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Friends and More at the Granado Espada PH Black Party
[There will be pictures in this post - lots and lots of pictures! I'll be resizing them so as not to completely kill your browsers dead, but it's well worth it to wait while all the pictures are loading since they're pretty much integral to the story. In fact, as I often do for these after-action reports, the pictures and the captions ARE the story. Hope you can stick around to wait for them, since they're quite worth it.]
In order to celebrate its first year since commercial launch in the Philippines, IP e-Games piggybacked onto a Globe Telecoms event, hosting a Gaming Arena area on the first floor of the SMX Convention Center, the pet exhibit center of the SM Mall of Asia. The Gaming Arena boasted about a hundred or so PCs, and was intended to host the games being promoted that day: CABAL Online, Top Speed, Dance Battle Audition, and of course Granado Espada.
The Granado Espada banner at the Gaming Arena.
PCs! Lots of PCs!
Unfortunately all those PCs wound up becoming so much dead things. How ironic that a telecoms promotion that was supposed to extol added connectivity via both computers and mobile phones wound up providing an extremely inadequate Internet connection to this whole lot of computers. The lack of a reliable Internet connection had several repercussions for the event; the biggest casualty was this:
The Granado Espada PvP go-round, and any other tournaments that the other games might have wanted to put on, was unceremoniously bricked because there was no actual connection. Too bad since the GE tourney was supposed to take place on the Test Servers! I can only hope the PvP teams found the rest of the day at least as eventful as the tourney would have been. At least everyone who registered for the tournament was given a prize ^^
There was no PvP, but there was a lot of People Meeting People, in many cases for the first time, and in a few cases after a long time! Here's one of the surprise participants at the rest of the event: Sigrid!
[With thanks to Alex Crosse who took this pretty cool candid shot of me and Sigrid talking.]
The Black Party kicked off in earnest with the Trivia Contest, hosted by Grantoza and CM Aethrin.
[The telecom company also did not provide microphones, so we had to make do with that megaphone - and that prompted several rounds of jokes about being right back in Granado Espada, what with the game having Megaphone items to talk to an entire map at once, and the Microphone item to talk to the entire server.]
Part of the crowd that hung around the stage to join the Trivia Contest. Is it any wonder they were crowded so thickly when the prizes included video cards and such?
Lucky me to win one of the major prizes at this Trivia Contest; details here.
After a break, during which this cake was revealed and eaten with much relish, Aethrin got back on stage [I hope he enjoyed his chunk of the cake!] to hand out certificates of appreciation to the GE PH bloggers for, once again, going above and beyond the call of duty to keep the community informed and up to date with the game's latest developments.
As the certificate itself says:
For [their] stupendous efforts in chronicling events, news and features pertinent to the Granado Espada community.
The first group of bloggers honored: from left to right, Fiksdotter, Blacksword, Christus, CM Aethrin, Sigrid, and Southernsky.
The second group of bloggers honored: standing, from left to right, Churvanesska, Welling, CM Aethrin, Mena, and Artaxerxes. Kneeling, well, that's me [NineMoons].
Other bloggers were called but were not around, including Ogasawara and Craeon. [Craeon, that's the second certificate you've missed....]
The fan art competition drew a few contestants, and the prizes were won by StreyCat and Serpentes [a/k/a Hahaziah].
As a parting shot at the close of the Black Party, CM Aethrin suddenly yelled, "Okay, everyone who showed up in black, line up in front of the stage!" One scrum later, people walked away carrying GE mousepads [with Pirate Adelina on them] and other random real-life goodies. Whiteships a/k/a the lovely Feng Ling cosplayer snagged a limited-edition shirt, to her joy, after she'd been unable to buy anything in her size. I also got a shirt - but was able to trade it to Blacksword in exchange for his GE lanyard!
My parting photo: the Carracci crowd what attended the event, in what will likely be the last picture of this group under that name! [Since in two weeks' time Pachelbel and Carracci will cease to exist and instead become the single server Rembrandt....]
[Next Post: Friends and more - and pictures of us eating that cake!]
