Fnatic - A profesional gaming team

Basics of xertion

Name: Milan Veeger
Date of Birth: 04-07-1986
Location: Breda, Holland
Marital Status: Single
First FPS Game: Soldier of Fortune 1
Likes: The feeling when you won a final
Dislikes: James Blunt (hate that retard)
Food preference: Sushi (I eat tons of that stuff 3+ a week)
Favourite Song: All-time: Dire Straits - The sultans of swing, atm Dirty South - Let it go (Axwell remix) I can go crazy on that track.
Favourite Movie: The Boondock Saints
Favourite Model/Actress: Eva Mendes.
Favourite Actor: Kiefer Sutherland / Nicolas Cage
Favourite Map: Inferno
Favourite Weapon: Awp
Favourite player: Frank 'vivid' Leenaars
Motto in Life: Enjoy it while you can.

xertion

Advanced

The Origin~

I choose ( e)xertion because I liked the meaning of it and that it has a link with gaming because sometimes it's very intense and you have to concentrate a lot. And of course when I was 13 I thought the X looked wicked sick!

xertion with fnatic source at SLKS

The Configuration~

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700
Motherboard: Asus Blitz Formula
Graphics: XFX Nvidia 8800GTX
Memory: 2 GB
Hard Drive: 232 GB
Monitor: BenQ FP937s+ 8ms

The Achievements~

3rd - i32
2nd - Digitalsace
1st - SLKS #13
1st - i31
1st - ClanBase EuroCup XV
1st - The eXperience 2007
1st - CGS European Online Qualifier
1st - Lan79
2nd - i30
1st - Netgamez 2007A
1st - GrandMasters of CS;Source
1st - i29
2nd - SLKS #10
2nd - EuroCup XIII

xertion - Doing what he does best!

The First Game~

The first time I launched css, I went on a server with friends and the map was de_piranesi. I got my ass kicked so bad that I just wanted to go back to R6 Raven Shield . But it didn't took me long before I got hooked on the game. I loved the money situations and the need of tactics to win a game.

MOUSE SETTINGS:

Windows Sensitivity: 6/11
Mouse dpi: 1600
Mouse Pad: Everglide Titan FNATIC EDITION
Mouse: Razer Deathadder
Mouse Skates: no
Mousefix: no
Mouse Drivers: Razer DA driver
Mouse Acceleration: off

Milan- side shot

MONITOR SETTINGS:
Monitor Hz: 75 old tft :(
Digital Vibrance: 33%
Vsync: off
Desktop Gamma: 50%
Antialiasing: off
Anisotropic: off

CSS SETTINGS:
Resolution: 1024x768
Ingame Sensitivity: 1.2
Crosshair Size: Medium
Crosshair Color: Different on every map (mostly green)
Crosshair Translucent: 0
Dynamic Crosshair: 0
Ingame Gamma: 1.6
Radar type: Transparent
Ingame GUI: no

Introducing xertion!

Hey can you introduce yourself to us and give a little bit of trivia that no one knows about you?
Hi my name is Milan Veeger, I'm 21 years old and as you all probably know I play for the fnatic.css team. Except for gaming I'm currently at the photography academy. I still live at home but if everything goes according to plans I'll be living in Amsterdam at the end of this summer. Hmmm now let me think about telling you something you really don't know about me, ok, I pay 15 euros every 2 weeks to get a tan. Yeah I know it sounds ehhh well.... you know, but hell if I don't, I look like a typical stereotype indoor gamer and that's not what I'm going for *laughs*.

Milan with Sauce Team!

How did you get into computers?

Well I think I just grew up with it. We had our first computer when I was 9 or something and I played some shitty F16 game.

What attracted your fancy to gaming and now pro-gaming?

I think I liked gaming a lot because I could just shut down from real life for a moment and be in a whole other world. When I had worries or whatever I think gaming was a way for me to forget those things for a sec. (so heroin junkies out there, start playing games instead). Also the fact that I started playing games online with my real life friends made gaming a lot of fun.
I think what attracted me to progaming is simply the hunger to become the best. The first time I experienced a prize ceremony on stage I was sold.

Poser!

Which clans have you been part of?

2ez (a clan I made with vivid and some other friends at the start of css)
Mach9
Starlike
Flame-Instinct
Openmind
epitaph
Northern Darkness
temp
Fnatic

Making of Fnatic!

How did the team of fnatic.cs source come into existence?

