Hiko: "[We] will take time off"

30-1-2015 00:40

Spencer "Hiko" Martin took to Facebook once again to announce that he and Tyler "Skadoodle" Latham do not plan on picking up three new players, but instead will take some time off from competitions.

Spencer "⁠Hiko⁠" Martin and Tyler "⁠Skadoodle⁠" Latham were the only ones left from the ex-iBUYPOWER roster following a betting scandal from the remainder of the team, and up until now it wasn't clear where the two players are heading.

Hiko and Skadoodle to take some time off from competitive CS

Hiko posted a Facebook post moments ago to announce that they will not be looking for three players to create a team with, as there isn't a trio they would "feel comfortable with".

He went on to emphasize that neither he or Skadoodle are retiring, the duo will take some time off from competitive Counter-Strike to look out for upcoming talent on the North American scene.

You can read the full post below:

As far as Skadoodle and myself are concerned regarding our plans for this season of CEVO / ESEA, we do not plan on picking up 3 new players to continue out the season and will most likely take a little time off to see what happens with upcoming talent in the American scene. Going over our options, we have decided there aren't three players we would feel comfortable enough with in the short AND long term to make this season worthwhile.

By no means are either of us retiring. We both still have the itch to play and win, it's just not realistic at this moment in time. Hopefully by next season we will have promising opportunities and will be able to field a roster we both believe in. I have informed the leagues to mark our rosters as dead as we move forward and consider options in the future.

[*] for those who lay resting in peace.

"As far as Skadoodle and myself are concerned regarding our plans for this season of CEVO / ESEA, we do not plan on picking up 3 new players to continue out the season and will most likely take a little time off to see what happens with upcoming talent in the American scene. Going over our options, we have decided there aren't three players we would feel comfortable enough with in the short AND long term to make this season worthwhile.

By no means are either of us retiring. We both still have the itch to play and win, it's just not realistic at this moment in time. Hopefully by next season we will have promising opportunities and will be able to field a roster we both believe in. I have informed the leagues to mark our rosters as dead as we move forward and consider options in the future.

[*] for those who lay resting in peace."

hiko <3 favourite part: [*] for those who lay resting in peace

2015-01-30 00:42

10 replies

expect him at Katowice

2015-01-30 00:45

7 replies

have you read the thing? he wont be at katowice mate

2015-01-30 00:47

5 replies

Where does it say he wont be at katowice? he could just mix it up with some decent NA talents and win the qualifiers to be at the lan quali's.

2015-01-30 00:54

4 replies

thats what the article is about...

2015-01-30 01:05

CLG would stomp any newly founded team for Katowice qualifiers

2015-01-30 04:21

2 replies

Like they stomped liquid @ mlg oh wait

2015-01-30 08:11

1 reply

2015-01-30 12:39

dumb american... oh wait

2015-01-30 17:25

[*] for those who lay resting in peace

2015-01-30 01:50

[*] for those who are lying in pieces

2015-01-30 02:58

nice

2015-01-30 00:41

good luck!

dope

[*]

RiP NA

hiko will be a big person in esports in the future no pun intended

2015-01-30 00:43

+0.5

2015-01-30 00:51

weight watchers and gym? finally!

Would like it if hiko pulled a semphis

2015-01-30 00:52

3 replies

Except we don't know if he has hair or not since he always wear that hat

2015-01-30 01:41

He's got short black (maybe dark brown) hair

2015-01-30 03:43

Really? IMPOSSIBRU!

2015-01-30 05:56

[*] for IBP

[*] rip

Good decision, hopefully some invite level players will try and step it up to use these vacancies in the NA scene as an opportunity to make it to the top.

2015-01-30 00:44

I think its a great opportunity for the up and comers

2015-01-30 00:46

Vacation to Europe for scouting or research?

I thought they were just going to duo queue in MM (ESEA MM so its better) and whoever the other 3 players are that they get they would make a team with

It's *lie resting in peace* but still gl Spencer :)

Definitely a good decision!

2015-01-30 00:48

2015-01-30 00:49

looking for an eu team hugh?

