EPTA little introduction of myself; I'm DarkCell on the team Quantic Gaming which I've been a part of since we were Requiem eSports, having joined in November last year. Prior to that I didn't really plan to play StarCraft2 competitively, or at all as I didn't buy the game when it was released. A friend I had not seen since highschool offered to buy the game for me, so without that offer I wouldn't have even picked it up for awhile. I did play the beta but casually, as it was mostly to experience it since Broodwar players all waited so long to see what it would be like.
Anyway, I didn't intend to play it much, but the feeling of competition and drive to get better came back to me after a short period of playing again and from there on it became my goal to go further in Starcraft2 than I did in Broodwar. I played Broodwar for about 6 years, from 2000 to 2006. I was decent at the game, but it's hard to give any actual evidence to that as I mostly avoided ladders because of my internet, although I did play some PGTour when that came out. WGT was on euro server which was too much for my poor 14.4k internet to handle
I played on west almost exclusively, avoiding east because it was full of silly people, and koreans played on west which is who I played with a lot. Back to the point; in Broodwar I never got the chance to go to a LAN or really fully explore my potential as a player because of limitations like being young, living far away from anything and having poor internet. So, being older now and in a slightly better position (my internet still sucks though) I wanted to go further than I could in Broodwar.Alright so back to this year, starting with MLG Dallas. My team, still Requiem at that time, decided to send myself and Philibird as players to Dallas, using money from their own pockets to send us (thanks Ben and Bryan!) This alone was really big for me, because I never attended or played at a LAN setting before, which was something I really wanted to experience in Broodwar but never was able too. Going into the event I had no idea how it would be or how well or bad I'd play in person with others watching me. I also didn't know what MLG as an event would be like, I did watch the ones from 2010 but watching online and being there in person is totally different.
I flew out on Thursday, arriving in Dallas and being picked up by Bryan, the co-manager/assistant manager/whatever title of the team (Ben being the full manager/owner/thing). Prior to this trip I've never actually stayed at a hotel, so that was a cool experience too (yeah I know it's just a hotel). Met philibrid for the first time and his friend David, and then we walked around Dallas a bit looking for food. Being from the middle of nowhere and only being out of California once I had a nice brief encounter with what the world is like outside of my house, such as being asked several times over a few hours just that night if we had any spare money to give ~~; Anyway, we went to bed and the next day was opening day of MLG.
We got there pretty early, before the doors had opened to let us even check-in so we waited awhile in the line. Finally we got in and checked in then killed some time until the venue was open around 1pm. At that time we made our way inside the venue and wow it was quite cool to walk into for the first time. Big screens off in the distance for halo (at that time they were still in the middle) and Starcraft on the left, CoD on the right. Tons of people walking around but not too crowded to get anywhere. Dallas was actually quite roomy compared to some of the other venues. Also the floor was all carpet, which is really nice walking around/sitting down on as the hard floors the other venues had are a bit harder to stand all day on, or sit down.
Opening ceremony was really awesome but then the waiting begins. Dallas, I think, was probably the most delayed this year for MLG in terms of when games actually began because if I remember correctly the first round didn't start for a long time for whatever reason. So that's definitely something to note; not just at Dallas, but all year long at the different venues as a player you wait around a lot. At least for the open bracket you have to wait a lot. I wasn't aware of that going in, so the waiting and standing around was not what I expected at all. Back to the first round... when I finally got called to play I was surprisingly not nervous at all. If I remember correctly the guy I played was a protoss in diamond which I won it fairly fast. What I realized afterwards was that I didn't have nerves going into the game, even with people watching. That was a big relief as I had worried about it being an issue.
My next match was against Grubby. I actually felt confident because Grubby still was new into the SC2 scene and felt I should win. Unfortunately that wasn't the case, and I ended up losing which I was quite disappointed in myself. At the same time I just got to play against a WC3 legend in person that even though I didn't follow WC3 it was still an awesome experience to have. So now I'm out on the first day and shortly after philibird lost so now we're both out for Day 1.
The next day is losers bracket day, so we woke up early and went off to the convention center. I don't quite remember my first two matches, just that they were quick wins. So after having dropped to losers bracket 2 I won up to losers 4 where I hit Slurgi. Slurgi at the time was protoss, and we had played before in a couple tournaments and on the ladder. A quick side note is that meeting people you've played online is such a surreal experience, as a lot of people are really different. Such as Slurgi who often times was bad manner online ended up being super nice and friendly in person. Anyway, so we played and had a really close series that he ended up winning 2-1. I felt really shitty losing, but at the same time I didn't let it bug me too much because it was my first LAN experience and now I had a really strong drive to go to more and improve. Philibird ended up losing a round before me.
