RP to host RAN Online Global Tournament

IP e-Game Ventures Inc. (IP e-Games), the online gaming subsidiary of IPVG Corp. and publisher of the popular, campus-based Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) RAN Online, will host the RAN Global Tournament (RGT) on Oct. 4 at the SMX Convention Center.

This will be the first time the Philippines will be hosting this prestigious international gaming event.

RGT is one of the biggest online gaming tournaments in the region held to promote the game and foster camaraderie among all RAN players from around the world.  

It is also the gaming event where the best RAN players vie for the top RAN Online gaming awards and cash prizes.

The first RGT was held in October 2007 in Bangkok, Thailand. Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand battled for the top spots. The e-Games sponsored-Philippine team was the first runner up followed by Malaysia and Indonesia taking second and third places, respectively. Thailand won the RGT tournament.

This year, aside from the previous participants, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan will be fielding their RAN teams as well.

RAN Online’s product manager Lee Corbilla notes that last year’s experience serves as a good lesson in terms of planning for game tactics and strategies.

“We now have a better understanding in executing strategies as a team. Teamwork and proper execution of tactics is crucial in this tournament, and with the help of the former team PH members, we do expect to win this event,” he says.

The Philippine team, composed of Vincent Van Amado, Carlo Angelo Magcalas, Martin Joseph Buday and Kevin Medina, were winners of the Globe Tournament of Champions held nationwide.

Members of the PH team said they are all fired up and ready for what they consider their biggest gaming competition yet. Together with the RAN Online product managers, they have been practicing since July.

When asked how they are gearing up for this fight, team member Vincent Van Amado says, “We’re taking this competition very seriously by working on our strategies and practicing every day. We’re representing the Philippines, the whole RAN gaming community. If all goes well, we will improve our standing from last year’s results. We’ll give them one heck of a show.”

Veteran and novice gamers will have the rare opportunity of observing highly skilled RANatics show off their talents.

Aside from watching the online Player vs Player (PvP) team competition, gamers and visitors can expect a bevy of activities courtesy of e-Games.

“We’re preparing a lot of activities for our RAN players, such as a separate online tournament and live entertainment,” says Grace Ty, IP e-Games trade and marketing manager.

“We want to make this event memorable not just for our local team and supporters, but also for all the passionate RAN players from different countries visiting,” she adds.

Among the online activities planned are Conqueror’s Path, a RAN guild competition, the Yoshinoya-sponsored Clash of the Elite Four, where groups of four will be competing for prizes.

There’s also the Secret Magpie Hunt, taking players on a search mission, and the Challenge the RAN GT Champs where gamers will have a chance to prove their mettle against the RGT champions

e-Games will also have offline events such as Extreme Beauty, a beauty and brains contest, a dance competition, a video-making contest, raffles, auctions and more.

Ed Pasion, IP e-Games vice president for marketing, emphasizes the importance of this event to the RAN Online community.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be given the opportunity to host the RAN Global Tournament. The Philippines has the biggest RAN community in the world. That in itself is no small feat. We want to show why RAN Online remains to be the undisputed market leader in the MMORPG segment and this competition will help us prove it,” he says.

For more information about the RAN Online Global Tournament, visit http://www.ran-global.com or http://ranonline.e-games.com.