If you're young, play Call of Duty: Mobile and think you're good enough to compete for money, you're in luck! Garena has announced a new tournament for up and coming players. The CODM Garena Youth Challenge is a tournament open to all players aged 16 to 24 from Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines, and features a USD 4,000 prize pool - a nice chunk of change for anyone competing at that level!
Registration for the tournament is open now and will close on 15 April, 2022, 11.59 PM. Qualifiers will take place from 19-22 April (4 qualifiers) with the top 2 teams from each qualifier advancing to the playoffs from 23-24 April, 3PM (GMT+8) on both days.
The tournament format will be single elimination, best-of-three for the qualifiers and double elimination best-of-five for the playoffs. It will also be brodcasted on the following platforms:
Keen on competing? Sign up now on the official Discord or the CODM Esports Facebook Page. Stay tuned for all the latest Garena Youth Challengers updates on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Fans of the West Coast rapper, Snoop Dogg will be excited to know the prolific rapper is now part of Call of Duty: Mobile. Garena announced today the details of its latest season, Radical Raid. While you won't be able to rap your enemies to death, you can look pretty fly filling them with bullets!
The update features a brand new character, map (Miami Strike), missions, and rewards for players to earn. Bringing players back to the 80s, the game will receive a facelift which will surely appease fans of the era.
In addition to the Snoop Dogg operator, gear, and signature weapon, the other new goodies include the MAC-10 weapon, Reactor Core operator skill; PPsh-41 feline fire submachine gun, Scarlett Rhodes - Gold Bullion for Ranked Series: Season 2; and further optimizations for performance across all modes, weapon updates and more.
If you haven't tried Call of Duty: Mobile yet, the game is available to download for free on Android and iOS!
Good news for all you CODM-heads out there, Garena and ESL SEA have announced their 2021 season of the Call of Duty: Mobile MYSG Championship! Featuring a total prize pool of USD 14,000, the tournament will feature the top 8 open qualifier teams in the MYSG region and the currently reigning top 4 teams.
The Open Qualifiers are open for registration now and will be held on 6th and 9th February for Malaysia and 7th and 10th for Singapore. Top 2 teams of each open qualifier will advance to Stage 2 Wave #1 on 20-21 February, where they will be sorted into groups according to their respective countries (Malaysia or Singapore) to compete in a single round-robin format. The 2 lowest-scoring teams from each group will be eliminated.
The remaining teams will then move on to Stage 2 Wave #2 on 23-24 February to play another series of round-robin matches, this time with the top 4 invited teams filling up the empty slots. The top 2 of each group will qualify for the Stage 3 Playoffs on 5th March.
In the playoffs, the 4 teams will compete for their share of the USD 14,000 prizepool. Only one team from each group will advance to the grand finals where it will be a Malaysia vs Singapore showdown for the grand prize and bragging rights.
Keen on joining in the fun? Be sure to sign up on the official website. Stay tuned to ESL and CODM's Facebook page for more details. Good luck to all those competing!
In addition to PMWL:S0 and PMNC that took place over the weekend, there was another high-stakes tournament going on at the same time - the Yoodo Campus Esports Championship (KEK) Semester 3 was also in its final stages. After the dust settled, there were two teams to crown for each game.
For Call of Duty: Mobile (CoDM), it was the Smoking Monkeys from Monash University who earned the top spot. Congratulations to MonashNumba1, Mon.Shiro, Mon.Blanc, ILoveMonash and MonashUni for winning RM20,000. Well played to Team Fame from Taylor's University Lakeside Campus for finishing second.
For Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), it was UiTM Vendetta from UiTM Shah Alam who knocked it out of the park. Congratulations to King Darkness, King Badd, King Rexo, Deadmonnn, and King Abey - they walk away with RM20,000 as well. SZA Panthera from Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin finished the tournament in second place.
Monash University and UiTM Shah Alam also receive RM25,000 of scholarships each. That concludes the 3rd Semester of KEK. If you're a university student who's keen on competing, keep your eyes peeled for future instalments of the tournament! If you missed all the action, you can catch the VOD for CODM and MLBB on MyGameOn's Facebook Page.
Remember to follow eGG Network for the latest news and updates on esports and mobile games!
When Call of Duty: Mobile (CODM) broke records in its first week of launch and surpassed PUBG Mobile and Fortnite last year, it proved that there was a place in the esports scene for the mobile shooter. Although it’s been eight months since the launch of the game, despite the slew of esports competitions centered around CODM, it’s unclear how the competitive format for the franchise-based game actually works.
In our efforts to understand the format (especially with the CODM World Championship presumably resuming soon), we graciously enlisted the help of Abdul Hakiem “Ranger” bin Tajudin to give us a helping hand in compiling a guide to know how CODM esports operates. After all, who better to ask than the captain of 21Huntsmen, champions of the ESL Malaysia Championship 2020 CODM?
