Singapore - 9 September, 2004 - Competitors will be hungry for the $70,000 cash prize, but Singapore’s GameAxis magazine is more likely interested in the expected 80,000 sets of gaming eyeballs catching its branding at the local heats of the World Cyber Games.

Forde Media is the organiser, and Samsung the chief sponsor of the Singapore heats of the World Cyber Games, which kicked off yesterday morning at Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Center.

GameAxis, however, published by Singapore-based Hardware Zone, is the Offical Game Magazine and Portal as well as a partner in organising the tournaments.

The heats will run though this weekend, closing on Sunday. 1,400 gamers have registered to compete for both the cash prize of S$70,000 and the chance to qualify for the finals, to be held this year in San Francisco. 80,000 visitors are expected.

Aaron Yip, editor of GameAxis magazine, told ITJourno in an email interview that his publication was an ideal fit for the World Cyber Games brand.

"GameAxis is by far the biggest gaming media entity in Singapore and South East Asia with a readership made up of active and dedicated gamers," Yip claimed.

"It makes great sense for GameAxis to be involved and ensure that the prestigious Singapore WCG Preliminaries 2004 will be a great success."

Singapore recently scored the coup of location for next year's finals of the World Cyber Games.

While Yip argued that Singapore gamers were in a budding position now to enter the international gaming field, he added it was important to support local gamers no matter what their results.

"Singapore has great potential; there's an elite community of gamers utterly dedicated to competition,” he said.

"However, winning is as much a mental mindset as it is a skill and talent. Perhaps what is most important is to give great support and encouragement to all our gamers, before we can expect them to perform to our expectations in the finals."