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Sabre0O0O0O0O0O0O1 ... you're in the well!
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16-09-2009 5:15pm#1Right, been holding off on this for too long so for our next installment I present to you Sabre0001. He's our local Quake moderator and for those of you that don't know he's the founder of eSports.ie.
I'm going to leave out the initial 10 questions for this in the hope that more people will join in. I'll have some questions for you later on
Previous installments of "in the well":
Retr0gamer
Mr E
L31mr0d
Jazzy
Kinetic^2
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Sorry, just thought of one. What was your first exposure to competitive/professional gaming (online/offline) and what were your first thoughts on it? Was it something that instantly grabbed you or were you curious yet skeptical about it?
First exposure was a number of years ago, back when I was a frequent purchaser of PC Gamer and 4Kings were the hot topic. They used to have demos on the disc (which I didn't watch :S), and recaps in the magazine (which I read). Thought it was quite interesting but didn't strike too deep for some reason.
Of course, one of the first professionals I came across was Fatal1ty (won a signed mousepad from his website!
) but I can't recall where; more than likely PC Gamer as well.
It's wierd. I knew of it for ages and then just started finding out more about it and got more and more into it. Stumbled across GotFrag (Counter-Strike scene was first introduction and got to watch matches), ESReality and QuadV. And then it just spiralled out of control.
It was when the CPL started to become more exposed with scandal that I got more into it I think. I think there was always a part of me that liked the concept and I think that if you're good at something, and the opportunity is there to make money doing something you love, you should be able to take it. Then there was this "business" that was getting away with things very unbusiness-like...So, the fight for the little guy was what hooked me I think. I thought, if I as an outsider can see some things are messed up, why can't those 'in the know'?!
And that starts things as they will continue - a harmless question where the answer spirals out of control And I wonder why I write an article and then have to scrap it! 🤪
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Maximilian wrote: »1. Which is better - Q1, QUAKE 2, 3 or live? And why is Q2 the best of all of them?Q: So is Quake 3 the best FPS conceived, ever?
Tough question(s)! Don't rate 4 then Maximilian
Enjoyed the single player and co-operative of 1 & 2 I have to say. My first experiences with LAN as well in terms of deathmatch (against my Dad in the front room! What a way to bond). Certainly played Quake 2 quite a lot and it is a game I remember fondly. Some of the debates about weapons being overpowered now could be countered with the weapon systems that were in Quake 2 - railgun for example. You had to counter the delay in firing plus a massive ping (Hello Ireland in the 90s.......and today).
I actually didn't play Quake 3 much until late into it's life cycle as a result of limited and slow internet access. Used to go into town to play against some friends in LAN centres and was pretty good...but unfortunately the centres never lasted long. Buying Q3 properly was a lesson - being decent against friends is nowhere near a good standard! Went online against people who had three routes to get anywhere and the timing of everything down to the milllisecond it seemed! And yet, they were noobs >.<
Think Quake 3 suffered with the break into 3 modes - OSP (the original release), VQ3 CPMA (the modded version), and CPM CPMA (the Warsow-lite). Just meant that communities fractured rather than grinning and bearing some of the problems - something that is not encountered by console players or Quake Live players.
Impressed with QuakeLive so far but there is still a lot to do - even to make it more accessible. You still need to know commands for example for setting up your graphics and enemy models and so on, rather than going through a multitude of menus. The gameplay is solid and the fact that it's Beta means that they can mess around with it which is helpful. A lot done, a lot more to do
Actually, think that Quake 2 is my favourite...but that may be down to nostalgia.....and possibly some visual cues 🤪
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- After Quake 4 did you lose all faith in the franchise?
- Speaking on terms of competitive Ireland, what do think could be done to improve overall national competitiveness?
- What publisher excites you most at this moment in time?
- Shall we go to McDonalds again sometime?
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Good God Sean, give someone else a chance
- Favourite gaming genre ?
Actually a more difficult question than it seems. I suppose I would have to say FPS despite falling out of love with them in the last little while. It's been a while since I've had to play through a single player game. Am enjoying Battlefield 1943 a lot though! Always had a fondness for racing games. Grid is fantastic, older Need For Speed games (minus the Underground spinoff...and before Carbon), Beetle Crazy Cup, Midtown Madness - all good fun! And Beetle Crazy Cup is even better because it has split-screen.....on PC.....with AI!
- Most enjoyable game of the past year ?
Does 'Castle Crashers' count? Only got it in the last little while.
Battlefield 1943 is great - very little learning - 3 classes, 3 flags, simple objective. Great to just pick up and play and very possible to bluff it without looking like a noob (especially if you avoid the vehicles)
- Favourite gaming memory ?
Realising in a 3 player Quake 3 Free-For-All that one of my friends in the LAN centre was playing with keyboard-look. A game of find-that-player ensued (I won!)
Being able to play a LAN game of Age of Empires with just one CD (no cracks required - just a shift key!). Great game for multiplayer memories too!
- What would be your perfect game ? (elements of FPS, RTS, RPG, mix, Online etc)
I'm eagerly looking forward to id Software's RAGE. A mix of FPS, Racing and RPG. Bioshock-esque in part with building gadgets and weapons. Sounds like good fun!
