Sebastian
Appearances
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
yeah so maybe there's some middle ground that can be found right where if they still wanted two leagues they have to be of a shorter periods of time how long how long was uh how long was there was the why is this name eluding me right now i'm gonna feel like an idiot when i figure it out um what was the name of the semi-pro we play that we play academy league how long did that season actually take do you do you know wasn't it like a was it like three weeks or a month or something like that
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yeah, we have a lake in town that freezes in the winter, obviously. So for like charity, they do like once a year, they do like an ice golf drive. They set up like nine holes on the ice and you go out on the lake and you play nine holes in like the frigid cold. Drink a beer, you know, hit some balls in the snow. Drink a beer. Yep, there we are. I stepped right into that one, didn't I?
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I didn't either, yeah. But that'd be an interesting thing to think about. Because I don't know, the way I think about it too is like, because you just said we have the perspective of the elite, like the top down. But even when like Pro League was multi-month long event, when it was like online and land, and even when we've seen like long-term season ideas tried to be executed, there's no...
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
there's no continuity it's like the same issue with like blast old format where like you kind of had a season of three events but since they were so spread out you can't have continuity so it feels like there's just never any point um to doing those long longer term formats
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I mean, the showdown or the group stage was in January. The showdown was in like April. And it'd be like, remember back to three months ago when they played like this? And it was just like, yeah, but there's no point in even having this conversation anymore.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I did bring a flask of rakia and had a couple nippers, you know? Yeah, I needed that rakia blanket. You were not cold. It was fun though, man. They like, they like drill like little, like four inch holes into the ice as like the, uh, as like kind of, I guess the, the hole that you, that you have to put into, but it's hard. It's intense. I'll tell you this golf is fucking stupid.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
It doesn't care if you're the number three seed or the number five seed. It just cares that you're one of the best five teams in the world.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I was going to say after the break, probably.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I've never, I've never played a sport that is more designed to make you feel like a complete idiot. Like I'm not obviously in the best shape of my life, but I consider myself a reasonably athletic person. Who's talented enough at most athletic endeavors. Golf is not one of them. Golf is not one of them. That will make you feel like a complete moron with no coordination.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I think they did that one-year deal or something, didn't they? Yeah, that one-year deal.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
And I do not understand why people enjoy it.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Don't label them bad guys. That's a terrible mentality to have.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I'm not saying they don't cause problems or cause issues, but labeling the bad guys as... They're the bad guys. They're not the bad guys.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Stop! You can't make that leap.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I agree. I think it's a bad decision. But you know what? It's going to bite them in the ass because they're going to go down this road and the first thing that's going to happen is the first team that misses out on a major because they didn't go to a couple PGL events and they lost the points and they didn't get the points from that tournament, teams are going to break off.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
They've chosen their route. I still think there's positive that these organizations provide to players and can provide further to the scene in the future. I think at the moment their business model is struggling. And yeah, this is, in my opinion, not a great decision on their part. But as soon as they're punished by it, it's going to change.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yeah, I'm not looking for actual fucking detailed analysis. I'm just saying as a general concept, fuck golf.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
They're getting too big too fast, and they don't actually have a good foundation.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I shouldn't say all of them as a general concept, but yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
You found a new bad guy. Keep going.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yeah, they're all bad guys.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
But the casters, the casters are good. The analysts are good. Yeah, we're fine.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
No, I just meant the beers. I just meant the beers. We don't have to get into the event. I just meant it looked like you had a good time.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
You can't get upset with them for leveraging the strength that they do have. Yeah, but here's the solution.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Tim likes golf. Rambo likes golf.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Option two is probably take less of a guaranteed salary and keep the higher share of prize money?
