The Flycast - Formals Future in Esports | The Flycast Ep. 123

Episode Date: October 14, 2024

OpTic Gaming Merch: https://shop.opticgaming.com/ Check out the OpTic SCUF collection and use code “OpTic” for a discount: https://scuf.co/OpTic Check out the OpTic Podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optic-podcast/id1542810047 https://open.spotify.com/show/25iPKftrl0akOZKqS0wHQG 00:00 Thoughts on Worlds 13:50 Score Reset 26:00 Eco / What makes a good player 35:00 Plan for the future 40:45 Rostermania Formals Future in Esports | The Flycast Ep. 123

I thought this might be a good way to start off the pod. Hoping that peace comes to my curse mine. Me? Just thinking I relate and shit. Hope you cope with the rough times and shit. I wanted to play that in the beginning of this pod for two reasons. I don't even, it just, I don't even know if you can, yeah. What are the two reasons?

One of the reasons is are you the Jay Cole of Esports? You've somehow You've somehow And I don't want this to turn right into the halo right away

But you somehow And you can tell me your opinion Have you gotten better Fucking 13 years later? We were listening to this song Before the podcast And I was like

Bro, J. Cole might think try to think of any other artists who's gotten better 13 years fucking later so I was like bro you're not just listening you went today I'm just like it's form of their own shit Jake Cole of e-sports would you agree who's Drake? Who's Drake? Oh we haven't thought of it that part that's what you're concerned about who's true wait wait and then the second part is we haven't talked about like the Drake beef and all that with you I know it's months ago but I guess do you think are you still getting better

I think I am. I think there's certain aspects of like my gameplay that I'm like getting better. Like what? Like wanting to win so bad in comparison to how badly I wanted to win when I first started playing. Like when you first start playing and you make it to the pros and you're surrounded about the people you look up to forever, you want to win obviously. But like you're kind of just happy to be there. Yeah.

You know what I mean? Like you're just like happy that you're like you're accepted into the pro player meetings and you're like. my career. You know what I'm saying? Like you're like just kind of okay with you know meeting your idols and like showing them that you're good. You lose to Roy and lunch. You're like, yeah, you're like, it's Roy and lunch though. Yeah. I mean like you like you lose to them and you're like I mean it's whatever I still did my thing. I'm 15, 16 years old like nowadays it's like I'm supposed to be like the guy. You know what I mean? Like especially in the Halo events like I got all these kids that are like They're looking up to me the way I looked up to Roy and like, you know, I'm supposed to be like formal.

Like that guy that's done all this shit that they've watched the whole time like when they're kids. So like losing to me now is like a way bigger deal to me, you know, than it used to be. So I think that like it's developed my gameplay to be like, like not only am I trying to win and do well from my POV and for like my team and stuff. but I'm also trying to do out of game stuff to help my team win you know like making sure the vibes right making sure everyone's on point for the match like ready for a final

I mean like take that with a grain of salt because we've got second so many fucking times like I guess I'm not doing that good of a job well I mean it's fucking hard man it's so hard to like try to motivate others around you to like be great

you know what I mean like that's really what I've just like reflected on this whole year it's like you can't force it you can't and obviously your teammates want to be great Yeah, I'm sure they do. You're at a point right now where it's like, it's either I win and I'm happy or I don't win and I'm like this is just because you're not going to win every event. But is it like you can't even be happy with second at this point in your career? I'm not happy with second.

I'm not happy with confetti falling on me as I'm packing my shit up. That's like the worst feeling. And like I just think that I take it a lot harder than any of my teammates throughout the whole. year, like, just seeing the reactions or, like, the Sunday nights, you know, like, I just have so much, like, hate and, like, my rants, you know what I mean? Like, it's just different. Like, they're going to the hotel bar at 7 p.m. Yeah, I mean, like. And you're sitting in your hotel, like, fuck. You know. Yeah. Definitely. I think we're just different people, you know. Well, they're also, and that's not to make your teammates sound any sort of way. That's just where you're at in your

career. I'm just like, I just take it really heavy. Like, I don't know how many years I have left. So I'm like trying to get as many wins as possible. And it's like every time I lose an event, I'm just like, fuck, man. Like how many more events do I have left, you know? Like, is it weird being in that like, where like LeBron is now or where Brady was where you're like every single year, every single time the year ends, people are looking at

you like, what are you going to do? Because like, this is probably the first time in your career you've dealt with that. Yeah, I mean, it definitely, definitely a lot of questions. And I wish I had answers Truthfully, if I knew, I would tell you guys Like what exactly I want to do But like right now I don't know what I want to do Like they did announce another year of Halo

Which is like cool But like This year of Halo wasn't very fun Didn't feel like there was much going on Didn't feel like anyone really gave a fuck anymore Like the first year of Halo I felt like a lot of the community Just end gaming as a whole was watching

Yeah And this year it was kind of just like You get to a final It's a little hype but you lose not many people really give a fuck I don't many people really give a fuck who wins it's just I don't know I'm just like in a point in my career

where like I want to feel like I'm like you know doing something that matters and I don't know what exactly that entails for the next few years but do I think I can still compete? Fuck yeah like I'm not like getting shit on in a final or getting shit on by like any of these teams

you know so it's like I've always said like I'll stop playing when I feel like I'm just like costing my team that's pretty much why I saw playing cod I just felt like I was just like costing not putting my best foot forward and now it's like I'm like every tournament I walk away from

