Oops. I was meant to do something on this last night, but while browsing the site I had to go for emergency eye surgery. Take a guess why. Here’s a hint: the site of it literally burnt.

Recently, we ran into a little bit of trouble with ZootFly — so I’ll try keep on track by being nice.

Ventus Gaming — a brand new MGO has arrived in South Africa. They apparently formed in October 2009, however we were totally oblivious to this. They officially blasted onto the gaming scene a few days ago, scarring retina’s nationwide.

Ventus means wind, in latin — but it also seems to match the surname of its leader Pieter Venter, who goes by the name Cyrus.

The new MGO has teams for DotA, HoN, Guitar Hero, Fifa 10, Quake Live and Counter Strike.

The DotA team is previously known as tankh, and they seemed to have jumped onto the sponsorship wagon, which is pretty nifty for a DotA team — seeing as all sponsors seem to hate DotA.

Cyrus has said that this is the first team to launch with sponsors, and they are pretty excited about it. He plans to make the team succeed by using his previous knowledge from XploIT, a previously failed MGO.

Check out their *cringe* site, for more.

The teams:

Guitar Hero

• Mark ‘DarthPenguin’ Dennison

Fifa 10

• Matthew ‘Cheezy’ Bosch

Quake Live

• Henk ‘Adrenalin’ Boshoff
• Micele ‘Szarko’ Aleksandrov
• Robert ‘Draven’ Szlanina

Counter Strike

• Connor ‘KING’ Laming
• Dean ‘HackeM’ Seyfried
• Jandrey ‘JiN’ Venter
• Marco ‘Lost’ Fourie
• Marchant ‘StripflOw’ Laauwen

DotA

• Anthony ‘scant’ Hodgson
• Mike ‘nakor’ Jones
• Wessel ‘Freez’ Louwrens
• Gerrit ‘Death’ Willigenburg
• Liang ‘Kspr’ Cai

HoN – Previous known as Kai

• Sakkie ‘RandomHero’ Basson (Captain)
• Mark ‘iLLuSioN’ Woodland
• Nicholas ‘Prodegy’ Bowler
• Justin ‘smke ‘ Probyn
• Riaan ‘azN_DoMz’ Visser

Similar to Bravado-Gaming, Ventus are planning to grow e-Sports in South Africa. They have already received a few sponsorships for their efforts and this includes:

• Web Africa: 11x Unshaped accounts with 12GB each.
• Cooler Master: 5x Cosmos Sport Chassis valued at R2200 each, 5x Hyper212plus fans, 5x 1100W
• Samsung: 5x Samsung XL2370 HD 23″ TFT LCD Screens. (In association with Rectron)

On a side note: Looks like something from the ’90s.

The buzz around the water cooler seems extra intense this month; the MSSA debates are picking up once more, rAge 2009 is around the corner!!! and Syncidy Gaming will unveil its long awaited Competitive LAN in the Western Cape.

The first weekend of September (4th-6th) will see Syncidy ‘The Next Level’ launching at Proteaville, Bellville. They will be running both a Dota and COD4 tournament with prizes held for the winners of each.

When investigating the reasons behind this new lan, the ‘About Us’ page at www.syncidy.co.za had the following to say:

SynCidy was born in October 2007 when a group of gamers, tired of the lack of interest with regards to competitive game play in South Africa, banded together to make their dream of a competitive monthly LAN event a reality. Read further…

Looking at the table layout available [here] the LAN looks to be catering for 100-160 gamers, and with the monthly OC event rumored to not taking place during the month of September, seats are expected to fill up fast.

The official notice looks like this:

So don’t be left behind (like some of us were with rAge tickets), booking can be made online (discounted to R100) straight from their homepage, Syncidy Gaming!

With the current state of the community, many gamers would say the competitive e-Sports community in South Africa is going through a rough patch. A lot of people are focusing on the negatives at the moment, such as Ben “Equinox” Greenwood leaving the SA Gaming community, the number one TeamFortress 2 team, Brazen, are inactive and there are rumors that they could split, many of the good players are moving overseas, and lastly the problem tournament administrators have with the lack of enthusiasm and gratitude gamers show towards their tournaments. 