I was going to do just a post-event picspam as I did with the post-GE PH Tribute to the Ladies entry, but I thought you might like a little more commentary with the 100-plus pics I took of the event.
Again, I'll be posting the pics at a slightly smaller size so as not to kill your browsers too much. Please click on the photos to go to the Photobucket archive, where you can view all of them.
***
Previous entry: Post-Dom1nation II, recap and review, part 1: Cosplay and Factions
After the faction honors, it was time to give due recognition to the Granado Espada PH Community Heroes.
First came the individual honors for the winners of the first Fantazzztic Film Awards:
Artaxerxes.
Behringer.
deEspania.
Familier.
Fetuccini.
Fiksdotter.
iCez.
Kincaid.
Mena.
Mortreux.
NineMoons.
Reclusion.
Sigrid.
Weisswritter.
And then the Philippine sweep of the first FFA was made clear, as the three PH teams that made the finals were given their prizes!
Veterans, Perdonato: Mortreux, Weisswritter, and Fetuccini.
Experts, Le Blanc (White): Fiksdotter, iCez, and Reclusion.
Grand Masters, Not Another Love Story: Ze Muzical!: Behringer, NineMoons, and Reclusion.
Next to be honored were the PH heroes of the GE Forums:
AUGLab, Community Crew. [IGN: Castiglione]
BlackSheep, Community Crew. [IGN: RavenBlitz]
The Colony Wars reporters were honored as well:
NineMoons, for Cervantes.
Reclusion, for Carracci.
And the GE PH bloggers with outstanding contributions to the community, not to mention all of whom were blogspotted:
Fiksdotter.
Mena.
NineMoons.
Reclusion.
Welling.
Not in photos: Craeon, Deniva.
It was just too bad that the fan artists were not present at the venue!
And I hope that Blacksword and Arcleaumont receive recognition for their fan work too! [They were the PH community members most recently honored on the main site: Blacksword for his Player's Guide to Conventions and Events, and Arcleaumont for his War of the Factions 2 poster.]
***
While the awards were going on, several activities were taking place around the GE booth and elsewhere: the Battle of the Champions 2v2 Face-Off, won by the Visayas team; the New Settlers' Battle, the War of the Factions 5v5 PvP, and the live Adelina's Booty Search.
Unfortunately, the New World Trivia Quiz did not push through, for reasons yet unknown.
RCM Hrin and pCM Veya announced that Version 2.6 of sGE, as previously hinted at in one of Hrin's earlier blog entries, would be released on 12 June! That patch will have MAJOR consequences for Colony Wars, and introduce at least 3 new RNPCs - support/bard Vicente Rio, crossbow-user Calyce, and taekwondo martial artist Bai Hu.
In the background, bands such as Imago, Rivermaya, and Sugarfree played their hearts out for the audience. The event hosts were DJs Tado and Ramon Bautista of Magic 89.9, and Nancy Castiglione.
***
After Dom1nation II, the bloggers, several faction leaders and companions, and other players went to dinner with pCM Veya, Ivee Feria, RCM Hrin, and the guests from IAHGames. Someone ordered a dish of balut and invited the guests to try it out ^^
***
I'll be writing an article on Dom1nation II and Granado Espada for a future issue of the print edition of Game! magazine, so I hope you pick that one up too!
Event Plug Time.
What: e-Games Domination II
Where: SMX Convention Center, next to the SM Mall of Asia. See the map:
When: 6 April 2008, from 10am onwards
Why: A crapload of Granado Espada events.
EVENTS RUNDOWN [these events are pretty much confirmed, as they have appeared at http://granadoespadaph.multiply.com]
*Live Events* [i.e., NOT online]
New World Quiz Bee - answer trivia questions about Granado Espada in the Easy, Intermediate, and Difficult questions, and win Granado Espada pens with ID holders! [If that means a lanyard that says Granado Espada, Iwantone *grabby hands*]
Adelina's Booty - Live! - participate in an Amazing Race-style run around the venue and stand a chance to win Item of the Month codes and Adelina's Booty searches!