I'm like dude I was fucking shitting like what the fuck you know? Like I'm like telling myself I'm playing good enough to win the event and then I just don't win the event it's like then it's like a whole other level of like self-reflection and I'm like okay what else could I have done better what else could I have done to like help my team win

and then you come to the realization like maybe like it just wasn't in the the cards but it's like how many fucking times can you say that before like you start thinking like it's you know even if you're playing good um that's just who i am you know so it's i don't know definitely a lot of time now to reflect and think about what i want to do yeah it's definitely crazy that you got to a point in your career where it's almost like you can't be happy unless you fucking win oh yeah and after how how many like years do you think that like towards any of your

cod career do you think that's how your mindset was like we're not even close to winning fuck this shit I've lost all momentum then you switch into halo and it's like all right it's back to fucking winning

yeah towards the end of the cod it was definitely like definitely that feeling like okay I'm not even fucking trying to win these events you know like I'm just like okay with getting you know top four top three and then going back and then like just chilling with the team

and like you know what I mean like it was just a different version of myself that slowly my competitor edge just like slowly regress and it was more so just being like a vibey teammate um for whatever reason but then yeah when i switched to halo there was just like a lot more pride involved i think at that point because like in cod i kind of just like did everything i wanted to do you know like i won like every tournament you could win and it was like once you get to that point it's like fuck okay do you want to try to do it twice okay i'll try to do it twice and then it's like

once you get let down a few times in a row and then the league switches online it's like all these things just like added up to where I was just kind of just chilling but yeah once I went to Halo that competitive side took over again the vibey thing was still there but like I just wanted to fucking win like wanted to just win with whoever the fuck was gonna be on my team like I was gonna make them winners like no matter what I was gonna win and that's how it was the whole first year of Halo and then I think I think one big part of my like faults as a place is like once I prove it to everyone you know once I go back to Halo win worlds everyone's

like holy shit this is like insane it's like you just get that complacency like feeling where you can still win events you know like we still won Charlotte off the rip but like did I feel like I was the same player person at that point no and that's only a few months later than worlds you know yeah like we won but it was cool and whatever like I wanted to beat that phase god squad whatever but like you just slowly just start getting complacent and like I said like I like feeling like everyone's watching like I feel I like feeling like the whole community is watching you know yeah like I feel like a whole cod community was watching the world's the first worlds and you look at the one that just happened it's like for some did I feel like a lot of us were like I felt like it was

if you if you make it to finals and formals in it like you're you're watching yeah I mean that's probably true but I don't know it's just it just felt different did it feel like you you won the first worlds then you say you kind of lost the little yeah I'm not gonna say I was I've been like that since because I definitely okay the only events I'm referring to really is like Arlington uh second year Arlington in the dream hack event around those two events I just like kind of wasn't myself I was playing World Warcraft like just fucking just fucking off every time I hear that I'm like shit yeah but then I stopped it right before, you know, Salt Lake and Worlds and was going hard as shit. Like, we won Dallas.

There was three events. So it was like Dallas or Salt Lake Dallas Worlds in 2022. And we lost Salt Lake got fourth fucking frying. And I'm like thinking I'm like back into it. We get forth. I'm like whatever. Fuck it. Next event we win.

I'm going to be P. I'm like, hey, bad. This is like right trajectory. Let's go. It's like win a world again. Get all the way to the finals. Go up to O. Lose 8 to.

I'm just like, what the fuck? Like, thought we were all ready to get this back-to-back ring. It's fucking hard, man. You know what I'm like, dude, like, fuck. And then just, like, switched up to you on the final. Now you're just, now it's over. You just lost eight maps straight, and it's over. You're just like, what the fuck?

Team change happens. You think you get a resurgence as a team. And then you go down, you get second, second, second, second, second. It's just like, dude, fuck. Well, let's go back to when you say you lost, was it like, eight maps in a row. I think it was eight maps in a row. You all were in winners and then they came from losers

so they had to beat you twice but they were just winning every single map. Yeah. What's your, what was your mindset during, because obviously you may get through winners. You're sitting backstage like we're winning this fucking event. Yeah, we reverse sweep SSG winners finals.

Like we're, I'm thinking like, dude, this is a fucking winning sim. Like we just reverse sweep SSG like in winners finals like at Worlds. Like this is amazing. Like this is exactly how you want to go into a final. Like holy shit, we've got so imp for momentum.

Then you go up two Ogan's phase. now we won five maps straight we need two maps left like you know what I mean like what's the what's the mindset when obviously you're in grand finals you came from winners

SSG comes from losers they got to beat you twice in the series and then it just like first series starts off they're just up 3 oh what uh what's your what's your mindset when when you're in finals

and SSG is sort of just winning maps winning maps winning maps winning maps that's past one you're talking because I'm talking about year two you're talking about your one year two we lost a phase oh i'm thinking about year one

we played cloud nine in finals year one lost first series four one one second series four oh second year we go up two over phase lose eight maps straight well i guess even with even in year one or whatever what is the mindset of like

you know you should be winning this event but ss because ssg once they did they have legend on that team fuck no year one no Legend didn't even play your one champs Why don't I think this fucking event was not that But what's your mindset when you think You should be winning this event

And a team just winning maps And it's frustrating and it's Are you like not letting yourself get frustrated at all Are you like You'll handle all that stuff Yeah after after like There comes a time in a series where like Here's two examples

One example is when We're down 30 second set in last year's finals against phase. We just lost the first series. We're in second series. We're down 3-0 in the series. They're up 2-1 in King of the Hill recharge. It's like 2-3-0 in King of the Hill recharge.

