Everyone has been wondering about my blogs from WSVG New York. I was originally going to write them but after speaking with Alex he said they were not that important. I feel however I must write them. It isn’t only something for me to read back later on and remember what exactly happened but I think for most readers who are not insiders they are the ONLY outlet to finding out what the SK.swe guys are doing behind the scenes, plus BDS said to post them hehe.
Arrival day for me (December 8th)
I don’t even know where to start when I talk about my first day flying into New York. I woke up at 4:30am, got dressed and headed to the airport. I got there at 5am, did the usual stuff (going through security, etc). Caught my flight which left right on time at 6am. I had a connecting flight in Phoenix, Arizona and that is where the fun had begun.
When I first got to the Phoenix airport, I went to the gate and found out the hotel I have booked in Newark is two hours away from where I was flying into which was JFK airport in NY. It would cost me 100.00 dollar to get a shuttle to the hotel but the lady at the counter was nice enough to change my flight to fly into Newark. Once that was changed I had about 30 minutes to get to the gate before they boarded. Phoenix is such a huge airport I had to rush, it was a good 20 minutes walk to the other side of the terminal.
When I got there, I found out the flight was delayed for an hour so I went to get some food. While eating an announcement came up and I found out the flight was again delayed for four more hours. Instead of flying out at 10:05am, the flight was to fly out at 2:40pm due to bad weather. What else is there to do except to go online right? So I went online for a few hours just to kill time. Everyone was upset, everyone was pissed off, there were massive amounts of people just laying around. After waiting for about 2 hours an announcement was made saying the flight will now leave at 1:45pm instead of 2:30pm. So I waited some more, then after 20 minutes another announcement was made. This time it was a gate change. Everyone had to walk another 20 minutes to a different gate. Once we got there it was insane. People on the later flight to Newark got cancelled so we could take their plane LOL. People were pissed believe me!
I also ran into Team3D’s Warcraft player ShortRound. I tried asking him to do an interview but he refused, he said he isn’t in the mood. Totally understandable since we were catching the same flight and he waited just as long as I did. However, off camera he told me he has been busy with school a lot and this might be his last biggest event. I asked if he was nervous about playing against the other Warcraft guys and he said he really isn’t sure who will be there, he hasn’t been too focused on Warcraft.
We finally boarded the plane. It didn’t land in Newark until 8:05pm. Once it landed, I went to baggage claim, waited for my luggage for 30 minutes or so and then I went off to call a shuttle to pick me up. I was to stay one night at the same hotel Neikon is at. After calling a shuttle the person at the hotel said it would be about 20 minutes. Well it wasn’t, it ended up being a 2 hour wait. When I finally go to the hotel I was in a fit of rage already. The receptionist not giving me a room because they didn’t get a confirmation from Alex made it even WORSE for me. I totally flipped out and yelled and screamed at the receptionist. It didn’t make sense that even with a faxed over confirmation they needed Alex to call and okay the room to be charged. I was so pissed off you wouldn’t believe. They refused to give me a room.
I tried calling Neikon’s room but he didn’t pick up the phone. I had to call Jonas and he left a message on IRC for Neikon. It was then that he came down stairs. I don’t want to get into details because it will be a very long blog but in the end, Neikon loaned me the money to pay for the room (crappy hotel, crappy service for $101.00). The people at the hotel said they would charge me regardless so either way I would have to pay up.
So finally I got the room. I was to meet up with SK.swe at the airport tomorrow so I can go with Jonas and stay with him.
First day at WSVG, New York
Woke up in the morning yesterday, packed all my stuff and was still pissed from what had happened the day before. Went down to return the key and totally blew up at the lady just to let up some steam. Saw what they had for breakfast and decided to pass up on it. I swear, this must be the GHETTO-EST hotel I have ever stayed at.
Neikon and I decided to go to the airport to wait for the guys. Took a taxi there, waited for the guys to arrive. While waiting I decided to buy a cinnamon bun and some hot chocolate. Well just as luck would have it I spilled the drink on my luggage and on my only SK shirt. I had to go to the bathroom to get it cleaned up and there was a big wet mark on the shirt. I had Neikon take a picture of it but well, it came out blurry so couldn’t post it.