I don't understand the logic in this. Hiko sounds arrogant and condescending writing this post. The "3" other players aren't going to magically appear out of nowhere. Steel is a perfect example of this situation, he found other players that he felt would make a good team with.

6 replies

he also found other players to throw a game with and end careers with.

2015-01-30 00:57

yeah but those were oldschool players that he had played with before. assuming you`re talking about torqued.

2015-01-30 01:10

Neither Ska nor Hiko are IGLs. They can't just pick up players and roll with it. They need an actual IGL. Even if one of them was an IGL they could only pick up low or mid level invite players since everyone decent is locked up in a contract. All fantasized lineups either mention players under contract or they are missing good players in crucial roles.

2015-01-30 01:15

Why does he sound arrogant??? Just because he thinks the current talent in NA is not good enough. both hiko and ska want to play at the top. And not just be a half decent team that plays esea/cevo.

2015-01-30 01:33

That is the thing, he thinks the current NA talent isn't good enough for him to play with which is a very subjective matter. There is plenty good NA players out he just chooses not to look. That's how it comes off to me. Who knows though, he's probably holding tryouts secretly and won't compete until he finds the perfect team.

2015-01-30 02:30

There is plenty good NA players out he just chooses not to look. "good", sure. but he wants more than a "good" team. he wants a team that can compete on an international level.

2015-01-30 09:14

Hiko the one and only ;)

Skadoodle will go to c9 and Hiko will be left alone hahaha

2015-01-30 00:59

-semphis

2015-01-30 01:02

I don't see why C9 wouldn't try to get one (or both?) of them. I guess we'll see how the next tournament or two goes for them with Shazam, but 4 straight group stage exits + 5th-6th at ESEA...

2015-01-30 01:26

Hiko got asked time and time again on his stream to go back to c9, he always said no. And from what you read in that statement. Hiko and Ska will look for a team togheter and not split up. So ska to c9 probaly wont happend either. In my eyes c9 is no longer what it used to be. I see more potential in teams like liquid or clg (even so i can`t stand clg).

yo hiko, epsilon got some space;)

2015-01-30 01:00

[*] RIP Hiko and Ska

[*] rip NA scene. trolololol

2015-01-30 01:03

come to europe hiko

2015-01-30 01:06

he said he would consider it if he got a serious offer

2015-01-30 03:45

I mean there would be a few options in europe for a international team, e.g. allu who is just a wasted talent in a team like 3dMAX.

2015-01-30 14:39

[*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*]

[*] r.i.p in pieces br0 huns

2015-01-30 01:16

gl bro!

2015-01-30 01:21

Drop this foo and find your own team Ska

Good decision in my eyes. Instead of tryng and slap togheter a team with midd-level invite players. Wait for n opportunity, maybe a team like liquid makes some changes after this season.

2015-01-30 01:36

He will find 3 new talents - 3 months later vacation

[We} are gay

2015-01-30 01:39

Scoots: The match is starting right now, let's handed over to the casters! Hiko: Welcome guys to the MLG Winter 2015. My name is Hiko and with me is Skadoodle. We are at the final map of the grand final. Who will be the champion, let's start with the pistol round to find out!

2015-01-30 01:42

Hiko: How do you think this game is going to play out, Ska? Skadoodle: ...

2015-01-30 01:56

Gold :D

2015-01-30 02:40

ayyy LMAO

2015-01-30 05:38

Skadoodle is not taking time off from competing, seeing as hes subbing in for Torqued and will probably sub in for them in other leagues if they ask him too.

2015-01-30 03:10

That's Hiko for you!

2015-01-30 05:16

for those who lay resting in pierce [*]

2015-01-30 03:13

I still wanna know why Hiko refuses to play with C9. compLexity seemed to get along with each other really well, probably better than any other NA team at the time. Was there some behind-the-scenes stuff that destroyed their chemistry, or at least the chemistry between Hiko and the rest?

2015-01-30 03:48

Nah, lack of motivation on the c9 roster was probably the reason, and just keep getting knocked out in the group stage etc.

