markeloff: Don't want to play CS:GO

In our second interview ahead of DreamHack Summer 2012 we talk with Yegor "markeloff" Markelov from Natus Vincere, touching about the trip and experience playing Counter-Strike: Online in the K1 League, as well as the upcoming tournament in Jönköping.

As the only foreign team, Natus Vincere went to Shanghai to take part in the Counter-Strike: Online K1 League. Markelov takes us through the experience of K1 League, talking about the game and the fact that the Ukrainian team did not pass the group stage.

In the second part of the interview with talk with Markelov about the upcoming DreamHack Summer tournament, where Natus Vincere will be up against fnatic and Moscow Five in the group stage.

For those who have not seen, heard or read about Counter-Strike: Online, tell us about the game.

If I'm not mistaken, CS:O is a new game as close as possible like CS 1.6 but with some modifications and differences. There are a lot of new guns, game modes, online shop(in-game). All the servers are online. And the biggest problem in this game there are no rates at all… Which means you play with rate 7500 cl_cmdrate 30 and cl_updaterate 30

Can the game be compared to any other Counter-Strike titles it looks like 1.6.

Like I said before, it's really similar to CS 1.6 but with less of console commands.

The game is specifically targeted for the Asian market, while it's not really known to anyone in the Western part of the world. Do you feel you were able to transfer your skills as an individual and as a team, from 1.6 to CS: Online?

Easy. There is no huge difference with CS 1.6. And if creators of CS:O will change the things that we told them it will be an awesome game.

While you tested the game for the first time two days before your first matches in the K1 league, the Chinese teams had plenty of time to get used to the game. How did you experience this, did they know tricks that caught you off guard?

Actually they don't play CS:O either, they love CS 1.6 more. So the most of Chinese teams played new CS not more than we did.

Having seen your post on the social medias, I have to ask. How powerful is the bazooka and is it useful at all?

I've never played with bazooka or any other new weapon. But I saw it… it's really imbalanced but so funny.

Are there any other weapons in the game that you don't find in 1.6?

There are a lot of new weapons like launcher, fire thrower, bazookas, new pistols, shotguns and much more. But gladly we played tournament mode without new guns.

You won 10-4 against MI5 and 18-12 against HiQi in your first matches. To the trained tournament eye, the results seem a bit weird, tell us how a match in the K1 league is played.

Everything is very simple. In the first half of the game a team should win 9 rounds (9-1, 9-6 or even 9-8) if you do so in the second half you need to gain +1 round then your opponent won 1st half. The rules were a bit weird. Roundtime was 2 mins and c4timer 45 seconds.

You ended up winning four matches and losing two. Losses against MI5 and E/Teng meant a three-way tie. The scoring system in K1 meant that the two Chinese teams advanced. What is your opinion about the system used, considering how matches can have a very different end result?

It's tournament rules and you can’t nothing to do with that, but it's a bit unfair to count round difference w/ using such a strange system. The fairest way to decide the winner is to play consolidation games.

When you guys found out you had been eliminated, what feelings did you have towards the K1 experience?

Honestly? I was happy that we won't come back here for 14 more days to play semi-finals and finals. But on the other hand we were really sad that we lost… It's always said. And of course we really appreciated K1 staff who invited us and did everything they can to make our staying comfortable. So big thanks to them!

You've now been back in Ukraine for ten days. How have you been spending your time, considering DreamHack Summer is starting next week.

I had 3-4 days of vacation after China at Azov Sea with my friends before start practicing to DH.

The word is you guys have been playing a lot since the return, how badly do you want to win DreamHack?

Winning is everything! So we really want to win DreamHack Summer. By the way, we have never ever won Summer Cup in Jönköping.

Looking at your group, you will face fnatic and Moscow Five, as well as a BYOC team. What sort of expectations do you have, based on previous results against fnatic and Moscow Five?

There are only top level teams at DH this year, so it will be really hard to win it. We don't have any chance to make a mistake. But still, if you want to win a tournament it really doesnt matter who you play against - fnatic, M5 or any other. We are ready to win against any of them. The only one who can stop us - is ourselves!

Based on previous year's at DreamHack, the tournament this time has less teams and a smaller amount of prize money. How do you feel about the fact focus is shifted towards other games?

We are going there not for the money, only title of DH Summer 2012 matters. Every one knew that sooner or later it will happen. There're lot of new games that more popular for eSport community like Dota2, SC2, LoL and others.

There has been a lot of mixed opinions about Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and the possibility of it replacing 1.6 for all majors. Has the opinion about the game changed within the team, since playing it the first time?

Haven't played it yet since updates and don't want to!

While there is not a whole lot of events scheduled, GameGune will take place next month, can we expect you guys to make the trip again this year?

Of course we will attend this great tournament. First of all I really want to win it! I have never win it before - two bronzes and a 4th place... Secondly, it's one of my favorite cities in whole world. Thirdly, KOKOXILY cafe or smth like that! its japanese place there you can eat every thing you can or cant for 15 euro, its just perfect!

Markelov and Natus Vincere will play their first match at DreamHack Summer 2012 at 14:00 on Sunday, when facing off against Moscow Five.