Our friends and relatives could never really understand us though. They looked at us like little kids in an 18 year old body. They thought we would never grow up, they thought our minds will only be in games. We take their sermons, we take their criticism, but yet we continue to play on and on.

friends and relatives could never really understand us though.

Then one day you stop and think. “Can I ever make a living out of the game I love?”, “Is it even possible?”. We then begin about dreaming the dream. The dream of playing professionally. If people who play basketball can make a living out of throwing a ball in a hoop, scrambling to grab a ball that is not in anyone’s hands, can make money for doing what they love the most, “Why can’t we do the same?”

We switch on our first live stream and see Tasteless and Artosis commentating games of all these top professional gamers “Living the Dream”, gaining recognition for each victory and each defeat and making a living at the same time. Supporting their families, paying their bills and making a name for themselves. Our dreams get bigger, and our hopes expand as we tell ourselves, if they can do that so can we.

Tuning in to the Day9 daily, we all want to be a better gamer. Polish our builds, sharpen our timings, improve our micro, get better at macro, and play countless ladder games. Sometimes we reach a point where we can’t win a single game. We stop and release our frustration and take a short break from the game. Once our mind is clear, we take a look at our replays and see what can be done better.

we all want to be a better gamer

Then some company comes around and promises to put on a huge tournament. Our excitement increases as finally Starcraft 2 will be recognized as a competitive sport in the city. The months pass and still no word of this said tournament. Our hopes and dreams are shattered for a moment as promises are broken.

We decide to take things into our own hands and make our own dreams come true. As people with the same passion got together, the e-sports visionary, Gamevolution, Inc. was formed. On their backs are the hopes and dreams of every gamer in the city. My friends, the time is near.

In the following years, we are going to make our dream of professional gaming a reality. I come to you today, not as Drjimmy but as Arthur James Malgapo, a simple dreamer who dreams of making a living out of doing what I love. I only ask you as early as now, let us practice professionalism in our play, in dealing with the decisions made by Team Cube, accepting things for what they are, accepting your place and your role in making the dream a reality.

To those who are ready, represent us with pride and integrity. On your backs are the hopes of your team mates. Your task as the pioneers is difficult as you will be paving the way for those behind you. In your hands lies the power to make history and bring recognition to our team.

To those who are in training, continue to get better. Your role is to carry the burden of living up to the hype that was already started by your predecessors. Your time will come, but for now, prepare yourselves not only physically and mentally, but also psychologically. Continue to mature in your attitude, your decision making and your emotions. Do not let your emotions take control of you as a professional will always remain calm and collected and not let their emotions take control.

together, we are Team Cube

For those who are just beginning, continue to begin, continue to learn, continue to absorb and continue to dream. Your role is support your Code S and A team mates and learn from them as well.

Together, we are Team Cube. A cohesive unit, bonded by our roots, bonded by our dreams and bonded by our passion. Let us set aside our differences and move forward as we travel down the road to our dreams.

—–

- By: Arthur James Malgapo, a.k.a. Drjimmy [Team Cube's Official Caster and Gamevolution, Inc.'s Auditor]

Why I don’t believe Starcraft 2 will hit among the Filipino MASS gaming community

Starters, the mass “gaming” community already had an established game of their flavor, which is DOTA and MMO’s. It allows them to be a “hero” instead of being a “commander”. Honestly, as much as I want to have faith in those people to be interested in a game like Starcraft 2 or any RTS for that matter, It’s like long distance relationship, it just doesn’t work.

Competitive Starcraft 2 is just demanding for the average gamer. You don’t get better with your PHP and one item wont make you the king of PVP. It’s who you are as a core that makes you better.

I ran different internet shops in our provinces, I installed various games from MMORPG, casual games, online games, RTS (real time strategy) and FPS (first person shooters) and as far as I can tell, people there don’t want to be a commander, it’s a huge burden for them to command an army and let alone they don’t want to play against people they don’t know which makes the skill pool rather inbred. In MMORPG, the masses look for a “strong” institution to be associated with, an established guild or a powerful clan. Clearly, not everyone wants to play a high-tension game let alone be in a high-tension situation with pressure coming from everywhere. Competitive Starcraft 2 is just demanding for the average gamer. You don’t get better with your PHP and one item wont make you the king of PVP. It’s who you are as a core that makes you better.

