rk's i'views are back for another round after a brief break (been busy playing with my UBERSAWWW). This time, one of the best demo players in the game, Chode of the European team Fracture, has taken the time to answer what I'm sure are becoming well-known yet still exciting questions!

Player Info: Chode is without a doubt a big reason why Fracture has risen to the top of competitive TF2 in Europe over these last few months - need proof? Ask, and ye shall receive. Currently awaiting the ETF2L 2nd Cup Grand Finals, as well as the EMS Playoff stage, Fracture is firmly cemented in the top tier teams in the world.

Interview:

GotFrag: Lets start with the past - what competitive game did you start out in, and with what teams?

Fracture \\ Chode: This question made my cheeks a bit red, since TF2 is the first FPS I've ever played competitively in. The last 4 years, I've been running a “Clan” in the MMO Eve-Online where the competitive scene was limited to championships held by the Eve-o company, so this is kind of a new experience running a TF2 clan and participating in leagues and cups, but very enjoyable.

GotFrag: How did you end up with the team around you?

Fracture \\ Chode: Fracture was originally an outbreak clan of the beta TF2 clan called digital flow, but because of some internal problems with the Leader of digital flow, me and a few others decided to form our own clan which now is Fracture. However this was still back in the beta days and a lot of the players that was a part of the original Fracture either grew bored of TF2 or just did not have the dedication to play competitive in the clan, so Fracture had a rough start with a lot of roster changes in its start-up days. But now long time after the bad seeds have been removed the team has never looked stronger, with a line-up that I am really proud and confident that will keep playing on the top of the TF2 scene.

GotFrag: What drew you to competitive TF2?

Fracture \\ Chode: That’s an easy one: “The Teamplay.” I like the element that strong teamplay beats individual skill any day, I found it very in my liking since it was the same in EVE-O - teamwork over everything else. So I instantly fell in love with TF2.

GotFrag: Do you like the way TF2 is evolving? Are you for or against the constant tweaking Valve's implementing?

Fracture \\ Chode: Well it's nice to see that Valve is keeping the game on their hot plate, but it took them an awful long time to add basic competitive playing elements like the "no crit cvar” and tournament mode (which only just got stop-watch), but I won't go all out complaining about the tweaks and “fixes” they are doing to the classes and maps (*cough cough* ammo count). Just got to hope for the best and that the new changes will have some kind of place in the competitive scene and not only for the public players.

GotFrag: What do you think of the tactical differences between the North American and European scenes? (ie. more Heavy-usage) Any opinion about which one works best?

Fracture \\ Chode: Up until the “no crit cvar” the US played with a lot of criticals in their competitive scene, while the European scene had stopped doing that along time ago, by using the 3rd party plugin TFTRUE. And I think that’s why the US scene have been using the 2 x soldier setup a lot more then the Euros, since the crit chance of a soldier can really turn the tide of a match, and you won't see soldiers killing a heavy in 1-2 shots without crits, so I guess that the US people will starting using the heavy more in the near future.

GotFrag: What about the local scene - what two clans are the most fearsome in your mind?

Fracture \\ Chode: From personal experience I would say 4Kings and Excello (the old Syre); we have had the pleasure of playing Excello in the Semi-finals of the ETF2L cup recently, and I must say it was one of the hardest games in my TF2 time, and we are now pending the big finals vs. 4kings which is bound to be a rumble as well.

GotFrag: What other players of your own class do you have the most respect for? Who do you think is the most dominating/fearsome in your class.

Fracture \\ Chode: Well I play the Demoman fulltime in Fracture, and I must say if there is a Demoman that can annoy me in the field its Hymzi from 4k. The reason? He doesn’t care if he lives or dies he just always lands right in the middle of your team with a duel sticky jump. It might not work all the time but you have to make sure you keep your eyes in the air when you play 4k, that’s for sure - other then that there isn't really a Demo out there *yet* that have made me pull out hair, but I am sure after they read this they will make sure to focus a nade or 2 more at me *wink wink*

GotFrag: What do you think of the upcoming medic changes? Do you think they're balanced enough to be in matchplay?

Fracture \\ Chode: I wont judge this to much before I actually tried them, but shooting from the guts I would say sure why not - maybe it would blow some fresh air into the competitive scene.

GotFrag: Excited for Goldrush? Think the style has a place in the competitive scene?

Fracture \\ Chode: As again like the medic changes, sure I will keep an open mind until I tried it.

GotFrag: Any final comments/shoutouts you'd like to make?

Fracture \\ Chode: Nah nothing else then keep up the good work on the TF2 section!

Many thanks go out to Chode.. only question I didn't ask is when the next frag movie comes out :)