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Rambo's brother is a professional golfer.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yep, they got their own personalized golf bags, which is funny because neither of them, I don't think either of them golf. They just have the bags now.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I'll tell you something crazy, too. When we were in Katowice at some point, I talked to a team executive who was involved in the signing of players and the transferring. It was very similar to a GM role, let's say that. Um, and he actually told me that he thinks, cause we stumbled onto this kind of a conversation as well.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
And he told me, he actually thinks that most, the majority of Counter-Strike players are paid very accurately for their value. He doesn't necessarily think that there is actually like players or salaries are too high. Like they're overinflated. He thinks the problem, he actually says, if you look at Counter-Strike, the viewership's there, the numbers are there.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
We get, we get everything needed for these salaries to be justified. We just suck at, we suck at selling.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
And Sylvia's out there just saying, if I build it, they will come. If I provide the prize money, the teams are going to show up in the fucking cornfield and walk out onto my stage and play the goddamn game of Counter-Strike. And that's what he's praying for. And James Earl Jones is going to make goddamn sure that happens.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Don't you? Okay. I got you. And then the frequent flyer program is the one where, depending on where you place, you get that money into a pot and then yes. And then if you turn an event down, it all goes away.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
You got those sleep rooms now, you know? hell connor had to use one of those yesterday he had a nine hour layover there you go before he was flying home yeah and you know connor was doing something yeah i i've had to use those i've had to use those as well they're nice actually
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I know, I know. We've already been over this a million times. It's just the words you use and when it gets paid out. But ESLs, I think Janko's point was ESLs counts towards your VRS because it's contributed with prize money. The freaking flyer doesn't go there at all.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Okay. All right, boys. Can we talk about Counter-Strike now?
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yeah, well, it was 52 rounds in.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I know. Can we talk about the game of Counter-Strike? Excuse me.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
And we just did a really long bit on it. We just did about 40-some minutes on that. Can we do the game of Counter-Strike?
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I can tell. I like it. I'm with you. I think the PGL coming in, I think this kludge went so well that I think that's a big signal to the other TOs that they better step their shit up and figure out how to make all this work. Because if they're still struggling with their kind of shit, PGL just showed them if you can strip it down and go back to the basics, you're going to knock it out of the park.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
So, yeah, we'll see what happens from it. But I'm with you. I agree with everything you said. Except for maybe the format. Swiss best of three, still not my favorite. But it's a great format for figuring out who's the best team. I'll say that.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Loved it. It was great.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
That's also why the game delivers because teams actually try when there's the stakes, which is a crazy concept, I know. But when you have that actual issue of the third, fourth place decider, teams will put some focus into it rather than just show up and get it out of the way for an extra $2,000, whatever it used to be.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
sometimes can happen i mean i think i think there's going to be probably third fourth place matches that are going to be great and some of them would just be fine and some of them are going to be lackluster but i think there's going to be at some point a third fourth place decider that like pops up like right before the cutoff into into the the cutoff point for deciding the majors and there's going to be a lot riding on the line of the points in that matchup and i think
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
that's going to turn that third, fourth place match into almost like an unofficial grand. There's going to be so much riding on it.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Right, which is going to be, that might be actually the weirdest situation of all, but there is at some point going to be a third, fourth place decider that has a team's trip to the major on the line, and that's going to be fucking intense.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Janko, I'm just saying this movie could solve a lot of geopolitical tensions in your region. If everyone got on board with the message of this movie, we could solve it.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Have you tried it yet? That's the checkmate.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
No, I want to start with Astralis because leading into the playoffs was the day after they suffered that atrocious loss on line to Heroic and then showed up the next day and handled Mongols and then handled, well, that had a good battle against Maus, but won the third place decider against FaZe.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
So Astralis, I don't really know what to think of them at the moment because I still think they look disorganized, played a great game against FaZe in the third place decider, but still I'm not convinced. Have you seen the conspiracy theory?
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Everybody except Liquid.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Is it positive steps and signs that you could actually feel like you can consistently place them event to event? Or is this just like, this one event was good. Now let's see if you can replicate this.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
It's also kind of just funny in a way because that was the conversation around the old heroic team that he used to have, which is I don't get a lot of information passed on to me by the team around, which is why I'm so controlling. Not enough of them take initiative. So I imagine he's feeling a little bit like deja vu right now to a certain extent.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
We've always, we've always had teams that cycle through like the, the hatred scope, right? Like you just have to spend some time there, no matter who you are, no matter who you are. Australia has spent significantly more time there than, than most other organizations.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I think my thought, my thoughts reflecting on Falcons this weekend is like, I have, I have this one idea with Nico. Like, I feel like, I feel like there's no other, there's no other player I can think of that I feel like could have, that could turn the sense and the feeling of this franchise around the way his Nico has done in just the first two months here.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
like actually put this team together and made it feel like a complete team has been like a huge, a huge presence and rock in terms of inside the game. Um, in terms of, in terms of their approach to the game, I'm sure within, within how vocal he is, but like, I could never see simple stepping into this roster and feeling like it turned the complete fortunes around for the franchise.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I could never imagine device doing it. I could never, um, you know, I, I feel like Nico was like the perfect guy to come in and make this team actually feel like it can be competitive moving forward. Um, And then on top of that, my other thought is with Degster, because I love watching Degster play. He makes a lot of decisions that make me scratch my head and say, why did he do this?