I find it difficult to define a perfect game because I play a broad spectrum without specialising in one genre really. And it changes so much over time...
- What has come closest to being "the perfect game" in your opinion ?Like the above, difficult to define. Bioshock was nearly there - If it felt like you were more under threat by things other than the angry big daddy it would have been better. Also, thought it went a little downhill afterthe 'would you kindly' reveal. Big Daddy playthrough was clunky and the end boss was far too easy.
Half-Life 1 gets a vote - enjoyable storyline and was one of the first games to make me a bit edgy - the start with the disaster freaked me out quite a lot! Did a lot for the mod community and as a result, we have Counter-Strike so that's hard to overlook. Produced some terrific standalone mods (multiplayer highlights include 'Rocket Crowbar' and 'Pirates, Vikings and Knights').
- Is it your favourite game too, if not, what is ?
My fondest games are the older ones. Maybe tinged with nostalgia and maybe they aren't as good as I remember but anyways...Some of my favourites are:
Dungeon Keeper
Theme Park (Original)
Theme Hospital
Sensible Soccer
Quake Series.....
and the list goes on!
- Will the competitive scene ever reach the heights it was at 2 years ago with TV Coverage etc, or will it dwindle out. Will the western world ever catch on like the Starcraft Koreans ?!
The subject of many articles that I have started and then realised that it needs to be broken into seven I'll copy and paste this question into it's own response as I could ramble on.....and on....and on
- What game...that hasnt been invented, have you seen in a tv show/cartoon/film , that you always thought...wow..if only that were real ? Can be futuristic/impossible too
There probably has been but I'm cursed with a lazy memory at times Usually they just rip off real games (or pretend to play them - it's NOT THAT difficult to play Guitar Hero - just stick it on Easy and actually play!).
- After Quake 4 did you lose all faith in the franchise?I tend to ignore that Quake 4 happened Started the single player and wasn't liking it so put it back on the shelf. The multiplayer side of things isn't too bad - perhaps too flashy but some interesting mechanics that I would have liked to see used - grenades / certain ammo that can go through teleporters for example. Thankfully, they went back to basics by releasing Quake Live (essentially 3).
- Speaking on terms of competitive Ireland, what do think could be done to improve overall national competitiveness?
Million dollar question eh! In one sense, we need that success story - the one that captures the imagination and makes people sit up and pay attention. The lads for the WCG have done a pretty good job in getting promotion for the qualifiers but it needs to be struck home. And I think if we got a gamer in the limelight, it would boost things no end.
As a community, we need to learn to play the marketing game - even if that's embellishing accomplishments and bigging up the facts. Facts can prove anything even remotely true. Kinetic^ being a paid professional, HotSwat being signed by Dignitas, etc - all things that people should be made aware of...and yet they are not.
People also need to get back to playing for fun. The lads in the SF4 community are setting a great example - they play for fun and bragging rights and there is banter without hastle (although a little spark for the tournament rivalries doesn't go amiss!). They have casual meets where anyone is welcome - and is made welcome. Then there are tournaments which are run well. Plenty of activity going on in the forum and plenty of online action too. They have made close ties which allows them to improve. HotSwat will have the benefit of his Dignitas teammates to improve and learn new little tricks that can make all the difference. We're a cutoff nation so we need to make the ties. You can only improve by playing the best (and sometimes you have to lose and be ok with that!)
To get to a competitive level, sacrifices would be needed...When online tournaments are being organised, so many nights are ruled out due to "socialising" - I remember this from discussing suitable nights with rzelky for events last year. Stay in school kids, just drink less When people want to be competitive within traditional sports (i.e. they play U-20s and have no aspiration to go pro - they'll happily give up alcohol, train at crazy times in the morning and evening and basically eat, sleep and breathe their diet / regieme). And despite the weather being on the side of the competitive gamer over the traditional athlete, we still fall down. I do know of a Quake player who played in an eSports.ie tournament last year from his office just so he would have a decent connection. Despite having to pause mid-game due to co-workers walking in and staring at him, he did quite well
Finally, Irish gamers have it better than we think...and that's why we struggle competitively. We tend to be decent at a lot of games rather than specialising. I know this from myself - a new game will come out, I'll pick it up and play until the next one. Even if I keep playing a game, there's always 2-3 others that I am playing alongside. Too much choice is sometimes a problem. Curse you Celtic Tiger! Now I can afford these games (or can't afford to live without them in a recession)
- What publisher excites you most at this moment in time?
Don't actually get that excited by publishers. I take every release as it comes...almost expecting to be disappointed
- Shall we go to McDonalds again sometime?
That is a certainty. If I can get the weekend 23-25 October off work I will look forward to watching you be bypassed in a McD queue until you nearly explode in rage 🤪
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Ok Sean, here we go:
- Will the competitive scene ever reach the heights it was at 2 years ago with TV Coverage etc, or will it dwindle out. Will the western world ever catch on like the Starcraft Koreans ?!
