AEL is excited to announce our return to Oz Comic-Con Adelaide, and this year we’re bringing some amazing partners with us!
AEL’s gaming area is the ultimate destination for gamers who want to savor the experience of playing on ACER Predator’s powerful gaming laptops and AOC’s high-performance monitors. Our free play area is open to all attendees, so you can try out the latest gaming hardware and enjoy a wide selection of games. But that’s not all!
Our gaming area also features exciting gaming tournaments that you can participate in and showcase your skills.
Tournament Schedule – Saturday & Sunday
11am Super Smash Bros Ultimate.
12pm Mario Kart
1pm Halo
2pm Super Smash Bros Ultimate.
We know that gaming can work up an appetite, and what better way to satisfy your hunger than with a warm, delicious bowl of Indomie noodles? That’s why we’re thrilled to announce that attendees can grab free noodle packets at our booth, but it’s first come first serve, so make sure you visit us early to grab your share!
If you’re new to the world of Magic the Gathering or simply interested in learning more about the game, AEL’s partnership with Magic the Gathering is the perfect opportunity for you. We’re thrilled to be teaming up with this iconic card game to offer attendees a chance to learn the ins and outs of Magic the Gathering from experienced players. Throughout the event, we’ll be hosting beginner-friendly games and tutorials, where you can learn the basics of the game, practice your skills, and gain confidence in your abilities. Our Magic the Gathering experts will be on hand to answer any questions you may have and help guide you through the gameplay. You might even walk away with some goodies for your efforts.
So don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to learn and play Magic the Gathering at Oz Comic-Con Adelaide with AEL. All this excitement will be taking place at Oz Comic-Con Adelaide on June 3-4 at the Adelaide Showground.
The event is open from 10 am to 4:30 pm on both Saturday and Sunday, giving attendees plenty of time to check out all the booths, attractions, and celebrity guests. So, mark your calendars and get ready for a weekend of gaming fun!
Tickets are currently available via Oz Comic-Con’s official website.
Last weekend, week 2 of DIVISIONAL League Play for the ACER High Schools Cup Powered by Predator took place! Week after week, these teams go head-to-head on Saturdays until June 17th, all with one goal in mind: securing a spot among the top four in their division. Teams who make it into the top four will progress onto DIVISIONAL Finals!
Let’s take a look at the current standings.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate:
Saint Luke’s Catholic College – BowlOfRamen
St Edmund’s College – Xenophane
Hunter School Of The Performing Arts – maiothegreat
John Paul College – Anson – JPCEsports2
Overwatch 2:
DIVISION 1
KGSCOW1
SPLC A
SEC WOLFPACK 1
SCCC GOLD
DIVISION 2
ACES ow_three
SLC Gneurshk Gamers
SCA Overscotch
SMGS Bottom 500
Rocket League:
DIVISION 1
TonersRL
Lynwood SHS
Kedron SHS
Ripley Raptors Blue
DIVISION 2
PCS
YVG Watermelon
ACES RL_Three
JPC RL1
DIVISION 3
Ripley Raptors Orange
Trinity Esports
SCCC White
JPC RL2
For more information on Rocket League within the ACER High School Cup be sure to check out:
Exciting news from the Acer High Schools Cup powered by Predator! Last weekend marked another thrilling chapter as teams progressed to the second out of five stages, known as DIVISIONAL League Play. Week after week, these teams go head-to-head on Saturdays until June 17th, all with one goal in mind: securing a spot among the top four in their division. Every single win has the potential to create a jaw-dropping shift in the standings!
The top four teams in each division will then advance to the DIVISIONAL Finals. Moving forward the top four teams from each state will compete in the STATE Finals with the best from each state earning the ultimate bragging rights of competing in the NATIONAL Finals.
Congratulations to teams currently in the top four positions!
