Emo On Esports: An Interview with Team EnVyUs

I am back once again with another interview, this time I have had a long chat with MLG CoD professionals Team EnVyUs. One of the most successful teams in the US MLG community, they have seen their fair share of ups and downs and team changes to boot over the last year.

They have one of the most well known CoD players in the world in Mike 'Hastr0' Rufail, so I felt they were the perfect team to interview when learning more about Black Ops in the USA, something that isn't greatly covered despite the massive interest.

Mike and his team mates Skyler 'iForePlay' Johnston and Brandon 'Sharp' Rogers participated in the interview, unfortunately their fourth Tosh 'StaiNViLLe' McGruder was unavailable. Check it out below!





Emotion: Hi guys, thanks for taking the time out to do this interview. For those who don't know who you are, can you give us a quick introduction?

Mike: GT Hastro, Mike Rufail, 27, Greensboro, NC, B.A. Degree in Moving Image and Sound, Hastr0 nV, Motion Picture Filmmaking.

Brandon: GT Sharp: Brandon Rodgers Age:17 Location: Louisville, KY Gamertag: Sharpp nV Hobby: Playing Golf.

Skyler: GT iForePlay, Skyler Johnson / North Carolina / Gamer/Student for Sports Supplementation, Sports/Music Writing.

Emotion: Can you tell Decerto readers an interesting fact that not many people in the gaming world know?

Mike: I'm 6'3. A lot of people meet me at events not realizing how tall I actually am.

Skyler: Currently am in work on releasing a Clothing line in late 2011, not geared for gaming but more so everday wear.

Brandon: I have over $15,000 in the bank from working/gaming at age 17.




Emotion: You all have rather interesting gamertags, where did they each originally come from?

Brandon: My gamertag use to be SHARP SH0T93, everybody just called me Sharp so it stuck.

Skyler.: I used to have another gamertag like everyone else, and I couldnt find the right fit for one. So After the Mid 08' i changed it to something that was a inside joke in early college.

Mike: I didn't have the intention of being a pro gamer when I made my gamertag. I grew up near Houston, TX and loved watching the Houston Astros baseball team play. Here's the equation to my gamertag (H for Houston + Astros - s) = Hastro.




Emotion: The term 'pro gamers' gets chucked around the US scene quite a lot, although the understanding that you need to make a full living from it to actually be classed as pro is kind of forgotten. Would you call yourself professional gamers?

Mike: I think all 3 of us here can comfortably call ourselves Pro gamers along with the core members of our team who all have been successful in major events and have been consistent in placing high, earning prize money, etc.

Skyler: I learned a lot from Hastro about proving your net worth as not only a team but an individual. There is so much more to gaming than button pressing. It is up to the individual to focus on promoting and marketing yourself. As for being Pro because of consistancy and being on top then I would say yes.

Mike: Not to mention all of us have signed player agreements with MLG

Brandon: Google says [professional: an athlete who plays for pay].

Brandon's novelty sized cheque for becoming MLG CoD4 National Champs

Emotion: How did you first get together as a team?

Skyler: We started off with a different 4, Just Stainville and Myself. Along the way we have picked up what seems to be the missing pieces to build EnVyUs into what it is today.




Emotion: You decided to go along the route of creating your own organisation. In Europe that generally doesn't happen and we have big PC organisations supporting our top teams. How did the EnVyUs organisation start out from being more than a team and have you had offers from other organisations to join them?

Mike: I think we decided early on that we would try to do it on our own first. I will be honest and say that it has been a struggle without support from a larger organisation. However, we are quickly recovering from all of the things we had to sacrifice in order to make this work and guess what? We benefit from 100% of our hard work now. We are our own brand. We have had offers from larger organizations, some of the most well known in e-Sports, but I think we always wanted to control our own fate.




Emotion: Are the team fully supported by your own sponsors or is there an element of private funding within the team?