It's mathematically impossible, but there's two months up on game clock. They're going to spawn trap us for two minutes straight. And you're just sitting there for two minutes just like dying and you know it's over. That was the last map for the series. And you're just like, dude, like you're having those thoughts mid-game

because you realize it's like over and you're just like this is the worst fucking feeling ever. Last event, playing SSG, Game 7, And recharge Slayer, like, down by nine kills. They need, like, three kills. Like, you just know, like, they're going to trade. They're going to kill us. Like, I'm trying to get kills, but you just know it's, like, over.

Wait, the recharge slayer that you just played? Yeah. They were up, like, 47 to, like, 36. Well, was that the map that there was, like, some. Yeah, there was a reset, but, like, whatever. But the, did you see, like, you saw, like, the scoreboard? You're talking about the recharge ball, but, yeah, where they flipped the score. Yeah, we didn't even notice in the game, like,

for whatever reason. All four of us didn't know. That was Recharge Ball. Yeah, that was game four. I was thinking that was slayer. You all have four dead and control. But it's, I mean, it's, the resets are like, I can imagine as a player, you guys can't even think about that. Yeah, no, we definitely didn't get checked by that this event.

I wouldn't, I wouldn't blame it on resets at all. It didn't really affect us that much. Like, we kind of just said like, fuck it, whatever. Because, like, I don't know, you just can't get checked at worlds, you know? But like, holy shit, they got to fix that. I mean, yeah. if it's even possible. Why, yeah, how, I don't know, I don't know.

Yeah, I don't know. I'm not sure what, what the various reasons were that there was a game crashes, but I mean, that's another thing about Halo, like, I don't know. You guys got, you guys got fourth the last, or the second, the last four events?

Fix. You got second six events in a row? Yeah. What the fuck? Yeah, exactly. And in your head, that's just nothing to be proud of. Nothing to be proud of. I was telling my chat,

Because we were like fuck second at worlds whatever and I was like what's crazy is I if I got second at worlds You put it in your Twitter bio I turn my stream on the next day. It's a fucking celebration Yeah, but with formal it's just like especially how good you've been playing lately It's just like we were everyone like sitting here during the watch party all weekend Just even seeing how you started off the event Friday. You're fucking shitting But I even mentioned it then and I mentioned it on the watch party and gave a little speech of just like how insane it is to see someone like formal you started dominating it like in like 2011

like you're we were running shit then and becoming like a household name and like one this formal is one of the best players in the game and then to still see that 13 years later is just fucking insane I'm like this is actually never been seen before like am I tripping or there's never been a player because everyone sort of does like the ogre two where there's still won pretty good teams and I always bring up ogre two and I feel like it's like I'm throwing shots at him especially if we bring up like who's number one and shit. You really do. But like ogre two towards the later of his careers, that motherfucker found the royal to a snake bite of Roy. A pistola. A pistola fear itself. Like it's like he would find these people and not to say

he's over there getting shit on but it's like statistically he's dropping off a little bit. individually skill-wise he's dropping off a little bit but for you it was just Hill tack and finals getting yeah like what the fuck yeah I mean like you could say you could okay that's one part of like that's one side

of the card right but then the other side of the car could say like over two is also better better than me at like making his elevating his teammates around him you know like maybe he's just better at helping them reach their max potential like those are the things I think about you know what I'm saying like you're not even thinking about I'm like hoping to get carried to a fucking ring.

I'm hoping that some young kids has come up and just pull me to a ring and I'm like, bad, dude, this is your time. Like you can be the all-star, you know? I don't want to have to drop, you know, a kill-tech in a final. Like, I don't want to do that. It's obviously nice when it happens, but like, like, we still lost that map. You get that kill-tack. You're just pissed.

Like, I'm in a grand finals up 3-1 and at champs against this God squad. And I'm asking where's the kiltrosity in the comms? And then I lose that map. You don't understand like how that feels like when you when you lose that map and you're like And you ask what the game six is it's the Plaza King. I'm like All right. Haven't beat them on that all year like they're just showing us on it like now it's game seven. It's just like that fast you're just you're up three oh You're thinking it's it's like your chance to actually reset the bracket and then all just flips like there's just so many like

Questions and thoughts after you lose a series like that Like not only could I play better? Sure. Could everyone else my team play better? Sure, but could I have also maybe said some things that maybe like could have elevated everyone a little more, like made them believe it a little more. And then there's also a part of me that thinks like nothing that could have done would have helped. Like it's there's like so many thoughts, bro. It sucks. It's hard. It's really hard. What, um, what about this SSG squad? Because they've been just fucking annoying. Every time I see them playing someone. I'm like, S-S-SG is looking good.

Every time it puts on one of their fucking POVs, it's like they're playing good as fuck. What is this? And you don't even have to hype them up, but what if they done, especially in the past year, I mean, obviously picking up legend. But like, how did

they become such a consistent fucking good team? Just momentum players, man. Like, it's not the first time I've seen it. Not the first time. It's not the last time we'll see it. Like, when you're giving players, like, legend stellar like PIV wins around the map where they're just getting gunfight wins and this is slowly building and building and building and you get shit on a few two a few times in a row now you have to deal with completely different players and you were the first three games like yeah the first three games we're winning I'm like not getting hype at all I'm turning to my teammates after the games and saying like yo let's just just keep keep playing how we're playing these guys are fucking tweaking right now like they're tweaking right just just just let it happen like let us just keep playing the way we're playing and when you give those type of players like

max confidence it's like then you'll see like the one in swapping with swapping povies and it looks like every one of them are shitting it's because like sliding at you with no scopes exactly like it's it's like you give momentum players momentum like there's other player like renegade you know frosty like you give players like that a couple wins in a row it's just a whole different beast you have to deal with and I know I understood that I don't know

If my teammates fully understood that, like to the point where I'm thinking like, fuck, these gunfights are getting a lot harder now. Like, I'm still winning them, but I'm noticing like, they're getting really turning these gunfights now. You know what I mean? Like, they're doing a little extra that they weren't doing, a little extra sauce in the gunfight that you weren't seeing at the beginning of the series. Where I'm just like, it's the problem.

