Counter-Strike, from the iconic 1.6 release to today's CS2, is considered one of the most popular and influential first-person shooters in the history of video games, bringing together generations of players around the world. However, along with the digital gaming experience, more and more gamers are also attracted to the phygital shooter format. It is a concept that connects the virtual and physical worlds. It is the combination of the mechanics from CS2 and the adrenaline that laser tag offers that shows how the competitive spirit of the canter is transferred from the monitor to the real space, bringing a completely new dimension of gaming and socializing.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the Montenegrin national team members Milutin Jovanović Consume and Ildar Demirović Scorpiiooon have assembled a team to try their hand at the national qualifiers in the Phygital shooter format. Thanks to the successful qualifiers where they convincingly defeated other teams, they will represent Montenegro in this discipline at the Games of the Future in Abu Dhabi, along with Miro Marjanović Miwa, Ognjen Medenica Wanak1, Aleksandar Nilević S1lex, Dušan Dojčinović Dojca and Filip Sokolov Kimarra. The team is coached by the Montenegrin national team in the canter Kristina Kiya Gavrilović.
"We spent about 10 days preparing together as a team. The preparations went well and I think we are functioning well as a team. Expectations are high because this is definitely the best team we have had so far," is certain captain Jovanović, whose team did not have to show their readiness on the laser tag field during the qualifications, considering that all teams won 2:0 in the CS2 game. That is why it was important for them to prepare physically for the competition in Abu Dhabi, and to shine not only on virtual maps.
"As for laser tag, I think all teams are on the same page. A big factor is physical fitness as well as previous experience in similar activities such as airsoft and paintball. Laser tag is a new challenge for us, but I have no doubt that we will do well if it comes to that," promises Jovanović.
The group in which the Montenegrin representatives will compete is not easy at all, as they will face serious opponents and demanding matches from the very beginning of the competition.
"The group is not easy, but we are not focusing on our opponents, it is important for us to get through the group in the top four, that would already be a result for us, but of course we aim to place as well as possible," reveals the expectations of the captain of the Montenegrin team.
He, like everyone else, is interested in this new format, a combination of sports and e-sports.
"I think phygital as a new discipline is an interesting approach, I have high hopes for it as something that can break through and attract an audience from e-sports and sport itself. It requires knowledge in both fields and therefore encourages gamers to prepare physically as well as athletes to be ready for the digital part," concludes Jovanović.
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