isn't possible without the generous support of our sponsors - we'll have an announcement or two of additional sponsors coming up, so make sure you stay locked on to the website to catch the big names we have coming along. But in the meantime if you're in the market for a phone line, mobile or internet connection then head over and visit TelstraClear - as a major sponsor of both ON3 Network and xLAN this year, they are the ISP of choice for gaming in New Zealand! And if you're looking for any PC or Apple hardware, components or peripherals, Playtech is the place to go as our other major sponsor and the hardware provider for this year's event.
If you have any questions, suggestions or requests, do not hesitate to contact us or post in the xLAN forums, otherwise wrangle up your mates, and get ready for New Zealand's biggest LAN event - the one you don't want to miss!
Arseynimz, prolax & the xLAN Crew! |
Posted by Arseynimz on Monday, May 24, 2010 @ 00:27:29 New Zealand Standard Time |
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Last days for Earlybird! |
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Arseynimz writes: You read it right! Only a few days to go, so make sure you get in and get paid for the earlybird. Remember we have 3 Ticketek vouchers to give to anyone who pays for their ticket within the earlybird window!!!!!
Want more incentive to sign up? Well how about a cash prize!!!!!!! If your chosen game gets more than 20 teams then bang, get ready for some cash. At least $2,000 will be given to any tournament that has over 20 teams in it, and at the rate the Couter-Strike: Source sign ups are going, they'll be first to benefit, with 75% going to the first place getter, and the rest going to second while 3rd will still take away some sweet sweet sponsor's product.
So don't stop, get signed up, and get ready for xLAN & the NZ WCG Qualifiers for 2010 - they're only a couple of months away! |
Posted by arseynimz on Sunday, April 25, 2010 @ 18:56:38 New Zealand Standard Time |
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xLAN News: xLAN 2010 - Registrations are GO!!!!!!! |
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Arseynimz writes: 
You read it right. Sign ups for xLAN 2010 are now go for launch. But before you get all excited and click the button above, or this link to sign up, please make sure you read this article!!!!!!!!!!!
ON3 Network has of course picked up the baton of xLAN, and there are some minor gaming changes outside of the obvious change in popular titles and games that are currently being played by all. These changes include:
- Multiple Tournament Entry - for a small premium on top of your PC or Console ticket price you can enter up to 2 PC tournaments, or up to 3 XBOX tournaments.
- Increased Team Sizes - to allow for multiple tournament entry, we have allowed subs on your team. For games that have 2-5 players in game, you can have up to 2 subs, and for games with 6 or more players in game, you can have up to 3 subs. This is to assist with making sure any team clashes are manageable, as although we will do our utmost to ensure your schedule across the weekend does not clash - in the event it does, we don't want your team to be disadvantaged, although this may be a reality for some teams.
- More Tournaments - yep, with multiple tournament entry, we have already increased the number of tournaments available to take part in, and we're still not done. WCG is expected to make another announcement regarding titles that will be played at the finals in Los Angeles, USA, so we will obviously look to add these if they are games of interest in this region. In addition, we're open to community suggestions for any titles or popular formats, and we welcome anyone who wants a community tournament of some description to let us know also.
There are more things we'll look to introduce in due course, but spread the word, and get yourself and your team registered. Payments can be made straight away, and of course you will get the discounted price if you register before the timer in the top left counts down to zero - that's the 30th of April if you're not so good with the calendar! When you do make payment, please be sure to read the email that gets delivered to your registered email address (so double check your profile to make sure it is the right one, and of course, always check your spam or junk mail folders in case your mail client or ISP gets a little over zealous). If you are entering multiple tournaments, then make sure you include payment for these, and also be doubly sure you only sign up for the number of tournaments you pay for, else you will be randomly removed from one of your tournaments if you oversubscribe.
Finally, and the best news of all!!!! Thanks to the our sponsors Playtech, we have 3 Ticketek vouchers with a value of $100 to give away to all you early birds! So make sure you give yourself a chance to win one of these by pre-registering and getting fully paid up before the end of the Early Bird period. By getting yourself registered and fully paid you will automatically go in the draw to win one of these vouchers!!!!
