Fatal1ty Interview
Johnathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel – gamer, champion, and now color commentator
Tags: Categories: Features, Tech Features
Posted by Daniel "monk" Pelfrey on Mar 17th, 2007
I met with what is inarguably the most famous person playing videogames today – Johnathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel. It was recently announced that he would be providing color commentary with a new deal between FOX and DirecTV. When I asked him how this deal came about, he mentioned that FOX and DirecTV were looking to push gaming to new heights by treating it as a real sport. They have the power of partnerships with IGN and MySpace, as well as the reach into other territories around the globe to actually accomplish this task. They began looking, and the natural spokesperson was the number one name in gaming.
The hope is to have this treated as a real sport, with a draft system, salaries, leagues, tournaments, and more. Fatal1ty will be providing color commentary, rather than running in the league in a competitive manner. Why? “…this will give me a chance to step up and do something to promote gaming, and give some legitimacy to the league.” Also “I get to be on TV.”
While the goal is to have gaming on television sets on a regular basis, there has to be a starting point. By hiring Fatal1ty, they have not only a host, but a major (and recognizable) figure to be the spokesperson for the league. There was “…big interest in getting me into this league. This is going to be the biggest league in gaming.”
Other people will be doing the actual play by play announcing, freeing Johnathon up to evaluate the players, conduct interviews, as well as branch out with other duties. In may ways, the comparison to Tony Hawk would not be a mistake, where there is one figure out there that is bringing cultural awareness to the public. “I’m willing to take that role.”
Eventually he wants to give back to the gaming culture, by sponsoring his own team and create a lifestyle brand. By doing what he is about to embark upon, he isn’t quitting playing games. While his stated goal is “…to show gaming as a real sport,” he still wants to play for as long as he can, only now he wants to “…dedicate more time to do it for fun.”
When I asked him where he sees himself in 5 years, his one word response was “Bigger.” I assumed he wasn’t talking about his physical size. He did elaborate before I asked him to by saying that in making gaming a sport in the public’s eye, the potential to have it appear on television like a sports channel does now is there, the possibility is untapped.
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Posted by Daniel "monk" Pelfrey on Mar 17th, 2007 and is filed under Features, Tech Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can post a comment, or trackback from your own site.
