The Ladder Season 3 Playoffs are underway with the top 8 ready to wage war this weekend!

Round 1 saw some great matches, along with some upsets. Round 2 followed the pattern as the intensity built up and competitors maxed out their APM. Game Replay's representative Methuselah was one of the refs over the last few weekends, and witnessed some of the battlefield carnage first hand. He and other analysts have had time to look over what happened in Round 1 and 2. Read the interview below to see their thoughts on the most intense ladder season yet!

 

2POC: So meth what are your thoughts regarding the tournament so far?

Methuselah: I think it has been absolutely fantastic!  I’ve really got to hand it to EA, the Ladder Season concept is really well done.  This is my third to officiate and I know the community in general gets fired up over the competition itself and the terrific replays (and drama!) it produces.

2POC: How do you think it went this past weekend?

Methuselah: I think it went really, really well and I had a blast being a part of it.  You and APOC did a nice job getting everything and everyone ready and there were very few hitches or controversies.  The only problem I’ve had so far was getting the replays for my group…..I guess being really good in game means you can’t or won’t save your replays and title them properly ;)

2POC: Anything specific stand out for you from Saturday regarding the Red Alert 3 matches?

Methuselah: I think Nukestrike, the #2 seed coming into the tournament, getting eliminated was a real shocker.  You follow that up with B00M (#3) and Bapor (#4) and you have 5 of the top 10 seeds coming in already gone.   The flip side to that is EVGA’s YogSaron, the #16 seed coming in, winning his group outright.  Also, double qualifier Technique made quite a showing and is going to have to be reckoned with.

2POC: What about Kane’s Wrath round 2?

Methuselah: AoeNiaN going down in group play, having been the original #2 seed is a bit of a surprise. However, most of Kane’s Wrath is holding form.  Also Zarate, ThePWNERER & DauBep all being tied and having to go to a playoff to see who advances (ThePWNERER) was pretty exciting.  Double qualifier Dynamic continues his impressive run in both tournaments and Boffinek, originally the #16 seed, continues to acquit himself nicely.

2POC: Let’s turn our attention to the matches coming up this weekend.  Is there a match in particular you can’t wait for?

Methuselah: What match can’t I wait for at this point?  Zer0 & Dynamic joined by Zlex & YogSaron doing battle in the top half (translation:  the Allied half) of the bracket.  Dwelf & Technique should be epic, and then you have the only non Allied players left squaring off against each other as Moutou and Matiz do battle ensuring one non-Allied player makes it to the semis. 

2POC: What about Kane’s Wrath?

Methuselah: Same deal here, every match looks terrific!  In the top of the bracket you have Technique (again!) doing battle with ThePWNERER and Boffinek & v0ddy squaring off.  The bottom half of the bracket brings us Insomnia vs Iron_Hide and Dackel vs Dynamic (again!) which should be epic.

2POC: Any thoughts to wrap things up?

Methuselah: Well kudos to EVGA for owning 3 of the top 8 spots going in the single elimination round for Red Alert 3.  Well played.  Also, I’m wondering if the Dutch are taking over C&C?  As Dwelf pointed out to me 2 of the remaining 8 Red Alert 3 Commanders speak Dutch…..and there is only 1 German left. 

I was just kidding there.  Mostly.  I just could not resist stirring up my German friends :P

Thanks very much to the volunteer referees.  You guys and gals play a large role in making sure this thing is not utter chaos.  Thanks to everyone who qualified, whether you advanced or not, for making this stretch of time beginning back on May first and continuing through Cologne on August 21 very compelling theater for those of us that love Command & Conquer.  Lastly thanks to Electronic Arts for putting this all on, please don’t stop!  Bring on Ladder Season 4!  Well, after I catch my breath……

 

Thank you Methuselah! Looking forward to seeing how Round 3 shapes up this weekend!