This Tribute is produced of Raw Quality. Nothing has been changed or edited from all parties and points of view involved.
The 27th of January marks a day that will change the course of MelbCSS. An event that will strike the hearts of all the Melbourne LAN Community. On the 27th of January, Melbourne will say goodbye to an icon, a figure of the LAN scene. On the 27th of January, Melbourne will say goodbye to Michael "Vex" Affleck. As some may know, Vex is moving to Brisbane to study and to continue his life as a maturing adult. For this, we are proud of him, but he will definitely be missed.
Vex started his E-Life back in 2007, playing for Team Exothermic (Known better as EXO or EXO-Computers, ran by Fitty`Yen). In those days, like many players, Vex was your typical Amateur player. Big smile and keen to enjoy the game. Since those days Vex has grown into a prestigious figure in the Melbourne Competitive Counter-Strike:Source Scene. Rising through the ranks as a player, and as a helper on the Administration side of things, Vex's name became very well known amongst the top ranks of #MelbCSS.
Vex continued to make a mark on the Counter-Strike:Source community, rising the ranks of Melbourne LAN teams. Playing in strong LAN lineups such as Anarchy, Zero Remorse, Trainwreck, Symphony, Remedi.INC and recently, CYKO. Vex has been outshining many players on LAN for a fair while now, taking out various wins across many LAN competitions at all venue. To add to that, Vex began running LANs after the previous admin Skills had stepped down from GotGames LAN Admin for Melbourne. Vex worked alongside Ai to run VexLAN. VexLANs were usually a huge hit in the MelbCSS community, including all levels of teams and bringing the Melbourne Competitive Counter-Strike:Source Community together.
It was from these VexLANs that Vex became a GotGames Melbourne LAN Admin, staging and running countless events for MelbCSS. Through pouring his heart and soul into the community, more players and teams have been able to grow and flourish in the Community. The MelbCSS Community has brought forward new stars since Vex had run these LANs. Players like MRT, Osprey and Dripskii have learnt and grown under VexLAN banner over the years.
One of Vex's greatest feats in the Community was becoming the "Saviour of MelbCSS" as dubbed by the Community for staging and preparing The PlanB Nationals. Vex single-handedly revamped the AINC Nationals, which had previously ceased actions before the event was scheduled to take place and ran the entire PlanB event on his own shoulders and by his own responsiblities. All of the Community were behind him on this one, and PlanB was a success that will go down in GotGames History!
From all these LANs and experiences, you do tend to ask yourself, "What does it take to be a LAN Admin?" and "What am I able to give back to the Community?"
I found time to catch up with Vex and asked him what he thought about the MelbCSS Community from his point of view as a LAN Admin, and what his experiences have taught him.
Here's what he told me.
Vex: Experiences is why I do this, but also I love event management and helping out the community. But some of the experiences I have encountered are as follows. I will elaborate on these points.
1. Don’t act as an individual. 2. Don’t just talk. 3. Dripski Saga. 4. Friendships Grow.
1. When running events you realize that it isn’t the easiest thing. It involves: Setting up, running it all day, organizing breaks and playing. I’ve run a few events in my time (30+ but who’s counting?) and some have been solo and some team work (Defiler and Khooy are the two best people I have ever run anything with.). Working together and not considering yourself the best admin in the world makes things so much easier and smoother.
I’ve personally thought to myself I have run some of the best events Australia has seen and its all been me. But its just my ego making me push harder for better events (PlanB for example). When in fact, there’s a team involved and we work together knowing what to do and when to do it. This was a massive lesson in life for me, I often thought riding solo was better. Then I met Defiler, he told me that running it together makes life easier. You enjoy it so much more and simply love doing it. Tony has taught me everything I know, and will follow it onto QLD kids where I will run events with DrPecker. For the younger players, don’t act greedy. It will get you nowhere.
2. I’m not going to name names in this article, but from some of my major experiences, I can tell you that if you say your going to do something, PLEASE do it. Events have failed because of big mouths promising this and promising that. Not just organizers, sponsors. You got to get out there and get on top of it. If you don’t, it's done. All over red rover, just like AINC. I’m not blaming anyone, it happens but if we actually did the shit that was needed 2 months earlier Ai would still be here today.
3. Dripskii. What a lesson this was and probably the biggest thing since Scott was pushed down the stairs at ZAM. He’s a kid who had a massive ego and who loved no one but his gaming. He was a talent, and we knew it but so did he. Unfortunately, you realize how shit a community can be in regards to violence.
