Altador Cup

The Altador Cup was announced by Neopets on May 31, 2006, to commence one the June 2, 2006. It is a sporting event with teams from sixteen Neopian worlds participating.

The role of the user and the system of play is still unclear. It is believed that either players will be supporting (and maybe betting) on their team, or that they will be be playing as part of their team in a localised competition rather than a community-wide competition. Users could select the team they wish to join/support and change teams if they wish until June 8, 2006.

Plot Summary

On June 2 all teams from around Neopia gathered to practice for the games ahead of them, and countless Neopians gathered to watch their favorites take the field. Inbetween practices, most of the players would go and meet their fans, signing autographs. Five days later and the day before the games began, Kiko Lake's Left Forward Holbie Pinnock was injured due to Relle Felson's sling breaking and flying off into Holbie's head, taking him out of the games. Helmo Timm, the one Holbie was replacing, immediately asked to be put back in the game to play, or Kiko Lake would likely not win their games.

On June 9 the first round matches of the Altador Cup tournament begun. Among the eight match ups, two showed to be very interesting. First was "The Moon vs. The Goons," or the Haunted Woods versus Kreludor. It was uncertain who would win, but it would be entertaining.

Second was Brightvale and Kiko Lake. With Kiko Lake suffering from a recent string of injuries fans were devastated to learn they were facing Brightvale in Round One, who are notorious for their roughhouse tactics. They were certainly going to take a cheap shot at Timm and put her back on the sidelines for good.

Yooyuball

The game played to win the Altador Cup is called Yooyu ball. Gameplay appears to be based on Jai alai, where players carry a ball in a sling and charge down the field, trying to throw the ball into the other teams net to score a goal. The ball is actually a rolled up Petpet called a Yooyu, a creature native to Altador.

There are a variety of different Yooyus that are used in each game, which gives the sport an unpredictable twist. For example, a team might alter its particular strategy depending on the type of Yooyu that's currently in play.

• Fire - This Yooyu must be transferred very quickly between team-mates, since keeping it too long can result in some rather unpleasant burns.
• Snow - This kind of Yooyu makes for a very slow ball, and its piercing cold slows the muscles of those playing with it.
• Mutant - This Yooyu is extremely unpredictable and will often move in crazy patterns.
• Faerie - In this form, the Yooyu floats lightly through the air, leaving players to wonder when it will drop down low enough for them to capture and pass it.

How To Play

Before each game of Yooyuball begins, users choose the formation they want their players to stand in and select which direction the would like to move the ball down the field. Using the mouse, you point at the player you'd like to move around. This will select the player. The selected player can be guided around the field using your mouse. When a player has possession of the ball, click the left mouse button to throw the ball.

If a user wanted to unselect a player, they pressed the spacebar or the S key. When none of the players were selected, they can click anywhere on the field to move the closest player to the position they clicked on. To toggle between players, press the left and right arrow keys (or the A and D keys). To activate a player when toggling between them, press the spacebar. Press the Shift key to move your players back to their starting positions.

A new rule was added on June 24, 2006, which would make the Yooyu jump from a keeper's hand and into the playing feild if is stayed longer than 5 seconds. This was perhaps changed because too many users were scoring a single goal, then letting the keeper hold onto the ball for the remainder of play, scoring an automatic win.

Tournament Rules

The Altador Cup Tournament consists of sixteen teams representing the lands of Neopia. Tournament play is single-elimination, which means that the team that wins a match moves on to the next round, while the team that loses is eliminated from all play. Sixteen teams are randomly seeded and matched up, and After the eight losing teams are eliminated the eight winning teams will again be randomly matched up and move on to the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, four more teams will be eliminated while the remaining four will head to the semifinals. Semifinal play will determines which two teams will battle it out in the final match.

The Committee

The Altador Cup Committee is a group of officials who carefully examine each play, making sure that the rules of Yooyuball are followed. Players or fans who feel something needs to be reviewed can file a petition, and the committee will decide whether or not to rule on the matter. Once both sides of the issue are heard, the committee gathers in its private chambers to discuss the situation and then votes on an appropriate course of action.

While some might feel they are too strict, the committee's decisions play a vital role in maintaining the integrity of the game, and the committee members' actions are always motivated by a desire to protect the game's best interests.

Team Rosters

Sixteen Neopian worlds participated, each sending a team to compete in the Colleseum in Altador. There was also a seventeenth team from Jelly World, who played as the practice team. While the players themselves are unknown, it's known the Goalkeeper is a Jelly Kougra and one of the forwards a Jelly Kau.

