eSports [Issue 36] StarSeries Season IV Update: Reviews & Interviews

[hogree 4,179]

 

The brand new StarSeries Season IV kicked off over a month ago and is intensely poised after a superb few weeks of endlessly impressive gameplay. Now, with over half of the matches played, the Season is seriously hotting up and the fight for the finals and avoiding automatic relegation is only going to get more and more desperate. In this mid-season Update, we have a Review of the season so far, interviews with a top StarSeries player and a Cybersport Commentator, as well as Plans and Predictions for the rest of the games this Season! Whether you are an avid eSports follower or just a player interested in watching the top of the top and wanting to know more, this StarSeries Update is for you!
 
SEASON SO FAR...
 
A superb opening to the fourth edition of Tanki's Star Series has seen the table well-set heading into the final few weeks and made sure that viewers' appetites are whetted ahead of the approaching showdown at the end of the season and mouthwatering Finals to follow.
 
Let's kick off with a few words of context for you who don't know. The StarSeries is currently the highest division of eSports in Tanki. Funded by a prize pool of real cash and formed of the 12 best clans in the game, the game formats have 6-a-side teams and revolve around Railguns, following many of the skills amateur players learn in the growing XP Format. For full details on the StarSeries and all of the rules, just head over to the Rules Page of the Tanki Starladder Website, or read up on the "Context" which I added in the Mid-Season Update during Season III.
 
Right, it's high time we get down to the real business. Let's have a look at what's happened so far this Season. Well, the highly-esteemed Arcade came out to Season IV on the back of their most impressive victory yet, managing to hold off the crown from GGWP.PRO despite seeming lacklustre for large portions of the season. GGWP.PRO and Psychos also had the wind behind them after superb previous seasons which saw them get positions on the medal table. Along with them saw All In who powered to a top-four finish in Season III, as well as eGuards and Angels & Demons who had suffered poor turn-outs in Season III and were both keen to reach their high standards once again. The remaining teams were Dawn of War, Arm Pride and the four new teams (all co-incidentally non-Russian) from  to the scene - the champions of Pro Series Season III, LTU, runners-up Alert, and VIC and #1, two clans who managed to qualify via play-offs against Husky and Wood's who had been in StarSeries the previous season.
 
The transfer window at the opening of Season IV saw quite a few well-known faces move around, with Angels & Demons notably grabbing a few big names off other prominent clans, including Hell.Rider and EDO123456 (proclaimed by GGWP legend A-guero as the best BP player in StarSeries), formerly key members of Arm Pride. A&D's intentions were on clear display, with rumours that they were determined to outdo Arcade this year clearly showing itself by their pre-season moves. Only after a couple of games of Season IV, Fer-legend, a core player from GGWP's successful Season III, moved to All In who also greeted famous smoky The_Best_Boy to their team, with GGWP also suffering the painful loss of leader MyLife-MyRules during June after disputes with the StarLadder referees over rule infringements regarding taking money for positions in the GGWP squad. 
 
The Season got underway on the 13th of May, with Psychos kicking off their season in style with two satisfying early victories over fellow-top-4-challengers GGWP and All In proving their early intentions in the season. Last year's strugglers eGuards and A&D opened on a high with resounding thrashings over the newcomers and a couple of decent results against last year's finalists - the former edging past the latter when they met a couple of weeks into the competition.
 
The new teams quickly settled into the goings-about of the StarSeries although with a high quality in several teams, they were mostly dealing in rounds rather than wins - although VIC were able to grab the first points for any of the new teams against renowned StarSeries opposition at the end of the second week with a surprise victory over Arm Pride. finally managing to steal some points. A weak beginning for GGWP culminated in the aforementioned departure of key player Fer-legend and signs of their weakness were evident in two consecutive 4-0 hammerings by in-form clans Angels & Demons and All In. Psychos' strong beginning was also fading - not helped by the departure of key Smoky kiril.132 during the early weeks of the season which only increased the slump in form for the clan.
 
