Bvd DotA Call it Off
by Ryan Peter, Do Gaming journalist
Tags: Bravado, bvd, Marc “Saidin” Bowes, JJ, Just Juking, DotA, Defence of the Ancients, Warcraft III, DotA SA, DotA Proteas, MSSA
The Bravado (bvd) DotA team have decided to call the team off and reform under a new name, Just Juking, says Marc “Saidin” Bowes, the owner and captain of the previous team. Just Juking (JJ) is a play on the phrase “Just Joking”, which signals the reformed team's intentions for the scene.
“We decided that as bvd we were too inactive, and every match (even friendlies) reflects on the organisation. With the competitive scene currently as it is, as well, we decided to take a load off and just play for the fun of it,” Bowes says.
The reform took place last week. Rumours circulated that one of the bvd team members moved to the clan tankh, but Bowes says that the JJ team is exactly the same bvd team just under a new name.
When asked about whether JJ would play in the MSSA Nationals, or competitions in general, Bowes says that the team are just not that serious anymore and haven't put much time into planning.
“Our inactivity started because two of our players got jobs and the other three of us are full time students. One of those plays club rugby. So we just can't play like we used to, there just isn't enough time. Most evenings we can't even get three out of the necessary five players online – never mind the amount of time it takes to cultivate teamwork,” Bowes says.
Bvd were undoubtedly one of the top DotA teams in the country, winning a number of AGASA DotA cups this year; most of the team making the South African Protea team last year; not to mention a whole host of other achievements. The current end of the team's serious competitive gaming career will be a blow to DotA gaming in the country.
Furthermore, competitive DotA in South Africa continues its topsy-turvy ride. Of the almost 30 teams that have played in the AGASA DotA Weekend Cup since January, only 11 competed in the July Cup. It seems that most of the teams have either disbanded or gone into long hybernation.
The four really competitive teams remaining from the DotA Cup who still seem to be playing are: Mint Gaming, tankh, mmK and Pantheon Gaming.
Interestingly, the team Bvd played a test match against last December - SK Gaming - who also won Africon 08, also no longer exists, Do Gaming covered that story here.
At the pinnacle of DotA less than a year ago, Bvd is no longer playing competitively. Seen here in their Protea Colours at the end of 2008.| Article Comments | |||||||||
| It's sad that a team who reached the pinnacle of their gaming community no longer have an avenue to continue to grow. Let's hope we see Marc and his players into the future. | ||||||||
| well put +_+ there is a very irritating ceiling on gaming in SA, and as soon as you get close to it and realise the enormity of the problem croak goes many a dream and team. wooty tooty fun article! | ||||||||
| i doubt that with their long history in the dota community they intend 'just joking' for the scene though... somehow doubt they are that uncaring about it | ||||||||
| Bowes seemed pretty chilled when we chatted to them. They really don't seem to have the time or inclination to really go for it in DotA anymore. | ||||||||
| We have the inclination, just not the time. I wouldn't say we are uncaring about DotA, just not as caring as we were as bvd. As for the so-called ceiling, that is very true. There is very limited exposure to other teams. Even if 30 teams enter an AGASA cup, how many of those really pose a threat to any of the "big" names? Once you reach the top of the local food chain it is very hard to further improve. It's like being able to do 1 pushup, and only doing 1 every day. You're never going to be able to do 100. As eZ/bvd, we managed to keep ourselves at the top of the food chain for a very long time; but it would be a fallacy to think we still have that kind of energy to invest in it. Upcoming games such as SC2 and HoN further dampen the desire for resurgence. If anything, we are just biding our time until something definitive happens to SA gaming. Whether it be Seacom or a new game, sooner or later something is bound to make us want to take it seriously again. Until then, we just want to have fun: play some games when we can, have a few laughs, and maybe even win. I hope that clears up what Alcardu and Wonderer were talking about. We haven't turned our backs on DotA (read: "5v5 team strategy game"). We've just toned it down a bit - put cruise control on. | ||||||||
| Thanks Saidy... great comments. Hopefully tour oportunity will come and lets hope gaming matures soon to be able to address some of these challenges... | ||||||||
| im glad to read your extensive pushup metaphor (: | ||||||||
| pushup bra | ||||||||
| Dude, how can you forget deda' they currently neck to neck with tankh koth. | ||||||||
| LOL @ roadrunner  | ||||||||
| Warcraft III: DotA (PC) |
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