2015-01-30 08:00

That's really a shame. Maybe if they get themselves together, Hiko would reconsider playing with them.

2015-01-30 08:02

Honestly I felt like them going out in groups was never representative of how they played. At ESWC and FaceIT, they went out in groups because of point differential, which I always felt was a stupid way to decide who advances (both times VP got more points vs LDLC than they did, though they beat VP) The only time C9 really sucked in groups was at DHW 2k14. That was... painful

2015-01-30 17:02

Yeah you got a point there, but still i think they just was demotivated, and they were in a really hard group at dhw14 right?

2015-01-30 18:17

DHW they had Bravado (who they 16-1'd), HR and Fnatic. I honestly expected them to advance while playing HR twice. Thought the only way they advance is if they beat HR the first time and lose the second. But HR beat Fnatic and Fnatic demolished C9.

2015-01-30 18:20

Yeah, it's a real shame though, like i said before it just seems that they don't have any motivation.

2015-01-30 18:30

Hiko demanded changes in the roster from what I understood. When everyone on C9 is friends and one person basically wants to kick someone out, its hard to allow that to happen. C9 players and Hiko are probably still on good terms, but I can't imagine the old coL/C9 team would ever have the same chemistry. Plus, new roster has so much potential. Sean is improving as a rifle, n0thing has stepped up more often than he used to, ShahZam is pretty solid, shroud and Semphis are good and then they have moments where they change the game.

2015-01-30 17:01

HIKOO ARE YOU KIDDING ME

2015-01-30 04:18

[*] for those who lay resting in peace lol

2015-01-30 04:37

And here lies the problem with NA cs. Instead of picking up some keen young talented players and just giving it a shot for the rest of the season they choose to sit it out? Why? what do you have to lose to give three other newer players a shot? If it doesn't work out you move on and you and skadoodle have made these three upcoming players better for the time they get to play with you two. If it works. Great. Either way you will strengthen the NA CS scene some more instead of taking the traditional circle-jerk route of sitting back refusing to play with anyone other than a small handful of burnt toast players. These players aren't getting any better. They are only getting worse. Sad to see these two completely degrade NA CS some more after what has happened. Man up and play out to improve everyone as a whole. It doesn't mean you are locked in. Geeze.

2015-01-30 05:08

8 replies

+1 But you know............ego problems :D

2015-01-30 05:40

I feel too bad for you to rip that post apart. Im going to be nice. YOU assume they have nothing to lose because youre putting yourself in their shoes. Instead of thinking like them in their own shoes. He deserves a break after the countless hours devoted to the game. You personally might not have an issue of playing without a break. But I also doubt, you have devoted a fraction of the time he has. So you see no issue in continuing to play. Or maybe its down to dollars and cents. If he was smart he would figure out how much money he is losing by devoting so much time to cs. People make the big mistake of assuming everyone thinks like they do. So I can see how your point of view. Just not from Hikos perspective. Gaming is a hobby in the states. Just a hobby.

2015-01-30 05:47

wtf kind of reply is this. They have both stated they still want to play at the top of the scene. They are not taking a break because they are tired of the game or burnt out. They are taking a "break" because to them no one good enough is available. That is a pathetic mentality and way of thinking. It is the equivalent of quitting when the going gets tough. Waiting for a CLG or some other team to hopefully throw them a lifeline out of their presumed hole instead of making do with what they have around them. Gaming is largely a hobby everywhere in the world. So is playing football, so is playing tennis.... until you go pro and reach the top or commit yourself to becoming one of the best. Hiko as far as I know doesn't study or work. He was salaried in c9, all these things combined make it more than a hobby for him I might not go as far as to say a profession, but it is certainly a lifestyle not a hobby.

