Tom-Eric

Head of Broadcast Producers ESL FACEIT Group
🇨🇦🇳🇴
A long way from home.

[Tom-Eric @DGN_CS]

A New Chapter
===========

10 years ago I came to Germany in pursuit of a dream.

To join, actively take part in the Counter-Strike community and help contribute towards its biggest moments, I moved across the world and stepped into the world of ESL One, IEM, & ESL Pro League. Helping to drive and elevate tournament broadcasts as the lead producer on these events.

Counter-Strike has been a part of my life since I was 13, now going on 40. Since the first week of the beta, after hearing about it on a local quake server... I could never shake that feeling I got the first time playing the game. To this day whenever I load up a match, that feeling comes back.

After 10 years I reflect on all that we've accomplished as a team and the things I am most proud of.

I'm most proud of the connections we've built, not only individually, but as a community, as fans, as players, as creators. We've all come a long way, grown together and continue to build upon the rich history and the passion that's driven the game to where it is now.

Some pivotal moments for me along the way:

ESL One Cologne 2019
https://t.co/pTjYnP0Adp
- Having Mihn Le, a fellow Vancouver resident and creator of Counter-Strike, be a part of the opening ceremony for the 20th anniversary of Counter-Strike. Reaching out to him and hearing from him on what the growth of the game meant, and it's journey truly touched me. Being able to bring that connection to the fans was a wonderful moment for me.

The IEM Katowice 2019 Counter-Strike Major
https://t.co/14owis3IKx
- Earlier that same year we had an amazing major.
A legend of the game taking to the stage of Katowice for one last emotional farewell, reminding us of the mark that competition leaves on our lives. Pasha Biceps' sportsmanship and passion can always be felt and very much so when looking back.
https://t.co/SXaQaZwNkH
- We also saw an underdog story like no other. ENCE fighting its way through lower brackets from qualifiers to playoffs. ENCE did the impossible and came to face off against Astralis - an unbeatable opponent on top of their game, at their peak. Seeing them enter the arena and the moment ENCE won the first round, it's a hard one to pass up. The Finnish flag entering, the roaring crowd, and EZ for ENCE coming through into the venue. It may have been a quick finals, but it's impact has lasted.

This match and tournament had so much meaning for the players. Allu, mid tournament made it home just in time to become a father and later brought his team to the precipice of victory. And Astralis, Dupreeh had everything to fight for. Honouring his late father with a tournament win, family at his side. Emotions ran strong, as always with CS, but the perseverance, strength, and comradery Astralis showed was unmatched.
https://t.co/kA7PtnsDBe
Being able to bring dev1ce and glave into the studio post event was the icing on the cake for an event to remember.

When it comes to the fans and the community. I always tried to put them into the forefront when possible. To me, this is what CS is about. It was built by the community, as a mod, as a custom competitive mode, the community shaped the rules and format of the game that eventually became the framework of CS:GO and now CS2.

IEM Katowice 2020
COVID hit and the doors to the Spodek were closed.
https://t.co/v4HNSBgt7d
What an eerie feeling it was to be in those halls. It was devastating. All I can say is I never stepped foot on that stage. I couldn't bring myself to walk those steps to a dormant arena. I hope the feeling and emotion of the moment was there when we opened for the finals. It was unsettling, surreal, and sombre.

IEM Cologne 2021
Eventually, we made it back.
https://t.co/xnMxvGZ7rf
LAN - we whipped up a small moment to try and capture the arena feeling before starting our final match. We still didn't have crowds, but we did have the players in the same room. Finally.

IEM Cologne 2022
Returning to the Cathedral
https://t.co/kHo5JuyW79
- This is a content piece I was and am very proud of. I worked very closely with the team to ask the right questions, guide the narrative of the story, and how we would cut it all together. It was my way of bringing voice to the fans when they couldn't be there. Putting a light on the frustration and challenges we all felt. A tribute to all of us that couldn't be there together and the game that defined us.