While most people are focusing on the negatives lets take the time to reflect back on the positives. 

In 2008 we saw the very first installment of the BOTC Call of Duty 4 and Counter-Strike: Source competitions, arguably the most premiere online tournaments to date, it could even rival some international competitions, in terms of prizes, organisation and of course the competition. Although it was a rough start for Robert “iNFy” Hart he weathered the storm and pulled through, showing that with enough perseverance and determination, dreams can become a reality. 

Most of us also saw, or heard of the most notable sponsorship in South African gaming history go to BFB (Big Fat B*stards). Where Incredible Connection sponsored them R60 000 worth of gaming hardware. Again part of the community were negative, and retaliated out of jealousy asking why they had been sponsored as the team hadn’t won anything of note or placed well in any of the premiere online and offline tournaments, and that there were far more deserving teams. BFB too weathered the storm and now boast one of the strongest lineups the Call of Duty 4 community has ever seen. All they need to do now, is learn how to work as a unit, and soon they should be unstoppable.

For  the rest of the story head on over to the miNt Gaming website.

Having paid a small fee to access information regarding legal proceedings from a goverment website the story was first discovered by Against All Authority Editor-in Chief who obtained a document outlining the result of a tribunal involving the ESWC organisers, Games-Services.

The result was that Games-Services has now entered liquidation, in other words ceased all business operation by using its assets to discharge its liabilities (its debts). Matthieu Dallonsent out a release in March stating that the ESWC organisers were “facing a serious cash flow crisis.” 

Games-Services made it official after posting an announcement earlier today on their website confirming the cease of all activities.

Official statement on the Games-Services website.

“Games-Services SA ceases all activities. Its liquidation has been pronounced by the Commercial Court of Paris March 30, 2009. In consequence, all the employees and managers have been relieved from their duties and laid off April 2nd, by the adjudication. 

The process of liquidation, which is starting this week, will notably organize the potential trade-in or resale of the company’s assets including the Electronic Sports World Cup and Overgame.”

This means we could see the ESWC brand being sold onto another company but given the current climate, who could possibly wish to take on such a huge burden? It also begs the question of what will happen to prize money of its past installment after teams and players signed an agreement that they would not receive it until a year after the tournament. Another question mark is if the 2009 Grand Final will even take place despite Dallon saying “the event might be organized by a third party.”
[Source via: SK-Gaming]

At the moment computer gaming in South Africa is facing a big problem, namely the MSSA. For those who are not familiar with this horrible organisation, they are the ones who can ‘award’ both National and Provincial colours for computer gaming.

The problem which we are facing is that the MSSA wants full power, and in order to obtain this they will do anything.

In regards to the MSSA wanting power, gamers have now started to take a stand against this organisation and its growth.

The first boycott started when the Call of Duty 4 teams decided to not enter the leagues. It was then followed by the OC & OGA meeting where players asked the OC and the OGA to remove all affiliation with the MSSA. We can now say that it has been taken to the next level, where gamers have created an online petition – available here – in order to ‘self regulate’.

Here’s a short piece from the petition:

This document serves as a positioning statement for the PC and console gaming community of South Africa on its desire to self regulate.

The document discusses the current federation, Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA), which currently has the power to run federated leagues and award school, provincial and national colours as well as put forward gamers’ names to the Protea Board of Control for Protea Colours.

The document outlines the reasons behind the gaming community’s desire to no longer fall under the MSSA and its plans for self regulation.

Everyone that wants to sign the petition may do so freely, and remember there is no pressure from us to sign it. :)

Leave your thoughts and comments about the Petition as well as the MSSA in the comments section below.

- Another link to the petition incase you missed it on top

Recently we revealed news about Organised Chaos and the MSSA (it hurts to say this) working together. While we were wondering why OC would do this, they have decided to answer our questions.

Organised Chaos have said that the OGA is a section 21 company, and they have said that all future players for competitions will now have to be club members of the OGA. OC will now officially just be the infrastructure to host OGA events.

The OGA will allow players to take part in other competitions. The OGA will also be seeking sponsorship for their competitions so that they can award the winners a couple of prizes.