The DOTA Factor

I know folks who played AOS and other bunch of cool Broodwar UMS games, tower defense, spawn maps and loved it. I had my HUGE share of Blizzard Tower Defense, Islands Tower Defense, Defence of the Ancients MERCENARIES (pre dota allstars), a handful of flavors of Footman Wars and but nothing addicted people the way DOTA hooked them. IT BECAME a household term.

What the masses want is to work hard, they play hard, they get a BADASS item which automatically makes them better based on their stats as a reward for their character. Starcraft 2 doesn’t give you that kind of zone.

I don’t want to think that’s it’s a racial and inbred impediment in the mentality that’s causing this phenomenon. As I can see, people are just too afraid in stepping out of their comfort zone and risk “working hard” and “losing big”. Starcraft 2 is too demanding for most people and when they play that hard, they expect to win only to find themselves out expanded, out classed, and out numbered in the food army. What the masses want is to work hard, they play hard, they get a BADASS item which automatically makes them better based on their stats as a reward for their character. Starcraft 2 doesn’t give you that kind of zone. You’re always at the rock bottom, and the tension is always high. Just because you’re Diamond 1800 league doesn’t automatically make you better than a genius Terran who just bought the game yesterday.

Starcraft 2 takes too long (or too short, depending on what kind of cheese is used to win) for them to do that, I can hear arguments that a typical DOTA game lasts for 45 minutes and a Starcraft 2 game ranges from 5 minutes to 40 minutes but take note that most of the action in DOTA happens THE WHOLE TIME. It’s easier to play DOTA and win despite of mistakes wherein you can just GG when you make a major scouting blunder (yes, he backdoored you).

The FPJ Factor

Let’s dig the dirt and sling it everywhere. People have played MMORPG’s to be called a “Hero”. Heck, a bunch of folks played DOTA to be a HERO and “PAWN” (correct: pwn/own) other “inferior” heroes to be so called “better” than other players. Some account it to luck, some account it to lack of game knowledge and some just picks up the blamethrower because they’re simply better than them. It boils down to one thing, it’s an easier measure of “badassery”. That’s where the FPJ factor kicks in. Maganda na items mo, sikat ka na, malaki na titi mo. In Starcraft 2, your rank doesnt add inches.

Maganda na items mo, sikat ka na, malaki na titi mo. In Starcraft 2, your rank doesnt add inches.

The majority of Filipino gaming populace consists of children, budding adults and a bunch of Man-Childs (offensively putting it, a boys in a man’s body). The rest would be professionals, fathers, or women. You can guess how “testosterone” is controlled within the population, talk about “ego management”. Have you been in a zoo with monkeys loaded with sugar? You get the picture. Send in the midgets juggling chocolate bars.

The TROPA Factor

Yes, i’ve been in one of those “tara inom” and afterwards “tara dota / tara counterstrike” kind of situations. I don’t think that in those situations I’d be in a position that I’ll focus on 14 hatch 15 pool 16 gas 22 queen efficiently. Hell, in those situations I’d think macro is just going to fly out of the window. Either I’m too drunk, the boys are too rowdy or I’m just plain not in the “zone” for gaming. We only have 1 hour of sober-ism left to play! We cant make a game every 5 minutes after someone who’s more wasted than me all in’s his SCV’s for the other team to lose the rest of the game. It’s easier to get fragged and respawn if you choose not to buy any gear and rush in with a knife and camp at the bomb site. There’s the rub.

4v4 / team games / tropa games is seriously inaccessible in a way that 4v4 in other games is. Strategic thinking and multi tasking just drops like teeny boppers in a Justin Bieber concert. It’s when an 800 food army will undoubtedly win your 600 food army because one of your guys is too drunk to play or is a n00b who you’re having a hard time tutoring. Yes, you can have a clan or a team, but then again you’ll be in the training pen 1v1’ing each other. It’s more fun with friends.

The tropa factor rules out strategy and turns it into “masscraft” or “rushcraft”.

The 10php factor

There’s a kid and he pays 10php and gets 30 minutes. During those 30 minutes, he probably killed a bunch of guys and will be pleased with himself. In other words, his 10php will make him feel better about himself.

Pay 10php for Counterstrike and frag some guys makes more sense, in Starcraft 2, your 10php will still be massing void rays and carriers. I’ll probably kill it with 8 thors and a bunch of ghosts. Actually, throw away the micro required for EMP, I’ll just kill it with A-MOVE thors.