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
But he had an incredibly impactful tournament. He's incredibly fun to watch. You're just going to live and die sometimes by his decision, like live and die by the Degster sword. He's going to make some bad decisions sometimes. But this event, he was fantastic.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
A little over a year, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I felt bad watching Ancient because I feel like I feel like we could go back and watch that VOD and I think Niko got killed like six or seven times through smokes or blind and middle like and he tweeted out that like Ancient he fucked up and had a bad game on Ancient I was like yeah you didn't really have any impact but you did get killed through the smoke like literally four or five times on your T side like what are you supposed to do I think they should swap Tessus and Niko on Ancient okay have Tessus be the mid player
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
To what, take away the sting of departure?
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
No, not really.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Cool. Yeah. Cool? Yeah. I mean, look, you got to give him... All right, next team. You got to give him credit. Like, I don't know how this whole roster change thing has actually worked out to get him a trophy here right out of the gate. I'm not going to declare it like some major fucking incredible we found the new IGL of the future, but...
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
At least for the moment, Spinks had a great event coming in. The extra firepower surely boosted them. I think it's probably a very loose style of calling where you're still operating on a bunch of the shit that Shuhei brought in and liked to call. And you're just being a little bit more freewheeling with it because you don't have that true experience IGL at the helm.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
So every player feels a lot of freedom and a lot of fun and a lot of creativity at the moment. And it combined to have a really, really cool run for them. but I still am not convinced this is going to last very long. It is one of those situations that I look at and I say, let's give it two months.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Let's give it two months and see where this whole IGL, let's see when Brolin gets tested, what is the response? When they fall flat, when they feel like they're running out of ideas, when everyone knows what they're doing, what's the next step of Mal's going to look like with the new IGL switching into this position?
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yeah, good for him.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
He's made a really big step for all the gunners out there in the world who've been feeling like they're alone and isolated probably by their own selection with their, with their monitors.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yeah. He's, he's chosen the path more traveled.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I would say so, for a lot of reasons, really.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I didn't see the tweet. What was it?
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I just heard about this. Is it still up there? Has he deleted it, or is he a real man?
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Of an account he was ostensibly following.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I think for, I like towards you a lot. I think towards you is an awesome opera.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
She's paying for someone else's IVF though now. She styled it out. She styled it out really well. I think because the controversy kicked off that she faked it, she turned it into like a charitable thing of now that I'm getting so much more media attention, I'm going to take all the money I've earned from this and pay for someone else's IVF journey. Sounds like something Jake Lucky would do. Jesus.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Nothing. I just looked at the Twitter account.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Well, I feel like that's going to be like a really critical time period too, is what I just mentioned. Because in my head, it's like, how long do you think like the Shuhei stuff is going to stick around with that team as an IGL? Like if you have to keep refreshing things, right? Like if I say like... Every time they fail, it'll come up. No, no, no. I don't mean as a conversation.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I mean within the team with what Shuhei has already brought to this team over the past year and a half, whatever it's been. Yeah, the structure and the ideas. Like how long until that fades away? Because in my head, it's like two to three months.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
And I think that's going to be about the point where we're starting to lead into the major and starting to assess where teams are and like final fixes going into Austin.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
And then it's going to be like, okay, if it looks like that has completely collapsed, like you're in a weird situation where your brand new in-game leader for the first time is going into a major and having to recreate all the ideas that you need to be able to run and execute. I don't know. I think it's just going to be a fun story to track. It could be really sketchy heading into the major.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yeah, of course not. I definitely wouldn't do that. Um, yeah, I don't, I don't know if it was like a premeditated thing cause fair play, but you know, I think she styled it out either way.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
It could be pretty clean.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
That's what I'm saying. That's why, like, as an IGL, I don't know how long every time you refresh and I think the game is sped up now. I know teams start feeling like they've been figured out, you know, every couple of months. So I just know he's going to have to put in some work there. But, hey, two nice things. Well, one nice thing. Janko, you asked this question in the last episode.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
You said, if Brolin has always wanted to be an IGL, why don't we have any interviews of him from back in the day? We found one. We got one. And did you see the Easter egg in the background? Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Arvore Semmler is in there.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I know that he was in... Actually, I don't actually know if he's in the background, but he was commentating and hosting that Swedish game show that this is from.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Honestly, it's so funny looking at this interview of 14-year-old Swedish Brolin. It's hilarious, actually.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Good for him, though.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
It's bold to step up to the plate like that. It's bold.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Did exertion get robbed of the MVP?
