Free to Play: That Gaming Experience

Free to Play: The Movie (english subtitles)

"FREE TO PLAY is a feature-length documentary that follows three professional gamers from around the world as they compete for a million dollar prize in the first Dota 2 International Tournament. In recent years, E Sports has surged in popularity to become one of the most widely-practiced forms of competitive sport today. A million dollar tournament changed the landscape of the gaming world and for those elite players at the top of their craft, nothing would ever be the same again. Produced by Valve, the film documents the challenges and sacrifices required of players to compete at the highest level."

(available @ both YouTube and Steam)

Free to Play: The Movie Review

Thanks Valve,

It's always been sensitive topic when it comes to gaming, the competition, the tournaments. But gamers alike had all followed the gaming scene and watched the rise of esports. It's like a sports thou, just that we practice it too. Like how soccer fans play soccers with the rest of their fans on Sunday afternoons, talking about that dive and ranting about the penalty. That's what gamers do too, getting together with our fellow, (excuse me while i say nerd) nerd friends in the comforts of the LAN shop, playing games (not forgetting shouting like crazy kids) and reminiscing "that" epic moment, and together, we created and have our very own little epic moments. It's personal. It really is.

One game, many combinations of champions/heroes/characters, millions of different players, limitless possibilities. I know it might seem like a "big deal" or are gamers actually going in "too deep", but I'm sure you'd got them too. Summoner's Dotarians alike. Even Zombie survivors & bank robbers. Any class of gamer would have their moments to indulge in. The moment when 1 quick thinking turned the table, and saved the game. That final hit at the (sorry dota fans) nexus when the inhibitor would spawn and everyone scrambled around to get their ass together, and there's pretty much so many to name. The evolution of gaming have shifted so much after the introduction of multiplayer system, and it's a whole new world out there. You get to meet people, of all sorts, and it's not just plain gaming. It's much more than that. Socializing when you make new friends and conference calling, shorting out commands and directions in dire times of needs, getting out of your comfort zone, or even to meeting new people who share the same passion as you. (i know passion is a huge word to use, but fuck that, you know that moment when you couldn't take it and launch that game).

Decision making skills, situation analysis, and also leadership. Decision making, fight or flight, that's the most common scenario we're often face when it comes to gaming, you know it, to fight, or to flee, or what should we go, what's our objectives? who should we gun down first? somebody's got to hold the "tank" back while the rest do our thing, or even, sacrificing for the game and don't get me starting on the vast diversity of people you will meet when you play games, there're 3 tiers of people you'll meet. Trolls, yes i mean trolls and they're the ones who either get their way, or they ruin the game, so.. lets not talk about them. And up the tier would be the fellow guys who share your passion. So, sitting at the top spot, from whoever gamer i asked, would definitely be the minority of gamer babes. (true story, that moment that stood still when someone said she's a girl. and everyone tries their best to impress her. Hilarious, but cute.)

And Lastly you'll never know when you have to lead, that i will have to swear, because as a follower of flows, i never thought i could pull something off and take leadership and i even managed to turn the table (probably they're low ELO) and that sense of achievement, respect and acknowledgment you earn, it's priceless. It really is. And as the guy who plays "the hooker" It's not easy fishing something out there, but i swear, the good victorious moment, it makes all the practicing seems worth it. You know it too, deep down in your heart, that smirk when you pulled that stunt off and everyone, including your opponent was in awe. And the list could go and and on, so don't even get us gamers started on this. 

Whether are we going pro or not, I'm sure esports is something that gamers alike would support and would follow. I still remember the days when we'll host matches at my places and we'll watch our games 'live' over pizza and beer (thanks twitch TV). It's a good get together for gamers, i know we're watching games when we're not gaming. But c'mon, it's called esports for a reason, so you have to give us a break. And as much as how people can lament gaming as childish or time wasting or what-nots, well, all i can say to them is; you probably haven got that "gaming experience" yet. 

Yes, that beautiful priceless gaming experience.
So, go out there now. (wait, not out there, just on your computer will do) and...
GLHF