Holders Arcade had a fairly relaxed opening to the tournament with a handful of simple games but their first meeting with a major challenger to their position proved once again they were not the force they once were with a narrow draw with eGuards before suffering a shock defeat by out-of-sorts GGWP. The almost universal format of 3 Hunters and 3 Light Hulls was revealing a focus on individual skill as diverse line-ups became more and more foreign - the unbeaten run of eGuards was especially grabbing attention due to their weak previous season and lack of action in the transfer window. It seemed like the temptation of a LAN Finals in the locality of Moscow was attracting them to once again return to their previous position of domination.
 
An eye-catching piece of news hit at the end of May when Dawn of War, who had suffered a topsy-turvy start to their campaign, suddenly signed a contract with multi-gaming company PRIES to move under that name for the future. On the battlefield, All In were catching the eyes of viewers after three immediate losses in the season with an impressive recovery leading them on an incredible unbeaten win streak that at time of writing is still yet to be broken at 12 consecutive wins, which included the scalps of fellow challengers Angels & Demons as well as a superb 4-0 double over GGWP during June.
 
The first loss for eGuards came during June with a well-earned victory by A&D but that did not halt the Russian clan's form with a satisfying victory over Arcade coming later in the month, giving a sweet hint of vengeance for their painful defeat against Arcade at the first LAN Finals two seasons previous. At the bottom, newcomers LTU were providing hope that one of the four new clans would be able to dodge the bottom four positions with impressive performances which were rewarded with well-earned draws against Psychos and GGWP.
 
And so, the season reaches this stage with a couple of weeks of battling left to play and a tasty-looking table gleaming at us from our screens. To steal a glance at the full list of results so far and watch replays, take a look here. And believe me, it's only going to get more and more exciting! Have a look at the table below:
 
Table on 24th June (To view updated table, click here.)
 

 
And, don't forget, to view all the games so far this season commentated on in English, click the link here.

 INTERVIEWS
 
Woop! The highlight of the issue! I was able to grab a few words with a couple of big names in the English Tanki eSports world - one renowned player from Arcade and an English eSports commentator to see their opinion on the Season so far. Enjoy!

You_aLways_Iose
Tanki Veteran and Member of Arcade, formerly known as "CRAZIER" in the English Community.
 
Me: Hiya. How is Arcade finding Season IV? Are things looking positive? What's your feelings on the season so far?
 
You_aLways_Iose: I think that this Season is the most competitive for us... Now all teams in StarSeries are very powerful and none of them easy to beat, but I believe so far we did a great job and we are handling the pressure. Personally, I am very happy because I returned back to the game and I will be able to help my team by playing all games, something that didn't happen in Season III due to personal reasons.
 
Me: Yes, can't argue that the standard has gone up. Which clan have you been most impressed by so far this season?
 
You_aLways_Iose: Hmm... I guess LTU. They play very well and they're trying to do whatever it takes to stay in the Star division for the next season.
 
Me: kk. eGuards have had a fantastic start to the season, haven't they? Do you see them as your biggest threats?
 
You_aLways_Iose: I don't see them as the biggest threat... They just started the season very well and with luck they reached 1st place so far... But personally I think they will lose some games, cause they are not a steady clan ... In Season II they reached finals and in Season III , they played badly... But soon everything will be cleared and we will see who is the threat for us.
 
Me: Okay, fair enough. Just before I finish, as a Railgun-Hunter who has played with Railgun-Hornet as well, what skills do you think a player needs to use Railgun-Hunter instead of the common XP Combination? Is there a different style of gameplay?
 
You_aLways_Iose: There isn't a different style... The weapon remains the same. For example i play only XP in the game servers and when i play in StarSeries i use Hunter... I don't think it needs any other skills ... Just before any important game you should take Hunter and train a little bit with the tank, make some shots for 5-10 mins ... I think that these things are enough for anyone who wants to use Hunter. If you do the things I said, then after you find the rhythm, everything will be fine... At least works for me :P
 
Me: Alright. Finally, what are your predictions as for which teams will reach the LAN Finals for Season IV? Who do you think is the favourite to win the tournament or Arcade's biggest threat?
 