If you have any questions, please get on the forums, and ask away. Otherwise, we look forward to one hell of an event come July, and are certainly looking forward to the announcements we have for you as we lead up to that date. |
Posted by arseynimz on Saturday, March 20, 2010 @ 23:25:39 New Zealand Daylight Time |
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xLAN News: ON3 Network presents xLAN 2010 - Book it in!!!! |
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Arseynimz writes: As we formally bid farewell and hurl a mass of praise to both Deezilla and tmdude for the massive event they have created, and the massive boots they have left for us to fill, we still look to the 2010 xLAN event, and 2010 National WCG Qualifier. The show must go on, and indeed it shall, as the ON3 Network sets itself up to bring you this year's xLAN and what is sure to be a big WCG event.
The ON3 Network was set up as a venture to push forward gaming in New Zealand, and we intend to do that even more so than before with the continued hosting of GamerHub, xLAN, and more events both online and offline.
You might notice some new branding, and maybe a few new features around the place over the coming months. But you can rest, post, and play assured that this playground is here to stay. We're here for the long haul!
So you probably want to know who is behind ON3. I'm Arseynimz, and for those who don't know me, I've been involved with competitive gaming for over 3 years now, and prior to that, much like many of you, gaming in general since I was allowed to touch the family computer (Apple IIe playing Eagles and Wizadry I - lol). I'm now a clan captain for =[GD]=, Online Manager for Gamestah (eSports commentary and shoutcasting organisation), and used to own and run GameVault.
I founded ON3 with prolax, who has been gaming since he left the crib, and competitively so for the last 3 years also. He is currently a member of Team Sidewinder, but has run his own clans, as well as being involved in GameVault and CyberGamer on administrative levels also.
We will be making sure this place continues to grow, and make sure the events you have come to know improve on the already solid foundation and performance that tmdude and Deezilla have set. We are in the process of concluding arrangements with supporting parties, and the benefits of that support will of course come through to xLAN and WCG for 2010!
So without further ado..... The date has been set!!!!! Mark it off in your calendars boys and girls - Friday the 9th of July will be when it all happens again, and Sunday the 11th of July when it all finishes. A big year is planned, and already we are starting to see the makings of what will be yet another event to remember.
We welcome your feedback in the lead up to xLAN, and will have more updates very soon for all the important details, some lead up competitions, and of course where it will be held, the tournaments proposed, and the other important details!
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Posted by arseynimz on Wednesday, February 03, 2010 @ 03:49:54 New Zealand Daylight Time |
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Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, The World's Premiere Global e-Sports Tournament And Festival Comes Stateside For The Third Time
World Cyber Games (WCG), the organizer of the premier international video game competition and festival, today announced Los Angeles, CA as the WCG 2010 Grand Final host city. As the official host city for the WCG 2010 Grand Final, elite gamers from around the world will flock to the Los Angeles Convention Center next year to compete for the title of world's best gamer.
In bringing the Grand Final to the United States for the third time, the WCG will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in the world's largest video game market. L.A. is one of the major hubs for the video game industry as it is home to some of the largest developers and studios in the world and the home to some of the most influential gaming media. A hit WCG Ultimate Gamer, a reality TV program (NBCU Network) was also shot on location in Los Angeles. This show takes a dozen top-notch video game players, drops them into an L.A. loft where they live together and compete for the title of ''Best All-Around Gamer,'' along with other prizes like $100,000 cash, and the ''Ultimate Samsung Electronics package.''
''This event will bring an economic impact of millions of dollars to the city of Los Angeles,'' said Michael Krouse, senior vice president of sales and client services for LA INC. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. ''L.A. is the perfect destination for this event and we look forward to welcoming the international delegates.''
''After taking into careful consideration the many factors involved with selecting the host city, the World Cyber Games Committee came to a clear decision with Los Angeles,'' said Hyoung-Seok Kim, CEO of World Cyber Games, Inc., organizer of the World Cyber Games. ''San Francisco and Seattle were extremely successful events and we look forward to returning to the United States for our 10-year anniversary.''
''Samsung Electronics has been the World Wide partner of World Cyber Games since its inception 10 years ago and we are thrilled to continue playing an integral role in supporting its growth and popularity,'' said David Steel, Senior Vice President of Strategic Marketing, Samsung Electronics America Inc. ''Hosting the games in Los Angeles should be an exciting opportunity for the gaming community and our North American team as we continue to provide the latest technology for the competitions.'' |
Posted by Dee-Zilla on Friday, October 30, 2009 @ 15:29:51 New Zealand Daylight Time |
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