Category: Overwatch

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Overwatch | Anniversary

Overwatch Anniversary 2017

Overwatch | Anniversary event

As was promised earlier, on May 23 Overwatch began to celebrate the first birthday of the game. There are no special events like “Uprising” this time, but there are many other interesting additions and changes.

First, all the characters learned to dance: for example, Tracer dances Charleston, Angel – Hustle, and Farra plays on an imaginary guitar. Dancing was added to the emotions section. Secondly, a dozen of legendary skins was created: D.Va can be dressed up in a pinup, and you can make from Lucio a jazz musician (with this skin, even the compositions change on acceleration and healing!). Third, there are a lot of small things – profile icons, replicas, and graffiti.

Overwatch Anniversary event

The above is part of the “Anniversary” and is caught in special containers. As usual, at the time of the event, all standard boxes were replaced with special ones. They will fall until 12 June.

However, not all new cosmetics are available exclusively at the event. Orisa, Sombra, Reaper and Tracer received several standard emotions – they can be obtained at any time.

Anniversary new maps

Finally, Blizzard expanded the list of arenas: “Necropolis” near the Anubis temple, “Castillo” near Dorado and “The Black Forest” near Eichenwald were added to the “Ecological Station: Antarctica“. These arenas will become part of the “Duel” and “Liquidation” regimes and show the life of the heroes of the game (more about this – in the videos below).

Overwatch Anniversary

The rules of these modes, by the way, have changed a little. In “Duels” now there is a limited choice of characters instead of a random hero. And in the “Liquidation” system is blocking one the fighters, with whom you have already won in one of the rounds. That is, the most powerful bundle of Roadhog, Ana, Soldier-76 will from now on be seen much less often.

Blizzard also thought about those who are not familiar with Overwatch yet. The company will hold a free weekend in the game on all platforms from 26 to 30 May. In addition, the shooter is now sales with a discount.

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Overwatch: New hero, map, and mods

Ecostation Overwatch

Overwatch was recently updated and now Sombra was added in hero list. Also developers add new map for 1×1 and 3×3 game mods – Ecostantion: Antarctic, and of course completely new mod – Arcade. Now in quick matches you can not take same hero in team, just like in competiteve, and they greatly reworked almost all heroes.

Welcome – Sombra

Sombra Overwatch

Sombra – universal hero of Assault role. Deal damage at medium range with her sub machine gun, and hack all that lies at her way – First aid kits or enemies.

Sombra Abilities:

  • Hack. Sombra hack an enemy and he can not use his abilities or medkit, making him useless.
  • Disguise. Sombra cover her self in the cloack of shadows and becaming invisiable for enemies, and her movement speed greatly increased. If you use any attacking ability then your disguise will be revealed.
  • Translocation. Sombra throw a small beacon. While this beacon is active she can teleport toward to it (even if it still in air).
  • Impuls. Sombra release impuls that hack all nearby enemies, destroy barrires and shields.
  • Opportunist. Passive ability. With this Sombra see enemies that have low hp at any time.

New map – Ecostantion: Antarctic

Ecostation Overwatch

Map arena for 1×1 and 3×3 mods. First map for these new mods.

Ecostantion: Antarctic was built for the study of abnormal natural phenomena that began to emerge after the Rise of the Machines. Once on this ecostation blizzard appear, and researchers have been cut off from civilization. When food supplies began to come to an end, the scientists decided to dive into cryostasis, in the hope that someday Overwatch find and rescue them. But no one came to help. While scientists were cryogenically frozen, Overwatch disbanded, and all other ecostations was closed. After many years of cryogenic sleep they could be awakened only one researcher – it was Mei.

New game mode – Arcade

Arcade Overwatch

“Arcade” – a game mode where players can take part in the matches of various formats with modified rules. It is a converted mode “Brawl”. “Arcade” was announced on November 4, 2016 at BlizzCon 2016.

For every 3 wins in any “Arcade” mode,  you will be rewarded with 1 container. You can get up to 3 containers per week. If you try some new “Arcade” mode for first time, then you will also receive the container.

New Genji outfit – Oni Genji

The appearance can be obtained by following the conditions of the promotional campaign “Nexus Challenge“. From November 15, 2016 to January 4, 2017 you need to play 15 games with friends in Heroes of the Storm in “Against AI” modes, “Quick Play”, “Draft unrated” or “Rating Game”.

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Whats new in Overwatch?