2015-01-30 07:23

I'm not trying to say that the arguments you bring up are not valid, however I will say that you might not seem to understand what he said, or what is the message from between the lines. The problem is not only that maybe they are unable to find 3 players that are on their level (game knowledge, skill and experience) and available to make a team. That is clearly a reality, no matter how you put it and how arrogant or naive people want to be. The truth is that there is nobody without a team (and not suspended from most competitive tournaments) that is on their level. What they are doing is watching which of the "new talents", semi-pro tier level players from NA have the ability, consistence, mentality and motivation to bring their game at least to a certain level that can create a competitive team alongside Hiko and Ska. And that my friend, will take a few months. You can't "scout" a player only for 1 game and then decide to transfer him in any sport whatsoever, that would be called gambling. So to put it more clear, from my understanding Hiko's statement says only one thing: "We are taking break in order to weigh our options, since we don't want to gamble." That doesn't sound arrogant to me, it sounds like players that are not that young anymore to allow themselves to lose 4-5-6 months on a team that will not be able to stick together or create results. Patience to analyze situations and make informed decisions is a rare virtue in e-sport, and especially in the NA scene. I say props to him, even though honestly I was never a big fan of Hiko (even though he is world-class player in 2 roles), but if this decision is made on the reasons stated above, it improved my opinion about him a little bit. Sorry for the long post, Have a good one.

2015-01-30 08:42

Seems like you misunderstand my original post. To quote you: "Hiko's statement says only one thing: 'We are taking break in order to weigh our options, since we don't want to gamble.'" Im countering exactly this point in my post. I do not see this as a gamble. There is nothing to lose and only everything to gain by just jumping in and giving it a go with some younger keener players. They do not have to commit past the season, or lock anything down. Nor will this destroy their chances of getting offers from other teams. Hence I see this as everything to gain and nothing to lose. You also point out again what I already know and should be assumed in my original post seeing as i talk about picking up newer players that "there is no one on their skill level". I realise this, however im sure there are some pretty keen younger players we haven't heard of. I had NFI who nitro was two months ago, and from what I gathered from Moses in an interview half of NA didn't either, he was given a chance and proved to be a decent player and got some exposure. I am sure there are other players like him just waiting to be given that chance.

2015-01-30 09:28

hiko has been playing too long and expended too much effort to make do with a decent team. it's not hard to understand. he's been at the top of NA CS. his goal is to win a major. so, like r3gulator said, put yourself in his shoes. putting together a "decent" team of inexperienced players sounds like a great idea to someone who hasn't invested as much time into the game or played at a top level. for someone like hiko, it'd be a giant step back. he's not going to achieve his goal with a team of inexperienced players. it just won't happen.

2015-01-30 09:25

Ugh you are too close minded. Not looking at the bigger picture. 1. Said this a million times already, he doesn't have to commit, it is merely a few months trial with some newer fresh faces, what is there to lose. Worst case scenario is the team doesn't work out but these newer kids would have been given a shot and no doubt would have improved from it. In two years time one of them might even be at the top of the game and be grateful to him or ska and give them a chance when they are coming back down the ladder. You never know. 2. If he wants to win a major and keep playing at the top of CS he should be making do with whatever he can at the moment, continue playing proper scrims vs the top teams instead of viewer MM games or whatever else he is going to do. Willing to bet if GTR got removed from NiP he wouldnt be like " oh well thats it guys there is only Fnatic who are on my level but they aint recruiting at the moment so im not going to play until they do." No im willing to bet GTR has such a good work ethic and drive to win that he would go and make the best with what he had available. In turn helping build up swedish CS stronger and getting the inevitable call up again when fnatic or nip recruit. But nope, hiko and skadoodle want to sit on the sidelines and not help out their NA cs community after it has lost 4 of the top 10 best players. And yet Hiko says he wants to win a major one day? Good luck with that buddy when you aren't even willing to give back to those rising stars that could very well be the ones to do that for you. If he truly just wants a break from CS - fine take a break but it doesn't seem that way to me with wanting to win a major and still having a drive to compete at the top level. Taking a break with those statements just shows he isn't fully committed to these.

2015-01-30 09:52

Way too rash thinking. Why should they play with three people they don't know and how would they choose them? Instead they take their time and can pick those players they want to play with - which in the end can be some "new" talented player they just haven't gotten to know yet. Another plus is that they won't go out and destroy one of the current teams.

2015-01-30 10:41