*Online Events* [i.e., taking place WITHIN the game servers]
Tournament of the Champions >> Face/Off 2v2 PvP - representatives from Baguio, the NCR, Cebu, and Davao will compete against each other in the Internal Test Server for major prizes, both in-game and real-life.
New Settlers Battle 2v2 PvP
War of the Factions 5v5 PvP
New Settlers Race for the New World - Register for this freeplay event and race to achieve the highest level among the competitors in one hour to win prizes!
UPDATE
*Offline Activities* [i.e., forums, the venue, and elsewhere]
Faction Recognitions / Best Factions in Granado Espada PH - Vie to be the Most Loyal Faction or the Most Active Faction by hauling as many of your faction members as you can to the venue! Win certificates and in-game costumes of your choice!
Faction Banner-Making Contest - Bring your pre-made faction banners, or make your own at the venue, and compete to have the best faction banner to win Item of the Month codes and Pwnage Packages!
Granado Espada PH Community Heroes - Nominate the players and community members who you think have made significant contributions to the GE PH community, and they will receive certificates and costumes of their choice - plus be recognized in front of everyone at the event!
Baron and Baroness - The best male and female GE cosplayers can win Andre's or Karja's vanity boxes, Field Tactics Manuals, and goody bags!
Granado Espada Mobile Raffle - Win external hard drives and video cards by texting in!
The Captain's Treasure Chest - Buy GVCs and stand a chance to pick a prize!
***
More details and more events, hopefully, as that site gets updated, or as I hear about them.
The awarding ceremony for the FFA Grand Finale winners is supposed to take place during this event.
And please join me in hoping that someone very special drops by from IAHGames in Singapore to grace this event, just like she did last year!
The fourth in a series of posts documenting the Granado Espada launch events in the Philippines, taking place over the weekend of 15-16 September 2007.
Featuring smaller pictures for easier reading and navigation.
Previous posts:
Event Prep
Press Luncheon and Upcoming Patches
Liberty's Wrath Finals
Next post:
NineMoons's Shout-Outs
The day after the Granado Espada Commercial Launch Day/Night Raids at One Esplanade was marked by yet another GE-related feast: the kickoff program for the IP e-Games Evolution series of roadshows. This series of activities will take the redesigned e-Games logo and the consolidated roster of MMOs all over the country, from schools to malls to internet cafes.
By consolidated I mean that e-Games is now promoting Granado Espada along its other games: Ran Online, O2 Jam, Dance Battle Audition, Supreme Destiny, Battle Position, and Dreamville. Previously, GE was being promoted by e-Games's sister company IP-Interactive; now, one company promotes all of these popular games. And the roadshow was designed to call attention to that very fact.
I got to the venue, the Block at SM North Edsa, at around noon and saw that the preparations for the day's event were nearly complete. pCM Veya, fresh from the Night Raid and the previous day's activities, was helping set up the GE booth. She also gave a short welcoming message during the program.
pCM Veya and her sunglasses at the GE booth.
The GE booth, located directly at the entrance of the activity area, boasted eight PCs for use during the 3v3 PvP tournament and to help new users register within the game. Two standees flanked the booth opening:
The return of the hard-working male musketeer.
A new female elementalist standee, this one dressed in the Elementalist robes and already in battle.
The GE sign at the back of the booth, flanked by two columns.
The rules for the 3v3 PvP mini-tourney, on a banner next to the male musketeer.
Two GE-related cosplayers showed up at this event:
The winner of the GE cosplay at the Day Raid, the female elementalist.
Me and the model wearing a Le Blanc costume. [Thanks to Ms. Ivee for the correction!]
Once again, e-Games President and COO Steve Tsao made the opening remarks of the event.
I also got a quick interview with him at the venue. He said that the redesigned logo, arrived at after much trial and error and consultation with the constituent player communities, heralded a relaunch of the company to include celebrated titles such as Granado Espada and upcoming releases under its aegis. He emphasized that the free-to-play games would remain free-to-play forever, and that they would be bringing in more free-to-play games, as well as games with new business models, to cater to more segments of the gaming public.
Next month, he promised that there would be major statements regarding the acquisition/release of new game titles. Now there's something to look forward to!