Altador Boasting an airtight defence that averages the least amount of goals allowed per game coming into the tournament, the big question about Altador's squad is whether they're going to be able to generate enough scoring to stay in the hunt for the cup. Then again, with Altador, one goal is usually all it takes. Timu Cawley Embith Winberto Seliz Salayne Ritad "Trapper" Remis Brightvale When the subject of dirty play comes up, one might expect that Darigan or the Haunted Woods would probably be the land that fields the team with the roughest, meanest bunch of (alleged) cheaters. Such an expectation would be incorrect, however, since the most crooked lineup of Yooyuballers actually belongs to... Brightvale? Yes, Brightvale - that hallowed land known for wisdom, learning, and (apparently) sharp jabs to the ribs when no one's looking. Orie Dinelle "Squeaky" Tressif Reb Weemelott Montecito Kayn Hireck Darigan Citadel A solid squad with few major weaknesses, the big criticism against this club over the years has been that they play too easy a schedule during the regular season, and as a result they're unprepared when tournament time rolls around. Well, this past season the Darigan Citadel finally relented and added some more matches against a few of the better clubs. So, while they might not have finished as high in the standings as they normally do, Darigan fans are hoping that this year's team will show a little extra toughness during the games that matter most. Tandrak Shaye Tormo "The Terror" Frein Mungo Lifler Kep Bonnefie Layton Vickles Faerieland Faerieland's Yooyuball squad features one of the most potent offensive attacks in the sport today, but their trio of quick, undersized forwards have a tendency to wear down against larger, more physical opponents. Babolino Kakoni Worrill Valtonia Rea Delma Harrence Palia Alback Haunted Woods Subscribing to the old saying that "defence wins championships," the Haunted Woods has built its team around shutting down the other squads' forwards and forcing mistakes that create easy scoring opportunities for them. Defeating this bunch takes plenty of discipline and determination, but it can be done.... Zo Junior Wan Dirx Fanetti Chelo Binay Krell Vitor Kiko Lake Kiko Lake enters this year's tournament with plenty to prove to its critics. Can they overcome the loss of forward Helmo Timm, the flashy (yet erratic) play of goalkeeper Ditan Colb, and superstar defender Meela Kitah coming off the worst year of her career? If so, Kiko Lake could contend for ownership of the Altador Cup. If not, however.... Relle Felson "Poke" Cellers Meela Kitah Ditan Colb Holbie Pinnock Helmo Timm Krawk Island Owners of the league's most enthusiastic (and long-suffering) fans, Krawk Island fields a team of loveable losers who've never quite managed to put it all together and win their regional tournament. Led by grizzly forward "Dasher" Soley (who has hinted that he might retire after the tournament), everyone on Krawk Island is hoping this is finally the year that Ol' Dash and the gang bring home the gold. "Dasher" Soley Garven Hale Ealyn Hawkshanks Nitri Cassale Hoke Lemtry Kreludor Though they may not be the most physically gifted team vying for the Altador Cup, many would consider Kreludor's squad to be the most disciplined and fundamentally sound group in the tournament. Befuddling defenders with a torrent of crisp passes and a labrynth of picks and blocks, this unassuming bunch have been known to take their more talented opponents and tie them in knots. Derlyn Fonnet Zenor Kevix Vignacio Qyldae Wegg Xila Kitae