After waiting for SK.swe guys for about 2 hours they finally arrived. None of the guys knew where the hotel was so we had to get online to find out the address. Once that was done, we went and took a shuttle to the hotel.
The guys were to play a match against Attax at 5pm. After a very long day of traveling, all wanted to shower so they all took a shower and since we had 3 hours everyone was hungry as well. The guys didn’t go anywhere far, they in the lobby and once they were done we took a taxi to the event. Even with a big fan we were squished in the back (you can see this in the pics).
By the time they got to the event most of the matches were played. Although they were afraid they were going to be late they weren’t. Apparently when we arrived, Complexity was still playing Hacker. The match was stopped because Hacker was said to have used a Flash Bug. However, that got sorted and the match continued. Complexity lost to Hacker and it was time for Sk.swe to play Attax.
Before the match got started the guys huddled like they always do but this time Alex took them somewhere else I wasn’t allowed to go. I am not sure what was said or if it had anything to do with the way they played but I can feel the pressure on the Sk.swe guys.
I am sure there are people who thought they should have won the match, me included as well but they didn’t. They did really good as T, I saw a lot of team work, a lot of shouting and screaming (which you will see later on videos) but other than that as CT they just couldn’t keep it up. They lost to Attax and is now knocked down to the lower bracket.
If you are wondering if they are disappointed, yes they are. Not only that but to some SK.swe members it is even embarrassing to lose this match. There isn’t anything anyone can say about the performance of SK.swe but something isn’t right. Something needs to be changed and I am not a psychic or anything but I am sure we will see this soon enough if the performance continues at this rate.
After the match, the guys went to this area where they had set up for the gamers. All of the foods were gone except salad so some of the guys ate. They were talking for awhile about the match they had just played. If only I understood Swedish but I don’t. Alex was there as well. After a long while of sitting at the table and talking we were notified the shuttle has arrived to take the players to the hotel.
It was FREEZING outside and the walk seemed like forever but we finally got on the bus. Back at the hotel, the guys were very tired but they had a meeting with Alex in Snajdan and Fiskers room. I don’t know how Alex can stand it and maybe it is because he is a guy but the never ending farts from Fisker and Snajdan while I was ordering food was a bit too much for me! I am glad at the end of the night Alex ended his speech to the team with “.. and don’t far in front of Nai”.
When Jonas and I got to the hotel room, Toxic was already asleep. He is going up against Socrates today but I am confident he will win the match. I also asked Toxic this morning if he was nervous. He said he isn't nervous when it come to playing (although he heard Socrates has been practicing alot) but he is nervous only because he doesn't know what map he will choose. I told him that he will do fine regardless what his decision is. He said he had a good sleep, even in the morning when I was shuffling about so I am glad he is all set and ready to go.
For some of you who haven’t seen the pictures, it is rather hard to get good pictures of the different teams playing. The only reason why I have pictures of Complexity is because they were sitting on the side where the press has been assigned to sit. I was told since I am press I was not able to go to the side where the audience sits.
It is being held at a real live television studio as well so the floor is very small. You get two CS teams facing each other and literally a few feet away you have the Warcraft and the Quake players facing each other as well. Once the matches are done, the teams usually disappear. I will try to take a lot of pictures though.
For the finals, I will not be able to cover the event at all. It will be held at a closed studio so no press will be able to enter in there.
Today Sk.swe will be playing at 4pm. All the guys are sleeping right now but I will be taking a lot of pictures today of them just hanging around. Considering there isn’t much to cover at the event, I have make do with what I have.
BTW, Toxic snores and Jonas talks in his sleep. I am going to try and get a video of both of them while they are sleeping using my night vision cam tonight.
Once again I have videos but they will come much much later. Among the videos I have taken there is one of a pro gamer digging his nose for cold while he is playing a match. :p