You_aLways_Iose: That's easy... Arcade, eGuards, A&D and hopefully ALL IN ... Favourite of the tournament, of course, is the 4 times consecutive winning team ................ Arcadeeeeeeee eEEEEE Sports ;)
 
Me: Great, good luck to you guys! We can't wait for the Finals! Thanks for taking part again. :)
 
You_aLways_Iose: Thank you very much. Again i was happy to be a part of this :D
Arabiannoble
eSports Commentator for the English Community
 
Me: Evening mate. Firstly, just like to say how much you've improved as a commentator recently, really been enjoying the streams so far this season so keep it up. So, first question, quite generally, what's your verdict on the season so far? Been impressed with what you've been seeing? Any improvement on Season III so far?
 
Sami: Aw thanks, I’m honored my love :$ Season IV as compared to Season III?  Meh.  I hate judging before finals even begin… but I resent the changes they made to the line up rules.  Banning savannah and only allowing 3 medium hulls means we only see 2 digitals and 1 tundra hunter in the line up nowadays in pretty much every map :/
 
Me: Yep, see the logic in that. it has made for less diversity in team line-ups - positive side of that though is that you could argue that means more skill involved for each time. Still, point taken. Any team that has particularly impressed you so far this season?
 
Sami: eGuards :D but kinda impressing everyone.  Again though, doesn’t mean anything until the finals. They don’t stop winning though xD  Their captain, Holy Hero Alexxx is a monster smoky, I always forget to watch the rest of the team because I’m tracking him (rofl)
 
Me: Too right man, he's a machine. Any other teams that have caught your eye?
 
Sami: e___e hmmmm...Not any that I can think of.  I’ve always been a fan of PSYCHOS because of their captain is everything I aspire to be, and Hormony is amazing, but they haven’t been playing so well.
 
Me: Yeah. What StarSeries maps do you most look forward to streaming from the perspective of a commentator?
 
Sami: Not Barda :/  It turns into standoffs so often and I run out of things to say as people just snipe each other.  My favorite map has got to be red alert.  But then again, it’s everyone’s favorite in terms of its fast paced nature.  But other maps like bridges and parma allow me time to break it down more tactically.
 
Me: Understandable. Cheeky question, but who do you most enjoy commentating aside?
 
Sami: Ok mate, trying to get me in trouble. I see how it is. 100 percent honest, they are the same :D  GV is that solid anchor that makes sure I don’t go astray and keeps track of everything, I love him.   Damn_slow is more similar to me, we can veer off talking about experience and tactics and all sorts of things, but sometimes we have to remember to veer back to what we are watching in front of us :D
 
Me: Successfully dodged, fair play. Back to StarSeries and who are the individual players who have most impressed you in the StarSeries circles recently?
 
Sami: Holy Hero Alexxxxx. SO MUCH KING IN ONE GUY
 
Me: Apart from him? Any Railguns?
 
Sami: Hell.Rider is an incredible xp player… going to Angels and Demons was good for him, he’s competing hard with EDO to win the thing.  EDO is one incredible BP player as well, the guy to watch if you want to learn some skills with wasp and railgun.
 
Me: Too right man. Brilliant players. Well, what are your predictions for the season? Who do you reckon will take the top 4 positions and can I dare to ask who your punt is on grabbing the trophy this season come the finals?
 
Sami: You are really asking me to just place the top 4 spots right here and now?  I don’t know man!! I’ll just throw it out I guess. 1. eguards 2. arcade 3. angels and demons 4. All In with VIC and ALERT going down of course. Jumping from pro to star series is a hell of a jump, accommodating to the new pressure and respawn times and all.
 
Me: Yep, quality is much higher. Well, thanks mate. Last question - how do you manage to chat in the Twitch chat whilst commentating?!
 
Sami: I keep the battle in a window and then pop out the twitch chat, then place them side by side.  Had experience when I used to do my own personal live streams (rock)
 
Me: Cool cool. Thanks a lot, and best wishes for the rest of the Season!
 
Sami: Thanks :D
 
THERE'S MORE TO COME...
 
