Developers World Championship: Match Report - Hong Kong v Germany (Group D)

HONG KONG EdiMon (Humble Gaming)

VS GERMANY The Settlers (Blue Byte)

BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen: three examples of streamlined German efficiency. Sadly for die Deutschen at the 2010 iPhone Game Developers World Championship, there hadn’t been much sign of this famed excellence of execution on the pitch.

Instead, Germany’s performances had resembled less Vorsprung durch Technik and rather more the hapazard charms of a Trabant, the much-maligned East German vehicle of the 70s.

Two defeats in quick succession had killed off any real chance of qualification to the knockout phase, so all that remained was damage limitation and playing for pride.

In troubling times, therefore, it seemed apropos for Blue Byte’s iPhone port of the classic PC strategy title, The Settlers, to try and steady the ship somewhat.

For its part, Hong Kong faced one simple equation: avoid defeat to Germany + match Australian scoreline = progress to Last 16.

Kick Off: 7.30pm, 23rd June

The critical view: The Hong Kongese’s most famous export, Alive 4-ever, had delivered big-time in the nation’s previous outing, ensuring the nation's ongoing survival after an opening round reverse.

Now, EdiMon, marking Humble Gaming’s second appearance in the competition, had the task of securing victory for the Asian islanders and the cute, Tamagotchi-styled utility player started brightly enough.

Three mini games yesterday at its Eden training complex had prepared the Hong Kong side for these awkward German opponents. Watching the game evolve, though, you couldn’t fail to worry about the longevity of the purple furball.

Armed with 21 missions, a frankly overwhelming range of buildings, materials and replacement soldiers, and four civilisations (Turks and Poles among them), the German team ground EdiMon down.

Once The Settlers had conquered midfield, it was free to roam the battlefield, protected at the back by a libero. The smartly-attired and totem-esque German manager took advantage of a brief respite in play to liberate the side’s Silver Award from the kitbag and craft the decisive breakthrough.

Perhaps they should have pushed on for more goals, but once ahead, Blue Byte's side seemed more than content to settle down on their lead. Indeed, at times they were more preoccupied with farming and chopping wood than launching an attack.

With precious little coming from the Humble corner either, it peetered out somewhat and the teams went into the break at 0-1.

Half time: Hong Kong 0 – 1 Germany The Fans’ 45: Not wishing to tempt fate, the Hong Kongese dressing room elected to ignore any updates from the concurrent Group D clash three miles away in iStadium II.

Vigour renewed and with heartfelt pleas ringing in its ears from the traveling fans, EdiMon's elusive outside right evaded five tackles with increasing difficulty, then arrowed a volley into a grey area of the goal that was still beyond The Settlers' reach.

At 1-1 with time ticking down, it was looking very much like they'd be partying in the streets of Victoria this evening.

However, Germans plus pride go together like Ant and Dec so it was no surprise to anyone bar the Humble bench then, when the building management sim engineered a delightful move into the box to get clean through on goal. With the keeper slow to come forward, it looked like a certain goal until a despairing lunge from the previously peaceful virtual sprite cut The Settlers' striker off at the knees.

A stonewall penalty, a certain straight red, and an inevitable outcome followed as Blue Byte's charges held their nerve to dispatch the pen on 85 minutes.

The Humble team had literally had the stuffing knocked out of them and with a man short, no amount of feeding, playing, or general care could rouse the virtual creatures before the final whistle.

Heads dropped further still when the horrifying news from the Australia v Serbia clash popped up via an iPhone 4 push notification. The team and the nation fell silent - after a valiant display, it was game over for Hong Kong and they joined Germany in drowning their sorrows over a group stage exit.

Full time: Hong Kong 1 – 2 Germany Latest Group Tables - Fixtures & Voting - Squads

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