This CODM esports player is no stranger to the competitive Call of Duty scene, having begun his electronic sports journey eight years ago with CoD on console. Although he went on a hiatus after competing for four years to no avail, Ranger returned to the scene last year October, but this time as a professional CODM player; he was a member of FaMe apeX before joining 21Huntsmen, having participated in the inaugural official CODM esports competition, Clan Invasion, along with the Penang Lawan COVID-19: Liga Duduk Rumah (which his team won) and Playtonia’s CODM Frag Masters. Ranger is also the content manager for Resurgence MY.
CODM esports matches are typically played in a Best of 3 (BO3) model, with the Grand Final upping the ante to a Best of 5 (BO5). But unlike Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and PUBG Mobile esports which uses only one mode, competitive CODM instead utilises two Multiplayer modes:
Additionally, "most CODM tournaments have also been implementing Hardpoint mode (similar to Domination, but there's only one control point that shuffles around the map every minute) as the third choice ," Ranger said, adding that this Hardpoint isn't an official competitive mode yet but it's likely that it'll be included in future major tournaments.
The Land of Dawn is the sole battleground of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, the mobile battle royale of PUBG Mobile has four different arenas, and CODM includes around eight maps in the esports scene (we’ll explain the number soon). However, not all maps would be played in a match, which is why the map selection component exists in every series.
"We use the veto system when selecting maps," Ranger explained, saying that most organisers would do a coin toss to determine which team will get the first pick to ban which map, with the second team banning another map before the first team finalises the round’s battle area. If it’s a BO3, this process is repeated two more times, alternating between the opposing teams to decide which maps to play in.
Although there’s no standardised map pool for tournaments, Ranger got wind that all Malaysian competitions follow the format set by the ESL Malaysia Championship 2020 CODM, which featured these maps:
“(CODM publisher) Garena gave ESL MY the set of rules to use in the series.” This is why local competitions now use its rule book as a basis for not just the map pool, but also for everything else, including the structure, penalties and more.
Unlike PUBG Mobile, which features official roles such as fragger, scout, support and sniper, official roles for CODM have yet to be standardised. Even so, it doesn’t stop Ranger and his teammates from coming up with roles for 21Huntsmen as a basis:
Although they fairly resemble the roles of PUBG Mobile, notable differences for CODM include the addition of an objective player - important in securing points by fulfilling the mode’s, well, objectives. For example, as the attacking team, the objective player is responsible for detonating the bomb in Search & Destroy, or conquering control points in Domination/Hardpoint.
Despite the aforementioned roles, Ranger insists that in reality, everyone’s role is mostly situational. “Roles don’t always match everything that happens in-game,” the usually-scout player opined, explaining that this is why 21Huntsmen has a more adaptive and flexible approach. “We’re all pretty much multi-role players.”
In terms of gameplay and player attitude, there’s a vast difference between playing CODM in Multiplayer/Ranked mode and competitions. While casual players either just enjoy the game (Multiplayer) or care too much about their points (Ranked), professional players instead focus on winning tournaments through strategy, team coordination, and a deep understanding of the meta. Here are some of the habits Ranger suggests taking up for players who want to get serious:
“This is the best way to see how good you can get at the game,” not to mention that it’s a great place to learn from better opponents or experiment with your gameplay; "official CODM tournaments are usually announced by Garena," so the best way to stay informed on competitions is to follow the CODM Facebook page and keep an eye out for them on the social media platform.
One doesn’t always need to experience pro plays firsthand, not when we have the lovely Internet to scour matches of other teams across the world and learn from them, particularly those in the big leagues. (Hint: why not check out Ranger's CODM live streams on Facebook Gaming?)
“Be a team player and talk to your teammates,” so that you can coordinate with them better and give suggestions. Ranger also advised to “not troll other players” and ruin others’ playing experience.
Although the 21Huntsmen captain mentioned that player roles differ based on the scenario, it’s still a good idea to focus on a role. So, “you can adopt the right play style” properly and have a focus on mastering it, giving you an edge in combat.
Garena changes the meta every season, which is why it’s important to stay up to date on which guns or equipment have been nerfed or buffed.
The main difference that sets CODM apart from PUBG Mobile and MLBB, is the absence of resources. “Battle royale games focus on survival (by managing inventory) and MOBAs require farming to win,” Ranger said. Without those moments in CODM, “there’s no breaks in between, because each round lasts for only a few minutes. It can be quite a mental challenge,” due to the game being a lot more fast paced.
There is no doubt that MLBB and PUBG Mobile are unparalleled giants in the mobile esports scene so far, and CODM is trying to catch up to its peers mere months after its release.
