Developers World Championship: Match Report - Serbia v Hong Kong (Group D)

SERBIA Master Kick - Table Soccer (Indus3)

VS HONG KONG A Humble's Numble (Humble Gaming)

Players, fans and pundits convened once again in the Pocket Gamer iStadium for the opening match in Group D between Serbia and Hong Kong.

A clash of culture, styles, and footballing philosophies was on the cards, as the Balkans nation faced off against the Asian islanders.

Entering the pitch first, Indus3’s Master Kick – Table Soccer seemed pumped up for the occasion. The players were desperate to finish with the pleasantries and get on with the action.

Humble Gaming’s number crunching puzzle game, A Humble’s Numble, appeared more relaxed and thoughtful in the pre-match warm up.

Two contrasting build-ups then, but which side would end the afternoon with three points in its bag?

Kick Off: 3pm, 13th June The critical view: Fielding a foosball title for the first match of its campaign was proving a wise move by the Europeans in the early heat of battle, as the sophisticated AI carved open the Hong Kong defence time and again. Alas, with only six teams from which to choose to play as, Master Kick couldn’t convert these gilt edged chances that were being served up on a plate.

The omission of multiplayer in Serbia’s table soccer fare further dented the team’s chances, with A Humble Numble taking heart from the Balkan side’s deficiency in the centre of the park.

Converting that growing confidence into goals was demonstrably harder, though, as the simple, yet challenging gameplay of the Scrabble meets Countdown numbers game couldn’t quite find the killer pass needed to win critical acclaim even with the multiplayer options.

It didn’t take a maths whiz to work out the scoreline at the break, mind, since neither of the goalkeepers' palms were even remotely warm.

Half time: Serbia 0 – 0 Hong Kong The Fans' 45: Credit to both sets of supporters in the now crucial second period, for their contribution to the outcome was vital AND surprisingly vocal in light of the goalless opening 45.

Despite the OpenFeint integration and Facebook publishing props of Humble Gaming's arithmetic challenger, the instant replays and varied stadia supplied by Master Kick - Table Soccer gave it a clear edge early doors and they doubled the lead soon after.

Although the Hong Kong developer's fans did perk up sufficiently to notch one back before the end, they never looked like closing the gap. The fans had spoken and Serbia took the honours in this intriguing clash of styles.

Full time: Serbia 2 – 1 Hong Kong Latest Group Tables - Fixtures & Voting - Squads

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