Super Smash Bros.Ultimate:
Saint Luke’s Catholic College – BowlOfRamen
St Edmund’s College – Xenophane
Hunter School of the Performing Arts – maiothegreat
St Edmund’s College – LonMon
Overwatch 2:
DIVISION 1
KGSCOW1
SLC Thirst Crushers
SCCC Gold
SPLC A
SEC Wolfpack 1
DIVISION 2
ACES ow_three
Ripley Raptors
SLC Gneurshk Gamers
SEC Wolfpack 2
Rocket League:
DIVISION 1
TonersRL
Lynwood SHS
Kedron SHS
Ripley Raptors Blue
DIVISION 2
YVG Watermelon
PCS
JPC RL1
ACES RL_Three
DIVISION 3
Trinity Esports
Ripley Raptors Orange
JPC RL2
SCCC WHITE
Be sure to stay tuned next week to find out where your favorite team stands! Wishing the best of luck to all the participants!
If you’re interested in learning how to play Magic: The Gathering, the MTG booth at Oz Comic-Con Adelaide can be a great place to start. Magic the Gathering is a collectible card game that has been around for over 25 years, and has become a popular hobby for people of all ages.
Indomie
If you’re attending Oz Comic-Con and love Indomie noodles, you’re in luck! Indomie noodle giveaways are being offered at the AEL booth, but it’s first come first serve, so make sure to come by early!
Tournament Schedule
11:00am Super Smash Bros.
12:00pm Mario Kart
1:00pm Halo
2:00pm Super Smash Bros.
OZ COMIC CON MELBOURNE
When/Where?
9:00am – 5:00pm (Saturday and Sunday)
June 10th – 11th 2023
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Predator
If you’re looking for a way to play some of your favorite games with friends and family while at Oz Comic-Con, stop by the Predator laptop space in the AEL Gaming Zone where you will find a range of gaming laptops with powerful hardware to run the latest games smoothly.
What games are available to play on the Predator laptops?
Our laptops can run a wide range of games, including popular titles like Minecraft, HALO and Rocket League. These games offer a variety of gameplay experiences, from building and exploration in Minecraft to fast-paced action in Rocket League and HALO.
AOC
If you’re a fan of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart, you’ll want to check out the AOC monitor area at the event.
What can you do at the AOC monitor area?
At the AOC monitor area, you can play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart on high-quality AOC monitors. These monitors provide a crystal-clear picture and smooth gameplay experience, making it the perfect place to play your favorite games.
Can you play with others?
Yes, you can play with others at the AOC monitor area. You can challenge your friends or play against other attendees. This is a great way to show off your skills and have some fun with other gamers.
Gaming Stage
The Gaming Stage is a dedicated area at Oz Comic-Con Melbourne where ALL attendees are welcome to participate in CROWD CHALLENGE, regardless of age or skill level.
What kind of games are available to play at the Gaming Stage? Some of the games you might see include Overcooked and Rocket League.
Gaming Stage Tournament Schedule
Saturday
10:00am – 1:00pm High School Game Title: TBA
1:00pm – 1:30pm University Game Title: TBA
2:00pm – 4:30pm Open Crowd Challenge: TBA
Sunday
10:00am – 12:00pm High School Rocket League
12:00pm – 2:00pm University Rocket League Finals
2:30pm – 4:30pm Open Rocket League and Overcooked Crowd Challenge
Tournament Schedule
11:00am Super Smash Bros.
12:00pm Mario Kart
1:00pm Halo
2:00pm Super Smash Bros.
High School League
The Acer High Schools Cup powered by Predator Gaming aims to promote the benefits of gaming in education.
Match Schedule
Term 2 – Divisional Play Saturdays from May 13 – Jun 17
Term 3 – Playoffs Saturdays Aug 12 & 19
Rocket League & SSBU commence at 1:00PM AEST Overwatch 2 commences at 1:30PM AEST
Match Broadcast
Matches will be broadcasted on twitch across the following four channels:
The Elite Series will see University Clubs represented by their best selected students with all matches broadcasted over ten weeks of extreme competition to see who is the best University in CS:GO and Rocket League. Play-offs are set to commence on May 29th.