Like, I'm thinking, like, who's getting shit on? This kid thinks he can do this now. Like, that's like my thought kind of in the middle of the gunfight. Yeah. Where, like, I'm never going to say that out loud, but I'm thinking that. I'm like, okay, who's getting shown on with this guy?

Because this guy was like checked as fuck. Yeah. One game ago. The fuck gave him his confidence. Yeah. Like, it's things like that like that irritate me. Because I'm like, you lose a gunfight? I don't really give a fuck.

But you lose 10? Now I kind of care. Yeah. Because now you're just dealing with different players and different, it's a whole different series, a whole different team. You felt like throughout the season, they were just getting that event by event.

People started choking. Dude, it seems like they were just getting the momentum. Oh, he does, dude. He does. I'm not going to say I was a free gun fight because he's not. I also had a question about that. Yeah, he's not a free gun fight by any means.

He's very good too, but he's also really smart, and he does send them out, you know, like his, you know what I'm saying? Like, it sucks. Because that's what I wish I was doing. Like it's, do you also look at that? Because you're saying a lot of stuff that doesn't have to do with the gameplay of, like, getting your teammates' mindsets right. Yeah, because I know how much. I know how important it is compared to just having them shoot straight. Do you think Eko has them on like a super confident?

No, I'm not going to say Eko's doing all that for them. I would say I would say Eko plays a part, but I would say those three players are naturally just going to be gifted no matter what throughout a series. Like legend is like insane, bound's insane, Stellar's insane in all different ways, you know? Like you fight Stellar. He's going to walk at you, he's going to five you.

But if you five him first, you'll kill him, right? That's like how you kill Stellar. Because he's just going to keep fighting you until one of you die. Yeah. But he's just such a good shooter. he just like keeps going and he's just like eh fuck it he'll do it again the next life like if you miss you're dead yeah legend is like he's like he's gonna fight you but in the middle of fight he's gonna g slide randomly you know what I'm saying he'll trade you at the very least

that she gets me every time you know what I'm saying like he'll go for that every time like it's a hard gun fight he's not gonna miss either and he's fast as fuck like that's why he's so good for that team like and then you abound who's like gonna get cracked in a gun fight he'll miss a few a few shots here and there, but like for the most of the part, like, most of the time he's five in you. Like, it's just like, yeah, it's fucking annoying, dude. It's really annoying. It's really hard to beat, but it's not unbeatable.

Like, do I think it's unbeatable? Fuck no. Do I think we could have beat them easily. Yeah. And I think we all agree. Yeah, it's just like, fuck, dude. That's the worst part is that like, now they look like this God squad when I know how beatable they are.

Because when we're up three-o, I was like, we're looking fucking good. Yeah. But then once that starts, which is like, damn, that's. says she's looking fucking good. Yeah, and I just don't understand where that switch is, dude. Like, that's the part that eats me alive. I'm like, what happened? Like, in just two games, it's like...

As nubes, we sit up here and we're like, oh, but the maps, I don't... I think this map might favor S. Do you even think of it? Is it just like, whoever's playing better? The only one that favorite SSG really was the Plaza King. That was our worst game type all year. Like, or we'd never been good at Plaza.

They've always been really fucking good at Plaza. Slayer. and King of the Hill, we almost beat the Mooner finals and Slayer, but like, I don't know that as the commentary, though, because I think one of the commentators said, you know, like, if, if the Optic, Optic could and should go up 3-0, but then it gets too difficult. So everyone-West said that. I was like, Optic's favored for the first three maps, but SSG's favored for the four. And in my head, I'm like, I'm not really looking at it like that.

I'm looking at it, like, whoever's playing the best is going to be winning these. Yeah, like, once you're up 3-0, it's like, you're in the driver's seat. Like, it doesn't matter what map. you're playing like I'm confident on every mat and especially like a recharge ball like that's one of our best game modes live fire slayer one of our best it's probably our best slayer um and recharge slayer is like another good one but like it's a good one the only game type i was like fuck was like the paus of king but like live fire slayer we should win like we should win that that's our best slayer we're up three one in the series like this is this is it this is to extend the bracket like let's just win this

real quick go to the back fucking regain we have a fresh series like oh man yeah it sucks dude sucks. Yeah, you can see the, it's like a different vibe out of you. Like you can see the passion in almost,

I don't want to say anger, but frustration. It is anger. Like getting second, the way that we got second every event this year, like we went through winners, we went through losers,

we had a fun loser's racket run just to get stomped in the final. We had a good losers run just to get two games in the final, we got stomped. We had the 3-0 lead, we get stomped. We lost two buses of sevens.

Like, it's just so, Fucked, man. We're in such a good position to win so many events this year and we just blew it Yeah, it's a lot it's a lot well I will say I like where your mind's at because Towards the end of your cod career I saw you kind of like just not really caring I saw you sometimes like I haven't seen you like this You would lose and you're like fuck you'd kind of you'd hop on world of Warcraft or something But like it is good to see and somehow

your mindset still being like this and fucking fucking 13, 14 years later from your first event, it's kind of good to see. It's not what we want to see because obviously we want to see you happy, thriving, winning. Smoking, watching fun movies. Yeah. Yeah, TikTok. Yeah, trust me, I want to see that too. It's a lot, man.

