An Interview with Philippine Gamer Mitzie Eusebio
When you think about gaming, about Need For Speed, Starcraft, Warcraft, Counter Strike, and other PC Games, you think of highschool boys, and college guys in front of their PCs or at the local internet cafes. But, what if you added cute with long, black, silky hair to the list of adjectives? Confused and interested, you would probably ask: Are you sure? Yes. We are very sure, because one of the Top Philippine Gamers out there is a filipina by the name of Mitzie Eusebio. New on the scene, this girl has developed the fight but no fright response.
Last month, during the World Cyber Games (WCG), Mitzie was the only girl to make it into the finals of the WCG. She accompanied 11 other Top Philippine Gamers, some of whom have been to the WCG finals before.
These gamers aren’t geeks with laptops sporting thick glasses. This “sport” has become a worldwide phenomena. Now, the preferred term is “Cyber Athlete”.
This year 12 Philippine Cyber Athletes would be going to Monza Italy. But the competition was just beginning.
700 online players from 70 countries gathered in Monza, Italy, north of the more famous Milan, October 19 to compete in the 2006 World Cyber Games. The battlegrounds ranged from easy going sporty games inspired by golf, football, and motor racing to live strategy games such as “Counter Strike,” where soldiers battle amongst each other, or “WarCraft,” which is basically an alien battle for planetary domination.
Among these more common games, WCG also introduced to the competition Pangya which is something you’ll read later on in this article.
Mitzie’s not just a girl from this side of the globe. And being in the Finals is by no means a stroke of luck. I got the chance to (chat, interview, talk, speak, have a coffee break) with her and found out these few interesting facts. Let’s get to know this lady gamer:
Fortunately, Mitzie was kind enough to spare some of her time and answer some questions for us.
(Mitzie in front of WCG banner)
First She introduced herself as Mitzie Eusebio from San Fernando Pampanga. Very proper if I do say so myself. With that introduction we went to the questions and answers. We asked Mitzie a few questions regarding her gaming experience in these recent months.
Nick: What was the process that lead you to the finals? And what were the previous rounds, prequalifications, etc., that you had to go through?
Mitzie: [I] already forgot the exact dates.. There were 3 rounds. First was provincial, wherein in every area were 4 official internet cafes except for NCR which had 10. On the first leg, I won at the 4th and last try, and in the second leg, we competed with Bulacan area for central Luzon, out of 7 players, I ranked 1st. In the national finals, I got lucky again and topped. (humble laugh).. I really did not expect to win because there are a lot of good players. All of the [eliminations] were held online. The participants for NCR played at the megamall.Nick: Were you nervous during the play for the finals of the WCG?
Mitzie: I was so nervous at that time because it’s my last chance. dami kc magagaling (there were a lot of good players).. Luckily I won. (another humble laugh)Nick: How long did you stay in Italy, and what did you do other than Game to your hearts content?
Mitzie: We stayed there for 7 seven days. We got there in Milan, Italy Oct 17, but the event venue was in monza, italy 30-40 mins from our hotel..Oct 18, Opening ceremony.
Oct 19, First day of the events, all of us got eliminated. Then wala na..
Oct 20-21, Pasyal.
Oct 22 Closing ceremony. Korea was the over all champion..
(left picture: Mitzie with 3 other Philippine Pangya players)
(right picture : Mitzie touring Italy)Nick: Why did you choose to pursue gaming?
Mitzie: Hmm… Maybe because I enjoy playing the game. It’s a very challenging game for me.Nick: How did you start as a gamer and when did you start?
Mitzie: I started playing online games when I met this friend who has an internet shop, two years ago. And eventually we
became business partners. And on our free time we tend to play just to kill time.Nick: What is your favorite game?
Mitzie: As of now Pangya. (online game) pc games madami.. text twist, dynomite, zuma, hehe etc.. minesweeper.. (basta pag wala internet connection..)Nick: What game did you compete in during the cyber olympics?
Mitzie: Pangya. ( a casual online golf game, which is just a special game in the wcg 2006)Nick: How do you rate the Philippines against other asian countries when it comes to gaming?
Mitzie: Hmm ala po ako ma comment.. because I’m just new in gaming..Nick: When you’re not in front of the screen, what other hobbies do you enjoy?
Mitzie: Sometimes I play badminton. Yun lng po (that’s about it)..Nick: Which educational institution do you attend now? What course are you pursuing?
Mitzie: I am a management graduate of the Angeles University Foundation, Angeles CIty
Nick: What other competitions have you participated in?
