Rampage 2015: Highlights

UPDATE: This article has been updated with a more precise estimate of attendees, as well as the official partners of Garena for Rampage 2015.

If you took a cab that passed by the World Trade Center on Saturday, August 22, you may have been mystified upon seeing the large crowd that had gathered there. You may have also been surprised by the strange hats, clothes, and costumes that littered the throng. But if you were one of that crowd  it only meant one thing: Rampage 2015, the biggest Philippine eSports event of the year.

Rampage has always been an event to commemorate the Philippine fandom that has sprung around the singular game that they know and love. This strong attachment is evident in the highlights of the day, where it was not only the game, but the gamers that came together to celebrate. It was evident in the crowds that cheered for their favorite players in the show matches, the furrowed brows of some of the players that analyzed the games themselves, the excited yelling that came from the shoutcasters and staff that watched every moment unfold.

Insert: The crowd intently watching the games on the big screen.

Garena, the country’s publisher of the game League of Legends promised to make Rampage the biggest event in Philippine eSports this year (with the help of SMART Prepaid and GAMEX), and they delivered. With an estimated 14,000-strong people in attendance – 2,000 of them from last-minute ticket purchases while the remaining 12,000 were from pre-sales – Rampage 2015 was every League fan’s dream in a single arena.

With eSports rapidly becoming recognized as a rising field for both professional gamers and casual participants, the size of events like Rampage is understandable. And it’s only going to get bigger as more organizations are getting formed and involved in events like this.

The first highlight of the event was the games that took place over the course of the day. First was a showmatch between the teams that were organized per college known as the LoL Collegiate League. Shortly afterwards, professional matches in the Pro Gaming Series (PGS) took place to decide who would fight for the crown of being PGS champion – a thrilling showdown that ultimately took place between Imperium Pro Team and Mineski.Globe.

Above: The view from the special area that was set aside for the collegiate showmatches that took place all day.

But before the finals, other events also took place – the games not being the only attraction at Rampage. Several other events such as the Cosplay Clash which was divided between Solo and Group divisions. It wowed and entertained the crowd in equal measure by their performances, which brought to life the champions that everyone had played and loved.

Pantheon and Shyvana duel on stage.

One of the group cosplay performances.

The winners of the Cosplay Clash.

Alodia interacts with the crowd.

More highlights of the day included an electrifying musical performance by DJ Cathy Frey in character as one of the game’s champions, DJ Sona – turning the entire room into a dance floor in a routine that had requests for another song and an encore long after the music had stopped. Well-known individuals such as Archie “RiotSpiffy“ Dimaculangan and popular cosplayer Alodia Gosiengfiao mingled among the gamers and fans who had gathered in the event. The declaration of the possibility of Alodia playing the game significantly charged the atmosphere.

In the middle of the excited atmosphere of the event, everyone momentarily slowed down for a surprising and touching event took place. A player proposed on stage to his now-fiancee, filling the hall with cheers and shouts of congratulations as she said yes. This was a testament to the capability of games like League of Legends to develop relationships not only online but offline as well, giving the game a whole new field of opportunity and evidence of personal interaction and growth.

DJ Cathy Frey’s performance.

A player proposes onstage.

The day ended with the explosive PGS Final matches between Mineski.Globe and Imperium Pro Team. After a series of back and forth exchanges that took place over the course of the entire summer series, Mineski.Globe ended with a clean 2-0 record out of a race to three, securing the win and the title of Pro Gaming Series Summer Split Champions.

The screen displaying the announcement of Mineski.Globe’s win over IPT.

Mineski.Globe holds the PGS trophy aloft.

The professional teams were not the only one who came home with more than they had going in: prizes from Razer and other raffles such as in-game currency were given out at the event. Shout-outs and at-home selfie contests also took place courtesy of Garena among those who viewed the livestream, ensuring that all LoL fans still felt like a part of Rampage, whether or not they were on site.

Rampage was a testament to the commitment and love that the Filipino players had of the game and of the culture that grew around it. Everyone got their efforts rewarded that day: whether it was the lucky few who won prizes, the winners of the Cosplay Clash, the professional teams that faced off against each other, or even just the fans who wanted pictures of their idols or cosplayers. And as the day ended and the people streamed out of the World Trade Center, it would be a wonderful reminder that from the solitude of one’s own computer, there was a whole community that was just out there that loved the same things as they did. It is nice to know that the community could gather in an event that celebrated that fact.

See you all next year!

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