It's all in the wording of your question - you have hit a fundamental problem with eSports in the world. Korea has backed Starcraft and Warcraft 3 - two games...over the last ten years, they have captured the spotlight. Within Starcraft, Korea has KeSPA (the players association). They negotiate broadcasting rights, rules, etc, etc. The two games were accessible for nearly anyone with a computer due to the graphical requirements and despite the age (and the fact that they look old), they have not been replaced because the mechanics are spot on. Blizzard did not milk this success either - only now are we getting Starcraft 2!
The Western world on the other hand cannot choose what to back as an eSport (but yet parties want "eSports" to be classified as a sport). (/side-rant: "eSports" is an umbrella term as "sports" is. Football is a "sport", basketball is a "sport", Quake can be an "eSport"; eSports cannot be a "sport"). Instead we get Call of Duty 4, 5, 4, 6 in quick succession at LANs, Counter-Strike 1.6 being used alongside it's "killer" Counter-Strike Source, and depending on the LAN - Left4Dead, FIFA/Pro Evo, Trackmania, Need For Speed, and so on. It's a ridiculous situation. A decision needs to be made as to what games to support - I made my own statement on the matter (boards link // eSports.ie link)
Some of the right things within eSports are being done better now than they were before. Coverage is improving steadily, people are standing up for themselves (people now speak out when they're not paid and G7 are chasing up tardy payments) and prizes are still massive (which in a way is unfortunate because people look at that and then won't back the smaller / startup project). Major League Gaming is doing a great job in the United States (and look at the similarity to Korea - there's only 2-3 games, coverage is standardised, people know what to expect and teams are licensed). And look at the sponsors they've managed to pick up: Dr. Pepper (with a huge label campaign featuring a MLG player), Doritos, Bic, Stride Gum, and so on.
KeSPA has certified teams: There are twelve teams in total - 11 sponsored by corporations and a Korean Air Force team. It has been recognised that the pie is only so big and they split it well. Look at the rest of the world; you could name 11 teams from across all the selected eSports in seconds if you wanted. All these teams are then looking for sponsors and talent.
It's tough. There's a lot that needs to be done. The structure is behind what the prize money is and people's expectations are huge! People want everything for free...and what they get for free, they want to be flawless. Rather than getting the basics done right, the next CPL (the good one) is expected to be born out of nothing. Those that do try to make a profit and scourned......and then we look at the loss of respected organisations such as the ESWC because they didn't play the business game correctly.
eSports as a concept has the potential to be huge. If you look at things in perspective, gaming has been around less than 50 years yet in the last twelve years, millions of dollars have been given away. Traditional sports are now making that crazy money and it took forever to get from Amateur status to Professional. But the structure was in place first. It's a game of catchup and perhaps sacrifices need to be made. Expectations need to be dropped, people need to be willing to believe, support and help out where they can....
Probably a lot more I could ramble on about Will leave it for now and then bug Kinetic to edit it into my post! 🤪
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What was the inspiration behind setting up eSports.ie? Why did you join up with that newb Rzelky to go forward with it?(won a signed mousepad from his website!)
You never said this before and I can't blame you. I should really lock the thread now but I'll see how it unfolds!when are you going to start playing quake live ?
Oh, touchy subject Jazzy! I reckon he has an alias account and just never plays on his Sabre one.0 -
when are you going to start playing quake live ?
I'm so pro you can't even see when I'm playing because the server loading screen would just load a laughing sound at your feeble attempts to connect Nah, I dunno what's happening - my main problem with QuakeLive from home is that I get a "no or bad connection" error when joining servers. Once in a blue moon I get to play. Half-heartedly trying to find a solution at the moment but after trawling through the Support forum and finding nothing but threads saying "same", I just prefer to load a game I can play. I'll get there some day.What was the inspiration behind setting up eSports.ie? Why did you join up with that newb Rzelky to go forward with it?
You never said this before and I can't blame you. I should really lock the thread now but I'll see how it unfolds!
Oh, touchy subject Jazzy! I reckon he has an alias account and just never plays on his Sabre one.
Can't even recall the eSports.ie startup to be honest. Think I have IRC logs which put rzelky in the channel since March / April 2008. Then I was invited into the inner sanctum and it was like a private chatroom We had the summer tournaments mainly because both of us had some spare time and wanted to see Quake action with Irish players. Then it just seemed to spiral from there. eSports.ie I think was supposed to be a base for these tournaments but with all that happens, it's a little difficult to find the time for everything - the tournaments alone (between setting up, promoting and actually running) took quite a lot of time. Definately something I (and I am sure rzelky too) would like to do. Was good fun.
I think rzelky deserves a lot of credit. He is certainly a major part of the site and has done a great job with making it look so pretty and functional! He kept me grounded in the early phases too - I have a habit of getting overly excited and dreaming of world domination - but I was constantly reminded "slow and steady". Frustrating at the time but certainly necessary. He's not nearly as much of a noob of that side of things as he is at gaming I think we share similar views from meeting him at the WCG Ireland qualifier LAN in 2008 and he's a really decent guy. Doubts his own abilities a bit too much at times.
Have to say, it's very unfortunate (/understatement) that he's back in Poland.
