Supersonic Cup Winter 2024: A Celebration of Esports at the RE//PERTH Winter Arts Festival
The Supersonic Cup Winter Major 2024 was a major success and highlight of the inaugural RE//PERTH Winter Arts Festival, presented by ARTRAGE. This stand-out event marked ARTRAGE's foray into the gaming and esports scene, demonstrating their commitment to expanding creative horizons. Supported by Tourism Western Australia, the RE//PERTH Festival and The Supersonic Cup celebrated the competitive spirit of gaming and positioned WA as a hub of innovation and creativity.
SPACEJUMP is honoured to be chosen as the organisation to bring esports to life at the RE//PERTH festival.
Event Structure
The Supersonic Cup Winter Major featured a double elimination qualifiers phase and a single elimination finals phase. The action spanned three days, including a single-day online competition for the qualifiers and a two-day LAN event for the finals.
The online qualifiers, held on the July 7th saw 18 teams compete for their spot in the LAN. A total of 24 matches were played with 9 of these matches streamed to SPACEJUMP/s Twitch. The action was expertly narrated by casting favorites Queen Morgie and Max Formal, who brought each match to life with their vibrant commentary. Click here to watch the past live stream.
The LAN finals, held at RE//PLAY on July 13th and 14th, featured the top 8 teams that progressed from the online qualifiers:
30 Year Olds
Apples is American
Inyanet
Team Gaming Esports Club
Shadow Wizard Money Gang
Rebbif
SKRIMZWORLD
Frequent Flyers
Local casting talents Dylan Sandry and Bianca James (Stormie), were the dynamic casting duo who kept the audience engaged and entertained throughout the matches. The charismatic local content creator PavlovaFace served as the stage host/MC, adding his unique flair and energy to the event. Click here to watch the past live stream.
Competitive Highlights
The excitement was palpable as teams competed for a share of the $1,000 prize pool. The competition was fierce, and the results were as follows:
1st Place - Apples is American | A new team featuring seasoned players including one of Perth’s most renowned players Nitro, clinched the top spot with $500 in winnings. Their synergy and skill were unmatched.
2nd Place - Rebbif | The reigning champions from our previous two tournaments, secured $250, showcasing their consistent high-level play and determination.
Joint 3rd Place - Inyanet & Skrimzworld | Both familiar teams with loyal fanbases, each took home $125, proving their prowess and maintaining their reputations as formidable competitors.
Interval Entertainment
The event was not just about intense competition; it also celebrated local artistic talent with a range of interval entertainment acts:
Classic Mistake: This chiptune artist mesmerized the audience with music crafted from a Game Boy console, blending nostalgia with modern beats.
DJ Ikigai: Pumped up the crowd with a DJ set featuring iconic video game music, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere.
Pavan Hari: Energized the event with a live set on keys and a loop pedal, showcasing his incredible musical talent and innovation.
Local Game Developers: Spectators had the exclusive opportunity to explore and play Ricochet Rodeo, a newly released game from local developers, highlighting the cutting-edge creativity in WA.
WA Content Creators Hub: Engaged the audience with an exciting "minute to win it" challenge, encouraging participation, adding a fun/interactive element to the event, and highlighting some of the talented content creators we have in WA.
Providing these artists with a platform was crucial, not only enriching the event but also shining a spotlight on the diverse creative talent in WA. Supporting local artists is essential to fostering a vibrant cultural community.
Record Viewership and Attendance
Streaming the event on Twitch brought in record viewership for SPACEJUMP, with audiences from across Australia and the world tuning in to witness the action. The data shows a jump in reach and engagement, emphasizing the widespread appeal of our esports events. The LAN finals were free to attend and drew a fantastic in-person crowd, creating an electrifying atmosphere that resonated with everyone present.
Future Prospects
The success of the Supersonic Cup Winter Major highlights the potential for future growth in the WA esports scene. With increased support from the government and organisation such as ARTRAGE, these events can continue to thrive and expand, establishing WA as a key player in the global esports ecosystem. SPACEJUMP is excited about the future and the opportunities to further develop and showcase the incredible talent and innovation in Western Australia!