Brendan Lu, AEL University League Commissioner, says, “As we conclude the group stage of the Elite Series, it’s been great to see the club’s support their players, be that in the resources they provide or the support they show.”
The Australian Esports League is proudly supported by AOC.
Since 2018, AGON by AOC has partnered with AEL providing gaming monitors for all AEL events, guaranteeing that all players enjoy an unparalleled gaming experience with top-quality monitors.
For more information visit AGON by AOC’s official website bit.ly/3pGI82I or follow AGON by AOC on Facebook bit.ly/451p67q
The Australian Esports League is proudly supported by ACER.
Interested in gearing up your school to make Esports a permanent feature of your curriculum? Click the link to fill out their form and express your interest! bit.ly/3Of3GOe
The Australian Esports League is proudly supported by ACER.
If you’re looking to upgrade your set up and maximise performance, look no further than Predator. Explore Predator’s gaming range by clicking the link! bit.ly/3obx2m2
Never miss out on the latest events and news! Subscribe to our newsletter today! http://bit.ly/AELNEWSLETTER
The best gaming monitor has just been announced! Look no further than AGON by AOC! According to the IDC Quarterly Gaming Tracker report for Q4/2022, AGON by AOC is the world’s number one gaming monitor brand. AGON by AOC boasts cutting-edge technologies, exceptional performance, and an unwavering commitment to providing the ultimate gaming experience.
Since 2018, AGON by AOC has partnered with AEL providing gaming monitors for all AEL events, guaranteeing that all players enjoy an unparalleled gaming experience with top-quality monitors.
Kevin WU, General Manager of MMD Singapore, says, “We are thrilled to be the world’s top gaming monitorbrand. This couldn’t be possible without the incredible support of the gaming scene and customers worldwide who faithfully trust our expertise to deliver exceptional products with great value. As we continue to grow, we are committed to bringing innovative and state-of-the-art products to the market, tailored to the preferences of our diverse gaming community.”
But what sets AGON by AOC apart from the rest? With a comprehensive line-up of gaming monitors divided into three sub-categories: AOC GAMING, AGON, and AGON PRO, AGON by AOC has something for every type of gamer.
AOC GAMING is perfect for casual and core gamers, offering diverse options to cater to gamers’ varying moods and interests. Whether you’re looking for a curved monitor or one with a higher refresh rate, AOC GAMING has got you covered.
AGON, on the other hand, is tailored to mainstream and hardcore gamers, and excels in providing a seamless and immersive gaming experience for multiplayer esports titles. Say goodbye to lag and screen tearing with AGON’s top-notch performance.
AGON PRO is crafted for high end gamers and delivers an unmatched experience for popular esports, shooter, MOBA, and similar titles. The level of detail and color accuracy in AGON PRO monitors is second to none.
But AGON by AOC doesn’t stop at just gaming monitors. AOC is a globally leading monitor and IT accessories brand and a subsidiary of TPV Technology Limited, offering innovative, ergonomic, environmentally conscious, and stylish solutions for professional and personal applications. AGON by AOC offers one of the world’s strongest portfolios of high-performance gaming monitors and a complete ecosystem of gaming accessories, from keyboards to mice and more.
For more information visit AGON by AOC’s official website bit.ly/3pGI82I or follow AGON by AOC on Facebook bit.ly/451p67q
The ACER High School Cup powered by Predator has finally kicked off, and it was an incredible weekend with 264 students, 43 teams, and 33 schools battling it out in the MAY-HEM tournament.
This tournament is no ordinary competition; it’s divided into five action-packed sections that will keep you on the edge of your seat. In the first stage, teams are seeded into divisions based on their performance in the MAY-HEM tournament, and from there, they’ll move on to the DIVISIONAL League Play. The top four teams from each division will then advance to the DIVISIONAL Finals.
Moving forward the top four teams from each state will compete in the STATE Finals with the best from each state earning the ultimate bragging rights of competing in the NATIONAL Finals.
Please join us in welcoming the following schools to the ACER High School Cup powered by Predator!