Not funny. And my 10php will just make me feel bad because I’m just a normal person who wants to enjoy. It’s not fucking fair to lose like that, I paid 10php for you to make a proxy gate outside my base? I’m a n00b and n00bs dont scout and rushed me with zealots. You get the picture. Why would a kid play with you knowing that he’s going to lose?

It’s inaccessible for quick gratification. It’s inaccessible for a 10php ego fix. It’s inaccessible. Starcraft 2 is fun for them, specially when they’re not losing.

The Quick Wrapup

As much as I want the game to hit mainstream, as much as I want to hear the taho vendor talking about how IMBA Marauders against Roaches, and hear ballot vendors laugh at Banelings’s imba against Terran Bio Ball, I don’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon. Not the way MORP-LENG is made of water and GROM HELLSCREAM is “MOGUL KAN” at the lugaw house.

I want to mature, make like a tree and accept the fact that it’s a niche and the people engaged in the niche are the niche among the niche, here in the Philippines at least. Even with introduction of prepaid which automatically rules out your argument on not “everyone” can buy the game, the common man wont invest 15 minutes of his time to be harassed by mutalisks during the last 10 minutes of the game where he spirals down to losing. Dont forget the statwhore who cares about nothing but wins, he’ll probably have parmesan, limburger, cheddar, even queso de bola and quesong puti to win. You’re going to brag that you got to the diamond league in a week? Go, but as far as the “populace” is concerned, not everyone can take that kind of mental stress. People get better with patience but patience is an investment. Not some fuking proxy gate rush.

I sincerely hope that the niche community sticks together, or LEVEL UP does a marketing blowjob (I had to use to term, it’s when you make a guy feel good about himself and his ego through your mouth/words) and get a bunch of people WANTING to get owned by people who’ve invested their entire CHILDHOOD (note: broodwar) watching SlayerSBoxer revolutionize Terran gameplay and formulating strategies of their own.

It’s a long shot, you know you get it, this is the grim reality, and your average internet-café life are the statistics to back it up…unless you dont have a childhood that is.

GG-no-re.

- The original post can be found here.
- A very good insight by Djoaniel of http://scarofthesky.tumblr.com

Erwin Feliciano, Head Customer Contact Management for Globe Telecom announced that Globe Telecom experienced service interruption in select areas in Visayas and Mindanao.

The service interruption was due to a fiber cut.

Globe subscribers in the area may experience some difficulty sending text, phone calls, and using mobile Internet. The company is working to restore service and that they will inform their subscribers as soon as service is back to normal.

Source @ERWINofGLOBE

http://watdapak.com/seo-duplicate-links-remover

Please do comment if you have any suggestions or evil criticisms! Lol!

When you first try to open http://hon.garena.com, you would notice a very large text saying that players from Malaysia and Singapore no longer need a Beta Key to play, unfortunately, other SEA countries would still need their Beta Key invites.

But, that statement is all we need… *evil grin* (for the most gifted of individuals, you wouldn’t need to read on as I know you should have gotten the idea by now, but for those who are meek of mind, please read on)

There are basically a lot of ways to do this, shortcuts and whatnot, the one I’ll post would be the long but proven way, the others, they’re the shortcut BUT ain’t tested and proven yet, you know I’m lazy. So you find it out for yourself.  >.<

So here goes:

Step 1: Scour the world wide web, basically google, for a fast and stable “Singapore or Malaysian IP proxy“. (wow, this step would already break you into an orgasmic outcry, unless though you’re just stupid enough to understand)

Step 2: Well, use that proxy, apply it to your favorite browser, duh! (to those who can’t possibly understand how this step works, refer here: http://www.proxyway.org/)

Step 3: With your new found knowledge on proxies, register for a Garena account here: http://www.garena.com. (if all went well, the address should automatically change to “sg.garena.com”, take note of the “sg” part.. or “my” if you are using a malaysian proxy)

Step 4: After registration, simply login to the same website, and click on “edit profile”, you should see an “email not yet verified” link, click it and VERIFY your email. (duh! I don’t need to explain this step since you were already smart enough to figure out the steps until here.)

Step 5: Download the installer @ http://hon.garena.com, and PLAY! Congratulations, you now have a free “closed beta” account with Garena HoN.

