I love a good esports narrative, so when I saw that superstar DPS Timo "Taimou" Kettunen was jetting off across the pond for three months with his Team EnVyUs brethren I just had to talk to the man!
Here's how it went down, eggplants and all...
So I spotted on Twitter that Team EnVyUs are flying their Overwatch team to the US and my reaction was "Damn son!" Maybe it is just because I come from the kind of games where professional is an adjective rather than a noun, but this is really exciting even for me as an onlooker! What is going through your mind right now, Timo?
It feels unreal. Before we signed hastr0 already told us that we'd go to America and that's only a month ago or so. It's already settled in a bit
It was a bit of a shock obviously at the start. Moving into America to practice for months with a 3 week warning prior is a huge deal.
Then after the thought settled in I didn't really think about it, more like "Woo! I'm going to America! Yeah!" internally
Now it's only 2 days away and I'm a bit scared.
Scared, excited, happy, sad - a swirl of emotions you could say.
It's an amazing opportunity. A lot of people have wished me well but a lot of people are doubtful that it might be detrimental to the team living together for months straight
Fucking English is hard when you haven't had your morning coffee...
Anyway!
Everyone is mature. I'm the youngest at 23 years old. Everyone likes each other. Even if people quarrel it'll probably be settled in a mature way
Yeah I've been trying to imagine what it is like; on one hand other teams will be balancing their individual schedules online, but you guys will have all the barriers to practise removed. The only limits are on how much each player can each give; does this pile the pressure on or take it off?
I don't think it adds to pressure. Obviously it'll be a bit awkward at the start before really getting used to each other and really learn about each other, but in the end I think it's really good for the team and cohesion as a whole to hang out and play together in a "LAN environment".
I really want the team become like a family
Right! In Finland if you really want to get to know your team mates you just all get naked and hit the sauna? How tough is it going to be for you to leave home for 3 months? This surely has to be a highlight in your esports career to date?
sword fight
Leaving home is definitely a big deal. I've been living either on my own, with my brothers and my gf the last 5 years and it's a big mental challenge to overcome.
The first 3 months won't obviously be a big deal. I won't be gone forever, but if we happen to schedule longer stay after the trip I'll probably take my girlfriend with me
And it is by far the coolest thing in my life so far FOR SURE.
I've been playing games more or less seriously the past 13 years and only a few years ago I really wanted to live off videogames, but I still wouldn't take it seriously enough, so it never happened.
Overwatch was the turning point I really disregarded everything else and just practiced for 5 months straight. I knew it'd be possible if I just was in the right state of mind and not half ass it, and I've matured quite a bit on the way
Your competitive history spanning across numerous team FPS titles and even MOBAs seems to have been leading to this point – Overwatch, a game that borrows from and celebrates all that has gone before it. Do you believe in fate?! It seems like you are well positioned to seize this opportunity. What are your goals right now as an individual and as a team?
If there is fate every individual can change theirs
As an individual I'm not nowhere near where I'd be satisfied as far as game mechanics go I want to be the absolute best. I strive for perfection even when I know it's impossible. I want to be remembered as a superb, talented player who was able to destroy teams singlehandedly.
As far as my personality goes I have a lot of things to improve. I really have to work on my mood swings since I'm a very emotional player and I shouldn't let it affect mine or my teammates performance.
It's probably the hardest thing to realize and achieve as an individual to keep your ego and emotions in check while competing. I feel like I realized it way too late, but I'll keep working on it
On the other topic, as a team, I want us to retain the top spot and keep it until we quit Overwatch
Even after such a short time being together everyone is ready to put fate into each other's hands - no one cares if someone has a bad day. We're human beings and no one is perfect. I think that's our biggest strength.
When I learn not to be too self-critical I'll be a bigger asset to the team too.
I'm really intrigued by your own personal battles. Thinking back to during the Closed Beta you did have a little time in the wilderness during the period where IDDQD replaced you with Lucas "Mendokusaii" Håkansson and you were almost exiled to play on the NA server! It all worked out beautifully in the end, but just how big an impact did that period in your Overwatch career have on you?