Where do you think this? Oh, actually, I want to talk about eco. Okay. Because I've mentioned ECO's name before. And we're talking about Eco every pod, by the way. I don't know why we just do. I don't. Because he fucking, I don't even know if he knows.

He blows my mind because I, I, it hardly ever shows Eko's POV. But then when it does show Ecos POV, I'm like, and this is no disrespect. Eco, I know this next sentence I'm about to say is disrespectful. But it's almost like watching my POV. And I know that was disrespectful when I don't technically mean it like that. But he, he plays slower. he just doesn't seem like a Halo infinite player and maybe I'm just an idiot because I'm not in the

I'm not there I'm not screaming I'm not seeing the stats all the time I'm not playing late night matchmaking against him or anyone else but he just everyone seems fucking cracked yeah we even ask Shotsie like like you Dead Zone seems cracked if you were to play on SSG who would you replace and Nick's thinking he's gonna say Eco and he said I think he said legend or I think he said bound

either legend or bound Yeah, but he didn't say ECO. That might also be a part because he's one in worlds with Eco. That's true. But what makes Ego fucking good? I know I don't. I know he's, I'm not even trying to throw shots. I'm sorry if it seems like I'm throwing shots.

Ego, you're my boy. Congratulations. I've always actually liked your place I was a player. I'm done defending myself now. But what makes Ego so good and so good for that team? I don't know. I don't know Like

It's tough to say Like if I think about it Like if I replaced Eco on that team Would we still win as much as they won? Maybe I would think of it as like That'd be a nasty fucking team Yeah no no

I know But I also don't know if that's true Like I don't know Maybe we get shit on every event Like I don't fucking know I don't know what ECO does It's kind of like that face squad Like they pick up renegade

And you think they're gonna win They're gonna be in all Every final And they That's work That's literally what I thought Yeah Yeah I mean

You don't really know until you've, you know, you're there for every online scrim and you're there for every loss that they take and, you know, granted, it was only a few, like, you don't know what he's saying mind the scenes, you don't know if he's saying anything at all. Yeah. Um, maybe he's just a cool guy and, like, I don't, I don't fucking know. I don't know Eco that well. I know him, like, enough to know that he's, like, a mature, you know, somewhat leader of that team. Um, maybe he is thinking, like, his gameplay doesn't really matter, like, what, how it looks or how, like, straight he's shooting. As long as he's keeping these, like, three pups, like, chained, like,

properly, you know what I'm saying? Like, I don't know what exactly he thinks about it, like how he thinks about it, but he's always doing something right. Um, because he's, I mean, he's definitely a vocal leader for that team and he definitely tries to understand what's going on the map like every time he spawns and try to get damage for this guy because he's how far he's just pushed up and blah, blah, blah. But I mean, I'm not going to sit here and say that he's bad. I'm not going to say he's amazing. I don't know. But he's definitely doing something right. Yeah. Yeah. So with all your, I know right now

it's tough to think about your future with how frustrating this entire year has been. And usually if you say it's been a frustrating year, usually it'd be like a, oh, you got a top six, a top eight, top four, you only got the finals once.

But I would say and of course you wouldn't, that getting second, how many times you get second? Six in a row. Six in a row is fucking crazy. Like with two champs like in there. See, it's hard for me. even say like that's something to be frustrated about but obviously someone as fucking elite as you are

you need to be winning or it's that or nothing yeah is yeah so right now are you you're you say you're feeling just like anger and i think can i can i word your question yeah for your next decision rank the rank this in priority of what's most important money legacy or your personal happiness i would say happiness is first damn i would say Legacy's second and money's third okay um yeah this this year just wasn't very fun like finals finals aside like just the event locations the events fields the environments the travel like the felt like a lot of the events were just like AGL like pack a punch AGLs you know like London Atlanta like Salt Lake was pretty good um I would say it was

probably the best major had the most major feel I would say Arlington was like eh even though it was our event like I'm gonna be straight up like it wasn't like didn't feel like a you know I just think that stadium doesn't have a real major feel it has more of a cod feel um you know with like the one match a day like you go to the stage you play your match it's not like a halo event like main stage you know what I'm saying um most ago Atlanta was just like shit um London was like almost unacceptable how bad it was uh in terms of just like was that where environment does that where fans were literally like great circling around y'all when you were like Yeah, I mean like the stage was cool. Don't get me wrong. Like the face-to-face is cool. I fuck with that

But the without close fans were not not me, but I saw other teams. I saw pure getting yelled at by quadrant fans like Basically as far away from here is you know screaming at that quadrant fans too Quadrant just screaming up here while they're playing quadrant losing the quadrant getting knocked out like Just like yeah, that's ridiculous. It's like ridiculous. Yeah, there's it was just like a lot of like I don't know it just yeah it was it was fucked What else did we go? Atlanta, Salt Lake. The Seattle's... Yeah, I mean, the Seattle event's always going to feel like Seattle, right?

They haven't switched like anything up with any of those. So, like, it's whatever, worlds or whatever. I was just thinking back to the majors. Yeah, they're okay. Like, the events were okay. But, like I said, I just want to feel like I'm, like, a part of something, like, big, you know? And, like, this year just didn't really fulfill that. So...

