StK has been titled as "The best team in Halo". They respectfully earned this title by winning the majority of Halo events as of recent times. When most people think of STK, the first thing that pops into their minds are the OGRE twins, OGRE 1 and 2. With the release of Halo2, the twins and their team have set themselves on a path to dominate MLG, CAL, and CPL. Most recently winning the MLG: DC event. I took some time with the twins to sit down and asked them few questions.

First off I want to thank you guys for taking the time out of your schedule to sit down with me.

OGRE1: Yeah, no problem.

OGRE2: Yup, no problem


To start, why dont the both of you introduce yourselves to everyone.


OGRE1: My name is Dan "OGRE 1" Ryan. I am 18 years old and a senior at Pickerington North High School near Columbus, Ohio. I enjoy playing/watching sports (especially soccer), hanging out with friends, eating , sleeping, and of course... playing halo.

OGRE2: I am Tom "OGRE 2" Ryan. I am Dan's twin brother and I am also still in highschool.


First off, what made you choose OGRE 1 and OGRE 2?


OGRE1: It is a long story... once we found out you could play halo online via gamespy arcade, we quickly installed the program. Then, gamespy has the feature of choosing an Icon, and it has a random icon giver, and you can just keep pressing the button until you find an icon that you like. Well, we were just clicking and clicking until finally this sweet looking icon of an OGRE popped up, so we stuck with it. Naturally, OGRE 1 and OGRE 2 came from me being the older of the two, so I was OGRE 1... and he was OGRE 2.

OGRE2: We came up with the name OGRES through gamespy arcade, which we used to play Halo online a long time ago (before XBC). We had this cool icon of an Ogre, so we became the OGRES. I am OGRE 2 because I am the younger of the two twins.


Have you both played any other online competitive games prior to Halo together?


OGRE1: No, we the only other online game we ever played was Starcraft for the PC, and we only played it semi-competitively with friends from our hometown via battle.net.

OGRE2: No not really. Halo and Halo2 are pretty much the first games we have played competatively online.


Who or what influenced the both of you to pick up a controller?


OGRE1: Chris Puckett, a.k.a. MLG PUCK3TT introduced us to halo one day after school... and we were over at his house every day for weeks after that.

OGRE2: Well our older brother got us into video games originally, but that was just NES games that had no multiplayer. Puckett got us into the xbox scene.


What do you both feel were the most dramatic changes comming from Halo1 to Halo2?


OGRE1: Probably the most dramatic changes were:
1. Halo 2 being xbox live compatable, meaning teams with members around the country can practice daily.
2. The new physics engine, which makes grenades and jumping nothing like they were in Halo 1.

OGRE2: What he said, and also the new weapons/strengths of old weapons have made map control/positioning much more important.


How would you say the competition and skill level of Halo1 measures up to Halo2?


OGRE1: The competition seems about the same, maybe a little weaker right now, but I feel it will eventually get to the same level.

OGRE2: I would say the overall competition is much greater in Halo2. At MLG dc, I feel 6 or 7 teams were capable of getting top 3. In Halo, there were usually the same 3 or 4 teams that would stand a chance.


You both recently attended MLG D.C. with the rest of StK, which coming out of that event taking first place, do you feel that as a team
you played up to your own expectations?


OGRE1: Yes, I feel winning a national tournament, with almost all of the best players in the country being there, and going approximately 50 wins and 1 loss in tournament play, would be playing up to our expectations. Well, if you want to get technical, its not QUITE up to our expectations, because we didn't plan on losing any games...

OGRE2: Yes, winning the tournament was obviously what we wanted to do, and we pretty much expected a top 3 finish for sure. So I would say winning the event is living up to our expectations.


With you both being apart of StK, widley known as the most dominant clan in Halo2, do you both feel pressured into paving a walkway for the
rest of the Halo2 community?


OGRE1: I don't really see myself as leading an entire community into a new game, I simply play the game for fun, and happen to be extremely good at it, and if people want/like to learn and immitate what I do, then thats fine.

OGRE2: ^^ agreed, we play the game for fun (fun comes with the competative environment) and people can follow what we do if they want.