People may not know it, but this was one event I probably wont forget. Dripskii at a LAN. I was running, gets hit by a car and goes to hospital. Wow. You learn from things like this. I learned that you need to educate the younger community. This was my biggest experience (Thanks, Liston, you idiot). You can’t let things ever get out of hand.
People talk shit, we all know it. But some take it to the next level and it should always be stopped. I want to say hi to all the younger Melb kids I’ve drilled about talking shit on the net, cheers for listening to all my crap over the 3 years.
4. I have made so many friendships over the past 3 years. Why was this an experience? Because I never thought I’d make decent mates over a game. I took that attitude when I started competing at LAN. I thought everyone was the same, you talk shit and play. But I realized, these guys are the same as others. They love what I love, why can’t we be mates? Melbourne people that need special mention - Tony, Dan, Matt, Jamie, Cam, Mick. I could mention everyone. But those 6 have been great mates since I started.
I then asked Vex about the times he spent in the Community as a mate. As Mike, rather than as Vex the LAN Admin. About the times that he spent at LAN, the fun times, the memorable times. Times that he will take with him to Queensland and these times he will keep with him. He owes it to these people. When I asked who he owes all these times to, he told me this.
Vex: On a more personal note. There are some people in this community I have become great mates with. I will not mention all but here are my favourites. My shoutouts are:
Dan (foo_): The person who taught me how to play this game to the level I am at now. I've lived with Dan for the past year now so you can probably tell we've become good mates. Dan is a great bloke both in and out of game.
Tony (Defiler/Megaslut/whatever you call yourself): Ran all my events with this chap. Always reliable. Has fun, loves to laugh. Learnt a lot from Tony, but the friendship won’t stop when I move.
Jamie (Khooy): What a mad kid. Best admin ever! And I know many agree with me. The Jamie-Mike duo, as Corona would call it, 2g.
Mick (Corona): Took me under his wing, had confidence in me and showed me the way in running events. I can thank Mick for my love of event management, It’s what I will hopefully be studying in QLD next year.
Joel (Joel/Rager): What a bloke, between the Ai/GotGames fights Joel didn’t care we were opposition if you call it that. I smashed him in Tekken and got him pissed.
Always fun to chat to.
Matt (MRT): Can’t say much because I would say to much. From YOU WANT SOME, to Passion, Matt loves this game. Very friendly and I’m sorry I missed your 21st!
Cam (Camstar): You are one smart fellow. Ai meetings Cam would talk for 50 percent of the time because he knows what to do. Cheers for teaching me.
If I’m mates with you, you know it. I can’t mention all here but those 7 have been the people I will remember the most for Melbourne LAN!
Don't just take it from me though, there are plenty of other people in the community, from all walks of the circle, whether they are Amateurs or Professionals, whether they are players or spectators in general, they have all had the experience of seeing Vex in action. Here's what some had to say.
Hinksy: Vex is one of the nicest guys I met down in Melbourne during my time at PlanB Nationals. He is a genuine guy when it comes to things GotGames and is a great player from what I've seen. In terms of GotGamers, I regard him fairly highly.
Fluke: Michael "Vex" Affleck is one of the more friendly faces you will see around your local neighborhood. He is happy, kind, and always willing to lend a hand. Michael has been a good friend since he came to the community and will be missed greatly from many down here in Melbourne. Best of luck Michael, it was a pleasure knowing you and thank you for your time.
Osprey: How cool would it be if Michael's real name was Ben? He's so hot he could just about pass off as the real one. Seriously however, Michael leaves the Melb LAN community with a gap that can never be filled. This weekends LAN will be as good as the rest and we will all regret not having another LAN run by him.
So as we say goodbye to Vex it comes down to the point where we start to think. We think towards the future of Melbourne Competitive LANs, the future of MelbCSS and the future of the Melbourne Community as a whole. One would wonder who will be the next person to attempt to fill the shoes of Melbourne LAN Admin. Do we believe there will be anyone like Vex that will run these events? Will there be another Vex? It's time to ask what the future has in store for Melbourne and their gamers. This is a now a call to all aspiring event managers, or to anyone that is keen to see Melbourne LANs be at least a shadow of what they previously were. This is your opportunity.
Melbourne wishes you well in your endeavours Vex. Good Luck.