But I still wanted to win. Like that's where like my happiness goes aside for a second and I'm just thinking about winning and just like trying to stack some chips and like build a legacy and like the money is like always going to come third because like we're always going to be fine. But it's like it's just one of those things where you know I'm never going to be happy with second. Like we made you know 50 grand last weekend each from from second. And I'm sure someone on the team or maybe multiple people are happy with that. But like I'm just I just wanted to get fucking first. You know like I wanted to get first and stand there and fucking on the stage afterwards. and have the confetti fall on us, you know, the green confetti.

Like, I want that moment. I want that fucking picture. I want that video. I want, like, everyone to see that we did it. And, like, I don't know. That's just who I am. I don't know. I think, yeah, I don't know.

Maybe I'm just, like, a little psychotic about it now, but definitely sucks. What about, as far as practice during all season? I would say our practice off the rip was... Like, is it fucking annoying? No. Um... Would I say we were a little like OD on the theater mode towards the end of the year? Sure, but like Who's idea was that? I mean everyone's. I wouldn't say one person. I mean like it's definitely good to go over theater

I think what's not the fuck in here. Look at this. I think that going over theater is definitely helpful. I think we were making strides in certain areas of our gameplay that that was directly from theater. So I'm not going to say it was a waste of time because it wasn't What I say we spent a little too long on each map maybe, but Either way like the theater did help. So I'm not going to say it was a bad thing. I don't know, I'm just like, the scrim schedule is still fine. Like one scrim a day, later in the day is like totally fine with me. That's something I've always liked about Halo. It's not as serious as cod to where you're getting up at 11, playing from 11 to 4. What is it?

Just one scrim a day? Just like one scrim a day. Yeah. And you don't really mind that at all? No. Like, it's something fun. Like, it's fun because, like, matchmaking isn't very, like, playable. That's one thing I hated about Halo this whole year is, like, matchmaking just makes you a lot worse.

and I think the more matchmaking you play, you just build worse and worse habits. I think it's actually something that's always played our team, but it's not that big of a deal. Overall, the year, like, the practice was whatever. It was fine. I think we actually had really good practice for the most part.

Yeah, I just didn't know after all these years if you're just like, God, I'm sick of waking up and doing this. I feel like I hear more complaining about the with the Cod guys about. Like, is there, is the schedule? crazy? There's a lot more a lot more taxing as a cod player. You wake up a little you wake up a lot earlier. Then you play like

a little longer and then you watch theater for a lot longer. Especially if you aren't seeing immediate results in cod you can definitely get driven crazy very fast. Who's been? Who's been? I mean I don't even know if this is an appropriate question. Who's been your duo on

this roster? Or is it kind of like a team collective. Yeah, I don't think I really had a duo this whole year, which is fine. Like, I'm not going to say Brad was my duo either. Like, Brad was my best friend, you know, but I'm not going to say, like, we were some sort of, like, in-game duo. I don't think I really had an in-game duo this whole time I've been playing Halo. I think it's more just like a team collective, you know? Yeah. With your, um, obviously frustrated after the, after the event, um, some anger, are you just sort of, because it's,

It's not like we got you on here and respecting for you to do a LeBron James decision. But with where your state of mind is right now, are you just kind of feeling it out? You're going to wait a few weeks. Todd's going to come out. You'll play that a little bit. Then soon enough, you'll make a decision about what your future is going to be. Yeah, I mean, I'm kind of already know. For you guys to, like, you know, get an answer for me and be able to use the thumbnail, but I don't have an answer.

Oh, we'll still put it in the thumb down and clickmate. Formal final decision. I mean, I think a lot of it has to do with what team I get for Halo next year. You know, like, I'm only going to play Halo again if I feel that I have a team that's going to win every single event. And, like, I've talked to players, obviously already, or players have talked to me. You know, like, good, great, I mean, great players that, you know, aren't really happy with their situation. and like I'm trying to figure out how it could work because like do I think we're going to say the same team going to next year?

No. Because like after this many seconds like there's something wrong needs to be changed. And I'm sure all of us understand that and feel that way like we expect first and if you don't get first six times in a row like I'm surprised it's even lasted this long. Yeah so I mean I'm only really going to play Halo if I have a team that I think can win every event.

I'm not going to go with. you know, a team that I don't have full confidence in that should be getting first every fucking event. So we'll see. I don't know. And if I don't play Halo, then there's other options, you know, like I'm not going to say Cod is like the other option where I'm going and competing in Cod and hoping someone fucking gets shit on in the CDO and has a spot open for me and I start working my way. Like, that's not true. That would be, you know, I'm not going to say like ideal. But if I were to switch to Cod, when I want to compete, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know if that's exactly what I want to do. I don't know if I want to be incess watch party every day.

I don't know if I'm supposed to just be a content creator and like, you know, stream every day. I don't know. Like I said, there's a lot of time between not that much time, but there's a decent amount of time for me to actually decide and pick something and whether it's the best option. I don't know, but yeah, there's a lot of up in the air question. Is it daunting at all to think about starting because in cod you're not starting over but if you were to compete elsewhere if you were to try apex or if you were to try war zone

is it daunting to has that ever crossed your mind to try something like that yeah it's crossed my mind yeah you know like could I be a war zone pro probably would I be an apex pro maybe but like do I want to be I don't know maybe maybe not yeah it's like

when you get there what would that even look like exactly am I might have sitting there just getting like you know top eight like like am I hoping for top eight like I don't know what that looks like so like especially the type of person I am like I want to fucking win whatever I'm playing so it's it's tough to really just put my finger on something and say that's that's what I'm going to do next year and I'm going to try to win here and whatever like I'm more of a go with the flow but once I land on something I become really passionate about it and try to do my best at it so I don't no, we'll see.