MLG experience as a spectator is really awesome. Dallas was nice because of the carpet so you could comfortably sit on the floor when there wasn't an open seat. A quick note about being in the crowd is you couldn't hear the casters because they didn't have booths yet and the players could hear the casters if the sound was on. Despite that it was still cool to be in the crowd and being part of the cheers. Unfortunately the experience was cut short on Day 3 and I had to leave before the finals, as my flight was scheduled at the same time they were taking place. It was a bummer not being there for the finals but I was there because my managers used their own money so I couldn't complain and appreciated they even sent me, despite my not very good performance.
As a competitor at the tournament it was definitely disappointing that I didn't play better or make it further than I did but it solidified my want and drive to be a player and gave me valuable experience in a live setting. Not to mention the chance to get out in the world and see a new city. After Dallas there was a couple month break before Columbus and during this time our team went through a few shifts. We got picked up by eMg, or emazing gaming, which is a multigaming team that was around for awhile (I think mostly in fps games) Then not long after that we got picked up by Quantic Gaming. So in a short period of time we went from Requiem eSports to eMg to Quantic Gaming. It was decided I'd be going to Columbus, alongside Rocker, Agh and ReachTheSky, with our manager Ben coming too.
Columbus time came and off I went once again to another city I've never been to for a new event. Going into this event I felt a lot more confident with my play, although I was hoping to avoid ZvP because it was my worst matchup at the time. I expected myself to do much better than I did at Dallas and for us as a team to do better. I arrived and was picked up by Ben which was the first time meeting him after knowing him for over half a year, and meeting Agh for the first time as well. Ben also brought his friend Telecom with him, having driven to Columbus instead of flying.
Arriving at the hotel we decided to split into two groups so everyone could sleep in some type of bed, so me, Rocker and Telecom went with Ben to his hotel which was a nice room where we were able to get a cot and it had a couch that folded out. We played a little on Bens laptop then off to bed we went. The next day we made our way to the venue to check-in and were given our Quantic Gaming jerseys to wear. We checked-in and split up to go eat and wait for the doors to open. When we came back me and Rocker got into the venue and started warming up.
The venue at Columbus was similar looking to Dallas for the layout and overall size. Besides that there was the noticeable difference in the mainstage where there were two new shiny booths for players to play in. Columbus felt a lot bigger too in terms of crowd and energy compared to Dallas. Once again there was the opening ceremony and we started the waiting game for who we play.
I was really hoping to just get an easy couple of rounds before playing anyone good but that wasn't in my cards that day as my first round was against Root's Destiny. I knew of him because, obviously, it's Destiny, but I wasn't too impressed by his skill at that time so I felt confident going into it. Although I was a little worried because it is ZvZ and he wasn't a terrible player, so things could go poorly for me.
First game on Xelnaga Caverns I brought out my style of zvz at that time which was multiple drops and attacks.. Unfortunately I wasn't fully aware of how Destiny played zvz, and ended up losing as I kept taking too much damage from burrowed infestors. Now I'm down a game in the first round, and that's kinda shitty position to find yourself in but I wasn't nervous or worried. If anything I felt even more confident after that first match that I'd win. Whenever I lose the first game in a best of series I usually learn enough and get a good read on how the other player is playing and their general style so that I can make adjustments in the next games afterwards. I don't always win, but for the most part I'm at least able to play better than that initial game.
Game 2 I end up winning, I think I played my drop style but it felt like such an unimportant game I don't quite remember it. Game 3 was a little annoying to play, and by a little I mean really annoying. A long drawn out game where I was way ahead on bases, but the defensive power of infestors prevented me from just killing him time and time again. Finally after a long game I ended up winning, though a few moments got my heart fluttering as I thought he'd make a comeback but in the end I still won. Destiny was by no means the best player then, and beating him obviously wasn't huge in context of skill but it was still a big win to knock a player a lot of people know about to the losers in the first round. It felt good to have that experience and already trumped Dallas for me.
My next opponent was, I think, part of KawaiiRice's Kiwi Clones team thingy, which at the time was kinda small I think. Anyway his game name was Bad, another zerg player. I ended up winning with a lot less trouble than I did vs Destiny. Afterwards he even asked me to sign his mousepad, which was a surprise, but awesome nonetheless as it was my first time signing something for someone.
After that I played ThisisJimmy from checksix (I think he was on checksix at the time), which I've played him several times online and had a winning record against him so i was confident going in. Also ZvT has always been my best matchup. Unfortunately I lost the first game, but came back and won the next two and took the series 2-1.
Now we're getting into the last round for the day and it's getting late. I think my match started around 1am against a protoss player named bonkarooni, who I think was VPBonk in game (sorry can't remember 100%!) Anyway, he looked really tired and the games reflected it where he cheesed me hardcore three times. I kept calm and knew all I had to do was survive and I'd win because he looked really tired so he'd make mistakes or play poorly and I could capitalize on that. In the end I won another series 2-1, and made it through the first day of MLG in the winners open bracket with it ending at like 2 or 3am.
