TCM-Gaming Console Manager Michael 'Emotion' Kent's fortnightly feature, this week he sits down with TCm-Gaming's Halo 3 team captain Juho 'Zaoc' Uustialo to talk about the upcoming ECL event and his thoughts on Halo Reach.
This feature is the sole opinion of the author and does not represent the opinion of TCM-Gaming or the opinion of any affiliates or partners within the Esports Entertaiment Network.
The European Console League (ECL) is all anybody in the EU console scene can talk about right now. With a potential £7,000 on the line for the Halo competition alone it is set to be the most competitive LAN that Europe has ever seen.
With teams coming from all over Europe to attend ECL I decided to sit down with our very own Halo 3 captain  Juho 'Zaoc' Uustialo. The Finnish superstar heads up a young 4 man team that has divided the Halo community. Are they simply Online warriors or could this team be the next big thing that the European Halo community has to watch out for?
Let's let Zaoc answer!
For all the people who don't know who you are, can you introduce yourself?
I'm Juho Uusitalo and I live and study in Helsinki, Finland. I'm 17 years old (turning 18 next month) and I'm the captain of TCM.Halo 3.
What's life like in Finland for a 17 year old?
Well I would say it's almost the same as living in any other European city. North Finland and the countryside are different though. Basically, it's cold here.
How did you first get involved in Halo?
I was a fifth grader and went to play this thing to my friends house called "xbox", which I had never heard of before. The game was spectacular, so I just had to get it. I also had to buy Xbox Live as soon as I got internet.
Which Halo did you start on?
Halo: CE, the one and only. Halo 2 was my first ever online game.
What do you think of the changes from the original? Many people slate Halo 3 as being the worst Halo so far, would you say that is accurate?
It has definitely changed a lot from CE. I would say Halo 3 isn't as fun to play alone and without a team as the previous titles. At least competitively. Halo 3 is more about teamwork and players can be good individually much easier, just by putting on those hours.
What are you expecting from the next and possibly last Halo when Reach is released?
Hopefully they can combine the bests of each Halo-game. The game looks promising, with the right rule-set it should be as good as or better than Halo 3. Hoping MLG will find a way to make it more fast-paced.
What were your thoughts on the BETA?
Didn't enjoy it too much, Bungie's rule-set gets me furious with all their hammers, armor locks, plasma launchers etc. But it was fun to play when you didn't take it too seriously and that was the point of it.
HALO Reach - Will it appeal to the competitive gaming scene? Or is it simply 'just a bit of fun'?
Best thing about it and worst thing?
Best thing was probably the diversity of the game and worst was armor lock, lol.
For those who havent played the BETA (aka me!) what is Armor Lock?
It's an armor ability that gives you 5s of invincibility, putting your fist to the ground and if someones near you when it ends they lose their shields. I thought it was really annoying, especially when there was 4 guys spamming it.
Ok enough about the gameplay, lets talk about the team. Can you give a quick intro on what each player does in the team?
We have Iso J, the guy who gets the snipe and empties the fridge.  Procis who helps him slay and Robba who does what is necessary or the dirty work. Me who takes the objective and keeps the team of hillbillys together, lol. And last but not least, our lovely coach Puupaa who times the weapons, shouts stuff and spends his every penny on bars.
As the captain of the team what do you see your main role as? Player or Captain?
Both, I have to play my role in the team right and at the same time keep the team focused if they get too wild.
Do you argue much as a team?
Not really. Of course something little if it's a day when nothing seems to go right, lol. We are good friends and have known each other for a long time so we all get along better than fine.
You have a reptuation in the Halo community as online warriors. Obviously with ECL coming up it is your chance to show otherwise. What preperations will you be going through to make sure your ready for LAN?
The European Console League (ECL) - July 30th - August 1st
We will be practicing hard online and having 2 pre-LANs. One at my place the weekend we leave against the second best Finnish team and one in Manchester Gamerbase vs. Fnatic, Dignitas, Adversity + 1.
You often LAN at your house with other Finnish teams but judging from scores they are always a one sided affair. What makes you strongest team in Finland?
Our chemistry and knowledge of the game has made us the best in our country. Me, Procis and Iso J have been dominating the Finnish Halo 3 scene for 2 years now, which has made the Finnish scene even smaller.
So if you weren't as good then the scene would be bigger?
I would say so. There has been complaints that the Finnish Halo 3 tournaments don't have any point as there's only competition for the second place.
Thankfully for TCM you are the best! How do you think you will compare with the top EU teams at ECL?
We can compete with them for sure. Really it all comes down to how we play on the tournament day. They have the upper hand of course, most of them have great deal of tournament experience and even competed at MLG. It's not going to be easy, but who likes easy anyways?
What's your prediction for top 5 at ECL?
If we don't include ourselves then Power, Fnatic, Dignitas, Phenomenom, Adversity.
Which members of the Halo community are you looking forward to meeting the most?
There's a good bunch of guys I look forward to meeting; TCM guys, Scandinavian brahs, Adv, fnatic & hopefully some other Finns.
Are you expecting any other Finnish teams to attend ECL?
Originally there were 2 teams interested beside us, Redemption can't make it due SloQwer having work and others not wanting to replace him. There should be coming another Finnish team that's being formed just for ECL, hopefully they can come. The CoD4 teams think they can't compete with the best EU teams + can't make it because of money, so we will see only Halo teams from Finland at ECL.
What will be the biggest challenge for you guys?
Getting to a comfort-zone at tournament play and just playing our game. We have a week to adapt to LAN so thats not one of them.
What's the best thing to say in Finnish to taunt your opponent?
Well the most used here is "OTA VÄHÄN LEIPÄÄ", which means take some bread, it's pretty lame, don't know where it started.
Any other unusual cuss remarks?
Perkunas. It has a complex meaning, usually it means the devil, the word comes from the Baltic thunder god named. The Finnish Dudesons (if you know who they are) just say it's the father of satan!
What's the plan after ECL for the team?
Attending EGE and after that who knows. Maybe we start playing Reach if MLG picks it.
Finally if you did win ECL, what would you do with the money?
Probably would buy a new phone,(my old one's battery is attached to the phone by tape), a TV, because I don't own a one and finally some lemonade for Robba because he doesn't have enough age to come to a bar.
Any shoutouts or last remarks?
Shoutout to our supporters and haters. Keep on eye out for mine and Robba's dualtage, coming this summer(hopefully)! Also a huge thanks to TCM's sponsors and supporters: CoolerMaster, Mad Catz, CM Storm, Cyborg Gaming, Multiplay, GamersUniform, PowerDrive Computers, Bouncer4You & Meron Court!
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