Finally,
IEM Cologne 2023
https://t.co/7vpm7U3Fs3
The last LAN I directly produced before stepping back to look at CS from a more holistic view and handing over the reigns to a team I have a lot of faith in. The team that I worked with to develop the new EPL formatting and pushed to see how we could approach CS differently. They've done this phenomenally every since.
https://t.co/0hY3IzjNp1
For 2023 I focused on the key moments of the event, and couldn't be happier with how team presentations and the winning moments turned out.

Bonus Moment:
The Caches III - Boy that was a fun one!
https://t.co/kOacxD7WVO

These shared moments and many more are ones where I've made bonds that will never be broken. It was a dream and one that I can hardly believe ever happened.

After 10 years working this close with Counter-Strike a new chapter begins and I step back from the game. The team I've helped build over the years now has the key and continues to push CS forward with IEM Krakow this week and the next. I wish them all the luck and success in the world.

For me, I will begin this next chapter working to raise the bar for the Esports World Cup and the development of the Esports Nations Cup, leading creative and editorial for the broadcasts.

No matter where the future leads, one thing will always be true. Counter-Strike has changed my life and will always be our game.

GLHF

#Counterstrike #CS2 #IEMKrakow

[Tom-Eric @DGN_CS]

@empire_metal @MrAbbeetim Juno beach and Dieppe.

[Tom-Eric @DGN_CS]

@2easy4pietro @mousesports Ecstatic moments. It has a lot to offer yet.

https://t.co/ay0CqL9Vp5

The duels around fountain always drew me in.
Throw in a smoke or a flash and it gets hairy quick.

[Esports Nations Cup @ENC_EN]

The minds leading the teams are set.

Are you ready?

[Tom-Eric @DGN_CS]

@mulliganmovies Cheers Adam!

[Tom-Eric @DGN_CS]

A New Chapter
===========

10 years ago I came to Germany in pursuit of a dream.

To join, actively take part in the Counter-Strike community and help contribute towards its biggest moments, I moved across the world and stepped into the world of ESL One, IEM, & ESL Pro League. Helping to drive and elevate tournament broadcasts as the lead producer on these events.

Counter-Strike has been a part of my life since I was 13, now going on 40. Since the first week of the beta, after hearing about it on a local quake server... I could never shake that feeling I got the first time playing the game. To this day whenever I load up a match, that feeling comes back.

After 10 years I reflect on all that we've accomplished as a team and the things I am most proud of.

I'm most proud of the connections we've built, not only individually, but as a community, as fans, as players, as creators. We've all come a long way, grown together and continue to build upon the rich history and the passion that's driven the game to where it is now.

Some pivotal moments for me along the way:

ESL One Cologne 2019
https://t.co/pTjYnP0Adp
- Having Mihn Le, a fellow Vancouver resident and creator of Counter-Strike, be a part of the opening ceremony for the 20th anniversary of Counter-Strike. Reaching out to him and hearing from him on what the growth of the game meant, and it's journey truly touched me. Being able to bring that connection to the fans was a wonderful moment for me.

The IEM Katowice 2019 Counter-Strike Major
https://t.co/14owis3IKx
- Earlier that same year we had an amazing major.
A legend of the game taking to the stage of Katowice for one last emotional farewell, reminding us of the mark that competition leaves on our lives. Pasha Biceps' sportsmanship and passion can always be felt and very much so when looking back.
https://t.co/SXaQaZwNkH
- We also saw an underdog story like no other. ENCE fighting its way through lower brackets from qualifiers to playoffs. ENCE did the impossible and came to face off against Astralis - an unbeatable opponent on top of their game, at their peak. Seeing them enter the arena and the moment ENCE won the first round, it's a hard one to pass up. The Finnish flag entering, the roaring crowd, and EZ for ENCE coming through into the venue. It may have been a quick finals, but it's impact has lasted.

This match and tournament had so much meaning for the players. Allu, mid tournament made it home just in time to become a father and later brought his team to the precipice of victory. And Astralis, Dupreeh had everything to fight for. Honouring his late father with a tournament win, family at his side. Emotions ran strong, as always with CS, but the perseverance, strength, and comradery Astralis showed was unmatched.
https://t.co/kA7PtnsDBe
Being able to bring dev1ce and glave into the studio post event was the icing on the cake for an event to remember.