On the Fatal1ty thing, he was one of the first pro gamers I heard of and to be fair - he's done the best at what he does. Not even in terms of gaming accomplishments but he has the marketing and business side down. A side that many overlook and hate him for. Ok, twelve world titles is an overstatement but he's taken advantage of the lack of structure within eSports to be able to say that without lieing. Nobody has been able to declare such and such a LAN as a major or minor or bedroom LAN. He's brought awareness to a very niche scene and has done well after stepping aside from gaming. Have to appreciate his efforts and admire what he has done. The money helps but he does it in spite of the hatred he faces from many keyboard warriors.
And the question (this was written in January 2008 but shows that I have been thinking the same way since becoming interested in eSports.....and yet, few things are changing - /me notes "need more money, time, manpower, resources......):
This month's question comes from Mark in Limerick, Ireland
Do you think that eSports can stabilize in the future? Will there be a time when there is a central group organized to try and streamline issues (and possibly rank tournaments - like Golf or Tennis where certain tournaments are majors but others are important and carry good prize money); rather than the current set-up where all tournaments are competing with each other yet using different games, different rule sets, etc. making it difficult for players..
Fatal1ty's Answer:
Very good question. This is actually the very reason I first decided to join up with the Championship Gaming Series. Having an organized and televised league with franchised teams competing for cash is definitely a step in the right direction. It's very tough to tell right now exactly what will happen in the world of eSports, even in a few months from now. The concept is still new and just beginning to crack the mainstream shell. so I think you will continue to see leagues competing with each other for a little while. but look at what happened with the formation of the current NFL. The NFL and former AFL were competing leagues until they finally joined forces to make professional football what it is today. This is one of the main issues the CGS is dealing with today, but again I think the CGS definitely has the right idea in order to make one centralized gaming league.🤪
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Ok, Sabre0001, if that is your real name...
What are your goals/aspirations for www.esports.ie?
If you could have dinner with 5 people from the videogames industry, who would they be?
What's the game you loved that nobody else seemed to like?
What's the biggest game you played and didn't get the fuss about?
What is the biggest game you've never played?
Obviously you're a PC gamer, but what is your favourite console?
What is the last game that made you just turn it off with rage?
Which videogame characted would you go for beers with? :pac:
What game would you like to see remade?
Any guilty gaming pleasures?
Why Akuma and not Ken? 0 -
Who said this was going to be easy!Burning Eclipse wrote: »Ok, Sabre0001, if that is your real name...
What are your goals/aspirations for www.esports.ie?
I want to make millions, be world famous and have thousands of groupies! Mwahahahahahaha! I'll come back to the obvious one in a moment. I would like if eSports.ie was an accessible site for people very new to the whole scene and concept but yet detailed and advanced enough for the dedicated fans. This is kept in mind considering how unaware the Irish are as to what is possible - nearly every gamer interviewed is asked "so people can play games for money?!". This is in spite of the fact that people have been doing that for years through testing / reviews.
I want eSports.ie to be able to provide detailed coverage of all gaming events, activities and commotions within Ireland (a comprehensive cover overseas would be a plus). Not just limited to x LAN taking place but coverage of what teams or players are up to, who is organising what online, what's going on offline and so on. There's a benefit for players and organisers too as if it's done right it means more sponsorship potential. Bit of give-and-take is always required. Professional sports teams host conferences / press talks - all we need is a private message / e-mail / chat...
Now, the big one (and hopefully no potential employer is reading :S), it would be great to make a viable career from eSports.ie. Ignoring myself for a second, I think it would be great to offer the opportunity to people to do what they love for a financial reward rather than the usual "we'll put you on the staff list and give you deadlines but you work for free / 'perks'" that other sites give. It would be fantastic to build a team who are dedicated and love what they do. If the site can turn a profit, the site can improve as it becomes far easier to offer competitions (can actually pay for prizes rather than blagging as much free stuff as possible), get servers, promote and so on.
And onto me I would like to make it a viable career if I'm being honest. I have had such a great time in less than a year travelling to LANs around the country (and not always to play), meeting new people, following games that I love and getting to take it all in. I don't even need a jet - I've travelled by bus, train and Ryanair to get where I need to go: It gives me time to think and write stuff There are so many things within eSports.ie that I would like to do and a number of projects that I mull over externally and perhaps, I would have time to branch into those areas (probably not but it's nice to dream ).
If you could have dinner with 5 people from the videogames industry, who would they be?
John Carmack
John Romero
Peter Molyneux
Will Wright
And although he doesn't really count: Angel Munoz - How the hell did you keep a tournament going for so long with so many problems.....and then still sell the brand years later for an extortionate figure!
The dinner would be the top 4 at one sitting and then a private session with number 5. The top 4 created some of my favourite games...while the 5th is a cunning lunatic business man with grey business ethics
What's the game you loved that nobody else seemed to like?
Some games that noone seemed to know of - Commander Keen, Beetle Crazy Cup...The Sims - seriously, it's the game all of us wanted but yet so many seem to hate!
What's the biggest game you played and didn't get the fuss about?I haven't given Resident Evil 5 enough of a chance I would say...and having not played the earlier incarnations I may be missing something.
Halo 3 somewhat too. Single player so far has been ok. Multiplayer is kinda fun but it's not a case of "I have to jump online now!".