The organiser of Organised Chaos said that the OGA membership fees will not go to the MSSA, but the OGA does pay a small association fee to the MSSA. This means that both the OGA and MSSA will get money for doing nothing, as players will soon be forced to sign up under them.

Wait.

This means that players will now have to pay more to play games? Firstly you will pay your membership fee, and then the tournament fees? Awesome.

Organised Chaos have said that they would just like to be part of the ‘bigger picture’ when it comes to gaming, and they would like to have the chance to recommend players for national colours.

It was said that players can belong to both an MSSA team and/or the OGA, and they would not have to swap over to play in the OC competitions.

Due to major feedback from the OC and MSSA disaster partnership, OC will hold a meeting for gamers next week Wednesday to discuss the situation.

The meeting will be based around the structure of the OGA and its involvement with MSSA.

Dietmar Rheeder-Kleist, OC organiser said:

To all Competitive gamers and interested parties,

Given the current boycotting situation of the MSSA league and its associated clubs, OGA/OC in Cape Town would like to ave an open discussion with its constituents.

We will be holding this meeting at Frontosa’s offices in Montague Gardens, Cape Town. All gamers, role players and interested parties are welcome, and we’d like to request that team captains and persons who have previously obtained recognition please attend.

The meeting will be held at Frontosa Offices on Wednesday 3rd at 18:00 (6 PM) March 2009 in Montague Gardens Cape Town. They are located on the corner of Omuramba and Computer Road.

Proposed Agenda for this meeting is:

* Definition of OC / OGA relationship
* Goals of OGA
* Definititon of OGA / MSSA relationship
* Discussion about MSSA boycott

The boycott occurred when the MSSA tried to become too involved in gaming, and the Call of Duty 4 players did not like this, as a result most of the clans from online pretty much decided to not enter the tournaments.

The *favourite* gaming association in SA, the MSSA, have announced that their leagues are finally underway. We are sad to announce that this years tournament will only have half the amount of games from the 2008 tournament.

Mind Sports South Africa have announced that there are 134 players registered for 2009, which means that the list has dropped by 94 players. These figures were meant to be announced on Sunday, but we’re thinking that the reason for the delay was because the MSSA couldn’t find a working mouse to double click on their players list.

MSSA seem to be losing players left, right and centre, things are not looking good for this association, and it is almost safe to say that with their power in the National Team Trails, etc, they could kill gaming in South Africa.

The MSSA have revealed that there will only be six games played online, and if we’re lucky, the other games might be available at LAN tournaments.

MSSA Regulations require a minimum of four teams in each team game, and eight individual players in each single player game for an online league to take place.

The 2009 MSSA season will consist of the following games:

• Counter Strike 1.6 (PC)
• DotA- Allstars (PC)
• Quake 3 (PC)
• Call of Duty 4 (PC)
• Starcraft (PC)
• TrackMania Nations Forever (PC)

MSSA’s DotA league will feature nine teams, while the CoD4 league will have seven teams, expect five teams in CS 1.6 and 12 players in the Quake 3 league.

You will find eight players in the Starcraft league and eight players in the TrackMania Nations Forever league.

In 2008 the MSSA’s online league had 13 DotA teams, 20 CoD4 teams and one CS 1.6 team.

Teams for the DotA league:

• Bravado
• kknP
• Team Xploit
• SynCidy
• WITS A
• WITS B
• PBHS (Pretoria Boys High School) – A and B team.
• Night Fox

Teams for the CoD4 league:

• Cry-O-Genesis
• ESWAT
• SJC
• Brazen
• Hell was Full
• Sutherland High School
• WIDS COD

Teams for the Counter-Strike 1.6 league:

• Cry-O-Genesis
• Bravado
• Eswat-eC
• W.A.Ced
• Zamalek

Quake 3 players:

• Chickenball
• Shenks
• el-tORsO
• Fomei
• tYphus
• MarZBarZ
• Dark Chocobo
• Mojo_JojoSK
• Crawler
• Darth-Hitler
• GT
• Coral-fairy

Starcraft Players:

• Cent
• krkaz
• Greyscale
• CaesarDay
• bvd_russian
• RIP
• DR4G0N_M45T3R
• The_Ish

Players for TrackMania:

• Sh1nob1
• Lisssa
• kner515
• dread
• FacELesS
• Skopsuil
• Wolmaister
• The_Ish

You will notice that Pantheon Gaming, miNt, tankh, Entropy, UBS, 6or9, BFB, along with a few other teams, are not taking part in the league. Major influences for not taking part in the league: the price of the event, along with a flight to Cape Town for a medal and a pat on the back.

