So, 2017 is to end on a good note for me personally.
Seeing my own hometown successfully conduct a regional Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) tournament made me really happy on a very personal note. Besides, the people who put the hard work into it were my schoolmates – and I do hope that they get recognized by our alma mater for that feat in the future.
Of course, there are other reasons, which include knowing new friends, sharing moments with the people you trust, etc.
I am not going to talk about Dota 2, because I am not in a position to talk about the happenings there, so I’ll just stick to my two hangouts: CS:GO and CrossFire.
CrossFire Philippines
Thank you for the opportunities, the help and the support that you gave me early in the year – this greeting goes to the Philippine CrossFire community who unceasingly supported CrossFire content, regardless of the people who made it.
Personally, my best articles in esports, apart from the “local scene scoops” are actually CrossFire articles. I really wonder why, but I am thankful to God for that.
On another note, the community is going strong despite its myriad of problems and the pro scene has shined abroad, with a peppering of high placements in international CrossFire tournaments.
HOLY SHIT. I am pretty sure that all the CrossFire pro players in the Philippines should be smiling right now.
Once again, thank you. And see you next year!
GGNetwork’s Nominees for Event of the Year
This one got me triggered so hard, not because a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive event has not been included (but the biggest one had 50+ teams from all over the country and P210,000 prize pool, plus having the honor of being the only PPP-operated tournament in the country back in APRIL 2017 — CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG – and snubbed), but because the list clearly showed lack of research – yes, people blame us and others for “incomplete research” or “misplaced notes,” so I think it’s fair game.
CrossFire Stars 2017 National Finals had the hallmarks of a great event:
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- Prominent venue: High Grounds
- Substantial prize pool: If $20,000 is NOT a BIG PRIZE POOL, then I don’t know what else is.
- Full house? Hell yes! High Grounds was jam-packed as fuck!
- Prominent teams: 16 of the country’s best teams participated
- Story factor: BIG STORIES. Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon. Luzon-Mindanao finals.
- Endgame: Pacific.Macta got 3rd once again in the “CS:GO Major” of CrossFire, showing their best performance since 2014.
- Decent talent/casters.
- Online viewers were in the hundreds.
- Not to forget, CrossFire’s Philippine servers are full nearly every single day.
- Then, snub it? Really? WOW.
So, a big no-no. Frankly, I was shocked at the way it transpired…and upon knowing the fine print of it, I felt pity for the people who needed to write the blurbs for that particular “best of 2017” series.
I’d suggest that they get a proper research team next time, so that it will be fair and square.
It’s forgiven, but never forgotten.
Philippine CS and the media?
Drama, sudden roster changes and separation of community due to reasons that would make your head spin. That’s one side of it — and an undeniable one at that.
Then, some people would blame WASD and its haplessly maligned editors for “not knowing the scene well” – wait, is the scene just all about the players?
Has anyone forgotten that just as media organizations are supposed to deliver timely and accurate news, players are supposed also to be committed to bring the best results that they can, regardless of the issues that they face?
Besides, isn’t knowing the map pool, the player’s tendencies, the finer details of the game, the business deals, the SCOOP — bigger parts of an CS:GO esports journalist/writer’s craft?
I faced a troll on Twitter (go to @dreamslayer28) and the convo stays there, a reminder of his crab brain – for the first time in my supposed “esports writing” career.
But then, this comes with the package.
So “haters” and “doubters,” come and get it. Hahaha.
Besides, I’m still here happily smiling. But let’s be frank, moments like this are very demoralizing.
BEST POINTS for PH CS
Regardless of that seedy and awful side that I’d rather forget – 2017 has not been kind to me in that aspect, I’m happy that there are results, albeit small ones, from teams such as Mineski, Imperium and Wolves.
In addition, more events are being held in the country. Take this one for instance:
ASUS NUMBAH WAN! Isn’t it amazing?
I’m also happy that more stakeholders across the country have expressed and done steps to support Philippine CS in their own way…and doing fine jobs at that.
Let’s use Metronoia as an instance, because that’s the example that I know really well.
According to the numbers, almost 6,000 engagements (likes, comments, shares) were recorded in Facebook and 226 people watched at the peak of the livestream, during the last map between the home team and EZPZ. Many professional players also watched and interacted with the audience during the tournament.
Apart from the personal touch of the tournament, no one expected it to reach that much.
So, I’m personally happy and amazed with the state of Philippine CS. That’s me.
(NOTE: Competition based on fair play is always a good thing. Competition based on malice is never a good thing. Huehuehue.)
Personal Notes
I don’t write esports stuff as regularly as I used to, because I also need to do my “literary” (read: creative writing) and “day job” stuff (read: teaching), in addition to the behind-the-scenes stuff that would be better to stay as such.
But I still try to keep a modicum of quality, because I believe that people, regardless of affiliation, would appreciate good work. As an old professor of mine remarked, friends and foes alike respect three things, regardless of culture and age: talent, hard work and quality results.
Overall, I am happy about what has happened to my “esports stuff” this 2017 despite the HUGE AMOUNT of BITTER MOMENTS that I needed to face.
Oh, by the way, beach vacations are not bad at all. Hahaha!
Looking forward to a stronger, better and richer experience in 2017!
This review does not represent the opinions of any of the organizations that I am affiliated to.
