With the latest updates to CS:S it has become apparent that our beloved game is seeing a small resurgence. Eager to be part of that resurgence many long since retired players have been making their way back into the game, one such player is Troels "eXce" Kierulff.

Not many CS:S players can boast the sort of gaming CV as Troels can, breaking into the scene as part of the original H2k - or RL:R as they were widely known following their departure from the org - lineup the team would go on to join MYM and in doing so become a European powerhouse. Back then it was frequently stated that if the team would commit more time to the game they would undoubtedly be the best in Europe simply down to the raw ability and talent of the players. Following MYM's decision to drop CS:S as a supported game that team sadly came to an end and changes were made, in came ex-Reason Gaming player Henrik 'fetish' Christensen and Jim "jiMMy" Thorsen in place of Lars "h0lm" Jespersen and Thomas "inCre" Hector.

The team would later join up with the Magnitude organisation, just a few weeks after forming they flew out to LAN79, an event where they would become part of one of the greatest CS:S matches in history - an epic against fnatic in which the Danes managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. After various podium finishes under the Magnitude, xoxo and ROCCAT tag problems eventually arose in the team before it was torn apart by in-fighting.

The last time Troels was seen in action was at TeX 09' where, going into the event with high hopes, his team crashed out at the first hurdle, a huge shock and big enough disappointment to see the team eventually call it quits. Recently however it was announced that both he and ex-teammate Danni 'rytme' Hansen would be joining up with fetish once again under the Reason Gaming tag. Keen to show he still has what it takes he seems excited about the future, naturally when given the chance to speak to the players I didn't think twice. Here is what he had to say.

Well basicly I just started off playing for fun again, Danni asked me to play a few mixes and gathers. From that it just took me away again, I got the whole excitement back when playing which I think is a big part of the game. As it turned out that there was a split as said in the danish scene as fetish, victor and wantz needed 2 players, when we asked about it I had no idea who they had spoken to or not, but, we got a shot at it, and passed it seems :-P

Left to right, jiMMy, eXce, FeTiSh, orga, rytme

Yeah I definitely feel the rust, but I do see the former me in some situations already, and I will work hard at getting on top again. I cannot settle with being average, that's not a part of me. When it comes to jIMMy I think he actually turned out all right when he came back, he played well from what I saw (followed a few games). You can't really blame him for the team going down the drain. Concerning Danni, I havn't seen such dedication to the game in a long time - the guy plays constantly and it pays off when we practice. So the conclusion is, we have what it takes - otherwise we wouldn't be here again.

Well I cannot tell the difference between Power Gaming or Verygames as I haven't played them at all, not even in practice's. But I do feel the skill of teams has increased compared to when I played before, but it might be me being plain horrible in some situations. The thing I've noticed from the games I have watched on SourceTV from Verygames etc is that they still just randomly peak, sometimes it works, others it's vital and they lose a round. That was my general impression with CSS before I left, and the impression I have now that there still is alot of teamplay so to speak to adapt to, compared to the 1.6 teams.

Well that would be the goal in the long run I guess - but for now I am happy just to play again, and I really look forward to playing on LAN again. If that brings us infront of Verygames and Power Gaming, only time will tell. I think we got the potential, but there is alot of hard work before that goal is going to be close to reality. When it comes to us showcasing our skills, I honestly don't know. I know that we are going to attend a lot of LAN events during fall, at least thats the plan. There is hardly any practice or talking in the team at the moment as the ENC is taking all the time from fetish and wantz.

I think it's great for the Danish CSS scene that we have so many capable players to challenge everyone internationally, that will increase the competition and as in everything with competition people strive to get even better all the time. I can't say im surprised that so few could challenge us back in the days, when we started most of us had the beta up until 1.6 experience in CS, where most of the source people only played source. Now they catch up with some years of experience, and some just aiming their way to the top as it has always been.

Team ROCCAT

Exactly that made me want to play even more actually, I love the new CS:S - the whole tic66 threw me off my game abit, it felt wierd playing. That being said, I enjoy they update the game and they listen to the community concerning the competetive aspect of the game. If this game was to be perfect, they should do as they intend to do, improve and remove current bugs from the game. Eventually it will turn out as a great game, that I am sure of. If I were to make it, it would have the 1.6 feel and gameplay with CS:S graphics and maps I guess.

I tried it, and I didn't like it. It was abit too much of 1.6 in that game, they just made it wrong somehow. Can't give you specifics of what I really didn't like as thats a really long time ago I played it. But it did feel wrong. Besides that, I don't see the point playing a game no one plays - and as the social aspect is important for me aswell, then falling back with 2 former teammates feels right.

Old grudges and old memories belongs to the past, you can't dwell at the past and expect to have a bright future. It's all in the past now, and it was mainly with fetish back in the days but he is a really sound guy and I enjoy playing and talking to him and I expect he feels the same way, otherwise it would be stupid playing together again.

He really impressed me when I stopped playing, my last memory of him playing was that he headshotted fetish, me and orga in 1.5 seconds standing in various positions. As for now, I have only seen him in gathers and mixes and in a few practice's where the level of concentration is not 100%. I would say he's better than I expected, I have seen some pretty extraordinary stuff just in practice.

Back then I had already had enough of CS:S in general, I had played so much and so hard to be the best, and then our former RL:R team just had different goals and expectations in the end, that is bound to go wrong and I made that my exit as I could not see myself playing with anyone else at the time. I have always refused to play with international teams as in 95% they fold within a short period of time.

I'm not posing, honest..

I didn't speak with anyone after TeX, I just went to do my own thing. That ment alot of Warhammer fool around with jIMMy, and loads of workout in that period. The same mentality got into me after playing Warhammer so long, I felt the urge to be competetive. And so I did, as far as you can be in a MMO. I guess that has alot to do with my comeback to CS:S aswell, I cannot live without the competetive part. I enjoy being competetive and why not do it in the thing you're really good at and have been for a long time?

I don't know if I can call the period after the summer holidays resurgence, in all the time I have played cs the scene and the game has been doomed by multiple people. Teams folding due to inactivity and the like. The game is most alive just after the summer holidays up until May/June and that's how it has always been. Concerning the major G7 organisations making their way into CS:S, I don't see it as "wow here is the G7 taking up CS:S" They are going for EPS Germany, which is understandble as they have alot of coverage, which equals loads of exposure for SK, Mouz etc. That is the main goal for major companies, and always has been.

Haha, I play SC2 for fun as I played SC1 loads back in 00 and forward. I and do enjoy playing SC2 and have been doing so alot actually, mostly 2on2 with zonic during late nights and having loads of fun rolling people even in Diamond League, even though I would use the term below average or just average. And YES the Koreans with 3/400 apm, that's not gonna happen - I enjoy playing the game, but I will not try to beat a Korean at smashing buttons.

First of all, I would like to thank you for taking your time to do the interview. Then to fetish, victor and wantz for letting 2 vets play again competetivly, a shoutout to orga and inCre as they are the main reasons I played and still play CS:S. And a special thanks to Reason-Gaming, Razer, Gamers Uniform and Verygames for supporting us.