I started gaming in the year of 2005, the very day that the Xbox 360 was released to the public (November 22nd). As you can no doubt guess I was very young at the time (currently aged 18 now). On December 2nd of the same year, came Call of Duty 2 where I was introduced to Gamebattles. However It wasn't until the year of 2007 that I started playing competitively, Yes those were the Call of Duty 4 days. Arguable the best Call of Duty game ever made to date and one of the most anticipated games of that year.
I am more of a casual gamer now looking to expand into something that has been my dream. Information on this can be found below, but first I would like to explain my gaming history.
Electronic E-Sports (2007) was basically nothing, it still had major growing to do especially within the United Kingdom. To be a part of the era, to be involved in those early years is something amazing, something of which 99.9 percent of today's gaming community would have never experienced. To see the scene at where it is today is phenomenal. I can gladly hold my head up high and say it has been a pleasure, an honor and a privilege to have taken part to grow an industry from nothing to something.
It's been a struggle to get where I am today I won't lie. I faced trouble everyday trying to walk away from a life of sorrow, I tried to live life right but I was just barely getting by since money was way too tight. The thing is, When I was in High School and getting money I felt some what "untouchable" I felt like I was someone. So, I just splashed my money out like it was nothing. £100 plus here and there on pairs of jeans, £40 hair cuts, shoes left right and center, ridiculous amounts of money spent on headsets etc. You name it if I could afford it I would buy it, until one day it all came crashing down then things became a struggle as I said above.
I used to get called a freak, lay about, bum, worthless no gooder and for what? All because I was earning money off a gaming console? I was paying for my own living. Food, drink, clothes, and was even giving dig money to parents when I stayed in their home. I was still in High School at the time and was paying my own way. Not much can be said for the teenagers in school these days. The best thing about it all was I never even went to a LAN event. All the money I earned was through online events. I got my own flat just before I turned 16, I had various jobs, paid and voluntary some I absolutely hated others I loved, one of which being Gamerbase.
However, down to the real reason why I've wrote all this about me. I've thought long and hard over this these past few weeks. It's something which I've been working towards for years. I have finally got to that point in my life where I can say "I've reached my goal" I have the fundamentals in place to create, manage and venture into the world of Video-Game Journalism. This is going to be my main goal to achieve. The road will be long and hard, but I'm passionate enough about this sector and will see it through no matter the cost.
Past history as a player:
Quality Gaming | @qGqualityGaming
As previously stated I started my career on Call on Duty 4 under the @qGqualityGaming banner. Quality Gaming were considered to be one of the finest teams to embrace the Electronic E-Sports industry at that time. The organisation was led by none other than Mike Slagmolen and Sam Patrick Kendall who is more known by the name of SK SammyK, since he joined SK Gaming as their Console Manager in later years.
Anyway, I was recruited by qG NightFox who later proposed to the team that would we be interested in representing Quality Gaming. After a couple talks back and forward we accepted the offer that was presented to us. After a few weeks of playing under the Quality Gaming name, the team was dropped for reasons that weren't disclosed to us. However I was allowed to stay on and I took up more of a staff role within the organisation. This is where I started getting chummy with Sam (qG DonkeyKong)who I can not thank enough. Sam took me under his wing and was sort of a mentor. I looked up to him on near enough everything. The guy was an inspiration, without his help I wouldn't be the person who I am today. First time I've ever said this publicly and he doesn't know any of this either. He was truly a great friend.
Years later think it was around 2011 we discussed Quality Gaming and I said I must have been about 11-12 or something when I joined. Might have got mixed up with the age but I was young, something of which Sam couldn't believe and we had a laugh about it. An 11-12 year old being being scouted for an organisation was something that was never really heard of (mainly because of the squeaky voices) and my god was I squeaky back then but I had talent. This was the year that I met my long lasting friend (Kieren Prescott) who I would later team with through various organisations. After Quality Gaming disbanded I was lost. I didn't know what to do or where to go. Therefore I was inactive from 2009 (Modern Warefare 2) up until 2010.
Rasta Gaming | @RastaGaming
It was nearing the Call of Duty: Black Ops launch date and was aged 14. I talked to Kieren about making a doubles team for the game and since he agreed I then approached Rasta Gaming in regards to representing their brand on the up-coming Call of Duty title. (Keep in mind that they never had a console team under their brand before, while the minimum requirement age was 16). I Filled out the necessary application which received amazing feedback. It was considered to be one of their best applications ever (Sadly it's un-viewable since they've had a revamp on their website)
A week or so past from the application date and we got accepted by flying colors, Call of Duty: Black Ops was finally here and so was Rasta's new adventure. Me and Kieren wasted no time in getting to grips with the game while making a name for Rasta Gaming on console. As time past we were achieving good results within online tournaments, gaming websites etc that I once again approached Rasta and proposed a four man team. Needless to say that was accepted and at the age of 14 I was managing the console side of things and our team. This gave me some great experience and learn't a lot of things from this opportunity.
Frantic Gaming:
When we decided to move on from Rasta Gaming it was nearing the end of first season on Gamebattles. I was closely watching the ladders and one team stuck out above the rest, due to their placement and record. It was immaculate. That team was indeed Frantic Gaming. I decided to message Sunny who was the leader to see if they were recruiting. After a few messages here and there, we we're officially apart of the roster. The team consisted of Me, Lewis, Callum, Kieren, Sunny and Stonned.
As a team we took the Gamebattles ladders and online circuit by storm. We we're the Spring 2011 Gamebattles Ladder Champions as well as the Variant ladder champions. We won various @360Icons tournaments as well as other online tournaments. For the most part of the Gamebattles seasons our record was immaculate, obviously until one day we finally got beat. The hype surrounding our defeat was some what shocking, the news around the Eu teams spreaded so quickly it was actually un-real. The day that we got a "Loss" on our record my message system was getting spammed, people thinking "Frantic aren't invincible they can be beaten" and of course the team who beat us Amplify Gaming bragged about it so much, and quite right to. Kudos to them for beating the best online team on Call of Duty: Black Ops. Some people may think "he's over exaggerating" but what people need to remember is, we fought for that title. We had every right to be known as the best Eu online team for the game. We as a team proved time and time again that we we're a force to be reckoned with. That's why we were earning money from our day-to-day daily gaming, the results proved that.
Skitlite Gaming | @SkitLite
As time past from our first loss Frantic Gaming where slipping. I'm not saying for one moment that we should never have lost any game, everyone losses in life and it's how you improve. Our record currently stood at 103 wins to 12 losses before me and Kieren left the team to pursue other options.
After a month at looking around for organisations to represent I had an idea. I decided to take the best players from Frantic Gaming and Amplify Gaming to make a solid core four man team. Which consisted of Me, Khaliel, Kieren, Newtz, Greeny, Stuart and Lewis. Something I forgot to mention earlier was I ran my own Gaming Business. I employed a person called Austin Felix Hodge who had a brother who was running his own organisation. I then put in an application to Louis's organisation following a good reference from Austin.
For the remainder of the Call of Duty: Black ops game we as a team represented the Skitlite Gaming oranisation once again winning many online tournaments. With success after success under the Skitlite banner, we we're approached by a Fariko team who wanted to merge in the hope their chances of winning an up-coming European Gaming League event would pay off. Not to tear the team apart I declined the request and so comes the end of the Call of Duty: Black Ops story, and of course the story of being a player. I was inactive for Modern Warfare 3 and Black Ops Two as I solely concentrated on staff roles.
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