Overwatch League

Blizzard will make a Overwatch League

Overwatch League

During the conference, Vanity Fair’s New Establishment Summit Executive director of Activision Blizzard Bobby Kotick said that the company is planning to create their own league of eSports Overwatch for professional teams.

The head of Activision Blizzard reported that the cyber competitions already bypassed American sports leagues like the NFL and NHL by the number of spectators. Therefore the company has decided not to stand aside and create Overwatch League.

Commentary from Bobby Kotick:

“You will have the Overwatch league which will have a certain number of teams. Those teams will be a combination of professional sports teams as owners and endemic sports teams as owners”

DIVA Soldier Zarya

This year, Blizzard has established a Overwatch world championship. On it 16 national teams will compete in the BlizzCon 2016 festival. This tournament does not have a prize fund, but all participants will receive a small bonus and a free trip to BlizzCon. The final stage of the competition will be held in 5-6 November, in Anaheim, USA.

Third competitive season of Overwatch will start at 1 December

Overwatch season 2

Blizzard Entertainment Company published information about the third season of competitive games in the Overwatch. The second season will last until November 25, 2016, and the next will begin in a week after.

Developers have already begun preparations for a third season. Test server received an update that changed the algorithm for calculating the competitive ranking. The amendments are designed to ensure that players do not receive an inflated number of points, then lost ten matches to stronger opponents. The company has not released details of the new mechanism.

Competitive mode appeared in Overwatch in June 28, 2016. Up to August 18 players fought for the unique icons and points of competitive modes, for which you can buy gold coloring weapons. The second season began on 1 September. Blizzard increased the maximum number of rating points from 100 to 5 thousand. And introduced the classification of players through the ranks.

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Overwatch World Championship 2016

Overwatch World Championship 2016

Overwatch – Best of the Best

Overwatch World Championship 2016

Blizzard Entertainment Company announced the list of the national teams, the last qualifier for the Overwatch World Championship 2016. The qualifications involved more than 50 teams, but the ending was reached only by 16. The group stage of the tournament will start on October 29 in Anaheim, USA.

Overwatch World Championship 2016

Overwatch World Championship will take place in two stages. In the group stage, teams will compete in the round tournament format, but in the playoffs – for single-elimination system.

List of participants of the tournament:

Finland

  1.  Jonas «zappis» Alakurtti
  2.  Timo «Taimou» Kettunen
  3.  Lauri «mafu» Rasi
  4.  Calle «hymzi» Honkala
  5.  Jiri «LiNkzr» Mashalin
  6.  Yani «Tseini» Kahkonen

France

 

  1. «AlphaCast»
  2.  «Mickalow»
  3.  «Kitty»
  4.  Lyuron «DeGuN» Prinderr
  5.  Jonathan «Kryw» Nobre
  6.  Jean-Louis «KnOxXx» Boyer

Russia

  1.  Ruben «Rubikon» Zurabyan
  2.  Alex «Cypher» Yanusheuski
  3.  Andrew «uNFixed» Leonov
  4. Stepan «Godspeed» Serov
  5. George «ShadowBurn» Hushcha
  6.  «Redzzzz»

Spain

 

  1. «Linepro»
  2.  Alberto «neptuNo» Gonzalez
  3.  Sergi «Winghaven» Torres
  4.  Jose Antonio «Bromas» Ramos González
  5.  Jonathan «HarryHook» Tessedor
  6.  Pescanova

Sweden

  1.  Andre «iddqd» Dahlström
  2.  Calle «Zave» Haag Nilsson
  3.  Sebastian «chipshajen» Vidland
  4.  Sebastian «Zebbosai» Olsson
  5.  Christian «cocco» Jonsson
  6.  Kevin «TviQ» Lindstrom

Germany

  1.  Dennis «INTERNETHULK» Haveyka
  2.  Martin «BUR1X» Burik
  3.  Tarek «kr4tosdigga» Ekmekchi
  4.  Arthur «art1er» Bischoff
  5.  Nicholas «skipjack» Rosada
  6.  Arthur «Eissfeldt» Marx

USA

  1. Brandon «Seagull» Land 
  2.  ster
  3.  Ronnie «Talespin» Dupree 
  4. Adam «Adam» Esquel
  5.  Denial «Gods» Greyzer
  6.  Adam «MESR» De La Torre