Oh, yeah. Damn. I don't know. This is, uh, because this is actually, I mean, I'm sure you kind of get it, but it's kind of a big deal. You are a, it's crazy that you're sitting beside me fucking 13 years later. Aillion years later. Because he used to just be the little shit teabagging me in like, I don't know if it was

like money eights, but we were playing like eights. And then this dude formal was just fucking, just gunning my shit. Every fucking time. He wasn't even teabacking me. And then after the game, he's like, game, friend requests and shit. Just being super nice.

He was looking up to you like he looked up to Roy. Yeah. Yeah. It was Roy than maniac on my list. I wanted to. Yeah. That's true. But it's just crazy.

That was formal then. And you're right. How you start your career. And it's kind of like you're just sort of happy to be, there even if you get a top six you lost the sq for top four so you're like ah dang it maybe next time and then it's just you've evolved into the to win over the call of duty

dominated the fucking scene came back to halo dominated and even though technically you weren't winning these past six events like you're still fucking on top and it's just I remember when the accuracy 1V3 happened and I saw how like upset everyone was and then like

a few, like a day later, you were already making jokes like, oh, he's so icy, like stuff like that. Yeah. And I was like, I was like, oh, okay, like, I'm actually like, I actually like where Matt's at, because I also saw you for three years straight, basically eat yourself alive every time

you guys lost. And, uh, I don't think you're going to be making any he's so icy jokes about Halo anytime soon. It seems like, it seems like, it seems like, it seems like you're, back it seems very 2017 again 2018 where where you're at right now which i haven't seen in a while good and bad yeah i feel like a god squad needs i mean i had no idea that because i was kind

of looking at and like phase is going to stay the same i mean also i know nothing obviously s shg stay the same phase will stay the same and it's like i think i don't think it's like i don't think phase can stay the same you think phase is going to stay the same phase won't say the same to be honest No way. Which is so surprising. For a second, I was thinking of just like, the top three will stay the same. It's just like who's going to clutch up next year, but I was like, I don't know if form was going to play next year.

And I had no idea. There were already discussions amongst the team. Oh, yeah. Especially now publicly that it's not like anyone's dropped yet. It's just like we're just, like. Yeah, I mean, I just assume that, and I didn't even, I haven't even talked to any of my teammates yet. I just assume that everyone's on the same page like this cannot keep going the way that it's

going. Like there's, and I don't think anyone's going to be mad about it. I think everyone kind of just understands, like, yeah, we just weren't, it just wasn't working. You know, like there were certain things that are working. If you're happy with making it to a grand final, you know, I'm sure, I'm sure if Shopify made it to a grand final every single event this year, they'd be chilling. They're like, yeah, we're fucking, we're almost there. Next year we got it. Yeah, we got the shit.

But that's just not where we're at as a team. Expecting to win and not winning for six events straight, two worlds included, it's like, something kind of change. Who's some players from this year that kind of impressed you? Cycle, last shot. Druck, actually. Keyboard kid. Wu-ton. Depressed?

Depressed? Got a lot better. What about Wuton? Wuton, obviously, is incredible to watch. That's my favorite player. I said, so yesterday in the Optic Pod, Ant was on it, and Hector asked, if you're formal, who do you build, who, what's your team? and he said

Frosty, Renegate and Suppress. That's what he said. And I had never even heard of suppress. Wait, who? Frosty, renegade, and suppress. Who's making that team? Man. Ant as formal.

Oh, and as formal. Frosty, renegade, and suppress? I don't even know. I was like, what the fuck? That's what he said. I'm not going to give you my potential teams of what I'm thinking because it's like a little too much,

but yeah. Yeah, I've seen that makes sense. I mean, you've already gave enough. Yeah, no, I definitely. have some ideas that could be rosters that would win every single event whether or not the contracts allow it is another thing yeah so are you looking at

it like I'm down to compete if this kind of fucking team can get formed I'd be super confident and all these players yeah exactly but then if it doesn't then it's like that completely affects my decision of whether I'm not I'm gonna be playing Halo you know yeah if it doesn't you won't play Halo do you have any I'd know where you'd be

lean or you're just gonna feel it out as it goes or do you kind of have a I don't really have a backup plan necessarily like if this doesn't happen then I'm going to this it's just like you know like there's always the Seth Watch party availability there's always you know just becoming a content creator streaming whatever I want

being part of Seth streams every day like a lot of it involves Seth my post competing career I was then he's not gonna like that he's already made that known yeah I mean it's what I mean like Seth's always been my best friend like you know what I mean and Seth feels the same way you always text me after I lose you know

and tells me like you know I was gonna to be fair I was gonna text but I was like, I don't know if you'd want to see my name pop up right now. Yeah, I mean, I don't know. I wouldn't have minded it. Depending on what you said. Just an emoji. Just choke with the silver medal.

The little silver medal. I would never do that, man. It was tough sitting here watching because we are genuinely, not only fans of you as a person, but obviously we are fans of you as a person, but obviously we are fans of you as a gamer because you are not to fucking hype you up too much but you are one of the elites

you are the scump you are the crimsics you are the formal you are the I mean there's so few that like you can't I can't even go off keep naming people because there's so many few people like you and I don't know if there is there anything else you want to get off your chest or

that was probably a lot of it you feel better not really not really like the same things I'm ranting about now I've ranted to my girlfriend I've ranted to players on Sunday night I've ranted you know yeah yeah I tried not to talk too much this podcast a few podcasts

a few podcasts ago we did one with shotsy and I was just talking the whole time in the comments fucking annihilated me it was uh so who won the j-cold who won the kendrick drake beef I would say kendrick but I'm I don't know it doesn't

matter to me. Who gives this shit, man? Like, I'm not getting into a car full of my friends and playing, you know, like, anything but Drake, probably. Like, I'm not a walk-rolethirt and beef, like, fuck Drake, you know? Like, so my favorite artist. I mean, who cares? At the end of the day.

