The Gadget Show Live: The Story
Rasta.
Holl1s
foolio
Crimson King
Surreal
h0rsey
Team Dignitas
Skiddy
SM
dN
icebox
Zool
GSL Cadred Links:
Rasta. Interviewed
Rasta. Over Dignitas
Gadget Show Live Pictures - Big Thanks to the ESL
So where to begin? What an action packed two days. I suppose I better start at the very beginning. We were due to leave the house at 9am to give us plenty of time to get to Birmingham. I get a phone call at 7.30am from pgunna telling me his passport and driving license are still at my house from the last rental car and would need it for the rental care he was picking up at 8.30. I changed my alarm from 8.30 to 8.00 and went back to sleep. As you will see as you read through this post, that extra half an hour probably made all the difference for me. I got myself up and headed out the door and met pgunna to collect the car, we picked up damage and headed out with a collection of old school cd's that we have listened to going up to lans for several years now. The sing alongs were not pitch perfect but the enthusiasm was there. We stopped off for a trademark KFC outside Birmingham as this is a tradition in these road trips that in the 15 plus journeys we have made to an event, have never skipped over.
Arriving little after one it was a surprisingly smooth transition to finding everyone and within 15 minutes we were as a group and ready to go. Out of pure coincidence Messio (ESL Admin) passed us and immediately got us our exhibitors passes. He said "don't worry about the names we haven't printed everyones" and handed us 8 random names. Including pgunna as Jon Vaughn and damage as Mark Hammond. We decided it would be best to check into the hotel straight away and so heading through the colossal maze of halls, tunnels and air-susses we navigated our way to the hotel and got our rooms sorted and dropped off our bags. Due back for our exhibition game at 4pm we all headed back to the huge show. The sheer scale and size of the place was staggering. It is hall after hall of packed exhibitor stands and literally thousands and thousands of people milling around of all ages and sizes. As soon as we got to the "Gaming-Zone" Hollis was bustled onto the main stage to have an interview with dN from Dignitas and by Paul "Redeye" Chanellor in front of nearly a thousand people and heard by many more as the speakers on that stage where set to ear shatteringly loud. They spoke of the competitive side of gaming, about their EPS game the following day and also a little fighting talk from either side to show the rivalry behind the game and what it meant to each team. The game was on de_dust2 and after being well overdue because of technical problems with the lan server and general setting up issues for the lads on both teams we got the game under way. With tosspot shout casting to the masses and explaining the game to those that dont know about it. Rasta. went 5-1 up only to lose the half 9-6. The second half bought some major issues. The Imperials George Boothby (World Champion for Guitar Hero) was called onto the stage about 15 ft away from our guys halfway through a game. He played welcome to the jungle 100% perfect then missed about 6 notes on Dragon force (hardest song) getting over a 3000 note streak. He was very very impressive but the problem for us was he was also incredibly loud. The teams took their headsets off as calling was irrelevant. Final score 15-15. The Gadget Show Live 2010 closed at 5.30 pm, it was an awesome first day however there definitely was concerns as to if there might be similar problems during their EPS game the following day.
The inevitable soon followed back at the hotel bar. We got in a round and we sat round a table big enough for 8. The dignitas css team then joined us and we got about 15 people sat around this table. A few rounds and lots of banter later we headed to Weatherspoons to mix it up a bit. We had been joined by Zaccubus and Raz and our party just seemed to keep growing from there all night. We demolished 4 or 5 rounds at Weatherspoons in the last half an hour it was open before being kicked out by the slightly stifled manager, who had little comprehension that competitive gaming plus drinking is a match made in heaven. Back at the Hotel bar sM brought to the table a bottle of champagne that went down a treat. We had the incredibly rare privilege to know that damage was sick on that night right after ordering 80 chicken wings. Then going back in to eat some and buy another drink only to find myself and foolio writhing with laughter at the fact the vegetarian Crimson King was chowing down on the chicken wings. Not only was he eating chicken he was picking up bones from the plate and stripping them dry. The man is literally a king. The dignitas boys headed up to bed at midnight and half an hour later we all followed. King was not in the best of states, for some reason the chicken had given him super human strength. It took me and foolio several attempts to get him settled. He was becoming obsessive with finding the spare room key we had lost and was sure damage (who was asleep) had it. Finally after several minutes of struggling and hallway noise we managed to subdue to somewhat restless Crimson King and we managed to get our heads down. I slept on a chicken burger size mattress which even for someone of my small stature was barely enough to keep my arse off the floor. 3 hours of very disturbed sleep later (Thanks King for looking for your toothbrush at 6am) I got up to go and get some breakfast with damage and hollis from Frankie and Bennies. If it was not for this Greasy breakfast, Orange juice and dirty coffee I would definitely not have lasted the next 13 hours.
