EPT
This is a huge change obviously as SS and Razer are basically the two big dogs in the competitive gaming world when it comes to PC peripherals. I felt compelled to speak about this because I am fairly well known for being a vocal supporter of one product or another and have "starred" in videos/interviews etc.. where I speak about products.
Let me start off by saying while SS was a business relationship with team Evil Geniuses I personally came to be good friends with Kim Rom, Stu and others as we were partnered and I have the utmost respect for them and will always appreciate the time I spent with them in that capacity. When a team switches sponsorship very rarely is it because behind closed doors a table was flipped, someone's mom was insulted or what have you.. that is no different here. You will not be hearing mean spirited words from me or you will not sniff out any drama from EG on this subject.. it is a pretty standard situation that happens in sports as well as eSports: For one reason or another two parties can agree/disagree to continue to work together.
With SS leaving this means a few things:
1. I was not being dishonest when I recommended their gear. You can say what you want, I've been called/read it all: I only liked them because of money etc etc.
The bottom line is I think their stuff is great. I came to know them because they stepped forward and supported EG in a big way. Through their sponsorship I worked with their staff/gear and I genuinely enjoyed what I found.
2. I now cannot use their products because I am sponsored by a competitor and that is fine. When EG is sponsored by a peripheral company we try and get them as much exposure as possible so we can achieve the value we are known for. There is no angst here. There is no bitterness.. just business.
With being sponsored by Razer this means a few things:
1. I am excited to try out new gear. Way back in the day I used a Razer Diamondback, Lachesis and mousepads. They were my first "competitive" gaming gear provider. I wasn't sponsored by them or anything I just thought they looked cool (I was 12).
This point is especially important to me. YES I am sponsored by them. YES that means my company receives money from them. YES I can understand why you may read that as some kind of problem given my previous sponsorship by SS. But to me, it is a normal occurrence in business where I now get to explore the other side of the fence. If you see me speaking positively about a Razer mouse/keyboard.. chances are I am doing that because I genuinely enjoy what I have found. So let me break it down again because to me this is the biggest issue: Sponsorship dictates what product I use. My thoughts on said product are almost never scripted (that is me being scientific, I can't think of a time I actually was handed a script for SS) and that often results in support from me and positive language on said product. Remember: I was one of the people that said blackswitch 6gv2's aren't the best... red switch was awesome though etc.
2. EG is as big as it is because of how well we serve our sponsors. In the past I have asked you to support EG/our sponsors by buying their products.. here I will do the same. When EG gets picked up by Razer like we have.. if we can bring in business for Razer that means ONLY good things for EG. So I fully understand.. those of you that have tweeted at me or EG saying "I bought X SS product to support EG" I and all of EG THANK YOU but you will be hearing us switch those pleas to Razer and hopefully that makes sense to you. If you need a new mouse / keyboard etc.. and you still want to do something to support EG the same applies! Pick up a Razer product and tweet at them just like you have in the past.
It really is that simple. This part also makes me uncomfortable because I know on some level this concept will not be understood or appreciated by folk and I carry that burden as one of the most vocal people that supports their sponsors.
To finish...
I know this was long winded. I know a lot of you simply don't care or are not interested.. I am expressing this because it's important to me. I speak out a LOT and I support those that support me so on this particular issue I feel it has some gravity on me as a person. I wanted a chance to explain my thought process and hopefully give you all an opportunity to comment on my thoughts/situation without purely speculating.
TLDR: Had a great time with SS. Excited to work with Razer and use their products. I will be supportive of Razer and that's ok. I like you guys and want you to know what I think
I already have a razer keyboard and mouse, so I'll just say I saw this comin.