It was a huge blow to my mentality. I never accepted their decision back then. I had worked my ass off to become a better player and as a person. I have to admit I did let my personal life affect the team atmosphere since I had wild mood swings and started raging again but again as said multiple times before it wasn't towards my teammates ever.
It was just me being really sad due to not taking care of my physical health and having problems in my relationship and money. I think I left my apartment only to shop mostly and get takeaway food sometimes.
Two thirds of my days were in front of the computer. I disregarded everything for this game and then just before you were gonna be signed as a professional player...
BAM! You're fired.
It was more devastating than anything. It felt like everything had been taken from me after I gave my all, and my huge ego also didn't take it very lightly.
I can't even remember how the month not being in the team went, it felt like I slept through the whole time, then when TviQ and Mendo left I was given the opportunity to go back. None of the core 4 held a grudge.
I also kinda didn't want to go back. It's a hard thing to apologize and forgive at the same time, but what came out of it was a beautiful thing and I think we kinda bonded a bit better afterwards if you know what I mean... but there's a long road ahead of us full of dangers!
Damn, that was a good story time!
You demonstrate great self-awareness, which I think is half the battle. Personally, I've really enjoyed following your journey so far in Overwatch, both the struggles and the successes – I'm kind of visualising one of those emotionally powerful video player biographies during the inevitable Blizzard majors here... haha! I could (and would) talk about life all day, but I gotta squeeze some juicy gossip out of you, Timo. The fans demand it.
I'm still kind of wrapping my head around the logistics and implications of moving a team that is five sixths European to North America. It seems a little nutty for a number of reasons. Let me work through my thoughts here. First up, was there ever any consideration given to just flying Ronnie "Talespin" DuPree Jr. over and moving to a million dollar playboy mansion in Monte Carlo?
That was never in the works. As soon as we talked to hastr0 he said "You boys going to NA".
I think it's mostly because they have a lot of staff in NA and hastr0 also lives close to the EnVyUs mansion so it's easy to work with the team on a personal level. He wants to meet and get to know his players in real life - very down to earth guy.
I'm honored to wear the EnVyUs tag and it's to help us as a team to become the best. I think that's the best thing about hastr0 - he wants to make sure the players do well both in life and in game and win tournaments consistently.
Yeah EnVyUs have the NA infrastructure, I get it, but you guys are a European team?! How do you feel about NA versus EU? Which scene is stronger? Which scene has the better prospects? You are going to be immersing yourself in a new set of practise partners etc. Are you sacrificing anything in leaving the European scene?
I think EU is currently stronger as a whole. We will be scrimming EU teams still since we'll be east coast and the ping difference isnt the end of the world.
I'll definitely miss playing against REUNITED all the time though
Personally sacrificing anything? Not really.
I'm just more excited every second that passes
We also haven't played Cloud9 once with our new line-up and I think with Talespin having equal ping combined with a stable connection you'll see a whole different EnVyUs
The Alienware monthly online tournament will be a proving ground for us to really show our line-up's true strength.
I guess moving to the US also implies missing out on European events such as TaKeTV's TaKeOver next weekend or even DreamHack Summer next month? Might we see you fly back for competitions or will you be focusing on the North America offline circuit?
There's a lot of things to consider, but TaKeTV was never in our consideration even before knowing that we'd go to America to practice.
As for DreamHack Summer I cannot say really. There hasn't been any talks about a tournament. If there happens to be one it'll definitely be in our radar.
As far as I can comment our visa issues is that we aren't able to compete in North American offline events during our first three months of stay since we are not allowed to earn money since we are there with guest visa and are there for the sole reason of practice.
Let me ask mike if you can add that to the interview, just to be sure
So Mike said that we aren't competing for money prizes before we get our P1 visas since that'd be illegal and we don't want that. European LANs we can however attend.
So you won't be at Agents Rising either? Literally no NA events?!