In Ranger’s eyes, standardising its esports ruleset would help boost the mobile shooter’s growth significantly. “Making the game easy to understand would be great, because right now, every country has different rules for their own CODM tournaments,” which can get confusing. The assault rifle player even suggests adding an esports mode to the game, so that it’s simpler to understand the rules and meta.
Despite the above, he feels that the popularity of CODM is “actually still pretty big” and has been growing exponentially. For starters, the first ever official CODM tournament, Clan Invasion, saw a max number of 256 registered teams from Malaysia alone, not to mention that Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand has a pool of registered pro players. “Even EVOS Esports, RRQ and Bigetron have their own CODM teams.”
Plus, with an upcoming international competition with the CODM World Championship, who’s to say that the mobile shooter doesn’t have a global community?
Thank you, Ranger, for your insightful ... insights on the CODM esports scene. Be sure to follow the 21Huntsmen captain on Facebook!
Feeling pumped about getting your pro gamer mode on in Call of Duty: Mobile? Grab your teammates, download CODM on Google Play or the App Store, and start practising now!
For more CODM esports goodness, be sure to follow eGG Network on Facebook.
Before the existence of TikTok, Vine was the place to be for six-second doses of the weirdest, most unorthodox videos produced by humans, which propelled several Viners into Internet stardom for their unique sense of humour. One of them is none other than homegrown Malaysian boy, Luqman Podolski, who rose to prominence for his localised take on trending memes.
Unscathed by the downfall of the short-form video platform, the wig-wearing eccentric - said with utmost admiration and respect - went on to star in advertisements and his own video content on other platforms, not to mention he fulfilled his childhood ambition of becoming a rapper. So, why did the Malaysian entertainer make video game streaming at Facebook Gaming as his next stop?
“I have loved playing games since I was a kid,” Luqmanul Hakim revealed, saying that he played games like Pokémon before he got into FIFA and survival horror games (such as Resident Evil, The Evil Within and Layers of Fear), the game genres that he has also been regularly streaming. “I like how horror games can play with the minds of the viewers,” the Manchester United fan said. “Some people love getting scared, so I like to be shocked and scream in terror to entertain them,” although he later clarified that gameplay is important too.
Attending the ESL MY Championship 2020 CODM Season 1 as a guest.
The Facebook Gaming Creator also experimented various other genre in his streams, including the mixed martial arts fighting game UFC before discontinuing. “I roleplayed as a commentator while playing UFC, which my fans enjoyed. But, it was tiring for me to do it for every match, so I stopped,” later assuring that he’ll still find new ways to spice up his streams. He also admitted to not being great at shooters, which he tried streaming with lacklustre results. “Everyone expected me to shoot like Shroud,” he joked.
The self-proclaimed introvert - which he covered in his song Sorang (Alone) - credited his previous work for enabling him to be more talkative, a trait that’s usually necessary for streamers. “A lot of charismatic people I’ve met taught me to be humble, which is an important mindset to have to develop charisma and talk and interact skillfully.” He also had to force himself to get out of his comfort zone to be a streamer, thinking to himself, “To hell with it (not his exact words), I just want to do what I like and enjoy it.”
Back when Luqman was enthralled by huge streamers - such as YouTube superstar Pewdiepie - during high school, the former Vine star didn’t have the faintest idea he’d ever become a streamer … until he discovered the previously-viral game of Mario Cat late last year, which gave him the idea to stream it due to its insane difficulty. “I rehearsed my reactions before I streamed myself playing the game on Facebook,” he recounted, saying that he wasn’t expecting anyone to watch his first everstream. “But, trying it out sparked another idea for me: why don’t I stream playing horror games?”
However, Rome wasn’t finished in a day - it took Luqman two months to get the hang of the gig. Not only do streamers play games, but they also have to read comments and interact with viewers, juggling all three tasks at the same time. “When the game gets intense, I have to stay relaxed and not rush it.” Even Luqman’s balancing act extends to his whole career, forced to turn down several project offers and accept the more flexible ones, so he can manage his schedule better. Fortunately, he finds some form of respite in his streaming, a more relaxing task in comparison to his video content, which requires a lot more preparation and effort to produce.
Donning his signature wig.
With more experience in recording his content as opposed to entertaining in real-time, one can’t help but wonder why he chose to stream his gameplays instead. “When I’m streaming, I feel like I’m connecting with other people on a journey and enjoying the game together,” the only child opined, saying that it’s not as fun recording himself playing the game alone. “I get to interact with my viewers and come across unexpectedly funny moments or comments, like viewers jokingly trick me into dying in-game,” he recollected, amused at the thought of it. Sometimes his mother - who was initially unsupportive of his endeavours before she grew to accept them - watches his streams and gives them “likes”.
At the end of the day, Luqman attributes his success to the steadfast devotion of his fans. “I just want to say thank you to my fans for the unexpected support,” he said. “Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to become a streamer. Also, thanks, Cat Mario.”
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