Mike: Tritton was the first major company to come on board sponsorship wise with us and we can't thank them enough for that. I think that relationship was great for both sides in 2010. Before that, there was a lot of private funding going on, mainly from oureslves who used any financial resouce we had to keep this team running. Now, we have Tritton, 360Icons, INF, Gamer Dorm all helping to make this work financially.




Emotion: The US scene isn't really covered all too well in terms of coverage compared to that of Europe. Do you think it hinders the scene and stops it getting bigger?

Mike: People have to remember that the cost of running a media outlet for anything is expensive and those organizations need to be supported as well. I think the coverage of eSports organizations and pro gaming in general has been mediocre here because not many media outlets have shown a successful return on investment.

Skyler: I think that it is slowly getting better, you can look and see that there is a constant change in growth of support. With Call of Duty as big as it is, it is only a matter of time. As for in comparison to the EU side of things i have much respect and support for the way you guys go about covering your teams.

Brandon: I think it is growing, and will keep growing. Look at what MLG was when it started, and look at it now.




Emotion: Back to playing, Black Ops has been a reasonable success so far. How does it compare for you against MW2 and CoD4?

Skyler: Will anything ever be better than CoD4... Just how simplistic that game is made it so perfect. As for Black Ops it has potential to be something great if we can just find a happy medium with map & rule sets.

Mike: Black Ops is almost as good as COD4 in my opinion. The maps and spawns are the only thing holding it back from passing up COD4 as a good competitive shooter on the console. There were quite a few things that bothered me about MW2, but it was a good shooter nonetheless. Just not nearly as well rounded as COD4 and Black Ops

Brandon: CoD4 in my opinion was the best CoD, but what I like about Black Ops is that Treyarch is always improving it to what the community asks for. MW2 was a good competative game in all but was no were near Black Ops or CoD4




Emotion: Hastro, you mentioned rulesets. Obviously Europe uses a more restricted set of rules compared to the US. Which ruleset do you all prefer?

Brandon: I would have to go with US rules. Their is nothing worse then getting flashed.

Mike: I've had the chance to play the Decerto and European rulesets plenty of times. They're different, but I think both make for a solid, fair playing field.

Skyler: I think they are good to be honest, Decerto rules in CoD4 were great. Loved playing them. In some aspects i like how there are 2 rule sets, after time we just need to come up with a universal rule set.




Emotion: Perhaps I am biased, but would you not agree that making it harder to kill someone is more competitive?

Skyler: You are right there, when it comes to degree of difficulty in guns being used it shows who has the better gunskill/reaction time. That is why I feel the P90 being outed in CoD4 & the ACR in Mw2 was good for Decerto.




Emotion: Who are your current rivals in the US scene?

Brandon: In the US alot of the teams are not set, but from teams we have played I would have to say OpTic is the only one currently.




Emotion: Will you be bothered if MLG chooses to go with PS3 Black Ops over Xbox?

Skyler: Good Question, I think most everyone can agree Black Ops feels better on the Xbox, but to just have the chance to be competing at live events I would even play on the Wii lol.

Brandon: A little both for me. I dont like the PS3 so that would bother me, but we have been waiting for CoD to be MLG since CoD4 so I could get over it.

Mike: Pro players are able to adapt from XBOX to PS3. It's been proven already by our players and others. It doesn't bother me one bit especially since we hear the prize money is going to be amplified 5 fold.

Hastro modelling for Gunnar

Emotion: Do you feel that MLG monopolises the competitive gaming industry in North America and doesn't really allow for other competitions?

Skyler: I feel that it is harder for other companies to try and compete but if the right funding is there it might be possible. Hard question to answer.

Mike Rufail: In my opinion MLG took what others thought of as a big financial risk and should be rewarded for their foresight.

Brandon: Yes, MLG has no comp in North American gaming. I know a lot of people trying to start things like MLG but they cant get sponsors like MLG to fund them.




Emotion: How much do your family and friends know about your life in the gaming world?

Mike: My mom watches my YouTube channel and my live streams. That should answer your question.

