2:26 AM - Psych0sis: tell me a little about Jake Ohana.
2:27 AM - Psych0sis: (like what you do for a living, hobbies interests)
2:29 AM - Ohana: I'm currently working as an engineer for the city I grew up in. I've been a part of competion my entire life. I grew playing hockey, tennis and competing in surf and skate competitions.
2:30 AM - Ohana: I'm currently training for a marathon run and care far too much about health and nutrition.
2:31 AM - Psych0sis: So obviously you know I brought you here for your experience in competitive gaming but lets start with the basics. Where did your passion for gaming start?
2:33 AM - Psych0sis: just tell me when your answer is done by typing a "-"
2:34 AM - Psych0sis: for future reference
2:36 AM - Ohana: I started at a young age. My first console was a Sega Genesis and my two favorite games were Sonic and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Eventually I found a playstation and spent a lot of time playing Chrono Cross). I was late to the PC gaming scene and my first PC game was actually Counter-Strike which I began playing in the era most commonly refered to as CS 1.5. As someone that was always chasing more competition I found this to be a new challenge that needed to be tackled.
2:37 AM - Ohana: -
2:39 AM - Psych0sis: So what drew you in and kept you playing Counter Strike for almost 15 years now?
2:45 AM - Ohana: Well, 15 years is a stretch, I would say I played during roughly six to seven years in total. After I reached moderate success at the time in the older versions of Counter Strike I had to focus more on school as I was working to keep good grades with the goal of going onwards to college and I was currently competing in surfing and tennis tournaments. What I've always loved about Counter Strike is the teamplay aspect. It relies on moving players around various points of the maps at strategic timings and locations to play a sort of real-time chess match that not only tests the strategy and mental aspect to outsmart your opponents but also the reflexes of each player. Having to balance not only your own struggles but maintaining the emotions of your teammates through the ups and downs is what always drew me back. The wonderful relationships you make while striving to improve not only yourself but your teammates can never be forgotten.
2:45 AM - Ohana: -
2:48 AM - Psych0sis: So you say you slowed down on playing for a bit to focus on school and education. What do you think of players nowadays forgoing college and going all in on playing professionally?
3:00 AM - Ohana: I applaud anyone willing to follow their passions, however, I am hesitant to say I fully support the cause. As more money comes into E-Sports it seems to be more possible as a career. However, the nature of video games always changing not only the various patches of the games but also the actual games themselves makes the professional choice seem like a fleeting opportunity due to the amount of time spent mastering something that may change and then you find yourself having spent a large amount of time on something that has been phased out. That's not to say you should never follow what your passions are, because nothing is worse than spending time doing something that makes you miserable. I don't want to come out too strongly for or against, as I find gaming to be a personal hobby which I would not want to profit from or encourage people to try to make a career out of it. Although I do recognize the amount of passion that is put into all competitive gaming titles from both spectators and players. I respect that emotion, but to an up and comer I would try to be very realistic with the goal they have in mind because very few are able to make a living and we've yet to see a large number of competitors turn it into a lifelong career
3:00 AM - Ohana: -
3:06 AM - Psych0sis: You started playing back in the old days of esports, where sometimes the top prizes for some events were like $500 for the whole team first place. How did your parents feel about you putting in so much time every night playing a video game?
3:06 AM - Psych0sis: imagine that question was before the last one btw i forgot to ask it
3:08 AM - Ohana: i need a few, im chattin with my dad sorry
3:08 AM - Ohana: gimme like 10
3:08 AM - Psych0sis: all gucci
3:09 AM - Psych0sis: theres only about 2-3 more questions
3:16 AM - Ohana: ok
3:23 AM - Ohana: Good question, when I was about 15 years old and had achieved some sucess with my first Counter Strike team I had a sponsorship with my team where we were given brand new PC's and all fees that needed to be paid were as well as providing compensation for LAN events. This made my parents quite uncomfortable especially after winning prize money online. They did support it, but were quite nervous about me recieving money and talking to people roughly 10 years older than I was over the internet, on top of them sending me prize money and sponsorship gifts. I think that's a fair thing to be concerned about as a parent. They were always my biggest fan regardless of what I chose to do so I never had to worry about them not being behind whatever I chose to do.
3:24 AM - Ohana: Ultimately, so long as I budgeted my time between school, sports and games I had full control of what I spent my time on
3:25 AM - Ohana: -
3:28 AM - Psych0sis: You brought up an interesting point about the esports industry getting more money funneled into it nowadays. Where do you see the industry going and do you think it could reach a point where it could be like an NHL, and MLB etc.?
3:37 AM - Ohana: I think the E-Sports industry is a unique case. It has problems that traditional sports do not have. It needs to contend with competitors in each game's genre as well as keeping up with increases in technology. Hockey will always be hockey, there will not be a new update to the game that could potentially and drastically alter the skillsets required to play whereas if you look at an E-Sport you will see an ebb and flow of popularity of a title as well as wild changes in the game due to either patches or new releases. A good example of this is the splintering that occured within Counter Strike as the game began to wane in popularity do to the splintering of its population between the new version known as CS:Source and those that wanted to remain in the older version known as CS:1.6. Another issue related to E-Sports is when technology changes so much that the skillsets required are so much different than what a current professional uses that they become obsolete. My concern for anyone looking to become a professional and have a lifelong career is to consider what happens when rather than playing with mouse and keyboard or gamepad or controller the games are instead played in virtual reality. All the skills that have been honed and practiced are now essentially reset and you as a professional have been put right back to the same level as everyone else and you're potentially out of a job. Whereas a sport like hockey or baseball, the goalie or pitcher or any other position isn't going to have its core mechanics altered in a way that your career is threatened unless you've become lazy in training and work ethic. I suppose I do not see E-Sports reaching the stability necessary to be at a point like traditional sports due to the nature of competition inherent in the gaming industry
3:38 AM - Ohana: as each competing company is always seeking to push the envelope and become the next big competitive game all the while technology is progressing
3:43 AM - Ohana: . This is not to say that E-Sports will not provide careers and a great spectator event, as I have personally be a part of plenty of great events both competing and viewing. I am simply always thinking long-term and in my time I've seen plenty of games come and go, and it seems that it is only a matter of time until the newest eye-candy arrives and splinters more of the viewer base of a particular title. However, a new generation is coming of age and that is not something to ignore. Only time will tell in this case!
3:43 AM - Ohana: 0
3:43 AM - Ohana: -
3:47 AM - Psych0sis: So just one last question Jake. I know you said earlier you see gaming as a personal hobby of yours but where do you see yourself in the scene going forward? I see your on a main team, are you playing for them?
3:47 AM - Psych0sis: i guess its 2 questions in one :)
3:55 AM - Ohana: Currently I am not playing for my team, nor do I believe I will in the future. I see myself phasing out of actively playing in competitive gaming, though I still occassionally play for fun with my old teammates and still entertain the idea of a semi-active coaching role. As boring as it may sound, life has caught up with me and I simply do not have the time needed to practice to remain at the competitive level to help them compete while following all of the other things I've been drawn to in my life and career. I have offered what time I do have to act as a coach and a stand-in should the need arise for my teammates should they need any assistance. As I mentioned previously, you don't forget the times you've spent both the good and the bad. Our team had some ups and downs, despite it all we came together and progressed as a team and I'm quite proud of that. In today's environment this is quite rare in my eyes and many people have forgotten the team aspect and see others as stepping stones to their future rather than partners. Should they ever need my help either in game or in life I will be there to provide whatever assistance I can. I wish them the best of luck in and out of game, that they all can reach each of their goals in life.
3:55 AM - Ohana: -