Step 6: *As pointed out by Jong the Chinese Kid from USC-TC, you still can’t play without applying proxy to your Garena Messenger. Well, he is half right and all wrong. You just need to proxy your connection with Garena Messenger ONE TIME, when you first create your HoN account, after that, play with your original ISP just the way you like it. (how to proxy your Garena Messenger? stupid fuxx noob, how the hell did you reach this step without understanding System Proxies, fuxxing shit!) (added 5/1/2011 @ 6:20 PM GMT+8)

This worked on 5/1/2011, and I don’t know when this will last, so what are you waiting for, ROCK ON! \m/

Dyosep the Wet Dreamer, always bringing you dreams to wet yourself…

The first guy says “I have got the smallest arm in the world”

The second guy “I have the smallest head in the world”

The third guy “I have got the smallest dick in the world”

The 3 guys go to the Guinness World Records

The first guy comes back and says “I really do have the smallest arm in the world”

The second guy comes back and says “Amazing, I do have the smallest head in the world”

The third guy comes back angry,

Who the FUCK is JUSTIN BEIBER!!?

If you’ve found yourself waiting in dungeon queues longer than you’d like, we have a new system, Dungeon Finder: Call to Arms, you should know about. The Dungeon Finder will be offering an additional incentive to players of underrepresented class roles. With this feature we hope to get you into the action faster.

We’ve also built a new Guild Finder feature into the game interface and plan to expand upon its functionality in upcoming patches. Whether you’re a player looking for a guild, or a guild leader looking to recruit, this system facilitates those activities. We’re continuing to update, improve, and adjust the Guild Advancement system and want to make sure you’re given the tools to find and maintain a fun guild.

If you’re already tackling content with your guildmates, you’ll probably be interested in the upcoming Guild Challenges. By completing dungeons, raids, and Rated Battlegrounds in guild groups, you’ll attain new achievements, accrue gold for the Guild Vault, and earn guild experience above the current daily cap. We plan to introduce more Guild Challenges in future updates.

Full Article Link @ worldofwarcraft.com

The final and approved design has been chosen by Karlo [Sardines] and will soon begin printing, the temporary pricetag is: Php 200.00. Please contact / post comments here / or post on facebook regarding your reservations and/or orders. Thanks. [original post @ http://raeven.inutilz.com]

Dragon Age 2 does it right. It’s still an RPG epic, it still takes upwards of 50 hours to finish. It’s still got a deep, complex combat system, and it’s still got a well-defined supporting cast. But it’s also an RPG that wears its mythology proudly, confident in its goal of charting the rise of a complete and utter badass. You.

We expect our RPG heroes to experience a gradual learning process, gaining skill and abilities as they discover that, ahh, the pointy end of the sword is best inserted into an enemy. But the first time I controlled Hawke, I had access to top-tier combat skills. Surrounded by Darkspawn on a hillside, I murdered with wild abandon.

Link to the Full Review by Rich McCormick @ pcgamer.com

–

Corruption is just one of the many problems facing the country

Corruption is just one of the many problems facing the country. And while Noynoy may be doing something about it, such as harnessing all the resources of the government to go after former president Gloria Arroyo and her family and allies, he is doing nothing about the other problems.

On the matter of poverty, for instance, the act of allocating billions of pesos to be given away to the poor cannot be considered an attempt to solve the problem. On the contrary, all that a dole-out does is encourage mendicancy and ensure poverty stays.

One shudders to think what awaits Noynoy once the money runs out

Then there is the millions of pesos in subsidies about to be given to jeepney drivers to help them cope with rising fuel costs, which very correctly prompted other sectors to demand for their own share of subsidies. This, too, isn’t going to make the problem go away.

One shudders to think what awaits Noynoy once the money runs out and the same problems leap out again unresolved, people start demanding to see more of his leadership qualities and not just his ability to dole out money that is theirs in the first place.

All that Noynoy means to people so far is as a symbol

Electing Noynoy on the strength of the reflected glory of his parents was easy during the emotionally-charged elections. But what happens when the difficulties of life start kicking in and Noynoy falls way too short to fill the leadership vacuum?

Forget about the double-digit drop in Noynoy’s numbers in the latest surveys. There are as many meanings in survey results as there are people who asses them. What is truly worrisome is the fact that, nearly a year into his term, Noynoy has not inspired confidence as a leader.

All that Noynoy means to people so far is as a symbol, and only of supposed honesty. But mere symbolism cannot solve the problems of a nation. What is needed is real leadership, a good work ethic, and lots of foresight.

Fighting corruption is good. But it is not the only good fight. And this fight eventually loses steam and becomes untenable if the only adversaries you see are your political enemies. Noynoy still has five years plus. Let’s hope he catches on before his problems catch up with him.

- Editorial from The Freeman, Vol. 45, No. 267