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In this week’s affiliate profile we’ll be looking at an Australian Call of Duty legend, Mindfreak’s Mitchell ‘BuZZO’ Mader.

Origins

BuZZO has been an ever present in the Australian Call of Duty scene and has consistently won titles since he emerged on the scene many moons ago. Best known for competing with Mindfreak, BuZZO has also enjoyed stints as part of a number of other outfits, including the short-lived apeX.anXiety, a sister team to the many North American and European apeX rosters.

BuZZO later established himself as part of Team Immunity, before transitioning into Mindfreak where he’s been a permanent fixture for almost three years.

Current Team

For well over two years now, BuZZO has been a part of Mindfreak, perhaps the greatest Call of Duty team Australia has ever produced. They’ve dominated domestically, hardly even challenged in their position at the top since their inception. Since the release of Advanced Warfare, they’ve been almost undefeated on home soil.

This year, however, a new challenger arose from within their own ranks. Star player Denholm ‘Denz’ Taylor left the team, looking to form a new Australian dynasty as part of Tainted Minds. BuZZO and co endured, however, retaining their top spot with a win at CWL Sydney and subsequently securing the APAC spot in the CWL Global Pro League. There, they put up an impressive fight against the likes of EnVyUs and Splyce, while out-performing Cloud9 to avoid relegation.

When it comes to international competition, the APAC region has long been overlooked. While they may not be quite on the level of the truly elite yet, Mindfreak are leading the charge in making their region competitive on the global level.

Greatest achievement

It’s easy to look to BuZZO’s trophy cabinet for a highlight moment – by now, it’s practically overflowing from domestic success, with Mindfreak having won CWL Sydney this year, both stages of the ANZ CWL last year, and a myriad of other domestic events stretching back through Advanced Warfare.

The consistency of such results over such a lengthy period is certainly an epic achievement in itself, but to select a single event that stands out, you perhaps have to look outside Australia, and set the bar a little lower than total victory.

Domestic success, particularly in the fashion Mindfreak have managed, is impressive, but the greatest challenge is on the international stage – and at the pinnacle of international competition is the Call of Duty Championships.

It was here, in 2015, that BuZZO’s Mindfreak came sixth, out-placing the likes of EnVyUs, Team Kaliber, and the legendary OpTic Gaming while finishing as the highest-placing team from outside of North America. Despite not reaching the trophy they’re so accustomed to receiving at home, the result was a demonstration that APAC teams had the potential to compete with the best in the world, something no amount of domestic success could show by itself.

In-game

BuZZO usually plays a similar playstyle to that of fellow veterans like Proofy or Swanny, typically an AR anchor type role. With the switch to the jetpack Call of Duty games, there has been less demand for this type of slow, methodical play and subsequently BuZZO has had to adapt.

There’s still elements of this classic play in his game but certainly he’s adapted to the more run and gun type game play we’re seeing with the current iterations of Call of Duty.

BuZZO is something of a captain figure for his team but doesn’t really occupy the typical “hype-man” role you associate with the team leader, and leaves that to his mate mates to take up.

His role in the team means that he’s most likely to engage with players who occupy a similar AR role in their teams, such as Assault for Cloud9 or Clayster for FaZe Clan, and his ability to win these crucial gun fights that often lead to large portions of the map being locked down are pivotal to the success of Mindfreak.

Given his more traditional playstyle, it’s likely that a move back to Boots on the Ground Call of Duty will suit BuZZO extremely well. Expect even more from the Adelaide based pro next year.

Public Persona

BuZZO is arguably the face of modern Australian Call of Duty, having been part of the all-conquering Mindfreak team that have led the APAC scene for many years now.

In his time in Call of Duty, BuZZO has seen it all and done it all, having clashed with the best the game has offered since his rise to the top of the APAC region. He has also had the fortune of learning from the biggest names that his region has had to offer.

The torch has since been passed and BuZZO has graduated into the poster boy for the Australian and APAC Call of Duty region. In interviews BuZZO is composed, well-articulated, honest and often critical of himself and his own performances. He effortlessly exudes confidence, while displaying a deep understanding of Call of Duty. It is this confidence and understanding that have elevated him to becoming the star that he is today.

This week’s profile takes a look at Team Kaliber’s Dylan ‘Theory’ McGee.

