“Hello!”
I think the best way to introduce myself is to explain my experience of competitive LAN gaming; from humble beginnings, to the self-appointed master of gaming wisdom that I am today.
The LAN tournaments at which I won prize-money are as follows:
Team: Lemmings
Tournament: Gamesdomain 2001
Location: London (BT Centre), UK
Game: Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Result: Final (loss to 4Kings)
Tournament: Intel Masters 2002
Location: London (Science Museum), UK
Game: Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Result: Final (loss to 4Kings)
Team: 4Kings
Tournament: Quakecon 2003
Location: Gaylord Hotel, Dallas, USA
Game: Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Result: Fourth place (loss to GMPO).
Tournament: CyberX Gaming 2003
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Game: Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Result: Tournament aborted. The Casinos were the only winners.
Tournament: Cyber Athlete Professional League 2004
Location: Dallas, USA
Game: Call of Duty
Result: Approx. 30th.
Tournament: Gamestar Live - 2004
Location: Excel Centre, London Docklands
Game: Call of Duty
Result: Final (loss to “Supermen”).
Each tournament represents months (or years) of training and preparation, both individually and with my team, and each has a huge number of memories associated with it; the good, the bad and the ugly. I also played in numerous online tournaments, for both the UK and for my team(s), winning a fair number along the way.
As anyone will tell you, losses stick in the memory far more than successes, but the tournaments themselves are only a small part of the story. My gaming years were filled with emotional experiences on many levels, bringing both very rewarding times and very low times.
As an example, spending a “bootcamp week” in the hottest, dankest Internet Cafe in Germany (with the 4kings team, GMPO and Ocrana) before Quakecon 2003, and being expected to sleep on the floor, was quite an experience! I should note this was during the hottest summer on German record, in a particularly rough Turkish neighbourhood. I booked myself a hotel room. (Biggest regret of the week? Eating the aeroplane egg-mayo sandwich after it had been left in the 40 degree heat for a day).
At the Quakecon 2003 tournament itself we were shadowed by Simon B (same initials as myself) who was filming Modern Day Gamer 2. I and others were also interviewed for a Canadian documentary. I should note, it is quite disconcerting when a cameraman is sleeping on your bedroom floor, the camera permanently on, waiting for that ‘special shot’ of gamers at ease. “I’m watching you!” in a hushed whisper was his (admittedly childish) nickname amongst the RtCW squad.
For CyberX Gaming and the CPL the whole 4kings outfit travelled together; the Counterstrike team, RtCW/Call of Duty team (respectively) and our Warcraft III team including the fantastic 4K Grubby. Shenanigans are inevitable where Counterstrike players are involved.
After Quakecon 2003 I was given team captaincy, making my gaming less a hobby, more of a second job. I always take my responsibilities seriously and I was trying to make a career for myself. This led to a great deal of stress and I must say that my enjoyment decreased considerably (at least, up until the competitions themselves).
So where am I now? What do I consider myself to have learned?
I have played with a variety of different people/personalities, captained teams, hired and fired, and dealt with numerous stressful and difficult situations. It is never fun to replace a friend, but that is all part and parcel of running a competitive team. I consider myself to have an outstanding grasp of military strategy and tactics, and how to apply them to a team of high-ego individuals (my kingdom for a team of mature adults!)
Watch this space for my next article, as I delve deeper into the tournaments themselves, the tactics and the strategy involved. If you enjoy the strategic side as much as I do, you may even learn something you can apply to your own gaming.
Yours,
Simon Butt
“Criamulus” of XC and Gauntlet.
“Creamy” of (3rd Infantry Division/Lemmings/OMG!), 4Kings, Scelesto, plus various casual teams I don’t recall the names of.
I think the best way to introduce myself is to explain my experience of competitive LAN gaming; from humble beginnings, to the self-appointed master of gaming wisdom that I am today.
The LAN tournaments at which I won prize-money are as follows:
Team: Lemmings
Tournament: Gamesdomain 2001
Location: London (BT Centre), UK
Game: Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Result: Final (loss to 4Kings)
Tournament: Intel Masters 2002
Location: London (Science Museum), UK
Game: Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Result: Final (loss to 4Kings)
Team: 4Kings
Tournament: Quakecon 2003
Location: Gaylord Hotel, Dallas, USA
Game: Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Result: Fourth place (loss to GMPO).