What is the biggest game you've never played?There are a number of these - your thread about missing classics brought that crashing home! Glaring examples would be things like the Mario series / Sonic series (played bits and pieces but I didn't own a console as a kid...therefore Commander Keen was my Mario clone). System Shock. Ah, the list goes on...embarressing to think about!
Obviously you're a PC gamer, but what is your favourite console?
PC Gamer up until I got a Playstation 2 (very late in its life cycle!) so it's harder to judge something when you only get flash-in-the-pan experiences. Essentially I got to see the best bits at times. Playstation 1 had some great games. PS2 was a great investment when I finally did.
I think my favourite is the XBox 360 which I have the pleasure of owning. Once again, nostalgia creeps in as I've been downloading games from my childhood (which were ported to PC but more well known on other systems) - Golden Axe, Paperboy, Sensible Soccer, Comix Zone....Then there are some extremely good value games for what you pay - Castle Crashers, Trials HD, Peggle. And a solid list of games but that's more to do with what's being released currently. All I need is a Jonah Lomu rugby clone to top it off!
What is the last game that made you just turn it off with rage?
I've had issues with FIFA 09's "Be A Pro" mode - AI wouldn't pass me the ball (or would when they had better chances), stupidly high expectations and shoddy defending in pressure matches.
Fight Night 4 also caused problems. Because the difficulty level is hidden away in sub-menus I was playing away no problem, then saw that issue so boosted it up a bit. Suddenly I was being countered when the AI was nowhere near a punch and could throw haymakers from close range (that missed) without the punishment. After hitting the canvas a number of times in a round, enough was enough. Have actually been meaning to load it back up but I know as soon as I do, it'll be off again
Football Manager series - sooo frustrating!
Which videogame characted would you go for beers with? :pac:
Intriguing! Duke Nukem if he'd show up on time Would say there would be some crazy times there.
What game would you like to see remade?
Jonah Lomu Rugby
Theme Hospital
Dungeon Keeper
Theme Park
- No fancy tweaks...just update the graphics (or have them so they run without having to slow down the PC / emulate, etc.)
Any guilty gaming pleasures?
Hmmm...Not too sure. I've already admitted I think 'The Sims' is a solid enough game Don't think there's anything I'd turn off if someone was coming into the house. Nah, I think I'm proud of all my nerdy glory!
Why Akuma and not Ken?
Akuma is simply so much cooler - anyone that has catchphrases such as "Die One Thousand Deaths", "...and I will teach you the true meaning of pain" and "My fists bleed death" is not someone to mess with! That and Air Fireballs 🤪
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What's your favourite game soundtrack?
I actually usually don't pay attention to soundtracks Two that have stood out to me over time are Total Annihilation and Castle Crashers. I think TA was the first that I actually really noticed. Then again, most of the games I play(ed) don't have soundtracks (I think!) bar death sounds and explosions A guy who works with me often has soundtracks on in the stockroom and while I like listening to them I tend to forget what we were listening to or forget to follow up on it.The questions have been pretty comphrensive, and your answers have been impressive!
Why thank you!
1) What level is your Castle Crashers character and who do you use?
Started a green knight and grey knight but my main character is the Orange knight (fire once again - going to get tagged as an arsonist after this series!). Level 49 I believe. Got through the single player with him and started the insane mode (up to the Thieves Forest entrance....but it's quite insane!)
2) Since you are (or were) a big FPS fan, why do you think Halo 3 has failed to grab you?
I can't really put my finger on it. There's still a part of me trying to adapt to using a gamepad (and thumbs) rather than a keyboard and mouse combo! Not too far into the story (?) so it hasn't gripped me yet. Plus I'm a bit unsure of the jumping and taking an eternity to float to the ground
3) On the same theme, why have you become less interested in FPS as a genre?
I think there just hasn't been a title that I've been gripped by in a while. Played bits and pieces of a few but I think I need to go back to some. Ran into some bugs with the first FEAR that ground out the fun (but had been really enjoying it up til then). I think listening to other people has put me off titles as well - don't read reviews but if I pass a discussion on boards, some points may stick with me and I'll play a bit and struggle to get past that niggle.
Think I just need to retrain myself to play them. Bioshock was the first FPS I had played in a while (to completion) and that was great but there were some issues
4) What genre do you personally find most exciting to play (and watch) in competitive play?
Despite being quite unsure of what's going on half the time I really like Starcraft, moreso than other strategy games. I think the coverage medium I watch it through helps though with commentators, shots of the fans and their reactions and so on...
FPS is an obvious one but I'll break it down. I think competitive duels can suffer because one person naturally gains an advantage and scores can be very lopsided. I sometimes prefer the nip-and-tuck matches (i.e. the ones on maps that everyone else hates because the score is 3-2 after 10mins rather than 26-0).
I really enjoy Capture The Flag - it resembles some sports in certain ways. You can try to nullify another teams strategy or play to your own weaknesses. With scores so close, one break or well timed assault can decide a match. Flag grabs (rather than successful captures) provide bursts of "SOMETHINGS happening" rather than all-out-action or an all-out-ceasefire. With scores being close, and a team environment, there is less mental pressure on players - you actually feel like the game COULD turn around or perhaps the underdogs COULD snatch victory - I don't think you get that enough within eSports.
