Yeah. We’re pretty sure this isn’t the members of LEGS either.
Legs. We like them. Not as much as we like arms for some reason, but legs are good. We also like brains, but that’s not really a surprise now is it? Undead Ed generally finds the human saying “she has legs all the way up to her [brains]” rather amusing. He views that in the same way you all view a lollipop. Except it’s a meaty version of course.
LEGS – who are not quite as edible as legs – are a Starcraft 2 and Dota 2 focused clan who boast as a member ‘Fluke’ from Polarfluke who runs a monthly Starcraft 2 competition. Another member familiar to the community is Kyle “Congo” Wolmarans who is currently a commentator on the MWEB Inaugural Dota 2 Cup. That’s not their only claim to fame, but leader Ryan “xeRa” O’Doherty can tell you more.
As fate would have it, literally hours before this article was due to go live, Ryan let me know that LEGS were now officially part of pew gaming… but for a “trial period”.
‘LEGS’. Interesting name – how was it decided on?
Honestly, it is still a work in progress. For the DoGaming beta cup we were called the Mugiwara Pirates. We then changed to team LEGS for the seeding division. It came from my nick I use for Dota 2, which is KPOP_LEGS.KR, so there is no real reasoning behind it. As I said, it is still a work in progress.
When did the clan form?
Officially we formed earlier this year, but 5 of the 7 players have played in teams together going back till early 2009. We remained good friends and carried on playing competitively with each other whenever we had the chance.
How many members are in the clan now and what is the clan’s organisational structure?
Currently we are sitting on 10 members:
- Ryan “xeRa” O’Doherty – Leader
- David “Numb” Guimaraes – Co-Leader
- Tristan “Bouncy” Bridger – Player
- Mohamed “seeM” Lorgat – Player
- Leon “Flarez” Wong – Player
- Jason “Daekinho” Hunt – Player
- Wing “Wingster” Cheng – Player
- Matthew “fluKe” Merks – Manager
- Kyle “Congo” Wolmarans – Helper/Commentator for Dota 2
- Louis “iLLyRiaN” Neilson – Helper
The clan focuses on Dota 2 and StarCraft II exclusively? No other games that prove a distraction?
For the time being we will remain solely on Dota 2 and StarCraft II. This was a clan formed with friends who had the same goals and motives at the same skill level. So we probably will not add any players in any time soon from other games, mainly because we are not involved in those communities and do not know the people active within them. We also are not looking to expand right now, we are more focused on bringing ourselves up in the scene, improve as a team and individually and hopefully in the future make a breakthrough internationally.
The clan is obviously focused on competitive gaming and is pretty involved with a number of tournaments. Any tournament highlights?
Results:
- 3rd in the DoGaming beta cup for Dota 2;
- 3rd in the DoGaming pre-season seeding division for Dota 2;
- 2nd in the DoGaming Alchemists Cup for Dota 2;
- Currently busy with the MWEB Inaugural Dota 2 Cup.
Prior to team LEGS official formation we all have had success in our respective games within South Africa with many top 3 finishes as well as first places in various competitions.
What upcoming tournaments will LEGS be participating in?
We will be competing in the DoGaming League when it begins. We also have players competing in the DoGaming League StarCraft II Premier and First Divisions as well as in the NGL (NAG Gaming League, hosted by our manager, fluKe). We will also be competing in the upcoming PolarfluKe StarCraft II and Dota 2 tournaments.
Your clan manager runs his own monthly competitive Starcraft 2 competition – care to detail the competition?
Hmm, I think I’ll let him answer this one
Matthew “fluke” Merks – PolarfluKe is an organization providing as many opportunities as possible to the local community, looking to reach a higher level of professionalism and skill level through monthly and weekly tournaments. At the moment PolarfluKe is hosting StarCraft II tournaments for:
NGL Online StarCraft II League (NAG Gaming League culminating in grand finals at rAge 2012);
MSSA Online Schools Championships for StarCraft II (Mind Sports South Africa event for pupils in high schools, which is treated as a provincial qualifier, resulting in the awarding of provincial colours for top high school students);
MSSA Online Premier Championships for StarCraft II (Mind Sports South Africa event open to all registered MSSA members, resulting in the awarding of provincial colours and access to national qualifiers, ultimately resulting in national colours and the chance to be part of the team to go to IeSF in South Korea later in the year).