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Oh, not affiliated with Nico or HLTV. All right. My time to shine. Yeah. No, I actually, I do lean towards the side of Janko. I think the entire event put together from Niko is unreal. I think the stats he had and the impact he showed for Falcons was far and away. No doubt exertion was incredible during the grand finals. And if it's an isolated award for that series, he wins it.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
But across the whole event, I think Niko was the stud. I think Niko showed a lot of versatility and I think it was rightful. I think it's in the right place.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
That's actually the easiest thing to fix.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
No, I'm just laughing because this I feel like if anyone actually knows how to solve the choking problem, you could make a really fucking good business. Like, you know, it's just an it's a funny question, because I feel like we've asked it for so many teams over the years. And there's no great solution to it.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I think even the teams who figured it out really wouldn't have a clean answer for you, you know?
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I mean, reps obviously are going to be huge for it. Like, be putting yourself back in those situations as frequently and as often as possible. But there's no real, I guess, there's no, like, guide frame on that's going to take three events worth of reps or five events. You know, for the Danish guys who turned into Astralis, it took, like, two years. Exactly. You know?
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I mean, I think if you contextualize Mongols with where they've come from and what they've had to deal with and the recruiting out of that region, and I'd say the last year and a half, two years have been so incredible for them that I can't even talk about them in any negative fashion, even if they're not finding a way to beat some of the best teams and having some disappointing results.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I don't know. This just all feels like it's exactly as it's supposed to be for a team that's coming out of Mongolia, recruiting within Mongolia, very small counter-strike scene.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
far far away I think they've done incredible I'd like to see them break through obviously um but I I guess I would agree with you I go I think the slow game is something that they struggle with that's everything else seems to be about where it's supposed to be at everyone struggles with a slow game every now and again you know you got to keep breathing that's the key yeah it's and and it's all about the rhythm it feels like you should be holding your breath but keep breathing what about phase
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I know the feeling. I've got a similar kind of day ahead of me as well.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
And the game has changed so drastically in those five or six years as well. He probably has to relearn pretty much all those positions in terms of the utility sequences, the peaks that are coming, the angles that are being held.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Do you still think Frozen should be taking more of the sacrifices than Rain?
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yeah, but didn't you say you wanted Frozen to take on more of the anchor roles?