5) What do you think of achievements/trophies in games?
Mixed bag I have to say. Some are nice touches like actually awarding doing something well or finding new things in the games. Secret achievements are a bit pointless because you can Wiki everything pre-release if you want. Not a huge fan of many multiplayer achievements because you can just boost against other players. And the same for grind ones. If I get an achievement for something I've done well or for something pretty cool within the game I like it (i.e. Wax On in 'Geometry Wars') but wouldn't go out of my way just to get it...
6) When www.esports.ie makes millions, will you get that jet you mentioned, or simply move up to first class on the commercial flights?
Firstly, thanks for the positivity - the cheque is in the mail! If the website in itself was to make millions, I think (obviously with rzelky's input) that money would go to the right places - support the local scene, coverage teams, staff list, perhaps to a dedicated player / team, competitions, constant improvement, etc.
If I myself were to make millions, I couldn't go for a jet...and probably not first class :S I tend to keep myself to myself so I can't deal with the fuss of air hostesses coming around every so often, I don't want to be a bother! Got a ticket for first class last year and I didn't know what to do Would like the leg room though. Hmmm.
There are projects that I would like to pursue if I had a bit of time and money to spare. Often get bursts of creativity - it would be nice to either develop the skills to follow through on some or be able to delegate to those that actually have the capabilities! Shouldn't dwell on this answer too much though - as I said already, I do know myself to drift so need to stay focused on the present "Slow and steady" - wise words! 🤪
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What do you think of the current Irish gaming scene? (no politicial type answers)
Right then! Such a difficult question....
The casual side is very strong - "BusinessWeek magazine recently reported that Ireland has, per capita, the highest percentage of home penetration of game consoles in the world – if you don't count Japan." (link). I think we have it too good in a way though - many people own more than one gaming system and more games than they can ever play! Gone are the days of obsessing over one and playing it to death (and then three times over!). Mix of the Celtic Tiger and the way that game design has gone.
Because of the above, we struggle at competitive levels - if a % of our players stick with one game that used competitively, an even smaller % will be top players when compared against other countries. And because of our fleeting fancies with games and the latest and greatest, we tend not to spend the time on games. Korea did well with Starcraft because at the time, they couldn't afford multiple games (or systems that ran better games). Ten years later and it's still huge (of course, look at the population gap example again).
However, what I think your question is really aimed at:
In a sense, the Irish gaming scene is undersupported and underappreciated. Having spoken to LAN organisers, it is nigh-on-impossible to get rental PCs for events. That's going to put off a number of people who 1) don't have a system 2) don't trust the transportation system enough to carry something valuable 3) are a bit lazy after getting used to XBox Live / PSN / decent broadband gaming. It's a point I raise time and time again because I fall into all three catagories! And that's the response I get and it's unfortunate.
There seems to be a bit of politics within certain gaming sectors - for example, every time the issue of an Irish Counter-Strike National team is raised, there are problems and accusations that it's friends or favourites or a clique getting selected. Hopefully this has changed after the last trials that were run by Abeyance. A great idea that proved to be quite successful and hopefully can continue.
There are some very strange attitudes within Irish gaming:
a) Those that want others to fail so they can laugh (also seen on many eSports websites strangely saying "LOL @ esports")
b) Those that look down on the competitive scene (possibly related to the above but even more bizarre when they are affiliated with a clan / even worse, a competitive clan)
c) Those who think that they are entitled to a minimum prize fund / a LAN is not worth their thoughts if it doesn't meet their standards (and yet, I don't recall any of them playing under the tag of SK or fnatic...my memory again perhaps?)
And many more..... (damn, this is a difficult question!)
The LAN scene in Ireland is very torn. It's expensive to get anything going and then it's an uphill battle - convincing sponsors, convincing players, getting the right games, what split in focus do you have, etc, etc. We are a limited nation with limited resources (and support). As stated above, sometimes the expectations are a bit high - yet, we don't have (many) teams playing free online cups, leagues and ladders. In my opinion, those expectations are unwarranted (in case you hadn't guessed). But with a social LAN you also run into difficulties - do you regulate fun with a timetable for example?
Competitive gamers in Ireland are a strange bunch...and a group that I am fascinated by. Most do not pimp their accomplishments at all....and rarely even mention their involvement (besides clan sigs or tags). I'm always open to hearing about Irish teams but yet, there's a finite number who do get in contact (and often it's a case of I hear something in passing or through someone or by browsing some random website). Irish gamers need to learn how to play the game - you get more coverage, you increase the support that you can petition for. Did an interview with HotSWAT (our World Cyber Games representative for Trackmania Nations) a couple of months back - two weeks later, he's signed for Dignitas....yet no word came through before during or after. kRoNic (Quake 3 / Live) keeps to himself despite being at the top in Ireland and mixing with proper UK players. And so on (before I name too many and other noses get bent out of shape because their name isn't there!). So let's hear it - if your team / you / your event / your website, etc, etc, etc is up to something - let me know. I'm always here and there's about sixteen other ways to contact me (I'm quite adept at reading smoke signals!).
