By elusive

 

What a weekend to remember. Events, tournaments, sponsors, stage matches, gaming clans from around New Zealand; WCG qualifiers… wow!

 

I remember waking up early Friday morning, grabbing a coffee and driving up to the event centre. If Friday was to be anything like the day before, I knew we’d be in for a crazy ride. I walked in through the main entry, entered the gaming hall. On my right, the stage, its equipment silent, sleeping, waiting. Directly ahead of me, a desk covered with name tags, and just beyond it, the dark hall awaiting its guests. Nothing but row upon row of tables and chairs, network cables, power adaptors. It really hit me at the moment just how much work was put into the setup. To think that just 2 days ago, this was nothing more than an empty hall.

 

 

I dumped my bag in the crew area, and proceeded to the entry hall, where gamers were already lining up, joking, laughing, doing the Mexican wave (yes you heard right). We opened the doors, and the event began! Over the next 2 hours, all I could see were name tags, lanyards, and a sea of faces. While each crew member has their own part to play during the event, the first couple of hours are critical. Every last crew member is there, handing out name tags, answering questions, helping gamers with their gear, making sure everyone has found a seat, has power and a working network connection. During those first hours, it really still strikes me how much that empty hall transforms.

 

 

 

The hard part finally over, on to the games! xLAN also hosts the New Zealand WCG qualifiers. Over the next couple of days, we’d be boasting tournaments not only for xLan, but for WCG and fun competitions as well! I turned on my pc, checked the roster for the Counter Strike 1.6 games, and proceeded to liaise with the rest of the game administrators. We picked up our walkie-talkies, worked out which teams we’d be refereeing for the first round, and the games began. From this point, for me, it was nothing but refereeing match after match, with a quick break for some lunch and dinner. But I didn’t care. Having come from a CS backround myself, there is nothing more exhilarating for me than to ref a game played by top NZ clans. Some of the rounds were intense! Some so close it was anybody’s guess who would win. I had no personal favourites though. When I wasn’t overseeing a WCG match I was helping admin the CS:Source scene. The rest of the event over those 2 days was a bit of a blur, there was just so much to do. The sponsors had their gear out for sale, the stage matches were drawing crowds. There was a even a Guitar Hero 2 match which drew much cheering and laughter. I know that behind the scenes, the crew were hard at work, each doing their own part. Fixing any issues, answering any questions, getting in the odd game themselves if they got a spare moment!

 

It all went by so fast, the next thing I knew, it was late Sunday afternoon. Prizes were being given out, WCG winners and qualifiers were being announced, and the gamers were leaving. It wasn’t over yet though. Now came the nasty bit. The bit your mother would do for you if you were at home: clean up. This is where I tip my hat to those who volunteer for crew. Many people don’t know it, but crew aren’t paid. They are volunteers. They spend their nights in the months leading up to the event preparing for it, from handing out flyers, testing servers and equipment. Right down to sharing jokes in a lounge while crimping cables, surrounded by wires, cuttings and lots of coffee. They spend 2 days before the actual event setting up all those stages and rows of network cables you see. That previous empty hallway is transformed by many hands, working together for free. Sunday night saw those same hands diligently putting away equipment, throwing out garbage, packing up tv’s and banners.

 

Why do we do it? For me, the answer is simple: gaming spirit. Crew are gamers. We want to see the event succeed, to see gamers having fun. This is what gaming events like this are all about. It’s never about the money. Anyone who’s ever spoken to the organisers, Susan and Anthony Baikie, know that they do not make a profit. It’s about the gamers. 2007 was the second year in a row I’d volunteered, and I’ll be doing it again this year, so see you all in 2008!