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
That actually scares me a little bit. This phase team could be so exciting.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yeah. Yeah. Just packing t-shirts. It's going to be easy. I got to go. I have a, I have a meeting with a lawyer after this for a living will and trust. That's the kind of day I'm going to be having.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
So you don't think they're going to drop out of playoffs. You just don't think you're going to see them lift trophies.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
and then there's fucking furia but it's just like this is what so maybe i know what you mean there's like a huge jockeying of position from five to ten essentially yeah nothing and nothing makes sense right well it's not nothing makes sense but it's like the jury's still out on all of it yeah you can't kind of the cool part you can't rely on the results because you don't know if they're going to be there again you don't know if they're going to be consistent you don't know if you can lean on them
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yeah. Setting up all the, all the bank accounts and properties and a trust for the, for the baby. So if we, if we die, you know, it's all set up to pass on to the baby.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
It's all coming around. It's all turning up Counter-Strike all of a sudden.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Someone in the comments is going to go, you didn't talk about these guys. But we did the group stage last week, and now we're doing the playoffs this week.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I thought that already was fixed. I thought that was one of the things that got fixed like late last year. How I thought we had, when we had this conversation, when we saw they initially got invited, it was like the conversation was the rules have already been changed. So this can't happen again.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Okay. All right, cool. Well, let's find out. It'll be fun.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
The first match was like the wake-up call to the rest of the teams. I don't think any team even came in close to underestimating them or taking that too casually after that. That was maybe the worst thing that could have happened was them having a close game against Na'Vi.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
In a way, like obviously not the absolute worst, but I think in terms of every team after that, no one is going to slack off in that matchup after you put that kind of a result in, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I don't think there's a point in actually talking about whether it was a good or a bad decision for them to accept the invites, because I think that's the only decision they could have made, was to say yes. I don't think there's any universe in which they could have said no to those invites. I think saying no would have been worse than saying yes.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I mean, I don't really, I'm not as knowledgeable of Australian state laws. I live in Malta, so I don't know. Yeah, well, that'd be the, but the stuff you own is that you own something in Australia.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
So I'm assuming that would default to the closest relative.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
And not rewarding closed circuits.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yeah, it would have to go through the courts and everything like that for them to prove they're the closest relative, but they would eventually get it.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yeah. Fuck it. Let's just get in all the craziness. Let's get it out of the way early. I say we just do it.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yeah. Let's get it all out in one year.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I don't know. I think the whole – I wish the conversation around like women's teams is like – I don't know. I don't think we're ever going to see a women's team compete at tier one. I don't think it's ever going to happen.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I think the next progression is a women's player gets picked out of the women's league and is on a tier two team and does some cool things, maybe qualifies to an event, maybe goes deep, and then – Another woman does the same thing. And I think we're going to get individual women being placed in tier two teams.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
And then hopefully we find one that's good enough and that a tier one team wants to take a chance on and actually steps up to the plate and delivers on it. And that's how we're going to start getting women more involved in tier one Counter-Strike is one by one. It's not going to be a team.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Like the fact that... I don't see a problem with it in any way.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
We can, if you want to.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Just a little bit of light Tuesday afternoon reading, you know, four pages of a Google document. It's beautiful.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yeah, we can.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Season 17.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
A little bit more laid back, a little bit more fun, a little bit more friendly.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I guess with the Valve ranking stuff, it's kind of like, can we just be done with long multi-month tournaments now? Can that just be the thing?
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
A lot of those reasons do not apply.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
That was a nice way, yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yeah, because they changed it now to fix that Gamer Legion loophole where you don't get your points until you're eliminated. So actually going further in the event hurt them in terms of VRS points.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Like Hugo B. Byron once said, all Counter-Strike, all day, all the time, all Counter-Strike. I don't even know where he went from there.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I feel like that should just be everywhere, actually.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Hold it in! Don't do it, Chad.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
You need a new therapist for fuck's sake.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
The self-seated, the team self-seating.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
but now it kind of ruins the i know this one is in tier two the ecl which is like a multi-month thing but we've had those before in tier one which have pretty much gone away but i think it's time in tier two as well just to get done with those long multi-month leagues they don't make any sense uh yeah i think like let's if we were just to think what would be a positive of a lengthier league i'm trying to think if anything kind of comes to mind um if
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
So what do you know? Do you know when they, they gathered all these from the teams for this week ago?