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate:
Albany Creek State High School
CathWest Innovation College
Good Shepherd Noosa
Hills Grammar
Hunter School of the Performing Arts
John Paul College
Lakeview Senior College
Marist Regional College
Mentone Grammar
Murray Bridge High School
Penrith Christian School
Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology
St Edmund’s College
St Luke’s Catholic College
Yarra Valley Grammar
Overwatch 2:
Albany Creek State High School
Blaxland High School
Glendale Technology High School
Heathfield High School
Hills Grammar
Kelvin Grove State College
Mentone Grammar
Penrith Christian School
Ripley Valley State Secondary College
Riverside Christian College
Scotch College
Snowy Mountains Grammar School
Southern Cross Catholic College
St Edmund’s College
St Laurence’s College
St Peters Lutheran College
Trinity College Beenleigh
Whitebridge High School
Rocket League:
Albany Creek State High School
Bishop Druitt College
Hills Grammar
John Paul College
Kedron State High School
Lynwood Senior High School
Marist Regional College
Mentone Grammar
Murray Bridge High School
Penrith Christian School
Ripley Valley State Secondary College
Southern Cross Catholic College
St Peter Claver College
Trinity Anglican College
Trinity College Beenleigh
Whitebridge High School
Yarra Valley Grammar
Whether you’re a student, teacher, parent, or an esports fan The ACER High Schools Cup powered by Predator is sure to be an unforgettable event! Keep your spirits high and your voices loud as you cheer on your favorite teams and players in this epic tournament. Don’t forget to tune into our social media live streams to catch every thrilling moment of the action! Who will emerge victorious? We can’t wait to find out!
Becoming a professional esports player is not an easy task, but it can be achieved. We recommend the following steps to help you on your esports journey:
Choose a gameto master
The first step towards becoming a pro esports player is to choose a game that you are passionate about and that has an active esports scene. Some of the popular esports games include League of Legends, Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Overwatch, Fortnite and Rocket League. If you have a game in mind and you are serious about it, it’s best to focus your time into that game and try not to get distracted by other games. It’s also best to play a game you love and not force yourself to become good at a game you don’t enjoy.
Practice
To become a pro player, you need to put in a lot of practice. This means playing the game consistently and dedicating time to improving your skills. You need to identify your mistakes in training and learn from them. Improvement will come slowly through playing matches over and over again, however there may be more efficient ways to improve. With Rocket League in mind as an example, players can use training packs to improve or focus on individual mechanical skills in free play. Another good way to improve is to play in scrims, which simulate tournament environments better than playing online ranked.
Join a team
Joining a team is essential to making it in the esports world. You can either create your team with friends or join an existing team. Being part of a team allows you to train with other players, compete in tournaments, and learn from experienced coaches. Plus, a lot of competitive esports titles are team-based games, so the quicker you learn to play in a team (even if you end up swapping around), the better you learn to communicate and be a team player.
Participate in tournaments
Participating in tournaments is a great way to gain experience and exposure. Start with smaller, local tournaments and work your way up to bigger, international events. As mentioned, scrims and tournaments can be a completely different experiences to ranked or online matches, so the more experience you are able to attain in this environment, the more prepared you will be when you do make it to the big events.
Build a brand
Although not necessary, building a brand can be important in esports as it helps to attract sponsors and fans. Create a social media presence, stream your gameplay, and engage with your fans to build a loyal following. Be wary though that this can take away from your training time and livestreaming can be distracting, so make sure you are balancing this if this is something you wish to do.
Network
Networking is essential in the esports industry. Attend events, meet other players, coaches, and industry professionals, and make connections. This may not mean in person events, but immersing yourself in the community can be important in making your way into esports as a profession.
Stay disciplined
Professional esports players need to stay disciplined and focused. This means maintaining a healthy lifestyle, following a strict training regimen, and staying up to date with the latest strategies and trends in the game. You should also be disciplined outside of the game and make sure you’re getting enough sleep, food, exercise, and water to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The better functioning you are, the better you will be able to play.
