[VoxMSI.Rogue]

So I have decided to change the name of my segment, when I first posted it NirvAnA changed it to "NZ eSports Happenings" and I never really liked it (sorry Bryan!) so for now I am calling it NZ News, if someone gives me a better name, I will call it that!

I also decided to add a new segment with interviews from various players about what they are up to leading into Heart of the Swarm, I hope to follow them through their transition to the expansion and see how the do locally and Internationally!

For the last year the core of Iris has been based in their team house in Wellington. With the opening of their Academy they have continued to grow, and are blasting through SEACL #3 currently topping the Premier League table but now, the house is to close it's doors and the players to go their own ways I talk to Manager IrisNavi and team Captain IrisCrimson about what the future holds for Iris.

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Team Iris Manager Matthew ‘IrisNavi’ Tapurau
Although the team house will be closing, there shouldn't be any major changes to what we’re doing currently – Talking, practicing, playing in SEACL, etc. We’ve had people shift away since late last year for the holiday period and more of our current ideas (in particular, the academy) are being done online in successful fashion. We’ve had a couple of academy guys pop in and out of the house from time to time to help with learning, but almost everything will exclusively be done online from here on out.

I doubt there will be any negative effects on practice considering we have been like this for the past few months. With the absence of a few members from Iris that lived in the team house, we’ve already started adjusting to an online focused environment.

Regardless of the team house closing, we’ll still aim to show our best play in the remaining weeks of the SEACL with Ben ‘Crimson’ MacDonald leading the charge, until we move onto HOTS like everyone else.
I will also be continuing to make the transition from team to organization as I develop the Iris League of Legends division here in NZ after our debut a couple of weeks ago – There’s a lot in the pipeline for Iris so hopefully people will continue to support us in 2013.

Team Iris Captain Ben ‘IrisCrimson’ Macdonald
I think the departure from the team house will have less of an effect than people expect. Living together as a team was something that took a little adapting to; perhaps we didn't make the most of the opportunity at the start of the year.

As 2012 progressed, however, I felt like we all benefited from the experience. It’s surprising how much you can learn just from talking to people about the game on a daily basis, watching pro matches together and watching each other play. We all learned a lot about the mindset and decision making of the other races, which can only have a positive effect when it comes to our own game. For myself, I think one of the undervalued aspects of the experience was just how much fun it was, being able to share our passion for Starcraft 2 among each other. That in itself boosted my enjoyment of the game and drove me on to become a stronger player and team member.

In terms of the team house’s effect on Team Iris’ goals, I don’t think it’ll have too much of an effect. We’re already far closer to achieving some of the goals we set when we reinvented the team and opened the academy; we’ve already seen two graduates to the main team and our results in SEACL so far are improving the perception of the NZ scene also.

Whilst the team house was great for bonding, that camaraderie hasn't gone anywhere. I think it’s stronger even, as we are now developing players with a strong sense of pride and dedication to representing Team Iris and New Zealand. So overall, the team house was something important to where Team Iris is today

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BarcraftNZ have streamlined their operations introducing their new brand 'Company of Gamers' which will conduct their tournaments in the future, feeling that using the Barcraft name for the events often confused those who went to their regular Barcrafts with the introduction of League of Legends and DoTA2 Tournaments as well as regular Starcraft II events. Company of Gamers will soon be announcing the next tournament season with the release of Heart of the Swarm.

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Photo thanks to BarcraftNZ

+ [-NvJazBas-] +

Photo thanks to BarcraftNZ

+ [-IrisCrimson-] +

Photo thanks to BarcraftNZ

+ [-IrisMightyKiwi-] +

Photo thanks to BarcraftNZ

+ [-IrisFLuX-] +

IrisFLuX the ladies man

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Photo thanks to BarcraftNZ

[RVLiveR]

Great read, thanks for making this! ^_^

[Stallion]

ROFL u chucked the greg line in hahahahaha also mines quite hard to read >.<

Quick Comments

	syfCrimson:	10centToss fighting!!
	VoxMSI.Rogue:	yeah Ill fix it when you answer the other question!

[ToRLuneth]

NZ News is a much better name

[ROCCAT_Savior]

thank you billy

[Stallion]

what other questions?

Quick Comments

VoxMSI.Rogue:

check skype lol

[syfMightyKiwi]

5 zergs + 1 toss interview standard SEA.
10/10 i enjoyed this, glad i could contribute

[Stallion]

Originally Posted by IrisMightyKiwi

5 zergs + 1 toss interview standard SEA.
10/10 i enjoyed this, glad i could contribute

5 zergs + bosstoss

Quick Comments

syfMightyKiwi:

sorry, i meant bosstoss **

[Another]

agree with mightykiwi, agoooey will be a household name before the year is out

[ToRSpartaz]

Awesome work as usual Alicia, I'm liking the Company of gamers rebrand ^^ 2013 is going to be a sweet year!

[Azazel]

its interesting how a majority of nz's best players are Zerg, including myself

[Azazel]

btw, where is my interview?

[PiG]

Sick write-up damn. Great job you guys are doing over there!

[Snx.FigJig]

Should have interviewed Xzam! I think his insight would be good, unless he isn't playing HotS at the moment.

[ToRSpartaz]

Originally Posted by Snx`Pickle

Should have interviewed Xzam! I think his insight would be good, unless he isn't playing HotS at the moment.

He's playing both mate, I got 4gated on HoTS by him

Quick Comments

ToRGreenArchon:

He vsed Catz too

[Another]

Originally Posted by Snx`Pickle

What about Xzam for protoss? I think his insight would be good.

xzam doesnt assosciate himself with the NZ scene it seems. im sure he is elligble to play in WCS and the NZ cups and the online NZ tournaments, but he chooses not to so people never think about him in the NZ scene, or even as an NZ player. all the players interviewed here are big parts of the nz community

[ToRSpookToR]

Are you saying I am not people Another?

Quick Comments

	Another:	how is he a part of the nz scene? i cant recall him playing in a nz tourny or communicating with any of us
	FLuX:	You are not people, Spook.

[Malice]

I enjoyed reading Iris News #5

Lots of good Iris content to read up on

Quick Comments

	ToRSpookToR:	sadly TT
	syfChadMann:	it's NZ news... Iris is the ONLY Nz team.. ofc they are going to feature.

[VoxMSI.Rogue]

I did as Spartaz if there was any NZ Avant.ToR dudes and he said no! Plus going by NZ Cup, WCS NZ, and all the NZ tournaments so far I haven't seen him play, I didn't even know he was a NZer until recently.

The six people I interviewed were mainly because I was interested in their opinions and all of them are SC2SEA regulars and regulars in local and SEA tournaments.

Quick Comments

	ToRSpookToR:	bloody nick
	ToRSpartaz:	But... I am the only New Zealander from Avant ToR actually living in New Zealand right now! D:

[Stallion]

should update my one alicia , but yea as jamie/another said Xzam is a kiwi living in aus so isn't really in the nz scence, Alicia did a great job as per usual and to the person saying Iris news 5, 3/6 were Iris and Iris is the only Nz team so thats always going to happen.