Mitzie: Actually this is my first and I’m hoping it won’t be the last.Nick: What other competitions are you preparing for?
Mitzie: Right now wala pa po. But i still play Pangya.. Because were not sure if Pangya will still be in the WCG 2007.Nick: How does your friends and family handle you being a gamer? Were they always open to the idea?
Mitzie: When they see me always playing computer games, they really don’t mind. there are just few times when they tell me to stop or rest.. or they would say.. ‘hindi kaba nagsasawa?’ hehe..(right photo: Mitzie at Duomo, Milan)
Nick: What advice can you give to other filipino gamers out there?
Mitzie: Hmmm.. advice… basta enjoy the game.. kc sa pangya, most of the shots have computations kaya medyo mahirap.. so ayun, practice makes perfect.. hehe..Nick: any other comments you would like to make regarding gaming, etc.
Mitzie:Comment regarding the gaming here in the Philippines? I guess gaming here is much different [as] compared to other Asian Countries. Like for example, in Korea (WCG2006 overall champion) they consider pc/ online gaming as one of their sports, unlike here in the Philippines, parang pag gamer ka, iba (it’s as if you’re a gamer, then it’s different).. basta dont know how to explain (laughs). May nagkwento nga po, some pro gamers are being paid everytime they play. Im not just sure what country.. (laughs again) nwayz yun lng po.. thanks po..
With that answer, our interview ended. I’m definitely left with an impressed feeling. Not only is Mitzie passionate about gaming, but she was also nice enough to lend us her time. It seems to me that internet/pc games are in fact here to stay because of it’s growing popularity and strong user base. Mitzie’s answers were also somewhat telling that this industry is still growing rapidly.
(Above Picture: Mitzie w/ fellow Pangya Players including The Overall Champions Korea)
Filipinos shouldn’t be outdone in online gaming. Korea and Japan may have the technology, our ingenuity and craft led these very people to tap on the Filipino workforce. Who would forget the ‘ILOVEYOU’ bug that made major security systems go haywire in the States? Only a Filipino hacker did that (not a good thing though, but his knack went undetected in the supposedly secured networks I also have to agree with a lot of Mitzie’s answers too, especially regarding gaming here in The Philippines. The Philippine Gaming Industry is trying to push this industry forward. Doing my own research, it is very much a fact that other countries such as Japan and korea have a bigger hand to deal from when it comes to gaming. Support is all over the place, from private industry up to the government itself. Most important of all, is that the Koreans for example, have a huge fan base to support them.
This, I feel should be the focus as well when The Gaming Industry plans to make this sport more popular here in The Philippines. Because where the fans go, then the sponsors and advertisers will follow. And completing that cycle, where advertisers go, consumers also flock to. Just like boxing and billiards, this is truly another niche sport that The Philippines can excel at. Let us support these professional gamers such as Mitzie, as well as the associations to which they belong to. Let us herald in their victories, and join in their defeats. We are fans and we are filipinos. I think among Fans worldwide we are definitely among the best (of course, a little bias here).
(Chance encounter with Francisco Bustamante durin travel)
So, when you’re parents start yelling at you for being in front of the computer too long. Just say that you’re working.
Because someday, I hope sooner rather than later, this sport of computer and internet gaming will prove to be a lucrative sport indeed. And what more motivation can you have than to know that next year’s WCG grand finals are going to be held in Seattle Washington. Hope to see you guys and gals there! And of course, we will all be rooting for Mitzie!
Resources:
Pangya Website
Esports Website
Edited by: Fred O.
tags: (none)
Ang ganda nman si Mitzie sa pictures niya. O nga, magiling talaga ang mga filipina tulad ko. heheh. Gusto ko na mag laro ng Pangya, parang maganda nman yung game na to!
To Mitzie: You Go Girl!
Meh wasnt all the interesting to be honest.
Have to agree with you there Sharon, she’s pretty cute..
EliteGamer, do you think the competition has a long way to improve? It sound’s like you weren’t too keen on the whole Competition…
As stated in the Article, it will be in Seattle next year, let’s hope that WCG 2007 will be even better…
Nice one…
Anu mga boys?! Isang girl from that event? Lufet!!! Tagal na akong gamer pero di ko inisip na pd palang i-career ang paglalaro ng pc games.
Anyways i really dont like pangya, ewan ko.
Sana sa mga gamers na pinoy pagpatuloy nyo lang yan pero please school muna bago laro….