Mr. Tsao gets interviewed by Hero TV.
GE Product Manager Ivee Feria reprised her Powerpoint presentation from the 15 September press launch, and even gave away some really cool prizes during the trivia questions: the coveted door hangers and postcards, and more pairs of Divine Angel Wings.
Ms. Feria during her presentation.
It seemed like a lot of fun was had by all at this kickoff event. And since it's a roadshow, expect these booths and activities, and a lot more fun, as they make their way around the country!
***
Final post: last but not the least, new friends and introductions~!
To view all the pictures from the event, please click on this Photobucket album: Granado Espada launches.
The third in a series of posts documenting the Granado Espada launch events in the Philippines, taking place over the weekend of 15-16 September 2007.
Featuring smaller pictures for easier reading and navigation.
Previous posts:
Event Prep
Press Luncheon and Upcoming Patches
Next posts:
GE at e-Games Evolution
NineMoons's Shout-Outs
One of the showcase events of the Day Raid of the Granado Espada Commercial Launch in the Philippines was the National Finals of the Liberty's Wrath 5v5 PvP Tournament. Qualifying tourneys were held in the different regions of the country in the weeks leading up to the launch, and the winners were to compete against each other in the finals during the launch itself.
The eight winning teams represented the following regions:
- National Capital Region [teams NCR-1 and NCR-2]
- Northern Luzon [Baguio]
- Central Luzon [Bulacan]
- Southern Luzon [Cainta]
- Visayas [Cebu]
- Northern Mindanao [Cagayan de Oro]
- Southern Mindanao [Davao]
The rules of the finals were the same as in the qualifiers except one:
- all matches 5v5
- players used pre-made accounts on the GE test server, containing the five stock characters and Emilia the Sage, all at Lv. 100 + Veteran status
- weapons and armor were provided
- no item trading or exchange between players
- no unsportsmanlike conduct, uncivil behavior, or rudeness
- the different mechanic involved potions and other consumables: many of the standard consumable items were already provided in the test server accounts, such as HP and SP potions, buff potions, resurrection potions, orbs, and bullets
Fantastic prizes were up for grabs to the 3rd placer, runner-up, and national champion:
3rd Place - 1 Chrysalis Box, 1 pair Divine Angel Wings for each member
2nd Place - 1 Pioneer's Kit Strategy Pack [15 days], 1 pair Divine Angel Wings for each member
1st Place - 1 Pioneer's Kit Strategy Pack [30 days], 10 Ring Boxes, 1 School Uniform Look costume of choice, 1 pair Divine Angel Wings, merchandise from sponsors for each member
All matches during the event were held as best-of-three rounds; on-site coordinators oversaw the teams and enforced the rules of the finals.
Here's how the event played out.
The Eliminations pitted the following teams against each other, in the following order. Winners are indicated in italics:
NCR-2 vs Cainta
Cagayan de Oro vs Cebu
Bulacan vs Davao
NCR-1 vs Baguio
The four winning teams immediately went to the Semifinals:
Cainta vs Cebu
Davao vs Baguio
The Cebu and Baguio teams made way for the 3rd Place match:
Cainta vs Davao
And finally, the event was capped by the Championship match:
Baguio vs Cebu
3rd Place - Team Davao [Carracci: Cabagnaughty, CaBankai, Cabagnoot, Cabagnut, CabagnotA]
Yes, there seemed to be a theme in the members' names.
2nd Place - Team Baguio [Cervantes: HeavensFence, DeathGod, Saints, oGTo, DeathAngels]
They came armed with a banner stating that they were all proud members of Anonymous faction.
1st Place - Team Cebu [Cervantes: Arcleaumont; Pachelbel: Gakitsu, Deathwolf, Encabo, Knightfall]
The only "mixed" team, and the team that went through the finals with a nearly unblemished record. They lost only one round, to Team Baguio during the Championship match.
Congratulations to all the winners!
***
Next post: details of the 16 September e-Games Evolution Roadshow at the Block, SM North Edsa, with special GE features~!
To view all the pictures from the event, please click on this Photobucket album: Granado Espada launches.
