Just around two weeks ago in Poland were played new gaming tournament. Luckily I was one of the admins, mostly doing editors stuff there. Now, when I have much more free time, I can write some kind of memoirs from this event. Enjoy!
Preparation to KODE5 Qualifications started around two, maybe three months ago. At the beginning, organizators had to prepare online qualifiers tournament. It was necessary to select 12 players from Warcraft III and 12 teams from Counter Strike platform. Programists had a colossal work to do with tournament script, but finally it was ready just a few days before deadline. Everything seemed to be fine and noone expected any problems. But as it usually happens in life they came in last moment, just 24 hours before start. Something went wrong. Luckily our programists patched up some bugs and we were able to make this quali running.
First three phases of qualifactions were done without any additional problems and finally we could start preparing the offline finals. After bitter fights, a lot of emotions and "blood" we finally selected 12 Warcraft III players, which were able to participate in Grand Final in Warsaw. The online qualifiers ended but the biggest task still upon us. To make offline finals worthy KODE5 mark.
I've arrived 2 days before deadline ends with a lot enthusiasm and willignes to work. My first task was to find Blue City in Warsaw. Luckily again, World Cyber Games Grand Finals 2007 was held there, so I had no problems with finding it. When I've entered into building, my enthusiasm fall down. As I excepted a lot of work was waiting. "It is nothing"- I told in mind and started toghether with rest of our crew to metamorphosis Expo Hall into gaming center.
First of all we had to plan arrangement of tables, chairs and gaming stands. We decided to split hall into two stages and the main stage for music bands, competitions for guests in the middle. In this case we lost lan atmosphere a little, but it was a
option, while this two platforms can collide between each other. Next step was to connect computers, but it was around 23:00 pm, so we decided to end it early. Our crew went to home, to get some rest.
Our next day started around 8:00 am. We ate something and of course drunk coffee, which gave us necessary energy! Packing up, washing and dressing up and we were ready to reach our destiny - Blue City. We arrived there around 9:30 am. From the beginning we had to work very fast, but of course safely. Connecting computers, preparing network and mass of work with standings. We had a lot of luck, because rest of our crew came to help us, so we were able to end everything at time. Only Counter Strike admins had some problems, but reason of that was simple: they had to prepare around 50 computers, while Warcraft III and standings for Guests- SingStar, Guitar Hero, CoD4, F.E.A.R. took "only" 30. Anyways we went sleep around 1:30 am.
From early morning we had a lot of work. Saturday was the first day of competition. Me and my co-worker and friend- JoeBlack had to deal with players registration. This task took us around 2 hours: from 8:30 to 10:30 am and we were ready to start whole tournament. First game began, while first guests and probably fans too came into Blue City. From minute to minute Expo Hall was filling up with a lot of people. Games were played without any problems and we ended first day of this tournament without any problems. Meanwhile players were playing, music bands were singing, we had a lot of competitions for fans and guests. Atmosphere was very peaceful. I did not expected that, because few times, when I was at lan tournaments, atmosphere was crushed by immature people. In this case KODE5 Poland was an exception and a great example for other Polish events. At 22:00 pm we were able to go to hotel to take a breathe. I counted that day as a good one.
On Sunday we could be a little later, because next phase of tournament was planned at
We appeared at 9:00 to check computers etc. Luckily nothing went wrong. All PCs were ok, network was working correctly. First players arrived at 10 am, so we started tournamet. |
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