Canada

  1.  Lane «Surefour» Roberts
  2.  whiz
  3.  Poke
  4.  iid
  5.  LoganDaBest
  6.  Chris «HuK» Laranzher

Brazil

  1.  BRKsEDU 
  2. ziG
  3. Flawz 
  4. Nextage
  5. soulive 
  6. Insanityz

Chile

  1.  Vardoc 
  2. Roarscrach 
  3. Shal 
  4. SIRPETTERNOW 
  5. Blanco 
  6. yibraN

China

  1.  iGFireRoy 
  2. iGiCELee 
  3. iGFireLinkin 
  4. iGFireYjjPP 
  5. iGFireNai8 
  6. GFireTresor

South Korea

  1.  Miro 
  2. zunba 
  3. 류제홍 
  4. EscA 
  5. AFTaiRong 
  6. AFArHaN

taiwan

  1.  聶寶 
  2. Lu «Zonda» Jong
  3. Danny 
  4. Lilgho 
  5. LazyTitan 
  6. EDIBOSS

Singapore

  1.  Dest 
  2. Pamyu 
  3. Phython 
  4. Doubted 
  5. Marcus Tan «Revenant»  Sin
  6. RebornZ

Thailand

  1.  oPuTo 
  2. KOKFC 
  3. NzNr 
  4. hymzi 
  5. Mickie 
  6. keRLos

Australia and New Zeland

  1. Muselk 
  2. Refz t
  3. ermo 
  4. Kura 
  5. yuki 
  6. HeyKatie

Overwatch World Championship 2016

Playoff Championship will be held from 4 to 5 November. It is noteworthy that in this tournament will be no prize pool, and participants will receive a small bonus and a free trip to BlizzCon.

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Overwatch – new cybersport hit?

Overwatch – new cybersport hit?

Red Fox Insights followed the Overwatch and the anticipated surge that caused the game to the eSports (cybersport) scene.

Overwatch esport

607 survey of the target audience of gamers have been conducted that have asked whether they watch the cyber competition on a weekly basis. Responded positively asking for some of the upcoming FPS they followed most readily – Battleborn, LawBreakers or Overwatch. In 75.6% of cases it was the Overwatch.

  • Look eSports every week: 75.15% more like Overwatch
  • All respondents: 68.86% more like Overwatch

Overwatch Focus on e-sports

Creating a new phenomenon in eSports – is a complex and unpredictable process. Developers and publishers announce competitive games and declare their intention to bring them in cyber disciplines. But by themselves, such statements do not guarantee that the game will gather around the lively community. To this end, it should be something exceptional, it must be spectacular and include a space for the development of game skills and comparisons of competitive ability.

Overwatch meets these criteria and therefore attracts more attention.

Partnership in eSports

Overwatch competitive open
Open beta test ended in Overwatch, and took part in it by millions of players. Released on May 24 and we’re seeing more and more signs of the future success of the new game from Activision Blizzard. ESPN recently explained why Overwatch waiting popularity of eSports. Professional teams such as Cloud9, Luminosity Gaming and Team Liquid, already selected and recorded Overwatch compositions. For tournaments, the game has already found sponsors and made up the schedule. Close partner in the face of Dolby «sponsor the tournament Overwatch, which will be held a few days after release.” The prize pool will be $ 10,000.

The growth of eSports community

Overwatch cybersport
Major partners and well-known teams have already noticed the potential of Overwatch. However, the main factor determining success is the community of gamers, watching games and participating in them.

Entertainment

Scott Mercer, chief designer of Overwatch, well aware of the importance of the eSports community. In an interview with ESPN, Scott says:

“We understand that we can not achieve the popularity of Overwatch in eSports, just make the game exciting. It is necessary that at it was fun to watch. We must give the commentators the tools to not only explain to the audience what is happening, but also to tell amazing stories … We have also applied for potential ideas in the field of conventional sport broadcasting to the professionals. So we have something to strive for in terms of functionality broadcasts Overwatch, and we will continue to work in this direction. “

Red Fox Insights study shows that Blizzard efforts were not in vain.

Blizzard not only has ideas for new maps and characters, they consider the best option “to add them in the form of free patches, not in the form of [paid] DLC“.

Free DLC will maintain interest in the game, not allowing the separation of the players on those who bought and who have not acquired the paid content.

Results

Interest of professional teams, in addition to other familiar shooter game style, attracts sponsorships money, and focus on strengthening of community growth. A mass audience attracted to simplified management and entertainment. All indications are that the Overwatch waiting eSports (cybersport) success after release.

Red Fox Insights study includes 607 interviews and more than 7800 responses from the target audience of gamers with MMOHuts.com site

  • 93.8% of them are men, 6.2% women
  • 51.4% in the 18-24 age group
  • 31.3% aged 25-34 years