When it comes to the fans and the community. I always tried to put them into the forefront when possible. To me, this is what CS is about. It was built by the community, as a mod, as a custom competitive mode, the community shaped the rules and format of the game that eventually became the framework of CS:GO and now CS2.

IEM Katowice 2020
COVID hit and the doors to the Spodek were closed.
https://t.co/v4HNSBgt7d
What an eerie feeling it was to be in those halls. It was devastating. All I can say is I never stepped foot on that stage. I couldn't bring myself to walk those steps to a dormant arena. I hope the feeling and emotion of the moment was there when we opened for the finals. It was unsettling, surreal, and sombre.

IEM Cologne 2021
Eventually, we made it back.
https://t.co/xnMxvGZ7rf
LAN - we whipped up a small moment to try and capture the arena feeling before starting our final match. We still didn't have crowds, but we did have the players in the same room. Finally.

IEM Cologne 2022
Returning to the Cathedral
https://t.co/kHo5JuyW79
- This is a content piece I was and am very proud of. I worked very closely with the team to ask the right questions, guide the narrative of the story, and how we would cut it all together. It was my way of bringing voice to the fans when they couldn't be there. Putting a light on the frustration and challenges we all felt. A tribute to all of us that couldn't be there together and the game that defined us.

Finally,
IEM Cologne 2023
https://t.co/7vpm7U3Fs3
The last LAN I directly produced before stepping back to look at CS from a more holistic view and handing over the reigns to a team I have a lot of faith in. The team that I worked with to develop the new EPL formatting and pushed to see how we could approach CS differently. They've done this phenomenally every since.
https://t.co/0hY3IzjNp1
For 2023 I focused on the key moments of the event, and couldn't be happier with how team presentations and the winning moments turned out.

Bonus Moment:
The Caches III - Boy that was a fun one!
https://t.co/kOacxD7WVO

These shared moments and many more are ones where I've made bonds that will never be broken. It was a dream and one that I can hardly believe ever happened.

After 10 years working this close with Counter-Strike a new chapter begins and I step back from the game. The team I've helped build over the years now has the key and continues to push CS forward with IEM Krakow this week and the next. I wish them all the luck and success in the world.

For me, I will begin this next chapter working to raise the bar for the Esports World Cup and the development of the Esports Nations Cup, leading creative and editorial for the broadcasts.

No matter where the future leads, one thing will always be true. Counter-Strike has changed my life and will always be our game.

GLHF

#Counterstrike #CS2 #IEMKrakow

[Tom-Eric @DGN_CS]

@BanKsEsports Thanks James, very kind words.

[Tom-Eric @DGN_CS]

@AirwingMarine Did you get 'em?

[Tom-Eric @DGN_CS]

@A_Random_Fur @VengaBusDriver @CultureCrave @THR @helldivers2 He'd be the thread that ties it all together. And indeed this is what I had in mind. Was thinking of Four Rooms where Tarantino did this style along with a selection of other great writers/directors.

[Tom-Eric @DGN_CS]

@PunishedKingM @CultureCrave @THR @helldivers2 It all comes together in the editing.

[Tom-Eric @DGN_CS]

@Algernonab @CultureCrave @THR @helldivers2 Ever seen "Four Rooms"?
A main thread ties together 4 stories from 4 different directors. Stars Tim Roth, Directed by Allison Anders, Alexandre Rockwell, Robert Rodriguez, and Quentin Tarantino. Has Antonio Banderas, Madonna, and Bruce Willis among others. Stories intercut.

[Tom-Eric @DGN_CS]

@nikgeneburn Change nothing. Do what you want.

[Tom-Eric @DGN_CS]

@moon_moon808_ @nikgeneburn It's on the website, in your profile.

[Tom-Eric @DGN_CS]

@RealTigz @bstategames @nikgeneburn Congratulations dude! Can't wait to get there myself.