Dave Hopton looks at the new ETF2L Highlander Community Challenge, and at the campaign for eSports growth

I'm a big Politics nut. I study it for a start, but I also think it's profoundly important and deserves the attention and scrutiny modern media and the public give it, however much we love to hate it and pretend we're morally superior.

Such words probably aren't the best start to an article on Cadred, at least if I'm trying to interest readers, but hear me out – there's a connection. I'm currently reading a book about the Obama Presidential campaign, written by his campaign manager, that documents everything that happened in the historic 2008 Presidential Race from his perspective - all the campaign decisions, the ups, downs, everything. And it's fascinating to learn just exactly how Obama managed to beat Hillary Clinton, the expected Democrat candidate, who has years of political experience, a phenomenal history, vast amounts of supporters and brilliant credentials, through a totally unique grassroots campaign - the likes of which America has never seen before.


Fingers up at the establishment: Doing Things Differently since 2008 ©

I see the growth of TF2 in much the same way. We're absolutely not the predicted nominee, the one with a big history of being involved in eSports or with dozens of organisations willing to back us, something behemoths like StarCraft 2 and 1.6 enjoy. But we're absolutely capable of building a grassroots movement, through sheer hard work, passion and determination, to get to where we deserve to be. Allow me to explain.

The ETF2L Highlander Community Challenge, announced just over a week ago, is a move by the ETF2L organisation to draw in casual TF2 players and allow them to get together with other players from their regular pub server to compete in a Highlander Cup, and determine who can be crowned the best Highlander team in Europe. With the view of breaking down many of the barriers that are built up towards competitive play and showcase all it has to offer, to say the response has been incredible would be a vast understatement.

As I write this, there are currently 586 registered teams for the tournament. With each squad having on average around 12 players (being on the conservative side), that's around 7,000 new players from all around the world signed up to participate competitively for the first time in just a week and a half. Pretty phenomenal for a game that many dismiss within eSports, and there's still a week of sign-ups left.

So the question is, how the hell has this happened? Those in charge of creating and organising the tournament deserve huge credit for planning it out properly, and reaching out to the right sources for publicity. Valve have played a key role in promoting the competition, firstly by posting updates on the official Team Fortress 2 Blog, but also by partnering with ETF2L to give every participant of the competition a unique medal – a big draw for many players who pride themselves on collecting new weapons and rare hats (which is what TF2 is all about, remember).


Loooook, it's shiny

But as good as publicity is, I don't think it can take all the credit. I think, much like the desire was there in the Obama 08 race for a change from the corrupt and short-sighted politics of George W. Bush, the desire is there within public TF2 servers to play the game properly. What do I mean by properly? With comms, with teamwork, with everything that enhances the TF2 experience and allows teams to actually function as teams. We say it far too often, almost enough for it to have become a cliché by now, but it's true – this is TEAM Fortress 2 (Apologies for the horrific overuse of the word 'team' in this sentence. Oops, did it again).

You can't play as a team when you have those 3 persistent Engy's setting up sentries guarding your final point on Badlands when you're attacking middle. You can't play as a team when you have that Medic from a country you've never heard of, trying to tell you what to do via the in-game chat in broken English, all whilst standing still and allowing a Spy to run up and take him out. You can't play as a team when your Heavy persists in trying to take on the entire enemy side, single handed. However amusing it is, it gets frustrating.

And that's why the Highlander Challenge is the answer. It retains the feeling of a public server, but brings together all the best parts of competitive play - tactics, proper communication, and just a dash of organisation. Although the ETF2L admins had no idea how popular the competition would be, I can understand why it's been such a runaway hit. At last, a League is finally providing the framework for these guys to play, and all it's taken is some hard work from a very small group of people to make it happen.

My colleague Richard wrote in his latest article about a new initiative called Play the Gamer, developed by a widely respected marketer, in an attempt to reach out to casual gamers in neutral social places like a local pub, and give away at least £30,000 in prizes for the first season alone. Sound at all familiar?


The Play The Gamer project

OK, aside from the slight difference between £30k and an in-game medal, the concept is exactly the same, and it's what eSports needs if it wants a sustainable future. It's exactly the kind of grassroots campaign that Obama ran – friends talking to friends, explaining the issues and showing why Obama was different – and it has a far higher chance to succeed because you know and trust the people you're talking to, and there's a level of accountability. It's exactly the same for us in the TF2 community. We have to talk to friends in pub servers and from other games, explain the ins and outs of our community and show them why TF2 is different from other competitive titles, and dare I say it, why it's better.

The proof is in the pudding. Just last night two long-time friends of mine, both who've both been involved in competitive CSS - albeit at the fringes - spoke to me and told me they have finally decided to give up on the game. They can't stand the community and the fact that no one has given them a chance in a team, and they want a game that will continually excite them when they launch it, not become a chore. I've been labouring for them to try TF2 for quite literally years, but each time they fall back into the CSS safety net that they know and can understand.

Last night, they played one of their first proper games of TF2. It was only a fun mix of players, but their positive reaction was infectious, and is proof – for me at least – that if gamers give TF2 a go, they won't be disappointed. The Highlander tournament is a perfect opportunity, and there will be more in the future. For those of you attending i40, come and check out the TF2 Arena and be sure to watch the Grand Final. If you like what you see, then join the campaign.