Wow, I really have to dig in my memory now. Ehmm ok long story short, I played in Starlike with vivid, then proph asked 3 of us to join flame-instinct and play with him and his teammate. Then at some point AirRaid joined the party so the line-up was vivid, proph, AirRaid, Gigre and me. Then airraid took off to compete in the Quake4 scene. Then Blaze came along to replace AirRaid. Couple of months later AirRaid decided to play css again and he took Gigre's spot. Then on 31-7-2006 vivid died in a car accident. We were very shook up but we desperately wanted to continue gaming because that's what Frank (vivid) would've wanted as well. Blaze left the team so we had to find 2 new players and there were neonice and darky (the clanbase admin who had quite some nasty skills up his sleeve). That's how the line-up was established. Oh wait, Blaze is retired and ylSs just took his spot (old member of Team EDiT who always were our main rival back in 2006).

Fnatic.Source v1.0 - without yLSs

A lot of reports suggest that you guys are the only ones who can take on the strong North American teams. What's your view on this?

I must say I'm very curious about that myself. Yes, I do think we stand a very good chance against the NA teams but clearly we would not be the only ones who can take the NA teams because Birmingham salvo already proved that. Nothing more I can say really. It's hard to estimate if you never even played them.

The current roster underwent a big change with Blaze taking a step back, what does yLSs bring to the team?

Yes it's a big change indeed. Blaze is a really great player and friend of ours and he's been with us for quite sometime so in the beginning it always feels a bit weird with a new guy on board. But we couldn't wish for a better replacement then ylSs because he is a great guy and very motivated too. We had lots of fun in Birmingham at the CGS Combine and I think it's very important that a team connects in and outside the game.

The team didn't get drafted into the CGS and am sure you've been asked a thousand times "how does it feel?" but I'd like to know your first thought (at that instant) & if it can be compressed down to one word or one sentence.

It felt like the ground sunk beneath my feet.

The general managers picked the teams they were the most familiar with, did you feel not having a familiar face to back you up hindered your possible draft?

I don't think they picked the team they were the most familiar with because first of all, 'fnatic' who can't be familiar with that? Second, in 2007 we had been to every possible event we could and won most of them. For all I know most of the people thought we were the best team out there so it was impossible not to be familiar with us.

with team-mates - Who got the balls out?

What are your thoughts for 2008? The team appears to have lost some steam, do we see a turn around soon?

Yes I think when we didn't get drafted for CGS we all got a little bit demotivated and we had less fun in gaming then we used to. But I feel that we're back on track again. We're working on new tactics right now and that feels like a refreshment. It's also good to have ylSs in the team now because lately Blaze was holding us back a bit because he was not as motivated as we were. I have no doubt that 2008 is going to be a great year for us as well.

Can you describe the relationship you share with each of the team members?

I think have the same relationship with everyone of the team. They're all great guys and when we go out or anything we always have a blast. It's good that we all have a good sense of humour. I'll put them all in a category: darky is the sarcastic one - proph tells stupid jokes, so stupid that they're funny - AirRaid has such a dry sense of humour a towel would be jealous - with Blaze you just start laughing when you look at him - ylSs I believe also a very dry and simple sense of humour. And I think I'm the most crazy joker of all, I should get a medal for acting like a complete retard sometimes.

LAN Gaming

What according to you has been the most funny situation in a LAN event?

Well actually it was on our way to a LAN (i31). We were at the airport (Schiphol) and we were desperate to find starbucks. Me and AirRaid knew there was a starbucks cafe somewhere but we couldn't find the damn thing. We weren't thinking about giving up though and we kept searching. Suddenly we looked at the clock and our plane was already boarding.
We got to the security/metaldetector thingy and there was like a HUGE waiting line. We told one of the security guards that we had to go first because otherwise we'd miss our plane. He told us we could and everyone had to put his stuff in the box (as you know). Suddenly we were running to our gate as if it were the Olympics.
I couldn't stop laughing because there were a couple of people sitting in the hall filming us with their mobile camera and we were passing by like a couple of morons with keyboards and stuff in our hands. Also everyone had to pull up their pants because we didn't have time to put on our belts after the metaldetector *laughs*. Fortunately we made it just in time. Most hilarious thing ever I guess.

xertion with proph - Getting Married?

Do you play poker when you meet other gamers? Who are the fun Source pro-players?

No not really we just hang out and drink a couple of beers most of the time. Some fun source pro players are ehhh HaZ, Olander, the entire MYM crew (cool guys) also some of the guys from reason are fun dudes. But there are tons more believe me that's a hard one... So many out there.

What has been the funniest situation (in-game) according to you?

Wow that's so hard because there are tons of funny things happening every day . Ehhhmm well from what I can remember was last week when we were playing a pcw. My whole team got killed and one of us killed 1 of their team. So it was me versus 4 of them. Instead of saving my gun I said on ventrilo: "Ok guys don't worry I'll solve this" (funny thing is I'm not much of a clutcher). So I ran at the bomb spot where they planted and I said: "Ok guys here comes number 1" and right after that I killed 1 then I kept announcing the kills and each time I killed 1 right after I announced it. "And now, the finishing touch!" and I killed the last one and defused *laughs*. Well it might not sound funny when you read it like this, you had to be there (on ventrilo).