It felt really good to make it that far. Especially the opponents I went though who were by no means great amazing players but they weren't terrible or walkovers, so it was a good test of whether I had improved or not. I was getting more and more comfortable in a live setting, which helps greatly. We didn't go to sleep until around 4-5am and I had to be up really early the next day.
Day 2 the winners round 5 starts asap, at 10am I think for Columbus. Both me and Agh had made it through to winners round 5 so it was good having a teammate there too. It was really early though, and besides being really tired I didn't get a chance to warm up and I was up against sixjaxMajor, or whatever team he was on back then. I wasn't nervous because ZvT was my best matchup but I was worried because I wasn't sure how I'd play in the condition I was in, and I have never experienced that before. But I was confident because I recently beat Major for the Gosucup, 2-1, so I knew I was capable of beating him. As it turns out I was not up to par that day to beat him as I got beat down 2-0. Despite losing it was a good experience to fall back on for another time, and making it round 5 was really an great accomplishment for me.
The thing about losing in round 5 or round 6 in winners is that you have to wait FOREVER to play again. Like forever, literally. I think the matches don't even start again for you until 7pm, and you had to be awake by 10am... so yeah, that's a lot of waiting.
Agh had an easy round where his opponent Pokebunny ended up being late so Agh got the walkover but then had to face July in the next round on the featured station. I don't know how he felt but it was really cool to see a teammate playing a Broodwar legend. Playing Grubby was a cool experience for me so this was tenfold better, and I wasn't even playing. Agh ended up losing in a not so hot series but winners round 6 is still really good.
As I said, I had to wait ages and ages to play and became increasingly tired as the day went on. There probably was an opportunity to sleep or take a nap if I wanted, but I didn't end up not doing that. Maybe dozing off a little here and there but overall I was going into the losers bracket without being warmed up and being quite tired. So losers round 8 is where I ended up because of my run in the winners, and who was I facing? Slurgi. My old nemesis... well not really, but it was still a nice little rivalry brewing since it would be the second time facing each other in an elimination scenario.
While ZvP was still my weakest match up I was better than I had been at Dallas, so I won the games and took the series 2-0. So now we were 1-1 at MLG. Unfortunately we never got to play again at another MLG but I hope we get to finish it out someday. I'm not sure what round it's considered after that, as its called Losers round 9, but when you check brackets like on liquipedia it looks like its a limbo round between losers and losers championship bracket. In any case I was up against Cruncher, and if I won vs Cruncher I'd have to face my teammate Agh. Fortunately that didn't come to pass, as I did end up losing vs Cruncher. My ZvP was still not up to par it seems. Agh then lost to Cruncher in a really disappointing way. He should have taken the series 2-1 but one mistake where he forgot warpgate in the third game cost him the chance to move on.
By then we're all out of the tournament. Agh placing the highest, me second, Rocker and ReachTheSky third (they placed the same) It doesn't look like a good showing to most people but for us it really was, especially under our new team of Quantic Gaming. Now it was on to being a spectator, and Columbus was really, really awesome for that especially since the casting could be heard now with the booths in place so the experience in the crowd was amazing. Then the finals came and I didn't have to leave until the next day so I was able to watch them.
I don't know if they did it at Dallas, but Columbus they opened the Halo side and CoD side for people to sit in which was really cool, as they filled up and still people were standing. I was able to sit there and absorb the amazing atmosphere in the room. The finals were amazing. Not because of the games, which were okay, but just the energy of the crowd and having tasteless and artosis casting it was beyond awesome.
After the games we went out and most of the team drank, though I didn't except for a little bit here and there. I'm not fond of drinking so I just pass on drinking most of the time, even in that setting. Regardless, the night was really awesome. We made our way to the tail end of the justintv party/bar/whatever that they had going and met and hung out with a lot of cool people. Slog for instance, who I sorta knew from online as he had played some with the team before joining FXO, and from meeting him at the venue. Though funnily he didn't realize who I was at first because he saw the 'Dark' part in my jersey and thought I was DarkForce, lol. Anyway, Slog was there and he's an awesome guy, and then there was a bunch of other people like some of the Root guys (cats, drewbie) and a few other people. It was a good experience and night.
Next day we all managed to squeeze ourselves into Ben's car and me, Rocker and Agh got out at the airport. We said our goodbyes and flew to our respective homes. All in all it was a very, very good experience, beyond just the gaming portion too. Meeting a lot of the people in the scene and hanging out after MLG was really amazing. Performance wise it wasn't mind blowing by any means, and most people wouldn't call it anything special but as a personal and team feeling it was a really good tournament. Was I bummed I didn't go further? Of course, taking first is always the goal but getting as far as I did and in the process playing some really good games is definitely not a bad thing.
Since this is becoming really long, and there's still like four more events to do I'm going to break this into at least two parts, maybe three if need be. Any questions about those two events or anything about the time before then, feel free to ask and I'll answer. Most likely I'll write the second part tomorrow or the next day.
I had heard your name once or twice, but i will keep an eye out in future.