Tournament: CyberX Gaming 2003
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Game: Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Result: Tournament aborted. The Casinos were the only winners.
Tournament: Cyber Athlete Professional League 2004
Location: Dallas, USA
Game: Call of Duty
Result: Approx. 30th.
Tournament: Gamestar Live - 2004
Location: Excel Centre, London Docklands
Game: Call of Duty
Result: Final (loss to “Supermen”).
Each tournament represents months (or years) of training and preparation, both individually and with my team, and each has a huge number of memories associated with it; the good, the bad and the ugly. I also played in numerous online tournaments, for both the UK and for my team(s), winning a fair number along the way.
As anyone will tell you, losses stick in the memory far more than successes, but the tournaments themselves are only a small part of the story. My gaming years were filled with emotional experiences on many levels, bringing both very rewarding times and very low times.
As an example, spending a “bootcamp week” in the hottest, dankest Internet Cafe in Germany (with the 4kings team, GMPO and Ocrana) before Quakecon 2003, and being expected to sleep on the floor, was quite an experience! I should note this was during the hottest summer on German record, in a particularly rough Turkish neighbourhood. I booked myself a hotel room. (Biggest regret of the week? Eating the aeroplane egg-mayo sandwich after it had been left in the 40 degree heat for a day).
At the Quakecon 2003 tournament itself we were shadowed by Simon B (same initials as myself) who was filming Modern Day Gamer 2. I and others were also interviewed for a Canadian documentary. I should note, it is quite disconcerting when a cameraman is sleeping on your bedroom floor, the camera permanently on, waiting for that ‘special shot’ of gamers at ease. “I’m watching you!” in a hushed whisper was his (admittedly childish) nickname amongst the RtCW squad.
For CyberX Gaming and the CPL the whole 4kings outfit travelled together; the Counterstrike team, RtCW/Call of Duty team (respectively) and our Warcraft III team including the fantastic 4K Grubby. Shenanigans are inevitable where Counterstrike players are involved.
After Quakecon 2003 I was given team captaincy, making my gaming less a hobby, more of a second job. I always take my responsibilities seriously and I was trying to make a career for myself. This led to a great deal of stress and I must say that my enjoyment decreased considerably (at least, up until the competitions themselves).
So where am I now? What do I consider myself to have learned?
I have played with a variety of different people/personalities, captained teams, hired and fired, and dealt with numerous stressful and difficult situations. It is never fun to replace a friend, but that is all part and parcel of running a competitive team. I consider myself to have an outstanding grasp of military strategy and tactics, and how to apply them to a team of high-ego individuals (my kingdom for a team of mature adults!)
Watch this space for my next article, as I delve deeper into the tournaments themselves, the tactics and the strategy involved. If you enjoy the strategic side as much as I do, you may even learn something you can apply to your own gaming.
Yours,
Simon Butt
“Criamulus” of XC and Gauntlet.
“Creamy” of (3rd Infantry Division/Lemmings/OMG!), 4Kings, Scelesto, plus various casual teams I don’t recall the names of.
Is he some kind of important guy, i should know ? i mean mAus, ferus, Night etc have archieved a lot aswell and they dont have a weekly updated article posted by - tosspot.
just curious
looking forward to some good debate
do same stuff for ET!
:)))
article was great though!
good to see a familiar name from the old days
Article made me realise that competitive shooters haven't progressed in the last 10 years!
ehehe
nice read, a real legend to say the least
Just couldn't help myself.
But in all seriousness, a nice read and I'm actually looking forward for future articles!
(Also goddamnit TosspoT, you should have someone proofread your texts!)
I remember him taking the time out to show a bunch of noobs to strafe jump on DZM trickjump - good to have someone share knowledge of the game.
Always came across as patient and courteous even on the internet... not something i can claim myself :'(
Anyways, would be interested to read the tactics section.
;)
And this is from playing games? Wat.
?
Or is that comment based on gaming experience? Probably we won't get an explanation anyway.