It was cool for the rap scene, and it was cool to spectate the whole thing unfold, you know, waiting for the new song to come out and you're like, holy shit, let's give us a listen. We should have had you on the flight. We got, there was by far, everyone loved that month of the flycast. It was everyone's favorite month That rap beef shit Yeah we should have more guests

Giving their opinions Because we kept giving ours And we were getting fucking unnihilated I'm trying to downplay Kendrick shit so hard And I'm just getting Fucking verbally annihilated In the like people in the

Comments calling me petto and shit I'm just like what the fuck Because I like Drake's raps In the song better And now I like little children I'm just like what the fuck So we had to take a little break from that But

Then we became a political political podcast last week. It was great. I'm sure that one won't. I've been reading my Bible and shit lately. Oh yeah. You're in your Jesus arc? Yeah, I need you to lead me the way or lead that the fucking sentence? Lead the way. Help lead the way to me and my Bible app. I don't know what's been going on with me, but it is, it genuinely, and I never thought this would sort of happen, but I have been sort of like diving into that world.

Good. kind of scary what's scary just diving into that the whole fucking religious world because are you going back or you never had it I never had it

that's interesting so it's like you're well I read this shit and I'm like yeah bro you were really beside Jesus writing down his quotes and shit so I'm like I can't read this shit

but then they'll spit a bar and it's like an affirmation or something I'm like that's real that's some real gangses shit right there like that you look it up find a graphic and you're like post this on instagram but like there's little hint or little i guess scriptures i just call them bars like there'll be little bars in the bible where i'm just like that's some fucking real shit and i'm sort of that's just where i've been out with it so we'll see where this goes yeah you'll have to keep us updated yeah if like you guys want to join me join the bible app i'll send you all from request wait you're you have the

Bible app. Yeah. It's not the same as like a hardbound Bible. No, yeah. Well, the Bible app you can maneuver through the fucking thou shout will not. Okay. And all that language and you kind of just like get to the good stuff. They have to hear the story about John sent his baby.

That's the whole point of the Bible. That's the whole point of like learning the story and shit. You get you. You get the stories. You get the stories and then you learn. Like are you like Bible Lab plus TikTok like plus like are you like just swapping back and I don't know where I'm at mentally. Are you getting Bible TikToks yet?

Yes. Okay. You're making some shreds. There's some progress thing. My algorithm is stepping up in that fucking aspect, but I don't know. It's just something I've been diving into lately. It's just a little something different. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

There's a Bible app. Is it like a social media on it? No. You said you said a friend request. Well, you can have friends and share verses and scriptures and it's like that. Start a group. Optic Run Club on... I bet Blake's on it.

I don't think so. Blake's... He's traditionally. He's got hard back covers. Anything you plan on doing in the off season? Like... Not really.

I mean, playing cod, I guess, like, you know, when it comes out, that'll be fun. Hit the gym? Maybe, yeah. Kick off tournaments. Because I know we've had some talks

and you're just like, bro. I just want to lock in a few months. I feel like if... Because I've seen you do it before, if you just lock in for a few months, like, you can lose a ton of weight, feel so much better mentally.

Oh, I know, yeah. And I feel like the offseason would be a time to do it. I agree. Cold plunge. So I'm always down. If you're bored, we've got some time. I'll drive up to you. We can work out or something.

You mean you're going to say, as long as I can IRL stream it. Oh, yeah. I've been IRL streaming my gym sessions. God damn, it gives me so much anxiety. Because I'm sitting there with a fucking tripod. People are just staring at me. First off, they look at my body and they're like,

you should not be recording yourself. Like, who the fuck are you to be recording yourself? Yeah. And it's just, dudes in front of me, behind me. I'm talking to chat. Music's blasting into the fucking stream. It's... Pnecic.

Yeah, we'll see how much longer that fucking can last, but... Hell no. My anxiety would not let me... Yeah, no. I couldn't even... I barely even vlogged in public. It's fucking tough. Streaming in public.

What are you... You just waiting on Cod's six? to come out? Yeah, kind of. I mean, I'm gonna play Valerant the next couple weeks. We'll see. Am I gonna get on Halo

in the next couple weeks? Probably not. But I do want to play the new card just, you know, get something there. Yeah. See how it goes. All right.

Oh, yeah. Well, amazing. Insight. Crazy insight. I learned more. You said some stuff today that I didn't think was going to be said.

And to be honest, it's really good having you on here and seeing your actual mindset right after, I guess you could say tough season. Yeah, it's still fresh. Yeah, it's still fresh in your mind. You've seen the raw emotions. Have Matt back on in like two months. Then we can just talk about like fun shit, you know? Like, oh yeah. Candy and

Christmas time. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, okay. That'd be a lot of fun. Yeah. But yeah, man, thank you so much for joining. The people will appreciate this. And trust me when I say the people appreciate you. And we love sitting on the watch parties and watching you. We're proud of you. The best is yet to come. Yes.

Hopefully. Hopefully. All right. Matt Craig. Play that outro music.