Keep improving
Finally, never stop improving. Esports is a constantly evolving industry, and you need to keep up with the latest updates, patches, and strategies to remain competitive. Like any physical sport, new manoeuvres or mechanics will come to the surface and it’s important that you’re able to take these on and adapt as a player as other competitive players come into the scene to challenge you.
Whether you’re just starting out or you’re an experienced gamer looking to build your career, we hope these tips help you on your road to becoming an esports pro!
Esafety, also known as online safety, refers to the measures and practices individuals and organisations use to protect themselves and others from online dangers and risks. This can include protecting personal information, preventing cyberbullying and harassment, avoiding scams, phishing, and promoting digital wellness.
Online gaming can be a fun and rewarding activity, but it can also expose players to potential risks online. Here are some tips to help you stay safe:
Use a strong and unique password
This will help prevent unauthorised access to your account. Passwords shouldn’t be easy to guess, so no pet’s names or birthdays! You can Google ways to make your passwords stronger, such as using a string of random characters (so long as you remember), or combinations or random words.
Be cautious when sharing personal information
Never share your full name, address, phone number, or financial information. Doxing is an issue many can face when sharing personal info, and if you’re targeted online, your social media accounts may be found which could lead to the discovery of your address, phone number etc. It is much safer in the first place to keep all this information to yourself.
Know who you’re playing with
Play in a moderated environment or with people you know. This ensures the safety of your personal information. It’s best that you know who you’re playing with (no one wants to end up on Catfished!)
Be aware of phishing scams
These can be disguised as gaming websites or emails. Do not click on links or download attachments from unknown sources. This is a general esafety tip that can apply elsewhere, but if you’re downloading programs/software or receive emails from ‘Publishers’ or ‘gaming companies’ always be cautious.
Privacy Settings
Adjust the privacy settings on your gaming accounts to control who can see your profile, activity, and personal information. Like social media, you can set a lot of information to be private on a lot of games/platforms. This is always the safest option if you can.
Report abusive behaviour
If you encounter abusive or harmful behaviour, report it to the game’s support team or appropriate authorities. This is a big one and never something to be ashamed of. Sometimes in online gaming, you may be faced with people who are toxic and hide behind their screens. The best thing to do is not to engage them, but to file a report of the abuse through the game. No one ever deserved to have abusive/harmful behaviour directed toward them online, so hit that report button to stay safe yourself, but also to keep the community safe and prevent it happening to others.
Keep your software and antivirus up to date
Make sure your operating system, game clients, and antivirus software are up to date to prevent malware and other security threats. If you have a trusted antivirus software in place, it can stop threats to your PC long before you even would have known they were there!
Take breaks and practice good digital hygiene
Gaming for extended periods can lead to fatigue and eye strain. Take breaks, practice good digital hygiene, and protect your mental and physical health. This is a big one and something we all forget, but if your mental and physical wellbeing is at its peak, so too will be your gaming performance. It’s cause and effect, so getting an appropriate amount of sleep, balanced diet and fresh air can go a long way when you’re trying to rank up!
By following these tips, you and others can stay safe while enjoying online gaming. Remember that online safety is a shared responsibility, and everyone should contribute to creating a safe and welcoming gaming community, so if you see others struggling with online safety whilst gaming, make sure to suggest some of the above tips to help!
For more information, we encourage you to check out the eSafety Commissioner’s site where you will find plenty of other resources:
Thanks to the help of the RLO, we are excited to announce the new updates for the 2023 Acer High Schools Cup! At the AEL, our aim is to support the next generation of young esports athletes and provide them with a competitive environment in which they can grow and increase their skill. The updates to the Cup will give our players and their schools more to play for, not just more to play in.
The games schools will be competing in will be:
Rocket League
Overwatch 2
Super Smash Bros Ultimate
The Acer High School Cup will now feature various stages of competition, giving players multiple titles to strive for:
The May-hem Tournament Champions
Divisional Champions
State Champions
National Champions
As mentioned in the video above, the Cup will be split into the following stages:
May-hem Tournament
Sign ups close May 1st, so get in quickly as we kick off season on the 13th of May with the May-Hem Tournament. The May-Hem Tournament will see every high school team compete in an all-inclusive Swiss format.