Season IV isn't nearly over yet. There's still piles more of action to watch this month! Below are a couple of my picks from a packed fixture list. All matches will be streamed on the Russian Twitch Channel, and many of the most important battles will also be streamed via the English Twitch Channel - both linked below
 
We have some blockbusters ahead of us with a final day showdown between last year's finalists GGWP and Arcade tastily eyeing us from the end of the schedule on Monday 13th July - who knows, that could be a vital match for the final position in the top 4 if Arcade have a few more slip-ups and GGWP ensure their form picks up. Other matches to watch out for this month include the showdown between A&D and Arcade on Saturday 27th June and what could become a crucial encounter between Psychos and Arcade on Sat 4th July. As for the bottom, an exciting encounter between promising newbies LTU and floundering Arm Pride on Sunday 28th June could prove vital in avoiding the relegation play-off places, whilst the automatic relegation play-offs could reach a showdown when VIC face ALERT on Sunday 12th July. All to play for as it stands and we could be in for an exciting finish to a quite gripping season!
 
As for Predictions? Have a look at mine below - this is how I expect the Table to look like, come the end of the Season.
 

 
Well, The Season finishes on the 13th of July, before the LAN Finals in Moscow begin. I'm supporting the disappointing PRIES as always this season, but gunning for eGuards in the potential line-up for the LAN Finals. How about you? Who do you think will bring home the crown? Will Arcade win for the fourth successive time despite their poor form? Will GGWP or Psychos be able to recover to get to the Top 4 as they did last time? Will eGuards be able to avoid defeat for their remaining battles to hold out for a record 20 Victories? Will either VIC or Alert have a late recovery and can Arm Pride avoid the danger of automatic relegation? Find it all out this month!
 
Many of the matches will be streamed on the English Twitch Channel, brought to you by our very own Cybersport Commentator Team. However, in the case they are unable to stream a battle, particularly during the week, you will be sure to be able to watch the livestream on the Russian Twitch Channel. 
Missed any games? Just head over to the English Tanki Starladder Youtube Channel to catch up with re-runs of the games you missed. If the battle you're looking for was not streamed on the English Twitch Channel, take a look at the Russian Tanki Starladder Youtube Channel which has re-runs of every single game and short highlight clips of the most important games!
 
And so the showdown of Season IV awaits us! Stay tuned - next month in the paper, we'll have an update on the final results of the Table and depending on the date, cover some of the much-anticipated LAN Finals which await us later in the summer! Thanks for reading!
 
Fancy reading more? The eSports Reporters Team will be regularly posting interviews and updates from the StarSeries Season over on the "eSports News" Section of the Forum. Up at the moment is an interview with the leader of eGuards, Holy_Hero_alexxxxxx. Check it all out here!

Edited January 7, 2018 by Hexed

[Extatic 68]

Sweet intreviews :P

[Afr0man 557]

LTU the best!

[Lankbouv 6,347]

Arcade or eGuards will win this season 100%.  Arcade recently beat A&D and All In, the only clan they are yet to show dominance over this season are eGuards.  I'm still backing Arcade to win.

 

Notice also, how clans with the best smoky's are in the top 4.

 

YAL interview very insightful.

 

AN interview was passably ok.

Edited June 28, 2015 by Lankbouv

[tankkipankki 72]

holy hero alexx saw him in a battle he really is a beast with smoky :D anyway this was so interesting interview thanks for making it Hogree <3 it was funny to read it XD but sadly nowdays many tanker don't watch these starseries seasons i mean there is just about 100- 300 viewers but of course when TO make somekinda challenge like last year (5x fund) the viewer number rises to more than 1000 :D although the commentators are awesome at their job <3

[musa8171 0]

this is cool update your epic

 

B) 

[musa8171 0]

lol

[T.O.T.A.L.W.A.R 581]

WOW nice article +1.

 

Arcade has a high chance of winning as long as they don't have some kind of a sponsorship problem.

 

I think they should put arcade in a different series ,cause frankly all other star series clans

Are dwarfed by the giant called Arcade. enough said about them  :D.

 

But i would really like to see all in vs arcade in the finals instead of e-guards vs arcade.

Maybe they need time with there new player transfers, so hopefully we will see arcade vs all in

In the finals next season. all in is my second favorite team in star series after the champions.

 

A side note ... first time to realize that youalwaylose name has an i instead of an L for lose.

 

 

Edit: Added the higher chance part

Edited July 18, 2015 by T.O.T.A.L.W.A.R

[Guest]

nice

[Mr.I3oSS 557]

sweet

[Darren4Turbo 4,913]

Nice.