This week’s eXtravision is hogging all of Monday’s spotlight and will continue to do so until June 11th, when the UGC Season 7 Highlander games begin. Registration is still open, so sign up now or join one of the 506 teams already on the board.

Tuesday May 8th

For this week’s ESEA Invite coverage we put the TF2 legend Pyyyour in the driver’s seat, with his team mumbling in the video for the Mihaly’s Flow vs High Rollers Gaming match on Gravel Pit.

Wednesday May 9th

The TF2 community came through this week with some awesome original content. Check out Ruri Adati‘s Tumlbr post featuring an amazing collection of original TF2 fan art. Over on the reddit side of the internet theskabus has the TF2 sprays you’ve been looking for. Yes, the animated cat ones.

Thursday May 10th

With this week’s patch, UGC participants and winners get to rejoice and show off their shiny new medals designed by Ruskeydoo.

Friday May 11th

While this match isn’t through Pyyyour’s perspective, we get to see the full force of Mihaly’s Flow against Quantic Legacy on Gravel Pit with Salamancer and Dyonysus on the commentary.

Saturday May 12th

Oen and Chimp cast the Dota 2 Reddit Round Robin Finals for the losers bracket. The match between Trihards and Sorry For Winning goes live 13 minutes into the video. An intense 90 minutes later the winner was decided.

Sunday May 13th

If you’re fiending for more Dota 2 action, check out the DotaCinema YouTube channel and their weekly Top 10 plays.

 
Cheers!

I could write an engaging biopic of Mannered Mercs. But because I’m lazy, I think I’ll use their most excellent self-description:

“Behold! Our fine clan. This is a clan made by comradeship and friendship that has been tested in the field of honor. We are a well civilized group of individuals that enjoy the finer things in life and appreciate things such as: good humor, proper grammar, hats, tea, and TF2.

We are currently an official team in the UGC Highlander League. Why you ask? We compete simply because it’s fun, and as the wise Tandy once said, ‘If you’re not having a riveting time while playing TF2, then you are performing the actions incorrectly.’”

Amen to that. If you’re not having fun, you’re doin’ it wrong.

eXtv: When was Mannered Mercs formed?

:MM: Hellsive: Mannered Mercs was formed around February 2011 when I got fed up with trying to find a team to play competitive TF2 with. It started out with me and 2
other people, but we now have close to 25 people in our group. It has been one heck of a year, and I cannot wait to see what lies for us in the future.

eXtv: What have your results been so far?

:MM: Hellsive: Tremendous. I barely thought we would get much more than 5 people to join, but thanks to a few right people and some hard work, we have truly become a
team. We are pretty tight not only as a team, but friends who just love TF2 and are willing to give all they’ve got at it. I also have to give major credit to our
Demoman, Mshrmpower who really has been heaven sent for my team in terms of getting some solid team work flow and insight on strategy. Not to mention his insane demoman
skills.

eXtv: What are the team currently playing in? How do you expect to finish?

:MM: Hellsive: Right now we are currently in the UGC Highlander NA RED Steel sitting at 12th place with plans for the top. (As if 4/7/12, they’re sitting pretty in 6th
place out of 103 teams. Congrats!) We have more than enough talent to get there, and with the rate we are going, I don’t see much standing in the way of that. It may
sound a bit foolhardy, but I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t think it was true.

eXtv: What is your usual practice schedule?

:MM: Hellsive: Usually we practice about 2 times a week with some great teams on Fridays and Sundays, and we have a lot of fun while learning about that weeks map. We
even dabble in some 6′s on a random night on the week and that is great fun especially with a few drinks in you.

eXtv: Does each class have a specific person? Or do you shuffle players around?

:MM: Hellsive: We try to keep people on an assigned class because we are just good at what we do, and to deviate away from that would be an injustice. Plus I don’t see
much reason in shuffling people around because you lose focus on your core class, and you can’t really master it that way.

eXtv: Where do you want to go with the team?

:MM: Hellsive: I would love for us to go into the UGC Platinum League to test our resolve against some of the best highlander teams around and of course reach the top.
Over the summer we are flipping around the idea to try out hand at some 6′s and see how that pans out. Otherwise we are just going to keep on playing!

