Developers World Championship: Match Report - New Zealand v Czech Republic (Group F)

NEW ZEALAND PushPixPull (The Miracleworks)

VS CZECH REPUBIC Buka (Hexage)

Day 5 of this inaugural iPhone Game Developers World Championship and already the intense app-on-app action is rapidly overshadowing the activity in South Africa. Last night’s opening Group F clash was especially dramatic, producing the first rout of the competition, as Scotland took mighty Italy to the sword.

Could either the tradition rugby-playing nation New Zealand or the underrated Czechs create that degree of havoc in the opposition’s penalty area this lunchtime?

The Kiwi coaching team had deliberated long and hard, but eventually pushed, nay, pulled, nay pushed The Miracleworks’ 3D puzzler on to the pitch for this crucial encounter.

Sizing up PushPixPull during the pre-game stretching was the eponymous star Buka of Hexage’s likewise addictive puzzle romp.

Three points. Two gaming cuties. One winner. Game on.

Kick Off: 12.30pm, 15th June The critical view: Possibly mindful of the humiliating scoreline yesterday evening, the formations of both sides appeared relatively conservative.

The simple, inventive, and effective gameplay from New Zealand and the Czech Republic led to some neat one-touch passing in the middle of the park.

Tension levels were raised in the 19th minute, however, when a shockwave from Buka’s amorphous heroine rattled PushPixPull's crossbar. Breathing a sigh of relief, the Kiwi backline attempted to regain a measure of composure through its ambient music.

PPP's pin sharp 3D graphics, block-pulling antics, and retro styled frontman then enabled the New Zealand side to exert some attacking pressure of its own.

No goal was forthcoming, as we entered the latter stages of the half. Inspiration was needed, and right on cue, an elaborate one-two between Buka’s polished presentation and the effective use of the iPhone's touchscreen had dragged the opposition out of position with fatal consequences.

1-0 to the eastern Europeans and fully warranted for that magical passage of play.

Half time: New Zealand 0 – 1 Czech Republic The Fans’ 45: Could the New Zealand fans work a miracle for their beloved boys in this, the crucial second period? In a word, no.

Strangely subdued, the supporters of both teams remained pensive from the restart, only roused briefly by the eight worlds available in PushPixPull and the wealth of challenging levels for Buka's colourful, lonely blob.

For all their cutesy build-up play, the Kiwi clan just couldn't muster a significant response, Buka's back five proving fiendishly difficult to penetrate for the duration.

Full time: New Zealand 0 – 1 Czech Republic Post match interview:

Latest Group Tables - Fixtures & Voting - Squads

Confused? Click here to go to the iPhone Game Developers World Championship info page.

MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSORS: The iPhone Game Developers World Championship 2010 is brought to you by Pocket Gamer in association with FlickKick Football> check it out!