Additionally PolarfluKe will resume its StarCraft II tournaments in a weekly format soon, as well as commencing a King of the Hill Dota 2 cup and monthly Dota 2 tournaments.
Are you guys actively recruiting players? If so, how do you decide on who is right to join you and how should they make contact?
We are not actively recruiting players. Though it is not to say we will not recruit players at some point. I think in our team there is a lot of emphasis on attitude; if you have a bad attitude we will not want you. If anyone in our current team’s attitude starts slipping we will reprimand them. I suppose that is a very vague answer, but if you wanted to join us you would have to have the right attitude, goals and motivation. You will also need a sense of humour and able to be professional where it is applicable.
What are you hoping to achieve in the future as a clan?
We are taking baby steps at the moment, competing in everything within South Africa, improving ourselves as a team. As for the future, we will start entering more international competitions trying to get known. We are still planning on having a discussion about our long term goals but right now we are just focused on what is going on around us now (short term goals, basically).
In regards to professional – or competitive gaming – what do you as a clan think needs to be done to raise the profile of South African gaming?
That is quite a tough one to answer. We are so behind the rest of the world with competitive gaming it is unreal. I mean Sweden’s largest national Television channel is going to broadcast the Dreamhack Finals live, and we can barely get 20 people to watch our local streamed games. I definitely think that it is a lot harder for us, considering our infrastructure disadvantage. But that does not mean it cannot be done. For the time being people just need to be more proactive. Do the little bits that they can, the Dota 2 casting has been amazing and a good step forward for the Dota 2 scene. People also under estimate the power of sponsors, and do not appreciate the sponsors when they come on board. Simple things like tweeting to thank them can make sponsors incredibly happy. We need to actively show sponsors that we are appreciating what they do and that sponsoring is making a difference to our brand preference.
Which clan do you respect?
It would have to be team Liquid (teamliquid.net), as they started out as nothing, have become one of the biggest teams and news coverage websites for e-Sports, even growing so much they have kept to their roots. They aren’t doing it for money or fame they do it because they love doing it. A group of individuals who love gaming, where other teams that have become big and famous the core has shifted since they started, but Team Liquid hasn’t lost that core!
Boring stuff over…
If you weren’t a gaming clan you’d be…
Taking studies a bit more seriously. :P
If you had to choose a cartoon character as your mascot – who would it be and why?
Though an anime character, rather than a cartoon character (yes, there is a difference!); Monkey D. Luffy. Our previous team name was Mugiwara Pirates, which is the pirate crew from the anime One Piece. The Main character’s name is Monkey D. Luffy and he is just an inspirational badass!
If you guys could all agree on it, what would the clan’s music soundtrack for going to war be?
Oh man, this would cause such a debate between us I’d hate to think about it. Personally I would say: Two steps from hell – Tristan (Choir version).
Thanks for your time – is there anything else you would like to add?
I believe eSports is the future. An incredible new industry that is opening up, but like all new and upcoming industries the breakthrough takes a lot of hard work. Globally it is coming through, but we in South Africa need to start making that break as well. Which means that everyone will need to do their part, be it hosting competitions, sponsoring a player/team, being part of a team competing, or just supporting your favourite team, watch the streams when they are online and actively show that you are there watching and supporting. Make a Twitter account and try get things trending, share your favourite sponsor’s page on Facebook, like them follow them on Twitter. All those small things together can make a huge difference.
Website: www.polarfluke.co.za
YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/polarfluke
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/polarfluke
Twitter: https://twitter.com/xeRaaaa | https://twitter.com/Tristan_Bridger | https://twitter.com/PolarfluKe
If you are keen to feature in this column in the future, please feel free to contact us at info@zombiegamer.co.za and we’ll think about – after you’ve sent us a sample of your braaaaaaiiiiinnnnsss.
Remember to get involved. By simply commenting on the clan profile, you stand a chance to win a case of Ozone Energy Drink. Ozone South Africa are also looking for clans to sponsor and by participating here you already have made an impression and impact.
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