Viperio Academy at EPIC.LAN: “It’s all about continuous improvement”

After having a tough EPIC.LAN we sat down with Viperio Academy’s Nick ‘NCX‘  and Shane ‘Shane‘ McGlinchey to reflect on this year’s EPIC.LAN and their future.

How are you finding the event and how is it compared to prior years?

Shane: This event has been smoother than other years. I mean the summer LAN was horrible because it was just too hot and they fixed it too late. But I can’t fault this one. I think it’s very good this time.

NCX: With the teams as well, I think it’s a good mix. Almost all of the Div One teams are here which is really good.

Shane: People have been complaining about the seeding as well, but I’ve not seen too much of that, I don’t think it’s a problem.

NCX:I think it’s just hard when there’s lots of low seeded teams there’s like a difference between like 20 and 40, but in skill level,  if you’re the top 10, you’re gonna beat them regardless. But then the weighting is different, so that’s a point.

How do you feel as though your EPIC.LAN 44 went?

NCX: I think we should have won that game [against Dusty in the lower bracket]. We played a bit poorly, like a bit below ourselves, but we finished the same as last time, seventh to eighth, so we’re happy with that, but we’d like to go on to top five or six at least. For us, HLTV is the main goal.

Shane: The goal was top six. Going into it, I said, look, top eight’s okay because it’s what we got last time. First LAN we came top twelve, second LAN top eight, and this one I wanted to top six. It was just it just shows a bit of improvement. Yeah, regardless of the teams that come it’s the placing that matters. I would settle with top eight. It’s not the same as last time. Especially because we played against harder teams, but it still shouldn’t matter. We should have beat Dusty, we played poorly, unfortunately.

You mentioned about losing to yourself rather than losing to Dusty, why do you think that is? You have got a lot of young players, is it due to a lack of experience or just mistakes?

NCX: But it’s not even like young players, because Liam’s the youngest, but he’s not making a lot of mistakes. It is a range of things.

Shane: I think people must feel the pressure and get nervous.

NCX: It gets inside people’s heads, for us it is like our third LAN. So compared to other people who have been here for like 10, 15 LANs or something.

Shane: We had a couple of issues on Friday and we fixed the issues going into this morning. Going into the the playoffs yesterday, even though we lost, I think, and then going into this morning, we fixed most of those issues, we had lunch and we come back and they all just popped up again, unfortunately.

And you (NCX) are moving to Dubai?

NCX: Yeah, so technically this was not a mix, but I left in in January or December and Zuuphler joined. So they had a few new strats I didn’t know, so Shane had to say “Okay Nick on this round you’re doing that”. So it is a shame Zuuphler couldn’t have come, but I still knew lots of stuff so it’s still good that I could join in.

How how do you feel as you’ll get along with you new addition?

Shane: We brought in Lakee a little bit late. We had to finish last season’s ESEA with a load of stand-ins because we couldn’t find anyone late enough. We got relegated from main because of that issue, it’s not a great excuse but it’s the one we’ve got. We had to get rid of fett1s and then we brought in Zuuphler who is some 17 year old talented Serbian, so I yeah, I think he’s really great. And I said that to Nick as well as without taking away from you, Nick, and he agrees as well without taking away from Nick because he’s (Nick) just he has played amazing this LAN. But if we had Zuuphler….

NCX: Last night in the playoff game, I played really shit on dust but that is one of Zuuphler‘s best maps. Especially on A ramp, he could just delete them coming up whereas I was just whiffing.

Shane: Especially in that you don’t have the protocols.

NCX: I haven’t played team CS since December, I’ve just pugging with random Eastern European blokes. So like I kind of got out of like the team mentality sometimes but I think it’s been pretty good.

Heading forward with a new roster, do you think you will be able to solidify yourself in Div One and Main of UK CS?

Shane: I think we need more time because we got our five a little bit too late and we’ve struggled with practice and prac time and and getting things down properly. Some people have different ideas of which ways they want to practice. So one week we practice one way and and then next week the whole thing changes, which is fine because we have this thing where we have team talks every Sunday, and one of the points we always bring up is any improvements, no matter how small, right? So this is just what we’re trying to do.

NCX:  I think especially today beating Glitchtech where we lost to them in UKIC and we beat them 2-1. We have the skill and the talent to do it but it is about consistently delivering.

So, Nick, how do you think they will play and do you high hopes, will you be following?

NCX: Yeah, yeah, I tried to stream of the games, but I feel the addition of Lakee is quite good by bringing experience and lots of different ways to the game like new ideas, he’s got by experience with other teams and he can help bring a different type of structure.  Shane’s a great IGL. They’ve got the core building box, to make a really good team. I think we still need time in the server and time in officials. I mean especially officials. By getting time here at that would be really helpful, so I’m sure they’re going to do great things.

Thoughts on the UK Scene?

Shane: Everyone keeps arguing for no reason and it’s the same people, it’s really annoying.  I try and be as neutral as possible.

NCX: We’re very neutral to be honest, I feel. When we playing Glitchtech everyone comes to stand behind us and they want us to win.

Shane: I make sure all my players don’t type on Twitter or anything, it’s just childish and it stupid. And then these same people who type, I get shit talking, but it’s different, you know, when you break up people’s stats and shit games and then make montages about them. These same people then go on to complain how how bad the scene is. And I think the ego is too high because if if I’m sitting here and I’m one of those egotistic players and I’m constantly thinking, ah, they’re shit and I’m typing to them they’re shit but then four months later I need a new player and they try and join my team. I’m just going to think, oh, you’re shit and that player will never get the chance to try and play. Because the whole of UKCS hates each other, or loves each other at the same time.

NCX: It’s lucky as well it’s like doing like a big org technically, so we especially try not to say anything wrong at all. You have brand to represent and then in return you get promotion, which is great. yeah, there’s lots of really good players, also lots of toxic players. So if everyone will just smile a bit more, be friendly. It might work out be better.

And then any closing words from you two?

NCX: Team played well this LAN. You [Shane] guys will come back to next time.  I’ll be in a mix, looking to beat you guys.

Shane: Next time, we just need to get top six, because that’s the improvement and consistently top eight.

NCX: Every LAN we have been to so far we have beaten top eight. Beaten expectations every time, which is really great. And this time maybe not really the same level, but improvement.

Shane: Seeded nine, we got eight, so I mean, we’ve beat the seeding everytime.

Do you reckon you’ll be back for another EPIC.LAN?

NCX: Oh, yeah, every single one. I not gonna miss it. I’ll come back in the summer one. I think it should be a mix.

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