iPhone Game Developers World Championship: N.O.V.A vs Zombie Attack! (Group A)

FRANCE N.O.V.A. (Gameloft)

VS CANADA Zombie Attack! (IUGO)

Thursday 17 June was an historic day in the iPhone Game Developers World Championship as not one, but two Gold Award winning apps graced the hallowed turf of the iStadium.

The first of these gaming giants had the shortest journey to the championships, just a hop across the English Channel from the developmental offices of Gameloft - N.O.V.A. was its name; fragging was its aim.

France's opponents by contrast had travelled all the way from Vancouver, which perhaps explained why they spent most of the pre-match build-up wandering aimlessly around the ground seemingly oblivious to the fanfare and anticipation inside the ground.

To be fair, though, the dazed state of Canada's representatives may have been less to do with jetlag and more down to the essential lack of higher brain functions, them being undead an' all. Either way, Zombie Attack! from prolific, indie studio IUGO, looked set to adopt a markedly different tactic to other sides in the tournament with their slow but insistent build-up play.

Talk among attendant pundits centred on one thing: hunter v hunted.

Could the North American holocaust survivor last for 90 minutes from one prowling and seriously pissed-off, retired marine – oh, and a horde of zombies?

Kick Off: 7.30pm, 17th June

The critical view: In many respects the evening match here in Bath resembled nothing more than a classic training exercise of attack v defence.

As expected Gameloft’s first-person shooter performed the role of (Master)chief aggressor, prompting midfielders forward, so that they could let fly on goal with rockets galore.

Canada’s tower defence strategist meanwhile seemed content to simply soak up the punishment and although it teetered alarmingly at times and even got knocked down, the range of turrets, weaponry, and sanctuary-providing shacks, stood firm for the first half hour.

32 minutes in and the tie opened up. N.O.V.A. had expended its wide array of shooting options and needed to think quickly. In a Eureka moment, the French side’s Gold Award was collected from the dressing room by the backroom staff and waved wildly in front of the officials.

This shiny sideshow distracted Zombie Attack! sufficiently to expose the one chink in its rearguard. Les Bleus' three control schemes and 13 levels didn’t need a second invitation and fired in a howitzer from fully 30 yards to break the undeadlock and nearly take the keeper's head off in the process.

Half time: France 1 – 0 Canada The Fans’ 45: You might have thought that the geographical proximity to Bath, England, would mean an overwhelming army of blue flags for the French title.

In fact IUGO's popular zombie elimination title more than held its own in the supporters' stakes, as the adroit use of both accelerometer and touch controls equalised from a short corner routine. They could have added another moments later had the Canadian striker managed to retain his focus when through one-on-one with the French 'keeper, sadly however he took his eye off the ball in favour of lunging at the goalie's throat.

Stunned into action, the lone marine finally managed to rouse some of his troops via nifty Bluetooth, local, and online wi-fi multiplayer options and turned in a low cross at the death.

Full time: France 2 – 1 Canada Latest Group Tables - Fixtures & Voting - Squads

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