Canadian Dominates DOA4 at World Cyber Games Grand Final and Pan-Regional Tournaments

Jade Update – I just can’t resist boasting the ol’ national pride when one of our own skools Xbox gamers on a global level. And that is just what Ryan Ward, Gamertag Offbeat Ninja, did at the Grand Final and Pan-regional World Cyber Games DOA4 tournaments. 

I spoke with Ryan to get the scoop on the pwnage.  In true Canadian fashion, he modestly admits that while he won all but one of his tournament games in Monza and Mexico City, the competition was fierce. When he hit the WCG scene in Monza, Ryan had thought going into the tournament that his biggest competition would be the player from the U.S.  But the U.S. ended up losing to the player from Mexico, who Ryan then faced – and pummeled as Ein – in the final match.

Just over a week later, Ryan made his way to Mexico City to defend his title at a more intimate WCG tournament.  With just four players on the roster, Ryan took the Pan-Regional final by beating two players from Mexico and one from Brazil. 

So what’s Ryan going to do with all his new-found fame and fortune (he walked away from the tournament with over $15,000 USD in cash and whole whack of prizes)?  “No idea!” he says with a laugh.  Need a trip back to Monza Ryan?  I know a certain green-eyed gamer chick that would be up for it…email me, I’ve got connections ;)

Edmonton Gamer Jet Sets to Italy for DOA4 finals at World Cyber Games

The world of competitive gaming – or e-sports as it is now coming to be known – got a whole lot sweeter this year with the rise of the Xbox 360 Competitive league.  Now I’m not biased (okay maybe I am a bit) but Canadians traditionally do exceptionally well on the world stage when it comes to competitive gaming.  And the World Cyber Games (WCG) 2006 finals in Monza, Italy are shaping up to be yet another Canadian gamer love fest.  I caught up with Edmonton, Alberta fighting game phenom Ryan Ward, one of the 13 seriously skilled gamers on Team Canada, to find out more about his winning strategy, and his love of DOA.

Jade: How did you first hear about the WCG?

Ryan: I first heard about WCG last year when Dead or Alive Ultimate was first added as an official game. Info on the tournament was posted up on DOAcentral.com, a DOA site many of the hardcore DOA players frequent. Unfortunately last year Canada was excluded from the DOA event so I had to wait until this year to represent Canada for DOA.

Jade: See, if we Canadians whine loud enough, we actually get heard.  What did you have to do to qualify for the Canadian WCG finals in Montreal?

Ryan: I entered an online qualifier tournament over Xbox Live and placed.  I also had to play in offline tournaments in Edmonton – the one I went to was at Fragapalooza.  The competition was actually pretty easy here.  One guy came a bit close but nothing like what I would go up against at the WCG finals.

Jade: And what sweet prizes did you score for winning the DOA4 Championship at the Canadian finals?

Ryan: I won a trip to Italy and a trip to Mexico to participate in the Dead or Alive 4

tournaments there. I also ended up taking home a Samsung monitor, a Microsoft optical

mouse, headphones, an MP3 player, a copy of PGR3 and a really cool medal. 

Jade: Nice work!  Is the WCG your first competitive video game tournament?

Ryan: Actually WCG will be my second. I went to Las Vegas in August to play DOA4 in the Evolution Fighting Game Championship Series.  This was my first time playing the game offline competitively - and I didn't do so well.  But I have practiced a lot more since then and I know I will do a whole lot better at WCG. DOA is the only game I currently play competitively though.

Jade: So let’s get down to the nitty gritty - which character do you play with and why?

Ryan: I use the character Ein. I have been using him since Dead or Alive Ultimate and prefer his fighting style over all of the other characters. Even though he is still basically the same character from DOA2 to DOA4, I still decided to stick with him. He also has the coolest personality by far. If I had to choose a second favourite, probably Hayate.

Jade: You seem to know a frightening amount about DOA.  Are you a big fighting game fan?

Ryan: I’m somewhat of a fighting game fan. I’ve played and enjoyed pretty much all of the popular fighting games, but the only one I’m really good at is DOA.  I have played Tekken and Soul Caliber, but the only one I play seriously is DOA.

Jade: So the big WCG world finals are later in October.  What is your strategy when you head over to Italy?

Ryan: I’m going to try to keep my cool and not get nervous or anything. Just play the game how I always do. I’ll also try to have a safe balance between offense and defense in terms of the matches.  I have the killer moves mastered, so I should be good there.  Ein's back kick is his most deadly move.  It also has great range.  His back punch is pretty lethal as well.

Jade: Know your enemy, know yourself, fight a hundred battles, win a hundred battles – have you done your homework on the competition?

Ryan: I know which characters some of the participants are going to be using, and have actually faced a few of them online. I have a general idea of their skill level as well. I’m definitely not going to let my guard down though. 

Jade: So any big plans when you are let loose on the streets of Italy?

Ryan: Just try to have a lot of fun and get in some sightseeing – oh and do well in the tourney of course.

Jade: In closing - give everyone some tips on how to play like a DOA champ.

Ryan: Get to know all of the characters in the game so you know what moves they are going

to use to launch you, stun you, and moves they can use to beat you out. Once you know this, it makes it much easier to fight each character and know the strengths and weaknesses everyone has. This will allow you to know what to use, and when to use it.

Jade: Now that we know all your secrets, if we want to challenge you...err I mean learn from your mad skillz, what’s your gamertag?

Ryan: Offbeat Ninja – I’ve been an Xbox Live member since it launched in 2002, and my gamertag was just one of the randomly generated names.  Funny enough, it was really cool and just fits.  Xbox Live is the best thing to happen to video games in years. 

Thanks so much Ryan for taking time out from your DOA training to chat.  We will be cheering you on October 18-22 as you do battle in Monza, Italy – do us proud.  Make sure you let us know as soon as you kick International butt and take home the trophy.  Come back for updates on Ryan and Team Canada’s progress at the WCG finals later this month.  Going to WCG? Want to meet up with other Canadians heading to Monza?  And what Xbox 360 games should the WCG pick for next year? Discuss it with the community.