Last week, I gave you a rare glimpse into the life of the enigmatic INnoVation. This week, I'll be taking a look at a much more energetic individual, yet one who has just as many mysteries to uncover. It's our favorite Australian of many hats, the streamer/caster/youtuber/progamer PiG!
#1. Spider apartments: Commonly known as “shoes” outside of Australia.
#2. Old Boys' Club Hotline: This gives PiG a direct line into the Old Boys' Caster conference call, where key issues such as how to keep up-and-coming casters out of work, divvying up existing jobs, and the terms of Kaelaris' parole are discussed. As a newer member, PiG's participation is generally limited to being told to shut the f*** up.
#3. Rolled up rug: A luxurious piece of craftsmanship, hand woven entirely from Maynarde's hair and Iaguz's beard.
#4: Funko Kerrigan: PiG often looks upon this figure with regret, thinking about how it's a far more dynamic, three-dimensional character than the campaign Kerrigan ever was.
#5: Conical trophy: PiG won this first place trophy at the WCS Australia 2012 Nationals, the best result of his pro career. It's a shame he hasn't been able to get all the blood off, after using it to bludgeon Nathanias in a deathmatch for a spot in the Old Boys' Club.
#6: Wings of Liberty box: Representing the era of Brood Lord-Infestor, the WoL box rightfully commands the seat of honor on PiG’s shelf.
#7: Snake mansion: Commonly known as a “laundry basket” outside of Australia.
#8. Black leather couch: For side jobs.
#9: Girl Who Played With Fire & Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest: I don't have anything to say about these. I just wanted to see if I could creep PiG out by showing him how much you can figure out from just a screencap and Google.
#10: Monopoly set: Nearly 20 years ago, PiG and his younger brother discovered a board game called Monopoly. They were instantly hooked on its strategic depth, devoting thousands of hours to improving their skills. They soon discovered the website TeamLiquidity.org and became deeply involved in the small but passionate competitive scene. The brothers traveled to tournaments all around Australia, once even driving 41 hours to Perth to compete at a local event.
At first, their parents were concerned about their sons' obsession with a mere board game. However, the brothers won them over by explaining the game's immense complexity, and the incredibly devoted community that had formed around it. Furthermore, they spoke of a burgeoning professional scene in South Carolina, where the best Monopoly players in the world competed for huge prizes in front of thousands of roaring fans.
Perhaps their parents did not fully understand, but they could not help but give their full support for something their children were so passionate about.
The two brothers worked their up way in the Australian scene, eventually becoming some of the top players in the country. They had walked down the same road side-by-side, but a collision was inevitable as they strove to the same destination.
In one of the defining moments of their careers, PiG and his brother went to compete in the Australian qualifier of the World Analog Games. A heartbreaking draw saw the two pitted against each other in the very first round of the bracket. In one of the saddest victories of his career, PiG defeated his brother 2-0 to advance. PiG still remembers his words. “Jared, you’re gonna win this tournament.” PiG went on to represent Australia at the World Finals in Charleston.
While the brothers never achieved success at the highest level of competitive monopoly, their outsize personalities and natural charm led them to become some of the most beloved commentators in the scene. To this day, their voices are an inextricable, iconic part of the golden age of competitive Monopoly.
Alas, after dedicating so many years to a single game, PiG found his passion starting to wane. Although his heart would forever be connected to Monopoly, he started to branch out to other games where he rediscovered a feeling he had almost forgotten: the joy of learning something new.
As the Monopoly scene began to decline, some of PiG's fans came to resent his dalliances in other games, calling him a traitor. Yet, his true fans knew that PiG had poured his heart and soul into the game, and were simply grateful for the time they had with him. Quietly, PiG made an unofficial transition into one of the new games that had grabbed his attention, one that gave him a thrill comparable to the first few years of his board gaming life: StarCraft II.
His brother is a professional Monopoly caster to this day.