Whilst this tournament will provide the first opportunity for teams to take a high school title as the Mah-hem Champions, the Swiss bracket will also provide a primary gauge on how all our teams stack up in skill, leading into the next stage.
*Note, the results of the May-Hem Tournament will be a primary gauge of skill level, it is not the sole determiner of how we split teams into divisions.
**Note, Super Smash Bros Ultimate will have a different format for phase 1.
High School Divisional League Play
Following the May-hem Tournament, teams will be split into multiple skill divisions as part of the High School Divisional League Play.
The split divisions are aimed at maintaining a strong level of competition for every team, reducing the number of one-sided matches and creating a more engaging experience for everyone involved. Furthermore, just because a team has placed in a low division, doesn’t mean there’s only the Division title to play for. More on that later.
Within their respective division, teams will compete in a round-robin where they will face every team in their respective division once. The league play stage’ will take place between May 20th and June 17th. The last week of League Play will mark the end of competition in term 2.
High School Divisional Finals
The action heats up in Term 3, starting with the Divisional Finals. This will see the top 4 teams from each Division play in a single elimination knockout finals to determine each Division’s respective champion. The Divisional Finals will take place on the 12th and 19th of August.
High School State Finals
Following the Divisional Finals, we’ll move on to the High School State Finals, where the top 4 teams from each state will compete in a Gauntlet bracket to decide each State Champion. The 4 finalists for each state are determined by the results of the Divisional League Play stage.
The State Finals will be held on the 26th of August and the 2nd of September. Teams will fight to be crowned State Champions, and represent their home state in the High School National Finals.
High School National Finals
After a long haul of competition, the dust settles to reveal just a single team from each state to battle it out in the High School National Finals. Here we’ll find our ultimate champion of the AEL High School Cup. If you’re not competing in the National Finals, you can still get behind your state representative and cheer them on as they contend for all-out glory.
More info on the National Championship will be released at a later date.
Watch Rocket League on the RLO channel
That’s right, RLO will be covering all the Rocket League action from the AEL High School Cup!
Join us as we follow the best action from the May-Hem Tournament, every match in Divisional League 1, Every Divisional Final, all State Championship Matches, and the National Finals!
Don’t wanna miss out on the competition? Head over to https://ael.org.au/hs/ to find out how to register your team! Registrations close on the 1st of May!
We look forward to seeing you all ready to compete in the AEL High School Cup, this time, with more to play for!
Sponsors
The AEL would also like to give a huge thank you to our sponsors as well who make this all possible:
After a six-year hiatus, Oz Comic-Con finally made its triumphant return to Perth in 2023. With thousands of die-hard fans, gamers, and cosplayers flocking to the Convention and Exhibition Centre on April 1-2, the event was celebrating all things pop culture, gaming, and esports and AEL was ecstatic to be a part of this highly anticipated event.
The AEL gaming zone was a hive of activity throughout the convention, providing a fantastic opportunity for cosplayers, gamers, and fans of all ages and backgrounds to come together and enjoy some friendly competition. The AEL booth held several tournaments over the two-day extravaganza, drawing in participants from all over the convention. Players faced off in a variety of games, including Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart 8.
But the AEL booth wasn’t just about the tournaments – it also provided a great opportunity for attendees to come together and enjoy some gaming fun in the free play area.
One of the attendees, Aaron M, was thrilled with the Smash and Mario Kart setup at the AEL booth. He expressed his gratitude by saying, “Thank you for hosting these games. It gave me a little bit of nostalgia getting to play games that I used to love with all my heart again. The thrill of it was a memory of a lifetime that I will never forget.”
Overall, Oz Comic-Con’s return to Perth was a huge success and we cannot wait for next year’s event. With the support of our sponsors, Electrical Group Training, the Western Australia event partner. Acer for the Predator gaming laptops installed with Xbox Game Pass and to AOC monitors for providing us with amazing monitors.
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