Brandon: My friends that play xbox know because I started playing GB with them, my family knows because I bring in that bank cheque.

Skyler: If I win something big like we did for MLG Online Nats then I might say something to the family but I don't go out of my way to talk about it. A lot of people know Sharp plays because he where's MLG hoody's all day.




Emotion: Ok we'll go onto community questions now as we seem to have quite a few.




(Fwiz): EnVy Us has always been highly regarded as the most professional, and highly respected team. With qualities and attributes like that being scarce in the competitive scene, how have you guys made this a focus?

Skyler: A simple motto "Stay Classy" started as a joke and turned into a statement we stand by. A lot of people show disrespect because they truly don't care. We just try and maintain professionalism because earning a tag of being "Respected" only adds to the foundation of what we have achieved.

Brandon: As a team were not big trash talkers, when we have team problems we get through them and prevail, and most importantly we "Stay Classy" EoD.

Mike: We keep eachother in check. If someone doesn't like my way of doing things, I hear about it and we don't blame eachother for stating our opinion. "Stay Classy" had a lot to do with it.




(Fwiz): EnVy has gone through a lot of changes towards the end of Modern Warfare 2, with the team being scattered, but still unified under the EnVy Us names. What are your plans going forth with Black Ops on how the players will be distributed onto EnVy Us?

Skyler: We broke up into 2 Envyus teams a Envyus [Black] & [Blue]. It is some what of a long story we blogged about on our website: TeamEnvyus.com if anyone is interested in a more in depth look.




(Chapz): What did you think of Fear Moho talking smack about the European scene?

Mike: I don't think any of us want to answer that question, we stay out of that stuff altogether.

Old NV line-up at MLG Nationals. Sidroc, Fierce, Stainville, Hastro

(SwitchbacK): Would you say it's annoying behind way back in line when it comes to MLG? How do you think things would differ if a CoD game was the flagship title of the league?

Skyler: I think that is something we all want. A lot of people have come and gone because of the fact that it not a flagship title. It is slowly progressing. I think that Call of Duty players deserve this whether you are from the US or EU. Maybe I am a bit biased but I think we bring a lot to MLG & CoD has a huge support system.

Mike: I don't think we're way back in line. I think we're next in line to eat along with Starcraft and Halo: Reach. At least the sheer numbers in our community suggest that.

Brandon: I think that CoD has a bigger community, and would really benifit MLG.




(SwitchbacK): How important is social media to you? Hastr0 (now known as Mr. Extraordinaire) has over 6,000 followers on Twitter, and Stainville and Foreplay have decent numbers too. How do you utilize that?

Mike: Twitter is such a great and easy way to communicate with people. Its the easiest way for me to answer questions and the best way to inform people of what I'm up to.

Brandon: Mr. Extraordinaire!!!!!!!!!!!!




(SwitchbacK): Why is Trumpf in the team? To a random onlooker and/or most competitive players he is just a guy with a solid amount of subscribers on YouTube and has never been mentioned as one of the game's elite, or competitive, players. What does he bring to EnVyUs?

Skyler: Trumpf is on the team because we help eachother in more ways than just followers and subscribers. He is very successful on his own & wanted a solid team. He has the ability to develop into a top player but he is working his way back into it, what a better way to do it than with us. Alot of people don't know Trumpf used to play competitive on GB. We compliment eachother well and i personally am glad we picked him up.

Skyler on a video feed to Norway after an cross atlantic game. EnVy won 2-0 vs the Norwegian team.

(Dave): Will you ever attend a an EU event?

Skyler: That is one of the goals for 2011! So we can show players like XLNC,Sowerz,Doped & Mak whats up!

Brandon: I would love to go to the EU and play.

Mike: We still have financial boundaries keeping us from making it there, but as soon as those are cleared, we're there. I think 2011 might be good to us.




(Raged): Do you guys think you need to be also physical fit to compete in competitive gaming? e.g Helping to improve reaction times.