#11: Heart of the Swarm Collectors Edition: PiG is holding on to this so that one day, he might get it signed by his role model, the legendary Australian progamer KingKong.
#1. Spider apartments: Commonly known as “shoes” outside of Australia.
#2. Old Boys' Club Hotline: This gives PiG a direct line into the Old Boys' Caster conference call, where key issues such as how to keep up-and-coming casters out of work, divvying up existing jobs, and the terms of Kaelaris' parole are discussed. As a newer member, PiG's participation is generally limited to being told to shut the f*** up.
#3. Rolled up rug: A luxurious piece of craftsmanship, hand woven entirely from Maynarde's hair and Iaguz's beard.
#4: Funko Kerrigan: PiG often looks upon this figure with regret, thinking about how it's a far more dynamic, three-dimensional character than the campaign Kerrigan ever was.
#5: Conical trophy: PiG won this first place trophy at the WCS Australia 2012 Nationals, the best result of his pro career. It's a shame he hasn't been able to get all the blood off, after using it to bludgeon Nathanias in a deathmatch for a spot in the Old Boys' Club.
#6: Wings of Liberty box: Representing the era of Brood Lord-Infestor, the WoL box rightfully commands the seat of honor on PiG’s shelf.
#7: Snake mansion: Commonly known as a “laundry basket” outside of Australia.
#8. Black leather couch: For side jobs.
#9: Girl Who Played With Fire & Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest: I don't have anything to say about these. I just wanted to see if I could creep PiG out by showing him how much you can figure out from just a screencap and Google.
#10: Monopoly set: Nearly 20 years ago, PiG and his younger brother discovered a board game called Monopoly. They were instantly hooked on its strategic depth, devoting thousands of hours to improving their skills. They soon discovered the website TeamLiquidity.org and became deeply involved in the small but passionate competitive scene. The brothers traveled to tournaments all around Australia, once even driving 41 hours to Perth to compete at a local event.
At first, their parents were concerned about their sons' obsession with a mere board game. However, the brothers won them over by explaining the game's immense complexity, and the incredibly devoted community that had formed around it. Furthermore, they spoke of a burgeoning professional scene in South Carolina, where the best Monopoly players in the world competed for huge prizes in front of thousands of roaring fans.
Perhaps their parents did not fully understand, but they could not help but give their full support for something their children were so passionate about.
The two brothers worked their up way in the Australian scene, eventually becoming some of the top players in the country. They had walked down the same road side-by-side, but a collision was inevitable as they strove to the same destination.
In one of the defining moments of their careers, PiG and his brother went to compete in the Australian qualifier of the World Analog Games. A heartbreaking draw saw the two pitted against each other in the very first round of the bracket. In one of the saddest victories of his career, PiG defeated his brother 2-0 to advance. PiG still remembers his words. “Jared, you’re gonna win this tournament.” PiG went on to represent Australia at the World Finals in Charleston.
While the brothers never achieved success at the highest level of competitive monopoly, their outsize personalities and natural charm led them to become some of the most beloved commentators in the scene. To this day, their voices are an inextricable, iconic part of the golden age of competitive Monopoly.
Alas, after dedicating so many years to a single game, PiG found his passion starting to wane. Although his heart would forever be connected to Monopoly, he started to branch out to other games where he rediscovered a feeling he had almost forgotten: the joy of learning something new.
As the Monopoly scene began to decline, some of PiG's fans came to resent his dalliances in other games, calling him a traitor. Yet, his true fans knew that PiG had poured his heart and soul into the game, and were simply grateful for the time they had with him. Quietly, PiG made an unofficial transition into one of the new games that had grabbed his attention, one that gave him a thrill comparable to the first few years of his board gaming life: StarCraft II.
His brother is a professional Monopoly caster to this day.
#11: Heart of the Swarm Collectors Edition: PiG is holding on to this so that one day, he might get it signed by his role model, the legendary Australian progamer KingKong.