With CAL starting a Halo2 division, how do you both feel it has been run and maintained up to now? Do you both think there is room for improvement? If so, what
could be done?


OGRE1: CAL is just what we expected to be, the league is run fairly well, but with amazingly weak competition. I can see CAL getting stronger in future seasons, if Halo2 is around that long. I don't feel that CAL can really improve upon much except for the competition to get better... but that will only take time.

OGRE2: CAL is good enough for what it is, an online league. When there is really nothing on the line for winning it, it doesnt even need to be professionally run. I would say the admins put in a lot of their time towards this league simply for the love of the community, and that they are doing a really good job.


With numerous rumors flying around about MLG beginning an online league, do you both think that MLG starting this online would be a positive step forward
for the Halo2 community? What could MLG provide that CAL cannot?

OGRE1: I definitely feel that MLG starting an online league would be a positive step for the community because then they won't have to rely on Free For All performance to rank teams at their tournaments... which is basically random. Also, MLG has a lot of respect within the Halo community, and having an online league would only help to promote them, and get more people playing custom games with "Good" settings, not bungie's stupid matchmaking. MLG basically can provide a lot more attention towards Halo2 than CAL, simply because halo2 is the first consol game that CAL/CPL has ever seen in their lineups.

OGRE2: same


With MLG's North America Tour, do you guys plan on attending or taking part of any other MLG events this year, if so, which?


OGRE1: We plan on attending and winning all of the MLG events this season.

OGRE2: We will be going to as many tournaments as possible this year.


What are your thoughts about CPL? Do you plan on attending? Also, With only 5 approved teams currently, do you both feel that CPL with cancel the Halo2 tournament?


OGRE1: I feel that CPL, although the prize seems rather weak for Halo2, will be an experience none the less... I have read and seen pictures of the resort it is going to be held at, and heard how sweet it is just being there and being able to watch the best PC gamers in the world. We definitely plan on attending. I'm not familiar enough with CPL to be able to guess whether or not they would cancel the Halo2 event, but I sure hope they don't, because there should be some great competition and good times there.

OGRE2: I think that they will have the tournament...but they wont up the prize money if the team spots dont fill up quick. It should be fun even if not much money is being given out.


What role do you think mIRC plays in the future of the competitive Halo2 scene?


OGRE1: IRC makes it quick and easy to find matches and hear about what is new in the community, its as simple as that. There is always someone on.

OGRE2: Since xblive doesnt have a main chat or anything like that, I feel that IRC is a great way to set up games and talk to ppl that arent on your friends list. It could play a huge role in meeting new players in the near future.


With the growth of Halo2, and major Counter-Strike/Gaming teams picking up Halo2 squads. Do you both feel as if your pressured into following that trend? If so, does StK
have any ideas on where they could be headed or do you plan on being strictly a Halo2 team?


OGRE1: As of right now, I could care less of being a "strictly halo2 team", we don't currently have a sponsor, and still looking for one... it is funny how a lot of other Halo2 teams have sponsors, and yet we cannot find one. We have been talking to a couple Counter-Strike/Gaming teams that could be potential sponsors, but really nothing has been solidified.

OGRE2: Pretty much ^^^^^ that.


Halo1 or Halo2?


OGRE1: Basing my opinion on the Actual gameplay, I must say halo 1... nothing was better than the 3 shot. However, I must say that while creating many new problems in halo 2, that they also corrected many.

OGRE2: Halo1 was and always will be the best FPS for console. Despite my original thoughts on Halo2, I feel it is a great game if played with the proper settings and requires a lot more teamwork than H1 even.


What are you mainly looking forward to about Disney Land?


OGRE1: Haha. Basically saying "sup" to my pal mickey mouse who I haven't visited in WAY too long. (8 years?) no clue really...

OGRE2: umm? no comment.


Last but not least, any thing else you'd like to add or any shoutouts before we wrap this up?


OGRE1: I would DEFINITELY like to give a shoutout to my boy pac, who is currently in jail,... everyone wish pac luck

OGRE2: I love Koston