Interview - Spammah

[Strykar 0]

This week, we bring you the first in a series of interviews of people in the Asian PC gaming scene.

 

 

Our man in the chair today, is better known as spammah, or Anas (yes he knows the wordplay that brings about). He runs www.gaming420.com and is often seen playing on the Asian StarHub servers.

We ask the man some pressing questions, and, he, in his unequivocal style gives us some surprisingly frank answers.

 

He let's us know his take on the current gaming scenario, his opinions on some of the older players and people in the scene.

But perhaps, most importantly, he let's us know how he got into competitive gaming. A must read for younger players wanting to compete.

 

WARNING: Some strong language.

 

 

 

Hi spammah, could you give us a small introduction on yourself?

Hi. My name is Anas. I'm from the United Arab Emirates. I play video games on a semi-competitive level and I love trolling in public servers in any game.

 

 

When did you start gaming, and when did you go competitive, semi-ish like you say?

The earliest memory I have is playing Wolf 3D or Doom or Pornpipe back in '95 or '96. I can't remember exactly since I was such a little shit back then. The first game I remember playing seriously was Quake 1.

But it was not till the release of Quake 3 in '99 which really brought out the competitive nature in me to play professionally and drove me onward.

Although I had success from very early on, there was little reward which spawned a whole new cynical side to the competitive aspect of things in my region.

 

 

Tell us a little bit on your current involvements in competitive game play?

I currently play Counter-Strike 1.6 competitively in my country with a top team. I'm also involved with www.Gaming420.com which focuses on grassroots competitive gaming news and events in Asia and the Middle East.

And an occasional scrim or two in Team Fortress 2 with team Nefarious.

 

 

You are what some would call an 'old-timer', how far would you say the "scene" has come against 4-8 years ago?

Mixed bag of feelings. I miss the old days where people were willing to try out new things, expand their range of knowledge and experience on stuff, actually put in the effort to improve their skills and not emoquit after getting raped in one match etc and continue to play the game they like or love for the sake of their passion.

 

Back then, we would play our favorite game regardless of bad internet connections, casual or competitive atmosphere, crappy PCs, etc. As technology and video games have progressed, the learning curve and the exercise of actually using and working YOUR F***ING BRAIN has decreased dramatically.

 

Things these days are handed to you in a silver platter. Back then, you had to put up and push forward with limited choices and environments.

In the competitive setting today, if someone gets r**ed then he uninstalls the game and proceeds to play FarmVille on Facebook.

To answer your question, the scene improves, player population rises, hits a peak and then goes through a steep decline until the only active players left on the scene are the hardcore ones and continues till the game fades away into obscurity and becomes a legend etc.

So how far as the scene come along since the past 4-6 years? Not far.

 

 

What do you feel could be done to help improve the situation for competitive events/players/sponsors in the Asia-Pac region?

To improve the competitive scene in Asia, people have to start giving a f**k. It's as simple as that. What I currently see in the Asian gaming scene in general is a whole lot of skepticism, cynicism, uncaring and faggotry. In a way, it boggles my mind as I don't know why I see the SAME uncaring players spout their cynical nonsense and STILL be playing competitively everyday.

Either put up or shut up (and continue playing). I've heard that the scene's been tainted with a lot of biz-types who've tried to make a quick buck and scam the competitive community etc. But that is still no excuse for the community to just keep silent and take it in the b**th*le like a subservient b**ch.

 

You need things to change? Participate actively in community events, get yourself involved in healthy mature discussions, do whatever you can to ensure good 'clean' game play. Stop regressing into your "ah whatever laaaaaaaaah" shell at the first signs of troll from other idiots.

Take a few lessons from the pubbers community and mentality and try to apply it in your competitive environment and vice versa.

Remember that whatever benefits you reap in your competitive setting will ultimately influence and improve the 'pub' experience too.

Things like sponsors and other 'free' crap are the last thing that you should want to think about. Make the sponsors approach YOU and not the other way around. Take charge and get a few fellows to help share the burden. And the best part about it is, if you have a group of individuals who 'care', you will not have to dedicate as much time or effort as you think you might have to.

 

 

What avenues do Asian players have to start getting competitive experience besides events like the Asia Fortress League (AFL) cup?

Play Division 2 of AFL. That's where new teams and players can take their time and learn the tricks of the trade.

Or join the pug servers to get a feel of mixed matches.

 

 

How is this different from the avenues budding European and North American players have?

Those communities use IRC and TF2 (gaming) lobby. Where as we use a steam group announcement and captain teams in server.

 

 

So pugs and nothing else?

There have to be leaders, from these new teams, and groups of players, to captain, lead and form new teams. Just play and stick around.

 

 

How many hours should an average player spend practicing if they wanna play competitively?

That's a tough one. Depends on a lot of factors such as the community skill level, population, players free time, motivation factor etc. It's very region dependent too. I'd safely say that you'd have to put in a lot more hours of practice in a larger/diverse competitive player base.

 

Thanks a lot for your time. Is there anything else you'd like to say to readers and the Asian community?

I'd just like to say, WAH LAO! Peace, b***hes.

 

spammah's game stats can be viewed at http://www.esreality.com/?a=users&user_id=14827

[Summer 180]

Nice interview Pugs are still pretty hostile to newcomers though, and there was a bad incident a few days back when the whole red team rq-ed because blu had a player connecting... And the thing is that there were a few new players in the server and i think that made a pretty bad impression on them.

 

And yes most people complain about everything but yet still do nothing, and expect to be served by some higher being :l

[HaXxorIzed 17]

This is good.

[Madman 185]

Nice interview Pugs are still pretty hostile to newcomers though' date=' and there was a bad incident a few days back when the whole red team rq-ed because blu had a player connecting... And the thing is that there were a few new players in the server and i think that made a pretty bad impression on them.

 

And yes most people complain about everything but yet still do nothing, and expect to be served by some higher being :l

[/quote']

 

Or you could've quit wasting time and picked a sub from the many waiting in spec. Especially when its been a long time.

[natapon 124]

that pug was alot faster than the one before it.

[deliaren 3]

Vote anas for chariman of the Singapore Tourism Board

[yuko 46]

Nice interview Pugs are still pretty hostile to newcomers though' date=' and there was a bad incident a few days back when the whole red team rq-ed because blu had a player connecting... And the thing is that there were a few new players in the server and i think that made a pretty bad impression on them.

 

And yes most people complain about everything but yet still do nothing, and expect to be served by some higher being [u']:l[/u]

 

 

[natapon 124]

spammahs so hairy now

 

 

spammah in mumble

[kushhh 22]

And yes most people complain about everything but yet still do nothing' date=' and expect to be served by some higher being :l

[/quote']

 

Like people who +1 and never make the list...

 

hmm i wonder who...

 

hi ben

 

 

[deliaren 3]

The divine comedy

[Haruhi 0]

divine intervention

[MSR 0]

What a baddie.. total hob0 and n00b at everything... Thank god you're not Asian you f00l. Stay where you are and own n0oBs @ cs. Though, if anyone needs advice on how to get milk out of camels, I'd definitely recommend Spammah

[vit4miN 0]

cawwl :3

[natapon 124]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vNRcsNqNi8

 

Tell me that's not spammah riding that camel

[memph1s 0]

lol hullo spim <3

[sam 1]

OMG BADBEN25 ON ASIAFORTRESS lol hi there!

(me = prcyn )