UKTerrorist

All The Rage?

Posted by Myers at 19:22, 29/7/2005

Alltherage eh?

I have to admit, when I first heard about Alltherage, I was quite happy. Surprised, are the actions of ACON 5 UK quals forgotten/forgiven so quickly? but happy. For the first time in almost a year we have a team that might be able to compete at an international level, and more importantly, a team that 4K will take seriously. Sure I like(d) the other decent UK sides around, CSGN and Landed were both nice guys and talented CS players. Yet as proven by ACON 5, and the solid pastings handed to them by 4K at every encounter, they are unlikely to ever compete at the international level.

One of the biggest explanations for the declining interest in UK CS recently is the realisation of this. With the exception of the two players, in what now must be referred to as an international team, there’s no-one to support. We deny it, but at international events we want players to follow and support. These players represent the finest of us, if we cannot get a team of 5 UK players at a top level that reflects poorly upon the whole community. It’s as much about pride as it is about interest. Even at UK events, we want to see the top players playing at their best, shouting tactics at each other, not silently slouched in their seats, drinking cans of coke during rounds and free-for-all’ing their tactics.

UK Counter-Strike is not blessed with a lack of sponsors, in fact, in comparison with the majority of countries we have been somewhat blessed with willing sponsors. Neither are we cursed with a lack of LAN competitions for players to prove themselves. In the past 3 years we have held as many ESWC/WCG/CPL qualifiers as Germany, Sweden and France. Throw in the Bloodlines’, the EOGC’s, the BYOC’s and the assortment of lesser internet centre events and we are in quite a healthy LAN climate.

Yet sponsorship developed far quicker than the players’ abilities. Many top players lost the enthusiasm to play and were replaced by less experienced/talented players who did not make up the skill ground fast enough. It is the same situation for clans too. I hope neither Landed nor LastChance deny that they went from top 5 or top 10 UK sides to top 3, not because they conquered those above them, but as a result of those teams folding. Such is the extent to which the scene self-imploded within the past two years that several top-sponsored multi-gaming organisations are actually founded/managed by UK staff, fnatic, begrip and Dignitas being three examples.

When Stu Harriman departed 4K to later be replaced by elemeNt it was a double-edged sword really. Yes one of 4K’s longest serving UK members had left the team and was replaced by another Scandinavian, which is obviously a bad thing for the community. Yet the flip side reveals that 4K has now reached the status where they can attract players with the status of elemeNt to their team. Debate that however you like.

So what can we expect of Alltherage? First and foremost is sponsorship. The TAG/4K contingent of their line-up are used to not paying for travel, accommodation nor entrance at LAN events. Primarily on their agenda will be gaining a budget that can, at the very least, send them to all upcoming UK qualifiers for larger events. Although at present the forthcoming UK CS events in 05 are limited to: CPL UK early September and WCG UK a month or so later.

Once sponsorship is in the bag, they need to practice, and practice hard. Not just to avoid a repeat of the c4u/TAG i19 disaster, but to really know that beating 4K is within their grasp. Three of their players have beaten 4K in the past; if this line-up can find the motivation and avoid the distractions plighting other teams then there’s no reason why another 4K upset isn’t on the cards. This is most crucial to the success of the team, not to settle for what they have right now, the recognition as the 2nd best side in the UK. They must push, and push harder for first. Settling leads to a lack of motivation which then leads to the general deconstruction of the team.

Another crucial factor to the success of the team is to stick to their line-up they have. Avoid the temptation to recruit from overseas. Obviously this is a benefit from a UK perspective, yet events that handicap 4K, such as WCG are going to be crucial for their media presence. The media, especially print-media, are far more familiar with WCG than with CPL/ESWC etc, so it is important they avoid the temptation to bring in Mangiacapra and Akujii to replace two of their members for the event. With WEG preparing for its 3rd season that might not be an option anyway. It is crucial to the team that they brand Alltherage victories over every upcoming LAN event. From the minor GGL’s to the £1000 Gameon’s, they need the experience of competing at LANs together and the confidence of winning them.

When reflecting upon the history of UK CS, I consider this to be a 5th generation. The first generation being the days of KMA, UKLA, 4K, -CSA- and SLDR battling it out for the UK’s top spot. The second generation being the fierce Nocturne and 4K rivalry with CSC7/Ui lurking in their shadows. The 3rd generation to be the era of infinity-eSports –vs- ClanONE with OMG! behind them. And the 4th generation being 2004 with 4K/TAG/i-eS/c4u.

Generally these generations span the cycle of a year and roughly increment with the year. By comparison, 2005 was a bore. By this time in 2004 we had seen a great TAG –vs- Infinity-eSports battle at UKT 6, a 4K upset by WOLF at ESWC UK and some great UK games between 4K/NoA and TAG/SK.swe. So if 2005 is going to give us anything other than controversy to remember, it will be because of Alltherage, and what adrenaline they can inject into what can otherwise be best defined as the UK’s hibernation year.