BAM12 Registration Roundup!
Get hype! The biggest AusFGC news of the year is the biggest AusFGC event of the year: BAM 2021.
Battle Arena Melbourne is making its comeback in 2021. Held from July 9th-11th, #BAM12 will feature the peak of competitive play for fighting games across Australia as part of the CouchWarriors League, as well as a rare chance for our top talent to battle world-class opposition. Expanding the gaming on offer, alongside BAM will be ITZ Gaming PC LAN (more on that below)!
BAM’s status as Australia’s top Major on the official circuits brings together players and broadcasters from all sorts of games, and CouchWarriors are going in even harder on that big-tent ethos with this year’s event. Whether you count yourself among the hardcore competitors, niche game specialists, casual fans, artists, cosplayers, or game developers, #BAM12 has something to offer.
You can buy your ticket to the show – $25 for spectators, $60 for competitors and casual play, along with sign up to individual events through the main portal at smash.gg/BAM12. Now, read on for a quick blow-by-blow of the individual attractions that will make this another amazing BAM!
OPEN-ENTRY BRACKETS & COMMUNITY TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
The heart and soul of BAM, our TO’s will be running official brackets for the following games over the weekend:
- Street Fighter V: Champion Edition
- Tekken 7
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Singles & Doubles)
- Super Smash Bros. Melee (Singles & Doubles)
- Guilty Gear Strive
- Dragon Ball FighterZ
- Mortal Kombat 11
- Soul Calibur VI
- Dead Or Alive 6
- Killer Instinct
- Rivals of Aether
- Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown
- Brawlhalla
That’s a TON of chances for you to become a BAM champion this year! All of these tournaments will feature their own prizes, with timetables staggered across the weekend so you can fit in as many sets as possible. Schedule will be released soon.
We’re also producing a second schedule of community-led tournaments, featuring a broad cross-selection of cult-hit games, special rulesets and other fan favourite stipulations. Check the schedule closer to the date so you don’t miss out on these wild and wonderful side events!
ARTIST’S ALLEY RETURNS
After a great reception for the community artists appearing at past BAM events, we’re renewing our efforts to attract more amazing local creatives to table at BAM12! However, table space will still be limited compared to a normal convention, so make sure you fill in your application at the link below ASAP (closes June 18th).
Those artists who do secure a spot will be showcasing their work to the entire Australian FGC, as well as the audience of the ITZ Gaming LAN event n! The Artist’s Alley is open to creatives from a variety of disciplines, even if their work doesn’t focus on fighting game characters. We just want to see some incredible art at BAM12!
BAM12 INDIECADE
Indie game developers have a special reason to have their work appear at BAM. We’re eager to promote the work of local devs who are creating all genres of game to shine before our huge audience of passionate gamers. While it doesn’t have to be a competitive game, indie devs who have presented at BAM before have relished the insightful feedback on mechanics and game balance from attendees. Fill in the application form below (closes June 6th) to negotiate space for your demo or other preview in our dedicated indiecade space on the main BAM floor!
VOLUNTEERS
Of course, every BAM runs on the skill, charisma and pluck of our heroic volunteers – community members who take the chance to help ensure that the event lives up to its long tradition of excellence. Volunteers get free spectator passes and can also register normally as a competitor – we will work with you to ensure that your volunteer duties don’t clash with your tournament matches! We also treat volunteers to food & drink throughout the weekend, and access to the famed BAM afterparty once the festivities are all wrapped up. It takes all-hands-on-deck to run an event of this size, so fill in the form below, join our TO staff and loyal community, and do your bit to make BAM12 a hit!
STREAMING TO FANS AT HOME AROUND THE WORLD
As befits the status of an international Major, BAM12 will feature simultaneous streaming broadcast for many of the official brackets, as well as some community tournaments! A list of the main games and streams is below, with full details to be announced closer to the event. Note that some official world series events will instead be featured on the international channels for those circuits.
twitch.tv/couchwarriors – Street Fighter V, Tekken 7, Mortal Kombat 11
twitch.tv/couchwarriorssmash – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Singles & Doubles)
twitch.tv/melbournemelee – Super Smash Bros. Melee (Singles & Doubles)
twitch.tv/couchwarriors2 – Dragonball FighterZ, Guilty Gear Strive
Further channels for more events to be announced
ALL THE MAKINGS OF GREATNESS
Pulling off Australia’s biggest fighting game event ever isn’t easy – but luckily, CouchWarriors has received gracious support for #BAM12 both within the community, and without. We have the tireless efforts of the CouchWarriors committee and regional organizers to thank, along with all of our outstanding volunteers who will be giving their time to make BAM a reality. Our long-time PC hardware sponsor Mwave have once again pledged their support to the event as well as the broader CWLeague tournament season.
Furthermore, this year marks a new partnership with ITZ Gaming LAN – their 1000-seat BYOC LAN will be taking place under the same roof as #BAM12 over the same weekend. We have arranged for both events to be open for spectators from the other side – giving attendees the chance to take in even MORE exciting tournament action, as well as our range of exhibiting artists and Indiecade developers! Check out ITZ Gaming on social media for further details, or to book a BYOC spot for their event.
It’s going to be an absolutely frenetic weekend, a momentary gaming paradise under one massive roof. Don’t forget to register on smash.gg/BAM12 – and we’ll see all of you in July!