Even when presented with massive opportunites, Irish gamers seem to fade back - the chance is finally there to shine....and they turn away. The World Cyber Games for example - the LAN is organised, there is a side LAN for fun (and prizes), there's a paid trip away from this country and weather, and yet a handful of people turn up. Where are all those expert FIFA players that never lose? Why not give Trackmania a go, it's free! How many chances are you going to get to go to China to represent Ireland in a gaming event...for free. It would be interesting if there was a LAN with massive prize money in Ireland......and the good players & teams (from overseas) signed up - would we see Irish challengers......or would the Irish present feel like tourists in their own backyard?
I think I'll have to come back for a part two! This question is massive really and my answer has already spiralled out of control. I welcome discussion on it (Private message, e-mail, irc) and obviously, would like to start hearing from Irish people who are up to anything - fun cups need promotion, competitive leagues make for interesting reading and so on.....
Keep those questions coming. It's a difficult but interesting experience 🤪
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Great answer and look forward to part 2. What do you suggets to improve what we have then?
Not one for closed-ended or limited questions eh
I think some people just need to be made more aware of what is possible from gaming. We have good players (we would want to seems as there often isn't much to do and the weather doesn't stand in our favour) but most people are content to play from their rooms or think that online Leaderboards are the be-all-and-end-all. Example: look at the FIFA forum and one main topic of discussion is quitters or people playing custom teams. If those people played proper tournaments (online or LAN) they would not run into the same problem, would probably face a higher standard and could gain so much more than negative rep (because they beat someone), disappointment (from quitters) or online points (which mean nothing).
Players need to learn how to 'play-the-game'. That's not how to play any computer game but the marketability behind it. fams wrote an article about Media Relations (within a series dedicated to the players interests) and it's worth a read. Again, it ties to making yourself available or making people aware of your news. It may only be a small piece in your eyes but in the world of eSports it opens another tournament that people may not have known of, more teams, players and games...So again, just asking people to send a quick PM or e-mail or whatever if something is going on. If you learn to play the game correctly, you can start thinking about getting supported by sponsors and so on.
I think people need to get over the fear of being proven wrong // fear of failure. Sometimes the only way to get better is to get beaten (but get back on the horse). I prefer playing at a LAN myself because it's more personal than a faceless XBox Live session. I can get beaten both ways but at least offline I can have some banter or talk to the person afterwards. If sitting beside someone I also have a better chance at seeing a technique they use (i.e. flick the stick in a certain way). People are far too happy to say "oh I'm the best at FIFA; I beat all my friends" but never want to prove it where it matters (or again, small online tournaments where it doesn't actually matter) - far too happy to stay the best within a small box. And Irish gaming suffers competitively for it because while you may be the best against our talent pool (or even smaller if not looking outside your friends list), you need to be able to make waves in international waters.
I think we (and world gamers) need to get back to basics. Playing for fun, bragging rights and so on...Yes, prizes are great but that doesn't mean we should ignore the online tournaments with little to nothing on offer. In fact, we should be playing more. Ireland isn't known for world class gamers but even looking around smaller tournament sites (online for example), you still see few Irish flags. Some scenes are better are partaking in these than others. We also don't seem to do much for ourselves. As you know Kinetic^ from the leagues / cups you hoped to run online, people are willing to signup (sometimes) but often don't follow through. And LAN attendences often speak for themselves - though you do see more in non-BYOC events but that is an issue with the support that events get until we can find top LAN centres that welcome gamers...
Can you force a community together? It's hard to know but the fighting ga-ga-game for-f-f-forum (time for a new record!) has cultured it out of nothing. Playing for fun, socialising and still getting (well run) tournaments in the mix. Would be nice to get challenge matches between top teams once in a while or tournaments or something. One of the reasons myself and rzelky got into tournaments last year was for that reason - just to see some Q3 activity!
Scenes are very fractured. Boards is a good way of getting things going. Not everyone uses it but it is the biggest gathering site and a good initial focus point. Only trouble seems to be that sometimes unless the boards tag is attached to something, interest is lower...But there are people doing great jobs to get something going - FutureGuy with the FIFA leagues as one example. The next big thing is - how do you get those same people to play a "more competitive" event or an offline event?
The reason that 'more competitive' is highlighted is because I think perceptions are a little askew...moreso in Ireland. Games are competitive - we do not play to lose. We play for fun, sure, but people have most fun when winning. Is there anyone that loads up the Seth boss fight in SF4 to be beaten senseless for half an hour and think "that was great" after half an hour?! Gaming is as fun as you make it when you start competing - LANs have great banter, online tournaments can provide great spectacles (again, Quake cups last year had spectator slots and people seemed to enjoy watching the matches - not always the greatest standard but after the match, people would chat in IRC or banter in the spectator chat).
So how do we improve what we have? It's up to individuals really and people need to cooperate. There are a lot of changes required and it needs a more basic approach. Because some people (and this is worldwide) are used to a certain prize fund level, it is expected...But to move forward we need a 'bread-and-butter' approach. The bragging rights, the friendly rivalries and so on. We need online tournaments, we need LANs....but most of all, we need attendees. We haven't quite mastered how to get people to events so putting up massive prize funds won't change anything - more international talent will arrive but to bolster the local scene, we need to learn how to get people from their couch to a LAN.....or even, from their couch into a tournament online! Perceptions related to competitive gaming need to change - yes, it can still be fun! Or you can take it semi-seriously and learn how to lose in good spirit!