ROSTER

Scout – CapsLock

Total hours in TF2: 1859

I’m funny and nice. I don’t like to step on toes but I have little tolerance for people who aren’t willing to learn or are closed-minded. I’m a pretty cool guy I’d say but most people I know wouldn’t say so. I have trouble focusing on things sometimes. Also I’m strangely good at telling what people are eating if I ear them speak over mic with that food in their mouth… And that’s what I have to say about that.

Why/when/how did you start playing competitively, and what is your favorite thing about it? Would you encourage your friends to start?

I started playing about 10 months ago. Because I wanted to play with a bunch of people from my server. I joined through a few friends and it was great.

If you could change one thing about TF2, what would it be?

I’d change my mind.

What is your favorite weapon in TF2?

The vanilla scattergun.

What do you need to work on most in TF2?

My movement as scout and not rushing into fights.

What is your favorite scholastic subject?

Art.

What’s your gaming setup?

I have a computer and thing.

Soldier – Drbadfish

Total hours in TF2: Too many (2000+)

I’m a college student who plays a lot of games. Not much else to say really.

Why/when/how did you start playing competitively, and what is your favorite thing about it? Would you encourage your friends to start?

I started playing comp tf2 about 2 years ago with the ETF2L highlander challenge. My team didn’t get out of the group stage but it was a nice experience for me, and I met a few nice people. (Shoutout to Blue Rage) My favourite part about it is that the pressure is there to do well and you need to be able to perform under that pressure. It seems strange, but I like being able to set aside any nervousness or hesitation and just play, and help my team to victory. I would encourage my friends to try it if they’re interested. I wouldn’t go out of my way to say “hey dude, you should download this massive game spend around 500 hours learning how to play well and then play in a tournament with me for a shot at $10″ If they’re interested that’s awesome and I will help but I’m not going out of my way to “convert” anyone.

How long have you been playing competitively?

About 2 years now? I’ve only been playing “seriously” (as in 6v6, esea) for one season” Otherwise I play highlander to introduce players to competitive games.

If you could change one thing about TF2, what would it be?

Please valve, give us more crosshair options. Especially one where I can outline my crosshair with a black line so that using a bright crosshair doesn’t cripple me on brighter maps.

What is your favorite weapon in TF2?

My favourite “real” weapon has to be the original. I love quake and the original just takes me back.

My favourite weapons even have to be the mantreads and the market gardener, for the amazing and hilarious kills that you can pull off.

What do you need to work on most in TF2?

I need to actively play more, I guess. I only really log on to scrim or pass an hour on a quickplay server. If I started actively working on my dm and trying to improve I would get better.

What is your favorite scholastic subject?

Right now it’s math, but it seems to shift every few weeks.

What’s your gaming setup?

Radeon HD 6950
Intel Core i5 3.3ghz
Razer Deathadder
el cheapo $20 keyboard, but it has blue lights so I bought it

Pyro – Tandy

Total hours in TF2: 1944.6 as of now.

I teach kids art during the day, then come home and play video games all night. It’s a pretty good system.

Why/when/how did you start playing competitively, and what is your favorite thing about it? Would you encourage your friends to start?

Hellsive ( our fearless leader ) asked me to be one of the first players on a Highlander team he was trying to get together. I didn’t get into it for any particular reason, at that point I hadn’t really followed any competitive TF2 at all. I just thought it might be fun!

My favorite thing is getting to play with good friends and play against skilled teams. I encourage anyone to play a little competitive TF2, it’s much different then
playing in pubs.

How long have you been playing competitively?

Since summer of 2011.

If you could change one thing about TF2, what would it be?

More misc items for the Medic!

But really I would like more fixes for the game, less crummy re-skins.

What is your favorite weapon in TF2?

My strange Axtinguisher is my precious.

What do you need to work on most in TF2?

Learning when to commit to a fight or back out.

It’s hard to see an ubered medic and not want to airblast him back. That gets me killed a lot on the field, and I regret it because our team might push back after their
uber has faded and I’ll be dead…

What is your favorite scholastic subject?

Art counts as scholastic, right?

What’s your gaming setup?

I use a Gateway P-6831FX gaming laptop, a comfortable chair, and usually a cup of chai tea when I game.

Demoman – ???

The demoman has failed to report.

