Season 5 is a write-off already; Get ready for the Worst WoW tournament of all time!

In the midst of collapsing financial systems, failing banks and bankrupt organisations, we've also seen a crumbling arena, the complete breakdown of any semblance of class balance and the annihilation of skill in pvp.

As the spectre of recession looms over global finance, the insane power of burst damage has cast a shadow over an arena system which used to be far more controlled and stable. Risky bankers, ineffective regulatory regimes and colossal debt has brought capitalism to its knees whilst ridiculous arcane mages, overpowered death knights and absurd mutilate rogues have left arena in tatters.

Now that the dust has settled on patch 3.08 we're left with pvp that is far too bursty, classes with an array of problems still to be solved, ring of valor which makes a mockery of the word "competitive" and a new matchmaking system which has given Blizzard a whole new set of difficulties that weren't even necessary in the first place.

Unfortunately we're now left in a situation where it's unlikely there will be any major changes until patch 3.1 which will be months away. Consequently, much like 2009 will be a complete write-off for any form of western economic growth, we might as well close the door on Season 5 and hang our heads in shame at the Deadly Gladiators whose titles will be about as meaningful as being the CEO of Lehman Brothers.

ESL Continental Finals March 3-5

Even more worrying from an e-sports point-of-view is that WoW's next major tournament in Hannover will most likely be played using patch 3.08 and all the cheese that goes with it. Obviously ESL Montréal and Philadelphia were a huge joke also but patch 3.0 in TBC is nowhere near as bad as 3.08 in WotLK.

There's been a lot of talk over the last week that "arena is dead" etc etc and whilst I don't want to get into all that hyperbole will ESL Hannover be WoW's worst competition to date? After all the optimism and enthusiasm that came out of the very first MLG in San Diego last year, patch 3.08 is the best we can expect for WoW's initial tournament of 2009?