Some teams have decided that they will never take part in MSSA leagues, and this is bad news for the league as they are losing top teams.

Can we once again really say that the MSSA has done their best?
Can we really say that the team that wins will be the best?

We really think that the MSSA should change their attitude and actually let people that understand gaming have some say in the matter.

Let us know what you think the comment section below.

Latest news from Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA), states that they have officially delayed the league due to technical difficulties.

The MSSA said that the rosters would go up on Sunday evening, but it seems like this just never happened (surprise!). The leagues are now delayed, thanks to “minor technical difficulties on the server”.

MSSA does it again. Win.

David Vannucci, MSSA league coordinator, said: “We’re having a problem with one of the mods on one of the games and as a result all the leagues are being delayed and will start together,”

The MSSA have also cut the amount of games in half, which means that the games played will now consist of Warcraft 3: DotA, Call of Duty 4, Counter Strike 1.6, Quake III, Starcraft and TrackMania Nations Forever.

There is still no word on how many players are playing these games, but the MSSA said that they will announce it soon. However, it was said that 12 clans did sign up, and many of them have entered multiple teams.

MSSA Regulations state that they need a minimum of four teams per team game, and eight individual players per single player game.

Does the MSSA actually know what they are doing, or have they just lost the entry forms? Let us know what you think in the comment section below.

[source:dogaming]

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) are trying to work with the City of Cape Town to host the Africon 2009.

MSSA President, Colin Webster, has said that developments are still in early stages, but there are investigations of gaming becoming an official sport in Cape Town.

“The MSSA has to put together a bid to the Olympic Committee to host Africon 09. To do that, we need the support of a local council. Furthermore, we will then be putting in a bid to the International Wargames Federation (IWF),” he says.

Last year’s Africon 08 Tournament featured international teams, SK Gaming and ButtonBashers, who won both the DotA and CoD4 divisions. It is said that both teams are keen on coming down again for the tournament, especially if it is in Cape Town.

“In a recent telephonic conversation between Michael Groen (of the well known ButtonBashers clan) and Colin Webster, Michael expressed his interest in his clan attending the 2009 African Continental Championships to take on the official South African National Team, in both an official test match and in the championships itself,” the MSSA said in a statement.

“ButtonBashers are generally considered to be the premier CoD4 team, and are chomping at the bit to come to South Africa after reading, and hearing, of the South African hospitality that was extended to SK Gaming. Of course, final plans will only be able to be made once the MSSA’s official bid is accepted for the championship and financing is secured for such an event,” the MSSA went on to say.

MSSA are busy trying to pass a by-law which will state that a player may only participate at Africon ’09 if they have played in a MSSA LAN or online event.

So far the registrations for the local leagues are closed, and MSSA were not able to give the amount of people entered to anyone, as they will only confirm numbers this week.

Okay while we are still trying to figure out what the MSSA are trying to accomplish, the president of the organisation went on to say that they (MSSA) do not oppose other leagues running in the country, they just want them to function withing the MSSA framework.

For what reason though? Well, it seems as if the MSSA are trying to run everything, where AGASA are clearly doing a better job.

The World Cyber Games have confirmed what the first five games to be played at the event will be.

Starcraft(PC)

Warcraft 3: The Frozen throne(PC)

Counterstrike 1.6(PC)

Guitar Hero: World Tour(PC)

Virtual Fighter 5

However, as surprising as it might seem, DotA(Defense of the ancients) will not be making an appearance at all in WCG. This is extremly dissapointing for all us DotA players. It’s weird that Guitar hero is choice game for WCG; since Guitar Hero is made mainly for fun, not competition and DotA is purely competitive. Maybe it’s because DotA is not a stand alone game, I don’t know. This is just a real shock to me!