Heavy – Tsarbucks

Total hours in TF2: 2153

I spend way too much time playing video games because there are too many worthwhile video games to play.

Why/when/how did you start playing competitively, and what is your favorite thing about it? Would you encourage your friends to start?

I started playing competitively all thanks to Hellsive who founded the team in the first place. I really enjoy playing and succeeding as a team with friends but would
only suggest it if they are willing and able to commit the time and effort required by their team.

How long have you been playing competitively?

Roughly nine months.

If you could change one thing about TF2, what would it be?

A difficult question since there’s a lot I’d like to change in TF2. If I could only change one thing it would be a tough choice between removing unusual hats effects and adding the unique rocket models from the steam workshop. The amount of money that people spend unusual hats is appalling, especially since they’re mostly obnoxious particle effects that really have no business being in TF2 in the first place. On the other hand it would be really refreshing to see some polish added to some of the weapon unlocks like different rockets for each soldier primary.

What is your favorite weapon in TF2?

Another difficult question since a lot of the weapons are tied so closely with the classes themselves. I got to say that getting rid of spies and cocky scouts with the Ullapool Caber is tons of fun.

What do you need to work on most in TF2?

A bit of everything really. From keeping the crosshair on scouts to efficient communication.

What is your favorite scholastic subject?

History with a bit of natural science on the side.

What’s your gaming setup?

Asus “G73Jh” laptop.

Engineer – Doc’ Dastardly

Total hours in TF2: 1370

“Large and in charge.”

Why/when/how did you start playing competitively, and what is your favorite thing about it? Would you encourage your friends to start?

I don’t even remember when I started, but I love punching medics to death.
I encourage anyone to start playing, as long as they play medic.

How long have you been playing competitively?

Over a year.

If you could change one thing about TF2, what would it be?

I would raise the skill ceiling for a few of the classes *cough* Pyro, Heavy *cough*

What is your favorite weapon in TF2?

Syringe gun

What do you need to work on most in TF2?

Not having “medic aim” (I.E. learning to aim with a weapon that isn’t the syringe gun)

What is your favorite scholastic subject?

Science

What’s your gaming setup?

A computer, a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse.

Medic – guyAlex

Total hours in TF2: 2479

I play Medic and make a mean cup of coffee.

Why/when/how did you start playing competitively, and what is your favorite thing about it? Would you encourage your friends to start?

I think I started about a year ago now but have wanted to start playing competitively since…well since the inception of competitive TF2. However time/social life/being scared to approach a team sort of left me high and dry as far as actually JOINING a team until a group of friends from our little community started putting together a highlander team. Favorite part would be the teamwork. I LOVE watching a plan come together perfectly to create a win. Conversely, I also love getting drunk and assessing our losses in mumble. If we have fun during the latter I call the night a win either way.
As far as my friends starting? I would love it if they could try, but sadly they cannot into teamwork.

If you could change one thing about TF2, what would it be?

Less of the gimmicky unlocks. While I know it does not change much competitively, some of the weapons still grate on my nerves when I try to play Medic on a pub server and see nothing but Milkmen Scouts with no aim, Liberty Launcher Soldiers that cannot predict or count, and Sword n’ Board Demos without common sense.

What is your favorite weapon in TF2?

Easily the Scattergun. I don’t think ANYTHING is as satisfying to hit someone with at point blank range.

What do you need to work on most in TF2?

Positioning and movement. Never a dull moment while playing Medic.

What is your favorite scholastic subject?

Art and all things art. While I don’t find that I have enough time to devote to it these days it is what I was trained in and want to go back to some day.

What’s your gaming setup?

A PC? Actually I have a nice new box I put together recently after my old case and power supply died on me. The parts of it that I am most pleased with are the dual monitors that will become tri-monitors once I move to a bigger desk and the drawing slate that is sadly a dust catcher, at the moment.

Sniper – Hellsive

Total hours in TF2: Breaking 1500 today

Normally I don’t like to talk about myself, but I suppose I could see myself as a humble, silent guy that is willing to step up when it’s necessary. I do my job to the best of my ability, and do what I can to make sure my friends are having fun on the team. That and shooting people in the noggin is pretty fun.

Why/when/how did you start playing competitively, and what is your favorite thing about it? Would you encourage your friends to start?