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
It doesn't seem to be any kind of crazy, nothing like jumping off the page in terms of a massive difference, I guess.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yeah. Oh yeah. That would have been Katowice. Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
18 playoff bracket. Oh, it's so beautiful. Well, look, baby steps. We take the wins where we can. We got to look at the positives.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
NRG is going to be my sleeper pick at Pro League.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
To win one of the three series they'll play.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I'm taking a big risk. I'm going out on a limb here, Janko.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I'm going out on a limb. No, I actually, I don't know. It's interesting. And I think they just have, I just, I'll always root for Nitro. I think it's part of it. I actually, I don't know how good they'll do, but Bro is a really interesting pickup for this team. Just to be honest with you, I'm just really curious to see how that whole situation works.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Yeah, yeah. They've been doing good within the North American region. But what's interesting about it the most is that they dropped Breeze to bring him in, which is like, you know, obviously for the past few years hasn't been doing anything. But at one point, like a massive heavy hitter within the North American scene, and they've gone for more of like a role player out of Denmark. I don't know.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
It just seems like a team that's actually constituted making decisions that's targeted for some attribute versus just picking up big names, which is really rare, I feel like, in the North American scene. So I'm curious about what damage this team can do on an international scale.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
No, I wasn't shocked by it either. I was more shocked by the selection of Bro, picking up a Danish guy for an All-American roster.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Booyah. There it is. There it is. We should just end on that. It's a high note.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
No, I just wanted to do that just in case, but we can't end it there.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I actually don't have a positive for why you would want to have a tournament that lasts from January to March or whatever it is, you know, over two to three months. Like, I don't actually see a positive to it.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
uh but yeah that's that's it that's that's everything so if you'd like any of those 10 people to join us on the podcast feel free to send in recommendations or who you'd like to there's no guarantee that we'll consider it in any way when we choose the game who do you think could be the least likely to join if we did it in any given order as the talent i reckon least likely to join would be henry yeah probably and after that as a guest yeah
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
No, she'd be huge.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
No, she'd make time for us.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
See, I think it's like Henry and then the other nine are all tied for I think they'd probably 90% say yes.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I know, for fuck's sake.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I know. Let's just, let's just say this. It'll be like, it'll be like one of those, like, you know, if we're never, if we're not, if we're not together or if we're not married by like the age of 40, we just do it with you. Let's just say if we don't have a sponsor within like the next four months. By no, no, no. I'm thinking sooner than that, Chad. I'm thinking, I'm thinking four months.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
We take all the dodgy shit.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
I'm just saying, you know.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
And when people bitch, we can be like, guys, we gave it a good shot for five years.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Just let us have the shady gambling money. Let's go. Yeah, guys.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
This is the one place.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Fuck you and your principles.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
We are in a nice hotel.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
So they don't count the points of ECL until ECL completely ends, but it ends after the cutoff points. So you don't get the points for ECL by the time the cutoff point comes around, which I mean, it's like, maybe you can reorganize it. Maybe you can reorganize it in the future. So it ends before the cutoff point. But like, again, I don't see the point of having a multi-month long league.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
Like I would almost be better to have like two or three week long events or just have it, have it set up differently.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
So some benefit in terms of being able to move around a schedule around to the things you have going on outside Counter-Strike.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
See, that's, that's a, no, that's a fair point. I, but I also feel like if you don't run a league across three months, if your, if your event is just a week long and you have multiple week long events, if ECL turned into like a four day long format or something, I don't, I don't know exactly everything that would go into it, but
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
you'd have less conflicts because you'd have shorter actual just bursts of Counter-Strike instead of drawn out.
Talking Counter
Episode 126: PGL Cluj Playoff results, PGL's Field of Dreams and the CS ecosystem
This is let's crowdsource the intervention.
The Bulwark Podcast
BONUS EPISODE from Tim's New "FYPod"
Explain to me how you guys can not drink, not have sex and not have savings. What are you spending your money on? Eggs.
The Bulwark Podcast
BONUS EPISODE from Tim's New "FYPod"
Is that what is doom spending? I didn't I saw this in the article and they didn't give a definition. It's just the world is ending and now we're going to go take a cruise because of it.
The Bulwark Podcast
BONUS EPISODE from Tim's New "FYPod"
All right. So a new poll survey from Gallup says that more than one in five Gen Z adults, those born between 1997 and 2006, for those who aren't aware, identify as LGBTQ+. 31% of Gen Z women versus 12% of Gen Z men. So gay agenda thriving, despite Josh, I believe, drinking from a Chick-fil-A cup right now.
The Bulwark Podcast
BONUS EPISODE from Tim's New "FYPod"
1 in 5 Gen Z adults. 1 in 5? 31 Gen Z women versus 12% of Gen Z men. So it's not the young white dudes of this podcast that are ruining it. It's the woke lesbian women that are ruining it all.
The Bulwark Podcast
BONUS EPISODE from Tim's New "FYPod"
I don't understand. An interview that's now going to be very different now that Tim has had that encounter on the street.