No NA offline events before acquiring our P1 visas no
Can't you just give all the money to Talespin?
Hahahaha we explored different methods and if we completely refused prize money technically it'd be possible, but it'd be impossible to prove that we actually would do so.
So we go the safe way.
No shenanigans.
Probably best not to discuss how we can defraud the US Government in a published interview.
Yup I agree
You are relocating halfway around the world for a game that isn't even out yet - it is almost unprecedented. Clearly a lot of people are betting big on the game, but just how ready is Overwatch for esports with notable issues like hero limits, game modes and win conditions still unresolved by Blizzard and left up to tournament organisers? How do you feel about the game right now?
So yeah I think Overwatch is definitely ready for esports. I just hope Blizzard enforces some kind of basic rules how the competitive side should work in tournaments. Obviously TO's without blizzard backing can just do their own thing, but as we move forward I think there should be rules written in stone and I think hero limit 1 with clear win conditions in all of the maps would be a good start.
Otherwise it will be every month stacking a hero or two that are way too overpowered when in numbers. As we could already witness the horrors of double Lucio in Beta Phase 1 though in lesser extent. Phase 2 brought Zenyattas, Genjis, tracers, McCrees. Winston stacking was probably the biggest problem of all of the metas so far.
Most of the heroes are just fine when solo, but in numbers they are a problem.
Do you mean Winston stacking is the biggest problem for a Widow main?
Nah Widow is in her own realm of being broken, but even though she is the most overpowered character in the game you can't simply run her all the time due to hero stacking.
I think most popular DPS characters could use some nerfs and then add a hero limit and see how the game plays out then.
I think you've got a strong handle on the overpowered heroes, but are there any heroes you are secretly hoping to see made competitively viable?
Most would be if stacking wasn't a thing. We'd see tons of Hanzo and Genji in my opinion.
Genji is overpowered in his own way but a Widow counters him too in highest level games.
There will obviously be imbalances and meta picks, like Lucio will always be a thing no matter how other characters are affected, but as long as hero stacking won't be a thing it keeps the game fresh and it'll be a lot more fun to play and watch.
OK Timo, it's all well and good you coming here, giving a genuine and heartfelt interview, but we all know you are a filthy hacker. What do you think you'll do when the OW Police drag you off in handcuffs? What would you do if you weren't a professional gamer?
I'll provide you with a picture of the newest aimbot in the market - you better include it!
Sure, I need a pic or two of you looking like a professional gamer to break the text up.
I'm showering while doing this interview with a phone...
That is going in.
Go for it
At least the shower is warm!
What was the last question, James!?
Hackusations!
Oh yeah!
I was a bit mad at the start.
Then I laughed it off since I don't cheat, and if I make people feel so inferior with a 7 second clip, well that makes me giggle internally.
There is no such thing as bad publicity! :--)
If I weren't a professional gamer I'd probably do the boring 9-5 daily and die of alcohol poisoning at my 50s. Typical Finnish style
Jokes aside, I really do not know. I'm only 23 this year and it feels like the last chance at esports. I've never been a fan of the school system or how I have to do something unpleasant to make a living. That shit just isn't for me and will never be.
So at the same time I'm overjoyed and thankful to myself, my team and my org that I got presented this chance of living the life of a progamer. If I hadn't made it now or in the near future I would probably never forgiven myself.
Jesus! I'm trying to end on a lighter note here. Fucking Finns!
Fuck!
Don't gimme this Finns are depressed bullshit, James!
We just honest.
Hahah! That is for sure! Thanks for chatting to me, brother. It was way longer than 10 minutes 
Thanks a lot for the interview.
Thanks to all my sponsors at Monster Energy, HyperX, NZXT, Scuf Gaming, Twitch, ZOWIE, DXRacer and Elgato Gaming
Oh yeah! Thanks to all my fans and supporters too and Team EnVyUs and hastr0 as a whole.
Towel yourself off, champ.
No I'm just starting
!
Good luck and thanks again!
Same man. Thanks!
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