Slashdot Mirror
The Story of a Halo 2 Champion
Sam Machkovech writes "My buddy Paul Kix of The Dallas Observer did some digging to uncover the life of Matt Leto (aka Zyos), whose track record places him in the top rankings of worldwide Halo & Halo 2 competitions. Professional gaming leagues are nothing new to those who know about the CPL, but this story shines a light at console-focused leagues like the MLG that may very well get the mainstream crowd interested in gaming as a viable sport, along with gamers like Zyos who buck negative stereotypes associated with hardcore gamers -- 'perhaps surprising, Leto's not a nerd. He's an athlete' -- while still kicking virtual ass. Show this article to your parents/spouses next time they harass you about your habit."
He's never kissed a girl. He lives in his mother's basement. But, by golly, he sure is good at Halo !
"that may very well get the mainstream crowd interested in gaming as a viable sport" Video games are not a support. If it were than playing cards would be sport. Last time I checked you had to do some phsyical activity to be considered a sport.
-Dipster
An athlete? Oh please! I have no doubt that he's very talented and skilled at Halo, but sitting and moving your fingers on a controller does not make you an athlete.
If playing Halo is athletics, then kids get plenty of physical exercise, and we no longer need to worry about them getting fat because they're playing Halo all day. In fact, we should just considered chess and go games to be athletic events as well. They actually have to pick up the pieces and move them by hand.
If Halo players are athletes, then I don't see what's preventing an Olympic Halo event. We'll have Olympic Counterstrike, Enemy Territory, and UT 2004 events as well, so that all deserving athletes can complete!
Not those turn-based stategy gamers though: they aren't athletes. They spend too long thinking and don't twitch their fingers often enough to make them athletes.
Come on guys, with a name like 133to, he is obviously good. Where is the story?
What I want to know is how come a 21 year old guy pulling down almost six figures playing Halo 2 is still living with his parents.
As far as I know, Zyos is a Halo Champion, and not yet a Halo 2 champion. He's arguably the best 'professional' Halo 1 player, but I've seen nothing regarding his Halo 2 skills. Obviously, they'll transfer over for the most part, but there are differences (lack of the original pistol, for example) that do significantly impact how one plays the game. I know plenty of people that aren't nearly as good at Halo 2 as they were at Halo 1 for that reason alone, so I thought I'd make the distinction about which game truly made him a 'champion'.
Just because he's not fat doesn't mean he's not a nerd. The simple fact that he devotes so much time to playing a videogame indicates nerd to me. And why is that a bad thing?
"Apparently so, but suppose you throw a coin enough times. Suppose one day, it lands on its edge."
This guy is definitely a nerd.
Slicked back hair? Check.
Shirt tucked into sweatpants? Check.
Glasses? Check.
Living in mother's basement? Check.
No girlfriend? Check.
14-year-olds begging to play Halo with him? Check.
Makes a living playing video games? Checkmate.
Come on, just because a guy can play sports doesn't mean he's any less of a nerd.
I play CS:Source and I doubt video/computer games will ever become mainstream sports. People will get pissed when this guy gets beaten by a sqeeky voiced 13 year old!
It doesn't suprise me that he's a swimmer. I've noticed that many of the best gamers I've met have been athletes. Geeks too, but athletes all the same. One was a championship fencer, another ranked 6th nationally in the pole vault.
I think it's a combination of reflexes and a competative streak that will not allow them to lose.
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"Show this article to your parents/spouses next time they harass you about your habit." And don't forget to suck in your gut while yer at it.
He has no girlfriend
Halo is his focus
played video games since he was 4, sometimes for 12 hours a day
21-year-old who plays the game for hours behind a closed bedroom door
he'll leave his parents' house, where he still lives
Sorry folks, it's a duck. Let's not argue semantics here. Is he a nerd, geek or dweeb? Maybe a geeky dweeb?
I believe it was "Geek, Dweeb, or Spaz?"
Oh, and he's a royal geek.
Rob
Maybe he should show his teenage son this article and tell him to find a new hero. It's a sad day in America when a kid tells his dad that his hero is a video game champion and the dad accepts it. It's even sadder when the guy will pay anything for a Halo match.
I believe it was "Geek, Dweeb, or Spaz?"
Yeah, you're right.
I didn't know if anybody else would get the reference.
Schweeet.
Saying you're a Halo champion is like saying you're a Formula 3000 champion, or a minor leauge baseball champion. When you find the world Counterstrike champion give me a call.
The GeekNights podcast is going strong. Listen!
F1 drivers for one can loose ~4 litres of fluid per race, their heartbeat reaches 200bpm and they're subjected to up to 5G in some corners.
but any newbie with a keyboard and mouse would still kick his ass on a REAL FPS.