I think I got inspired to do so when I was playing on a Drunken Brawl server that attracted higher caliber players that forced me to play on a higher level, and that’s really how I got my taste for it, then it was all downhill from there.

How long have you been playing competitively?

Since about Summer of 2011, so about a year now.

If you could change one thing about TF2, what would it be?

The Enforcer, the worst weapon ever conceived by Valve. Even though its not in play in comp matches, I still hate it when pubbing on servers.

What is your favorite weapon in TF2?

My trusty sniper rifle, “The Intervention.” Its based off the “best cry in the world” video. I like it because not only does it make me laugh, but those who understand the reference laugh as well. Making the game that much more enjoyable.

What do you need to work on most in TF2?

My movement, I have gotten as far as I can in terms of learning about the sniper class, now I need to work on the more fundamental mechanics of TF2.

What is your favorite scholastic subject?

Psychology would be my favorite since I enjoy the complexity of the human mind, even though I am studying to become a 3D Animator.

What’s your gaming setup?

Motherboard: M2N68- AM PLUS
Processor: 2X 2GB 240 Pin DDR2 DIMM Unbuff. PC2 – 6400Cl6
Hardrive: 3.5 Inches 1TB, SATA
Graphics Card: AMD Radeon HD 6850 1GB GDDRS
AMD CPU Processor: Socket AM2 + 2.1 GHz HD9450ODJ4BGH Phenom X4 9450e Quad-Core Processor
2 shots of whiskey.

Spy – Donka Hair Doctor

Total hours in TF2: Probably around 1200. Did a reset awhile back.

If the Mannered Mercs were a boy band, I’d be the chill Californian one who wears flip-flops to work, plays guitar, likes canoing and rock climbing, solving rubik’s cubes, playing D&D, unicycling, and programming for pleasure. Yeah, that one.

Why/when/how did you start playing competitively, and what is your favorite thing about it? Would you encourage your friends to start?

Reddit was doing a push to get gamers to try out comps so I joined a team called “Go West, Young Man”. Afterward, we decided we didn’t hate each other too much to start
up a server called Reddit West Coast TOO, and I’ve been playing UGC ever since.

My favorite thing about comps? The feeling of momentum. When no one is hitting “s” and we’re just hydroplaning through the map in an organized fury. It’s totally
thrilling.

I of course would encourage my friends to give it a try.

How long have you been playing competitively?

Since August 2010. Almost 2 years.

Wow.

If you could change one thing about TF2, what would it be?

Class updates. *Rare* class updates. I used to get so excited when the next big update would come and a new weapon would be released that would “totally change the
game” for me. Nowadays I feel like every time I sign on there’s some new something-or-other-nator. I don’t even know what the last update was called.

Also, the ability to turn off drops. I rarely craft and my backpack is constantly at capacity, giving me “backpack full” alerts in the middle of a game. It’s annoying.
I missed the days where you had to earn your weapons through achievements.

What is your favorite weapon in TF2?

The invisibility watch (does that count as a weapon?). It radically changed how I thought about FPS. The ability to play magic tricks with a person’s brain is great. When I cloak and backpedal to make them chase the wrong direction, then stab them in the back, it’s one of my favorite feelings in the game.

What do you need to work on most in TF2?

Timing and game awareness. I’ve always been absolutely lousy with strategy. Bringing myself out of the pub mentality to think about what the team needs at any given
moment, and not who I can kill next can be a challenge. Especially when you play a class that is often not directly involved in the team movement and generally has no
accountability.

What is your favorite scholastic subject?

That’s really tough. I always had a natural… like… thing… with the Englishes. But I get the most joy and interest out of philosophy and programming classes.

What’s your gaming setup?

NVidia GeForce GTX 570 over-clocked
Logitech MX 518 mouse, high sensitivity
Basic Microsoft Wired Keyboard 600
Dual Gateway HD 21″ monitors
Tiny-ass mousepad

These weekly castings of UGC Season 6 are finally coming to a climactic ending. The very first eXtv casting of the South American UCG Highlander and our casters Mikal and Moose go bold and cover the Grand Finals between Socios and BerSerKers.

