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The World of Competitive Gaming
cphilo wrote to mention an article in the AP about the world of competitive gaming. From the article: "Welcome to the basement lair of the 24-year-old Wendel, the man known and feared by aficionados of multiplayer games across the globe as 'Fatal1ty.' If you deign to think of video games as simply a childish pastime, consider this professional game player. He collects a six-figure salary, has his own brand of gaming merchandise and travels the world to compete - regarded by those in the know as one of the most gifted players of his kind."
Ok, theres a user here on slashdot called Fatal1ty
What are the chances now that this guy is the real one, or its just a troll using his name?
How much respect does a name get you, and how would an online site decide who was the real Fatal1ty?
(I only ask this after taco's recent ponderment about WoW banning his account)
liqbase
Remember the vast majority of people will do nothing but ruin there lives trying to make a professional career out of playing video games at this stage in time. Only a handful of reflex freaks are going to be living it up and there livelihood will depend on maintaining those skills. The vast vast vast majority of computer geeks are better off getting a programming job or something. You have more chance of making a career in the NBA, at least then a few thousand people make huge money as opposed to a handful making good money as is the case with this "career option".
I was a competitive quake3 player, in the clan stickmen, and used to play with fatal1ty before he won his first major tournament. I would travel to Kansas City and LAN with him for a few days, and what most people don't realize is that he is truly obsessive about playing. He would put in 15 hour days 7 days a week, exericise to keep in good physical shape, and study the game, and more importantly, it's players, incessantly. Any time I had an advantage over him in a 1v1 map, we would play it over and over and over again untill he had learned all of my patterns.
Few people appreciate how much passion he has for winning.
From someone who takes part in competitive gaming and is very knowledged on the subject, it is very hard to deny him of being the best gamer (in terms of FPSs). He has an unparalleled track record in past competitions, and has continued to prove his place at the top. The only rival that Fatal1ty currently has is "Vo0", a Norwegian player that has traded many matches with him. Fatal1ty is definately is above the rest.
"The type of people who bunny hop around maps using the rocket launcher to frag you as you spawn, collecting all the weapons before anyone else can get to them."
I'm failing to see how this is considered an "exploit" or "lamer tactic". It is a very viable strategy that, when attempted versus other players of high calibre, CAN be countered.
Keep in mind that the higher level players do not fall into the holes that average players would. Actual strategy is employed to avoid being spawn fragged, locked out of weapons, etc, whereas the average player would throw up his hands in frustration.
Your claim that pro-gaming is based on abusing bugs and shortcuts is ridiculously unqualified and shortsighted.
You have obviously not seen him play then...
I have, _several_ times at Quakecon and let me tell you it is unbelievable. He will play just hard enough to screw with his opponent... only whipping out the "tricks" when he needs them.
For Quakecon 2004 he was setup in the Abit booth and was playing people for spectacle... if you could even kill him _once_ you got a prize. If you could beat him then you got a whole new computer.... only a few people got a prize at all.
One of the memerable moments from watching him play was when he was taking on a beginner in Doom3... Fatal1ty ran into a room and knew the guy was coming behind him... he shot out all of the lights and crouched in a corner... while his opponent ran _right_ past him... the crowd HOWLED with laughter and his opponent swung around dumbfounded until he got a shotgun in the face.
Fatal1ty plays _so_ often that he is basically one with the game... he knows every nook and cranny of every map and knows exactly which weapon to use in every situtation... he also has an uncanny ability to predict the behaviour of his foe.
Go see him play sometime... then tell me he is some kind of "lamer".... I think you will be surprised.
Friedmud