Brandon: Yes, being fit improves reaction time and cuts trash talk towards yourself

Mike: The MLG National Championships in '08 and '09 took a surprising amount out of me. Those were the only exhausting events I've had. I think anything you can do to combat that fatigue is a good thing.




(Raged): How many hours a day to you average on gaming?

Mike: I think my overall average would be 3 a day. There are a lot of days where I don't play at all. It just depends on what events I'm playing in.

Skyler: Not enough, to be honest we have always had a motto to make sure we make good use of our time. It's not about how much you play its about making good use of it.

Brandon: 3-4 Hours




(Delphic): What are the chances of there becoming a 'Team EnVyUs.EU'?

Mike: We haven't formally made the plans, it's just a dream right now.




(BattleKing): F0replay do you like foreplay or are you the straight to business guy?

Skyler: Awesome question. Foreplayy or die my man. Haha.



Emotion: Time for some quick questions.


McDonalds or Burger King?

Mike: BK burgers, mcdonalds fries
Brandon Burger King
Skyler: BK.



Esport or Real Sport?

Mike: All sports
Brandon: Playing Esports, watching real sports
Skyler: All sports



Favourite sport?

Brandon: Basketball
Mike: Football
Skyler: Football & Basketball



What's more important, winning for the glory or winning for the money?

Mike: We wouldn't be here if it weren't for the glory.
Skyler: Winning for the Glory, we play CoD.
Brandon: Winning for the glory



Ever been recognised in the street by a fellow gamer, away from an event?

Mike: No
Skyler: Not on the street. Nope
Brandon: I live in KY, gaming and MLG is not big around here, only horse back riding lol



Ever made a girl wear your gaming top?

Mike: Not yet
Brandon: No
Skyler: No sir



Favourite gun on any game?

Mike: COD4 Deagle, hands down
Skyler: Mp5
Brandon: Mp5 CoD4
Skyler: Golden Pistol on Golden Eye



Would you beat Fwiz in a fight?

Skyler: All of us would haha



Favourite type of music?

Brandon: Rap
Skyler: Hip-Hop and Dubstep
Brandon: Hip-Hop/Rap



Favourite Film ever?

Skyler: Goofey Movie
Brandon: Happy Gilmore
Mike: Spartacus



What mobile phone (cell phone) do you have?

Mike: iPhone 4
Brandon: Droid X
Skyler.Johnson: Impression



Favourite Gadget?

Brandon: Cell Phone
Skyler.: iPod
Mike: My Apple computers



Favourite Website?

Brandon:Youtube
Skyler.: Youtube for sure
Mike: Gotta go with YouTube

Emotion: Finally, do you want ask Decerto a question before we do shoutouts?

Skyler: Does Decerto plan on branching out anywhere, more so than what they are? Any big plans for 2011.

Answer: We have big plans for 2011, as far as expanding and I assume you mean USA, we could implement that, it would just require having dedicated staff to do so. It's definately an option however and something we want to go into.

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Mike: What is the most important improvement for the Decerto community headed into 2011?

Answer: I think the biggest improvement will be increased coverage at LAN events, more money into the website, better functionality with a new system and generally a better experience all round.

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Skyler: Any possible way to get onto one of the decerto podcast? very entertaining!

Answer: You're welcome to come on anytime, we did previously try to get you on the podcast however you were not at your PC at the time! When we start them again we'll make you our first guest.




Emotion: Thanks for taking the time out to do this, any last words?

Brandon: Thank you and Shoutout to EoD 2011. www.twitter.com/FeaRSharp

Skyler: Shout out to anyone who supports EnVyUs and what we are doing. Carlos our Community manager, Yurpi our Editor, and Joe our Public relations manager. Fwiz & Trumpf. The Whole Envyus Roster. Shout out to all the gamers casual or competitive. 2011 is yours. #Envyus! Www.twitter.com/iForePlayy

Mike: www.twitter.com/hastr0!

If you want more information on the EnVyUs team, head over to their website at www.teamenvyus.com