In the spirit of cooperation - people are very willing to make themselves heard before an event at times, but not so constructively. Organisers and attendees need back-and-forth communication because each party needs the other. If something went wrong at the event, the organiser is the main person who should know so they can resolve issues for next time. Otherwise, the events go on but the numbers that go get smaller and smaller. Quake cup example again - couple of cups ran, numbers started getting smaller despite constant requests for feedback (only to be told "it's all good"), finally got word that people wanted a mixup from Duel only tournaments. Very easy point to make but amazingly difficult to get people to make that point (and we complain about never knowing what women are thinking!).
I think expectations need to be realistic too - not only with prize money because that's been covered (smaller attendences = smaller entry fee + smaller sponsor interest, etc). But with one of the recent GameCons people were complaining that it sold out....and went so far as to say in economics terms; when supply < demand, increase supply. A room is a certain size - an organiser (no matter how good) cannot simply increase that! Plus there are other requirements such as network capabilities, the fee agreed upon, equipment rental (thoses tables and chairs don't just spawn there), and much much more that I only know a fraction of. Common sense people; that's one of the main things we need (because it also feeds into the above point about feedback - if you flame, you are less likely to be listened to...If you can put together a constructive argument for a point, it might be taken into consideration. Organisers need the listening skills. One party may not always listen to the other but we're grown ups - you don't always get your way so get over it.)🤪
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In Ireland, do you think LANs should be more mainstream to try and get the casual gamer to attend or stay the way they are and attract a niche market?
I think all LANs are going to be a more niche experience. All those who attend aren't what you would call 'casual gamers' as there is the requirement of bringing a PC / system which seperates the potential audience immediately. There have been a few tournaments open to the casual gamer but not in the traditional LAN sense - a retro gaming charity night for CrossCause, the XGC events, XBox Live Centre Guitar Hero Challenge / Pro Evo Challenge, Guitar Hero Shopping Centre stops and so on. They're a bit different than what we associate with a LAN - mainstream venue, "acceptable" games (i.e. more widely played or known of in mainstream circles than the likes of Counter-Strike), different structure, etc.
To be quite honest, I don't think many Irish LANs have set out their stalls as to who they are trying to attract. GalwayLAN is aimed at a casual group it seems (unfortunately I have been unable to attend) but only as casual as a LAN audience goes - there are no prizes, everyone has a laugh, socialises and some drinks are had
Most LANs try and hedge their bets by listing every game under the sun as "will be played" - they have the potential to be played but usually aren't (unless of course the two people who are interested in playing the 1.3 version of Tiger Woods 2005 happen to meet...). In a sense, I think all LANs are targetting the "casual" element of the LAN scene.
I don't think LANs in Ireland are aimed at the very niche market (i.e. the competitive gamer) because the market as it is, is limited (QuakeCon has space for 3,000 BYOC spaces but Dallas alone, not even Texas, has a population of 1.3million people - break that down proportionately to Ireland and you run into troubles...). Then there are two issues - a lot of people don't want to go to Dublin for events (I seem to get a lot of credit strangely for travelling from Limerick) while events outside of Dublin (and it's surrounding areas) are nearly destined to fail from the start!
It will take time (or a massive gamble and some spare cash) to see a truely "competitive" LAN taking place in Ireland. And then you have to see if it's successful (easier to just make it happen than make it happen correctly!). Even the iSeries in the UK is thought of as a mainly social LAN - yet that has over 30 editions under its belt, a reputation, major sponsors and massive venues.
QuakeCon draws a huge audience...but these people are gamers too - people using military leave to make it, people travelling from all over the country and lugging gear...just to play and socialise for a weekend. It's not the norm so I don't think a LAN will ever be mainstream...especially in their current format.
To attract a more mainstream audience I think things have to be done differently - locations need to be more accessible (cost goes up), systems need to be available on site (cost goes up) - the whole experience would have to be a lot more user friendly...plus you also have to fight against the public perceptions to get those mainstream people in the door (somehow).
Individual events could be more mainstream - easier to pitch a day / night of gaming than a weekend. Other distractions being offered (exhibitions, talks, other activities, etc). Systems available, etc. But not sure about the LAN scene being open to the "typical gamer".🤪
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cherryghost wrote: »It's obvious you have a passion for gaming and the competitive side, will there be a time in your life that you're going to hang up your boots?
I don't think there will be. I'm a gamer and it's a hobby of mine - same as listening to music and reading. I think the manner in which I game, the amount of time I can put into it and so on might change but at the end of the day, it's something I enjoy doing. I'm not skilled enough to be a pro gamer so won't be hanging up my boots in that regard and "career" ending injuries are less relevent in gaming so I think I'm safe there.
Gaming is a bit more accepted as a hobby now too so once there are two TVs in the household, myself and a future partner should be ok Needs to be the understanding that she can have her hobby and I'll have mine. Of course, priorities will change over time but I am a gamer at heart (if Jason Lake can find someone who accepts him for risking his business and personal finance through gaming, I'm sure I can too ) 🤪
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