After the South American debacle, Mikal sticks around and gets joined by our regular Hexagrams for the Platinum Grand Finals. It came down to 3 epic battles between Looking Handsome and Gangsta Gang Gaming. At the start it looked like [GG] was looking to make a repeat of last year and driver their steamroller over the competition, but ‘looking was also driving a big rig of destruction their own this season.

This week’s eXtravision showed up on time and featured a swank new mug. This week’s Letters to Robin was cool, some might even say really really cool.

Tuesday May 1st

Now that the Highlander scene is all burned out after the Grand Finals supernova, we switch our gaze over to the ESEA Invite teams Mighty Ducks vs. Quantic Gaming on Warmfront.

Wednesday May 2nd

Nothing happened today and that’s the perfect conditions for luring out the timid Sniper.

Thursday May 3rd

The 6v6 match of the week is a great 20 minute frag fest between Mihaly’s Flow and Classic Mixup. At this point in the season it is looking clear that Mihaly’s Flow will not be stopped.

Valve is back to the weekly update routine, no complaints here.

Friday May 4th

The post-production frag video you’ve been waiting for is finally here. The Top 10 Plays of TF2 from February 2012 features some of the most solid frag runs from across the globe.

Saturday May 5th

We have another frag run worth a moment on its own. This is eilgin‘s Moment of Glory as he laid waste to six opponents. All of this put together by El Pacho.

Sunday May 6th

As much as some of the eXtv casters would love to cast every single ESEA match, it’s just not feasible. If you’re looking to see how everyone did this week neko made that easy for you with his Recaps post on Community Fortress.

Cheers!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ggwGQ3QdZ0

The week starts out like a Level 3 sentry on the Gravelpit’s loveshack, explosive and full of WTF. This week’s UGC Highlander game was a great Semi-Finals match between Gangsta Gang Gaming and bonus! Points. Mikal and Hexagrams handled the pause and the server change like a boss and kept the stream going strong in part 2 of the game.

Valve is back in the Bellevue office as is eXtine in the bat cave with eXtravision #15.

Tuesday April 24th

Duder gets joined by Maela and the eXtv Dota Star Oen in this week’s match between Leviathan Gaming and Quantic Legacy on Gullywash.

Dr.shdwpuppet puts together a Moment of Glory that shows off Pricee making a successful last stand against two scouts… as a Medic.

Wednesday April 25th

Not much happened today. Why don’t you relax and have some cake?

Thursday April 26th

Not the best quality stream, the lag really bogged this one down but this was the closest match this week. The bout between srsly br0 and Classic Mixup on Gullywash starts immediately in this YouTube link.

I’m beginning to really like these YouTube links, they have all the relevant info you need in the link, including the match start time, the casters, and witty comments on the match.

Friday April 27th

The TF2 patch all the Australians have finally been rioting over is finally here.

In even more coverage of the ESEA Invite teams we have another match featuring Classic Mixup, this time against Quantic Legacy on yet even more Gullywarsh. About the only thing not covered in the link below is…

Saturday April 28th

The Dota 2 Reddit Round Robin tournament was casted by eXtv’s vets Oen and Chimp. You can skip right to the Semifinals by checking out this video or start at the beginning of the event here.

With this amazing analysis tool, Tharuler is doing Valve’s job for them with this rad Dota 2 Stats site currently still in Beta.

Sunday April 29th

Back in the world of TF2 Graham over at Community Fortress makes getting caught up on the Mihaly’s FLOW matches easy with this post.

Professor Gentleman’s pyro skills makes another return, this time not in another self-production, but a Moment of Glory put together by Rix.

The match to watch this week is happening Thursday, May 3rd, watch as the FLOW takes on the veteran name Classic Mixup.

Cheers

The “Perpetual Testing Initiative” allows players to easily create, share, and play Portal 2 puzzles. The Initiative comes with a simplified puzzle maker that allows that creation of mind-bending puzzles without ever leaving the game.

The puzzle maker can directly publish maps to the Steam Workshop where users can browse, vote on, and select to play them. Selected puzzles will automatically be downloaded and installed inside Portal 2.

Portal 2 holds a Metacritic score of 95% and has been awarded numerous Game of Year awards. It features expansive single and cooperative multiplayer game modes.

For more information on Portal 2 and its downloadable content, please visit http://www.thinkwithportals.com.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7rZO2ACP3A