Day 2 began, we grouped at Frankie and Bennies after chowing down our greasy fry ups and headed back to the Gadget Show Live. Hollis, damage and what was left of me headed through the exhibitions to see if there was anything of interest directly related or helpful to Rasta-Gaming. I was astonished at the interest and enthusiasm of people in completely different industries to find out more and jump on board with the competitive and even community gaming scene. There is nothing in motion yet but we have made many contacts and will be speaking to all of these over the coming months and trying to further Rasta-Gaming as much as possible. This is so much down to Hollis and all the Rasta. boys for getting us to the gadget show and giving us the opportunity to speak to people we wouldnt of had the chance to otherwise. Anyway i digress, back to the reason why we are here. To show Dignitas what Rasta Gaming is about and to turn some heads. The pre match warm ups were riddled with interruptions and noise from the main stage so both teams were becoming restless. Both teams were beginning to lose excitement for the game and began just hoping that their EPS game wouldnt be affected by all the hickups we had already witnessed. Spotting this damage decided along with myself to pull the lads to one side just before the game started and what ensued from us can only be compared to the speech in the film Any Given Sunday. The lads had a lot to prove and were determined not to let anything get in there way this time, Guitar Hero or not Dignitas were going to get the full force of the Rasta. lineup. Unfortunately for Dignitas that was exactly what they got, a full frontal assault by what can only be described as an incredibly controlled, precise display of aim, game sense and camaraderie. The first half was a slight let down for Dignitas who were distracted by Tosspots shout casting right in their ear and this meant the Rasta. boys got into a comfortable 12 - 3 lead CT side on Tuscan with Dignitas never really coming out of the blocks. foolio and Crimson really showing they should drink more often with 2 outstanding performances. The second half didnt start well for Dignitas either with some outstanding play from h0rse, one of the best substitute players ive seen come in at such short notice. Very quickly Rasta. had the 3 rounds they needed and were leading 3 - 1 only to drop a few rounds to let Dignitas come back to 3 - 3. This is when conveniently foolios vent went berserk so the game had to be paused. The following 10 minutes was a very stressful time for both teams as neither wanted the break yet both know how much it can affect a game. A few motivational words to the lads again from damage as the game resumed ensured that once the Eco round was over and Dignitas jumped to 4 - 3 that we weren't going to let them have any more. Holl1s just simply let rip and before i knew it our lads were jumping out of their chairs with massive roars of victory. Rasta. had beaten Team Dignitas 16 - 7 live at the Gadget Show. What followed i think was a lot of excitement and adrenaline escaping as conversations were short flustered and interrupted by hugs and cheers. Unfortunately the Gadget Show was already closing down for the day and we had little time to celebrate so we grabbed Rich and Rickeh from Cadred and headed next door for a celebratory drink. With only an hour before trains were departing we chatted, drank and were merry. The buzz of what we had just achieved was still sinking in and the pints helped to take the edge off. We shared some hilarious stories with each other and recollected what had just happened. Sadly we had to keep it brief and the homeward journeys began. With a final team photo, thank yous to Rich and Rickeh for being incredibly supportive and a last team photo we separated.
I guess this brings me up to date really. I arrived home around 11pm with pgunna, h0rse and damage, all of us feeling slightly worse for wears and we ordered a much needed curry to refuel. Having replenished we all hit the hay, proper spent from the previous two days, still buzzing with excitement and disbelief at what we had just achieved. This brings me to today and this post so im going to use this opportunity to Thank You all. Thank you to Rasta., Team Dignitas, Heaven Media, The ESL, Rickeh and Rich. You have just changed Rasta Gamings future for the better and for that damage and I will be eternally grateful.
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 Holl1s | No thank you! You guys took a punt on us way back last may, a year later and we are repaying you guys for all your faith! Possibly the greatest two days of my css career, i mean playing on a stage itnerviews the lot, and a fantastic win shared with some of my closest mates in CSS, I'm very happy the result was amazing, gunna arky and damage amazing support from you guys, Horsey what a fuckign player last minute 3 games behind us and the man was a machine, huge respect for doing that for me buddy So three cheers for Rasta, lets hope the good times keep rolling! | |||
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| p4ul | Well played guys.. | |||
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| sidimmu | go read man well played rasta. | |||
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 Iceman | great results gj keep up the good work :D | |||
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| lauz | Great read Arks My favourite bit " I slept on a chicken burger size mattress which even for someone of my small stature was barely enough to keep my arse off the floor" Good job lads look forward to playing you in EPS | |||
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| Arky |  | |||
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| Mercy | My favourite bit - "i knew it our lads were jumping out of their cheers with massive roars of victory" :D Good read man was well written | |||
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| Arky | yeh thanks damage  | |||
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| Damage | edited :D Mercy your gay haha | |||
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| serp- | Awesome! Didnt no it was 2 matches but rly wp xx | |||
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| Morg | Congratulations Rasta.!! Well played on the win! I hope you all enjoyed the experience of playing infront of so many people. Great write up Arky/Damage, good to know what went on. | |||
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| c0nverse | Good job Rasta. love you all, great write up Arky. Come on Rasta! :D Well deserved well done :) | |||
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| Holl1s | YES MEIGHT | |||
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| Damage | Just to clarify, it was incredible controlled illness outside :D Then i went and ate my chicken wings! WEEEEEEY | |||
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 twst | good read, well done lads. | |||
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| foolio | I NEED THE SHOUTCAST LINK. | |||
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| Arky | +1 | |||
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 biggie | ||||
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| foolio | lmao, fu biggie, i was midlaugh. | |||
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| Arky | hollis trying to lick his ear!! HAHAHAH | |||
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| Arky | #63 is crim @ his best | |||
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| raii | sounds sick boys. wp vs dig, knew you could beat them! xx | |||
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| Arky | is that top 3 uk Ryan? | |||
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