Getting comfy with darky!

Which LAN event you think you will remember for the rest of your life?

The experience

You've travelled a lot attending LAN's, any country you'd like to visit?

Yes, the US or Japan.

Real Life

Time to Tee-Off!

In real life whom would you consider to be your role model and why?

To be honest, no one

Which is your favorite book/magazine?

Snoecks - Literature, Art, photography, nature, architecture magazine.

xertion on vacation - Has a ring to it?

What is your choice in cars and why?

My choice in cars. Well I'm currently driving a Volkswagen Lupo which is a great car but I only hate it's color (lila). So overall I like volkswagen cars. But if I can choose all cars I'd say HUMMER ... I love those big ass arrogant Schwarzenegger pimp mobiles!

What kind of music do you like listening to?

Well I'm really into house music nowadays but I like almost every style of music to be honest. Hard rock, soul, r&b, blues, rock, pop, house, hard style, techno and some more.

xertion getting groovy!

Do you play football? If so then what spot and why?

No I don't

What do your parents mean to you? Are they encouraging of your e-sport activites?

My parents mean very much to me. I'm very happy that I have a good relationship with them. Even though they are divorced, I still have a lot of contact with both my parents. Yes, from the beginning they've been very supportive in my gaming activities. I always give them a call after an important match at a LAN tournament (so most of the time after a final).

Have you ever given thought to switching games?

No, never.

xertion with vivid

Whom do you consider to be your idol in the online world?

My old friend & team-mate Vivid because he was motivated, great in game instincts and went from noobie to a very impressive aimer in no time.

Tactics & Tips

Why aren't there in-game screen shots here?

What are the basics needed to be a good player?

You should be able to remain calm in an important match with lots of people watching. You should know all the maps inside out, have good reflexes & aim, play a lot of 5on5 matches to improve your game sense and of course you need a good team supporting you in game.

How often do you'll decide new tactics? How do you come up with new ones?

Well the funny thing is. Last year we came up with very good tactics and we used them the entire year. Unfortunately at the end of 2007 most of the teams finally found out what we were doing so since then we started making new ones again. We don't really come up with brand new tactics all the time but most of the time we slightly change/adjust our old tactics.

Definitely has a killer aim with the ladies!

What are the in-game roles of all the players?

AirRaid is a rifler (and at some positions awp) + the tactical leader, he calls the tactics.
darky is a rifler
ylSs is a rifler
Proph is the first awper in the team and also plays with rifle
I'm the second awper and also play with rifle

Are there any tips you can offer to new Source players out there?

Don't stick with the pubbing too long and if you do, play deathmatch to improve your aim. Start building a team and keep practising with it to get a good game sense. Of course the most important thing is, buy Razer gear!!

xertion <3 Razer

Why did you chose to play Source and not 1.6?

Because my friends started playing it but mainly because I'd have too much catching up to do because 1.6 already had such a huge community and I knew it would be much harder to get to the top. Also I fell in love with the in game graphics of Source when I first saw it.

Departure of xertion

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

I see myself working as a photographer for a marketing company (or maybe start my own)

Do you want to concentrate on college or do you want to play more computer games?

Well for now I'm going to continue playing with the team because I really enjoy it but this year in September I will start my studies in Amsterdam for 2 years (Photographic design). Maybe there's a chance I still have time for gaming next to my study but I can't say yet. Anyway, until September I'll be spending time on both gaming and improving my photography skills.

At this point I'd like to interject and mention xertion's Pictures Please have a look at them, he has some real talent there!

Who is the man now eh!

I have noticed it myself but there's a marked difference between fnatic and other esport organisations, what do you think is the difference?

Fnatic is one big happy family. They are great and professional organisation but they're not too formal the whole time.

Given a choice would you stay with fnatic or join the CGS?

Stay with fnatic

Poster boy

Any last words/praises/comments/shoutouts?
[quote]- Thank you too Elroy for your time. You really know how to bomb someone with questions .
- A big thanks to our sponsors - Razer, Everglide, UGAME, Coolermaster
- mirc quakenet join: #Always[V]
- Can't wait for UGAME, I've seen the beta release and it rocks (keep up the good work guys).
- Quint (blaze), hated to see you leave the team but it's how it is. We had a great time with you (especially on LAN) I'll see you soon, we'll find a party to go to![/quote]

Thanks to alexanderflemming.dk for the wonderful pictures and several other websites who can contact me personally (and I'll add your link) or flame me publicly (I'll still add your link, but like you less) for using their pictures without thanking them.

I would like to thank xertion for spending so much time answering these questions and still acing those games in Source. Takes a lot, kudos to you Milan.

And to darky, proph, AirRaid and ylSs - You're next!

Good day and have fun reading the article (incase you're one of those guys reading this page first) or hope you had fun reading it (like normal people).