Developers World Championship: Match Report - Japan v Australia (Semi Finals)

JAPAN Chaos Rings (Media.Vision)

VS

AUSTRALIA Fruit Ninja (Halfbrick)

Semi finals day. 90 minutes away from the biggest match of your career.

There were bound to be a few butterflies in the stomachs of all four remaining squads at this year’s enthralling Pocket Gamer iPhone Game Developers World Championship.

By a strange twist of fate, each of the semi finalists – Japan, Australia, USA, and Finland - was representing more than just a nation now; they were carrying the hopes and dreams of entire continents.

At London's iStadium II this evening, both Chaos Rings’ developer Media.Vision and Fruit Ninja’s Halfbrick were breaking new ground.

Neither Japan, nor Australia had ever reached the last four of a major tenuously football-related tournament, so history beckoned for the victor.

In Chaos Rings’ round-robin clash, which now seemed an eternity ago, the much-lauded Japanese RPG maintained the country’s unbeaten record in the competition by securing a point against the talented Dutch outfit, Mystery Mania.

Arcade veterans Street Fighter IV and Space Invaders: Infinity Gene had delivered the goods for the national team in the knockout rounds hitherto, so the third member of the holy trinity was now summoned.

Worryingly for the Australian contingent, Halfbrick’s fruity slice ‘em up had been rather put to the sword in its Group D encounter with Hong Kong’s outstanding Alive 4-ever.

To stand any chance of progressing to Sunday’s Final, the ninja’s performance, reception, and attitude had to improve tenfold.

In charge of tonight’s prestigious occasion was Hungarian referee Sandor Stones.

Kick Off: 7.30pm, 7th July

The critical view: Semi finals are usually cagey affairs, the pressure on both sides weighing heavily in the early exchanges. This match was no different, as Japan and Australia merely sparred for the opening 15 minutes.

Action and chances were, therefore, at a premium and much to the chagrin of the Japanese management, Chaos Rings’ lightning pair upfront, formidable in the group stages, were being successfully shackled.

The incessant hype surrounding the Asian favourites seemed to be inhibiting the players. In the knowledge that Fruit Ninja had racked up over 1 million sales and could, in theory, count on considerable support in the second half, Japan seemed to be trying too hard in front of the attendant critics.

Whilst the Japanese prevaricated, the Australians had meditated, taking the unorthodox approach of opening a dojo mid-tournament, so that players could train and focus away from the scrutinizing eyes of the media scrum.

Clearly, this decision was providing dividends, since the quick, simple, and effective gameplay on display by Fruit Ninja this evening appeared in stark contrast to its dour showing two weeks ago.

Japan’s backroom staff needed to mix things up...and as we reached the half hour mark, they took the opportunity to do so, unsheathing Chaos Rings’ well-deserved Pocket Gamer Gold Award for both the fourth official and the players’ benefit.

Inspired by the golden trinket (and some special weaponry tucked down their shin-pads), the apparently telepathic Japanese forwards linked to devastating effect, playing a one-two on the edge of the area to create space for a clinical opener.

Australia’s shaolin masters had been taught a painful counter attacking lesson, but it clearly hadn't sunk in completely. Before the Fruit Ninjas could recover their composure, their opponents’ slick 3D movements and super sonics had carved out a second.

Somewhat ironically, a 32 yard banana shot was the undoing of the Antipodeans, whose goalkeeper had been bamboozled by the almost implausible bend and curve of the ever-controversial Jubilani.

The Australian manager’s half time team talk had just got considerably tougher, not to mention more expletive-ridden.

Half time: Japan 2 – 0 Australia The Fans’ 45: Crikey, cobber, the vast Pocket Gamer iStadium II was full to overflowing for the first time at this year's tournament.

Brimming with noise, colour, and mobile barbies, almost all of the 400,000-strong Australian bar staff of West London appeared to be out in force tonight and were clearly in good voice, as they faced down their Pacific neighbours.

Hence, Fruit Ninja returned to the pitch, shooting from left-to-right, to a rapturous reception, the likes of which hadn't been heard since their cricket team was last any good.

Japan had plenty of support of their own in attendance, but nevertheless seemed overawed by the atmosphere. More accustomed to the quiet, respectful crowds at Ark Arena, the critically-renowned RPG clearly found the relentless din from the Vuvu-didgeridoos intimidating.

It was amidst one of this cacaphonous spells that the Aussie #9 spotted the distracted Japanese keeper wandering out of position and slashed home a stinging low shot from range.

The Japanese were reeling and just three minutes later a further bomb was dropped. Australia's target man popped up on the end of a free-kick and fortuitously sliced a shot into the roof of the net.

2-2, then, and the tide had well and truly turned. In fact, the momentum was all one way at this point and, when Fruit Ninja's OpenFeint integration and achievements brought even greater support from the masses back home, it seemed like there could be only one winner. Chaos Rings was powerless to stop the Oceanian onslaught, as yet another attack cut their back-line to shreds, culminating in a relatively straight-forward tap-in.

3-2 up and Halfbrick looked to have built a path to the final.

However, with only eight minutes left on the clock and with the match appearing to be slipping away, the Japanese crowd surged and spurred Media.Vision's boys (and girls) into a random attack. In a move every bit as fast and beautiful as the in-game combat, the Japanese transformed defence into attack and seconds later were stroking a square ball into an empty net. Riotous celebrations ensued: it was all square again and extra time looked to be on the cards.

Yet, just as the respective coaches were beginning to prepare the full-time oranges, up popped the Australians to rip them to shreds. In the dying moments of normal time, the experienced Sensei in midfield slipped a ball over the top and found his striker plum onside. As the ninja sped towards the edge of the box, the miraculously even larger crowd rose to their feet and screamed for him to shoot.

As he duly drew back his rapier right foot, time...slowed.

Stood.

Still.

Then...accelerated as he slashed a piercing drive towards the corner. The Japanese 'keeper got a glove to parry it, but the effort was too sharp to handle. Its pace, plus the sharp intake of several thousand Halfbrick fans, proved enough to draw it over the line.

Tinnies were thrown onto the pitch, Sheilas lifted their tops, and a nation of Neighbours rejoiced - it was 4-3 and the final whistle had blown.

As the Japanese collapsed in disappointed exhaustion, the Fruit Ninjas must have felt like they were in their Salad Days.

Australia had completed the single most important comeback since Kylie, and they were headed to the World Championship final!

Full time: Japan 3 – 4 Australia Final Group Tables - Fixtures & Voting - Squads

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