Bcrbo Reviews ZOWIE EC1 black & G-TF Speed - HeatoN & SpawN

Call of Duty 4, as so many team FPS games got its bread and butter somewhere and the true base of all things competitive team FPS is the idealised and world-over adored Half-Life 1 mod, Counter-Strike. The idea was so genuine in its simplicity that it immediately hit off and eventually became the sole reason to buy Valve's break-out title for thousands.

The game became an international success and companies started to invest in its competitive branch, forcing players from all over to combine their individual skill sets to form a coherent unit and partake in LAN tournaments in exotic, cold, bewildering environments. As with all eSports titles, the game's initial best players would receive adoration and become idols in their true right for aspiring wannabes. Counter-Strike was no different and before long, the game's first legends were born.

I call them legends not because they just fragged the most or were simply the first to win big. Sure, they often brought innovation to a game that was in its baby shoes and would come up with new ways of securing frags and or the wins. Heck, perfecting existing strategies was often enough to break away from the pact. They were legends because they consistently excelled and transcended their respective game communities to become worldwide e-celebs.

Sweden was ripe with them. Abdisamad "SpawN" Mohamed grew to fame when he was noticed by Sweden's, back then, biggest talent Patrick "ScreaM" Roth and proved to possess over lethal aim that allowed him to rack up kill after kill in rounds that had several thousands $ on the line. Eventually he was given a shot in teams that were prone to win big titles and his initial reputation of super sub for SK-Gaming paid off in 2003. He helped the team win everything that was possible to be won and by the end of the year he had convinced his team mates and the global community of his resolute and steady aim.

SK.swe with HeatoN & SpawN at WCG 2003

The original CS hero, though, was surely Emil "HeatoN" Christensen, the man who mastered the spray and created one of the first fan bases in eSports. He utilized his innovation and ran with it, having movies made and getting LAN win after LAN win. On top of that, their deal with the fresh German organisation SK-Gaming gave them a certain notoriety, being the first Counter-Strike team to be contracted with a set salary. All of this mixed together formed a teenager that was unique in his own right and lived the dream so many thousand others hoped to be part of some day. He was paid to play games, after all. Who wouldn't like to have that job?

As the years progressed and the LAN victories (World Cyber Games, CPL Winter & Summer, Electronic Sports World Cup amongst others) grew to stellar heights, as did their reputation in gaming. Since 2003 both of them spent years playing together and the duo had become an integral part to SK-Gaming and later Ninjas in Pyjamas and everbody knew their faces. By now people in Sweden would stop them on the streets and ask them for autographs and if you'd see them walk up and down at international events, you'd think they were otherworldly, strutting around (over)confidently.

Being part of the elite of Counter-Strike 1.6, they both grew tired of the training regime that was needed to win games. The long hours and constant travelling got to them, coupled with the fading excitement they took out of it all. The experience was no longer a privilige but a chore they needed to take care off to get paid. Emil "HeatoN" Christensen chose to leave the scene the earliest but remained active on the sidelines. He became a General Manager for Stockholm Magnetik during the Championship Gaming Series' lucrative seasons, with modest success. He had understood the marketing game like no other, connecting his face and brand to QPAD, back then.

Abdisamad "SpawN" Mohamed lasted a bit longer in the scene and made several stops and comebacks since 2007. He has played for nearly all of today's top teams and was active in H2k Gaming most recently, even though that story did not last either. In the mean time, he had also worked hard to market himself with his background and experience. Especially in Asia, the remarkable SK.swe player made a name for himself.

The duo were reunited at the 2008 founded ZOWIE GEAR to become the faces of the gaming gear company as well as use their extensive knowledge of the products to become consultants on new products. They ended up doing the same for BenQ and it was no surprise when both companies ended up sharing their marketing experience and both started to target the high-end competitive gaming market.

With us Call of Duty 4 players being constantly on the look-out for the next product that is giving you a slight edge over your opponent, that regs better and fits your needs. I was given the ZOWIE EC1 black mouse and the ZOWIE G-TF Speed mousepad, which were created as part of Emil "HeatoN" Christensen and Abdisamad "SpawN" Mohamed's views on how the best gaming gear should feel & handle respectively. On the following pages, you will be able to read my experience on the mouse & pad and how I experienced them.

HeatoN & SpawN as part of ZOWIE GEAR