Stephen "Vitrolic" White, a local journo, AK extraordinaire and captain for Brazen has put together this small preview for this weekends upcoming competition. It was written before hearing about Peri's Hoes and was meant to be tongue in cheek. So please enjoy the read. 

 

 

Anyone who isn't  living under an e-rock in the CoD4 community will know that this weekend MPLD will be hosting another one of its legendary CoD4 tournaments. 

The numbers are impressive for a small monthly LAN, with a total of ten teams already registered online and a few more to possibly enter at the event. The first place prize is already sitting on R2500 assuming all the teams pitch and it could go up if we get more entries. The tournament will almost definitely be double-elimination and will follow the general standards of ProMOD Live, S&D e.t.c. 

More importantly, some of the top players from around the country will be there trying to prove that they're just as unhittable on LAN as they are online. 

First up for discussion are Area 52, who are the strongest team on paper or at least online. Boasting a full lineup with yours truly substituting in for Speedy in the role of AK, most would say that this team should win. They recently finished second in leg 2 of the Do Gaming league and are looking really strong. In addition to this they have the unstoppable father-son combo of GG[noob]+ Vitrolic, assuming that I don't get raped and killed before I get there because I'm going up by bus and then getting a lift with qu1k, alone, just me and him. Seriously though, I'd just like to say a massive thank you to Trevor for assisting me, I feel really fortunate and grateful. I definitely owe you some sort of favour, sexual or otherwise. 

Area 52 Lineup will be:

Jayden "Phatnoob" Schroder

Luca "RoBoHoBo" Tucconi

Emile "GG[noob]"Haughton © 

Max "fAiTH" Mclaughlin

Stephen "Vitrolic" White [Bravado Gaming]

 

So while Area 52 are the favourites, it would be foolish to not think of the roguish xiR's Pimps as serious competition. xP, which is purely a LAN mix team, has a track record of putting the top online teams to shame and will be looking to cause an upset for what must be the umpteenth time. Their confident attitude and hangovers work in their favour and if they get momentum they tend to end up winning. Filling in for the side will be Pantheon's pride, Greg "Rora" Van Der Spy who will most likely take up the SMG class. If this team can hit their straps and not get completely hammered on Saturday night then they could easily prove too much for Area 52 to deal with. 

xiR's Pimps will be: 

Rynier "Cranky" Schoeman

Trevor "qu1k" Henry ©

Andrew "xiR" Harper

Craig "CrAiGiSh" Dodd 

Greg "Rora" Van Der Spy [Pantheon Gaming]

And while these are the two teams that most would predict to end up in the final, there are two dark horses which definitely deserve a mention. 

First is the possibly appropriately named Wesley's Downies, consisting of two international players, a Neworder player, a former BFB player and moOse, who I think is a wildcard. I don't know much about this team but they probably have international nades and strategies, so they are not to be underestimated. 

Wesley's Downies will be: 

Wesley "w1cked" Hatfield

Alan "K1ddo" Hatfield

Timothy "Lulu" Hye 

Christopher "Stats" Lotter 

Second is SuperNova Blackhole, which is what I'll be getting if I play my cards right on my bus trip. This team has got a lot of  solid players in it from the prem league with RaxXxy from Vintage subbing. I don't know much about these guys either so I'm not going to say anything more,  but it is LAN and if you have a decent team anything can happen. 

SuperNova Blackhole will be: 

Thys "CuRz3D"Hustawayte

Ian "ITR" Robinson 

Ryan "RaxXxy" Rupprecht 

David "Machaven" Olivier 

Werner "Wolf69" Breedt

There are six other teams attending but I don't know enough about these guys to do even a  short bio on them, which I am indeed sorry about. These teams are:

Unfortunately Synergy Gaming will not be there to defend their title. For those who don't know, the old Synergy Gaming lineup consisting of MatTh1as and company has lost closely to xP at MPLD a few times, but eventually came back to win their first MPLD title a few months ago. That team has since disbanded with most of them playing BC2 now, but I'm still really sad that they won't be participating because well, the more good teams jamming the better. 

So basically, it's going to be an awesome LAN with what will hopefully be some really epic, close CoD4 matches. If nothing else, there's guaranteed to be lots of drinking, swearing in disbelief, cries of "HAX" and "Bull####" after an Area 52 config absorbs a full clip of AK and if we're really lucky, someone getting a beat-down is always good for a laugh, although I think my head might be on the chopping block this time around. On that note there might be a father-son boxing match, although the old man still might chicken out. 

 So if you're in the area and are keen to just come have a look and introduce yourself, then please feel more than free to do so. Most of the people from the CoD4 community are really friendly and it's generally  great to meet someone new from the online world. 

Even though it's been a while since I've been to MPLD, even the memory of the fantastic vibe at this LAN really reminds me of what competitive gaming is all about. If you're not coming then you're missing out. 

See you there everyone, I'm pretty sure this MPLD is going to be awesome :)

If we're really lucky we might get a DJ Hero demonstration from South Africa's #1 DJ Hero,  Luca "RoBoHoBo" Tucconi, but asking for standup on top of a great gaming weekend seems to be asking too much. From left: RoBo, Diacide, Scammer.