Lost Desert The Lost Desert fields a lineup that could potentially do lots of damage in the tournament, but this squad also has plenty of questions that still need to be answered. Will Navers's questionable tactics or Azar's disruptive holdout derail their chances of winning it all, or will this veteran bunch come together and make a successful run at the Cup? Leera Heggle Wyett Tuggins "Dirty" Navers Vonde Cayle Derbi Azar Maraqua Maraqua's clubhouse could best be described as "a house divided." On one side, you have star forward Elon Hughlis, who's more concerned with his personal accomplishments (however great they may be) than actual wins and losses. On the other you have his scrappy (yet far less talented teammates), who endure his antics because of his tremendous ability. As much as Maraqua would love to wash their hands of the situation by trading Hughlis, there's no way any other club would give them equal value in return for taking on their headache. Barit Jowes Jair Tollet Filo Desenz Tonie Plessix Elon "The Black Hole" Hughlis Meridell If there's one word to describe Meridell's Yooyuball team, it's "speed." They love nothing more than to get out there and run their opponents ragged. Their superior conditioning enables them to wear down opponents with a relentless flurry of cuts and screens from the opening face-off until the final whistle. It also helps to mask the fact that they aren't the most accurate or powerful shooters. Sir Pollonaire Freidl Ilsa Ellits Fiorina "Wizard" Windelle Vitri Sitol Mystery Island Led by the dazzling moves of Teylore Nix and the unstoppable brute force of Volgoth, Mystery Island's squad of Yooyuballers enter the tournament with a punishing offensive arsenal that few teams can hope to keep pace with. If not for the shaky status of their goalkeeping situation, this group would most likely be the odds-on favourites to bring home the cup. Maital Koric Yaniq Avaan Teylore Nix Bertie Shurtz Volgoth Roo Island This ragged squad of also-rans and inexperienced rookies received a huge boost when Lilo Blumario, one of the game's top players, decide to sign on and return to his hometown club. He's got what it takes to lead Roo Island to victory... the only question now is, will his new teammates fall in line behind him? Lilo Blumario Clutch Billaban Dayla Fenny Vail Gordo Gunnels Terror Mountain Known as "the worst team a fortune can buy" this high priced collection of talented individuals has thus far failed to come together and play as a team. On paper, you would think that a roster with so many good players would be a serious contender to win the Altador Cup. Unfortunately for Terror Mountain's fans, however, the tournament's matches aren't played on paper. Prytariel Rinok Fitel Selwick Phoss Minae Mitora Tico Tems Tyrannia A few years ago, Tyrannia's general manager assembled a group made almost entirely of players whose original teams had given up on them. After a series of trades and waiver wire acquisitions, Tyrannia began to transform its motley bunch of castoffs into a selfless squad of warriors. Driven by a desire to show everyone who'd written them off how wrong they were, Tyrannia's "Forsaken Five" have gone on to become one of the most successful Yooyuball teams currently playing. "Scrap" Taggert Harlis Neyhbol Loryche Wila Benne Evrem Guilako Virtupets On the surface, other than the obvious talents of star forward Keetra Deile, it would seem like all you can really say about the rest of the Space Station's team is that they're a solid (yet unspectacular) bunch of role players. The thing about Deile, though, is that she uses her brilliance to elevate the play of those around her, making this squad somewhat better than one might initially think. While a run at the cup is highly unlikely, an "upset" in the first or even second round of the tournament wouldn't be all that much of a surprise. Kerib Vickers Z-4B Goalinator Keetra Deile Weldar Xupenfarb XL Striker 3.8

Staff Tournament

On June 10, 2006, it was revealed The Neopets Team would be participating in Altador Cup as well, as an internal staff tournament within the offices. Sixteen members of the Neopets staff were assigned a team, and each competed in a mini Altador Cup tournament. Users were asked to vote who would take first, second and third place, and the vote was correct the user won a prize.

Participates were...

Subordinate Prime - Mystery Island Mr. Roboto - Kreludor Jimmy James - Maraqua Dom Dread - Tyrannia Dirigibles - Lost Desert snarkie - Virtupets Soupfaerie - Faerieland Viola - Krawk Island

Snowbunny - Darigan Citadel Mr. Insane - Kiko Lake El Picklesaur - Altador Dragona - Terror Mountain Tiger Catcher - Meridell DJ Skellington - Haunted Woods Lawyerbot - Brightvale TPOSG - Roo Island

Staff tournament rounds coincided with regular tournament rounds, and the same match-ups that existed in the real tournament were played out in TNT's tournament. No staff scores counted towards the real tournament, as that would be cheating. Staff scores were tallied individually, determining who stayed and continued to the round. Voting ended on June 8, 2006.

Trivia

• The Altador Cup appears to co-incide with dates and times of the FIFA World Cup in Germany of 2006, and if the golden orb seen in the preview trailer is indeed the "cup" itself, it bares remarkable resemblence to the actual World Cup.
• Noted advertisments shown within the tournament were a new Dragon Ball Z game being released in July 2006 and a new Garfield movie.
• During Yooyuball gameplay when the Ixi and Grarrl newscasters are making their remarks, if a user refrains from clicking the "continue" button they will begin to ask the user to hurry up, and eventually a Spyder will come down from the ceiling.

External Links

• Altador Cup
• Animation Trailer
• Altador Cup Teams page
• Altador Cup Rules page
• Neopedia: Altador Cup