Origins

Theory is one of the few pros that didn’t take long to reach the dizzying heights at the top of the scene. He kicked off the Black Ops 2 season in considerable fashion and almost immediately after finding his way onto the vVv roster, had landed 3rd place at MLG Winter Championship and a top 8 finish at the 2013 Call of Duty Championships.

From there, Theory linked up with the newly formed Team Kaliber where he has spent the vast, vast majority of his Call of Duty career, minus a few brief cameos for other established outfits.

Current Team

While no one would claim that the current iteration of Team Kaliber is the best ever, there’s certainly some potential in the ranks. Having gone into hiding after a bizarre and unfortunate series of events largely contributed to the team unfortunately missing out on last year’s CWL Stage Two, Team Kaliber returned at the eleventh hour of Black Ops 3 to make a notable cameo and snatch top 12 at last year’s Championships.

Heading into the new year and many believed that Team Kaliber would have a launch pad with which to start their new era. Unfortunately, after a decent start where the team achieved top 16, tK’s ambitions have been somewhat thwarted by having begin each Major tournament in the Open Bracket.

Despite tough runs at almost every subsequent event post Vegas, Team Kaliber have continually been knocking on the door but have fallen just short. In Paris the team had two opportunities to break into the Championship Bracket but were defeated in each instance. In both Dallas and Atlanta, Team Kaliber did reach the latter stages but were eliminated by European opposition – Supremacy and Fnatic respectively.

This has all added up to a frustrating season for a team packed with genuine potential. Having just missed out on a spot in Stage One Relegation, the team will look ahead to Anaheim where they’ll make their debut appearance since switching ColeChan for Accuracy.

On current form at least, Theory and Team Kaliber are very much on course to snatch up a place at this year’s Championships, where they’ll look to show the scene what they’re really made of on the biggest stage.

Career Highlight

While Theory has moved about occasionally, he’s largely been a Team Kaliber player over the course of his playing career. His sustained quality has led Theory to be an ever-present at Call of Duty Championship events over the years, achieving top 8 on two occasions along the way.

Arguably though his career highlight was during the latter stages of Black Ops 2 and the earlier stages of Call of Duty Ghosts. It was during this period that Team Kaliber were at their pinnacle and had it not been for the incredible quality of compLexity – a team whose dominance hasn’t since been matched – Theory would likely have won at least one Major title.

Unfortunately, playing in the era of the most dominant team ever left Theory empty handed on the Major title front; he did however win a Minor offline competition in the form of AEL Dallas 2014 upon return to Team Kaliber after a hiatus with FaZe.

At their peak, Team Kaliber earned second place finishes at the MLG Fall Championship 2013, UMG Philadelphia 2013 and a top 3 finish at Gfinity 2. Had Theory not made the move to FaZe Clan when he did, arguably he could have been a catalyst to finally land a first-place finish for Team Kaliber as compLexity started to run out of steam. Coincidentally, by the time Theory did return, Team Kaliber themselves had gone somewhat off the boil and finished the season empty handed anyway.

In-game

Theory has long been associated with being an objective player. While he leans towards a more aggressive style of play, his understanding of the fundamentals is what has led him to being a top player for many years and has kept his stock high for such a prolonged period of his career.

His cool and collected demeanor translates to both inside and outside of Call of Duty, helping his team keep a level headedness at important moments in time. Fundamentally, Theory is better suited to boots on the ground Call of Duty, as his career statistics show. Despite still enjoying success during the ‘jetpack era,’ look out for Theory to have a big year when CoD returns to boots on the ground action later in 2017.

Public Persona

Theory has never been a particularly outspoken pro and tends to remain reserved and professional regardless of the situation. On Twitter Theory has amassed almost 60K followers, but has largely shunned the limelight, despite opportunities to boost his own profile.

As a former member of the Team Kaliber house, Theory regularly appeared in videos with housemates including Sharp and Kosdff, but never used the opportunity to launch his own YouTube channel with regular content. Theory is an occasional streamer but that’s where his content production ends. Theory, unlike many of his counterparts, is a dedicated player first and foremost.

Learn More About Theory In His Own Words With SCUF Living Esports

SCUF celebrates another incredible pro gamer this week with Josiah "Slacked" Berry, Luminosity's storied Objectives player.

Origins

Like many legendary pro gamers, Josiah "Slacked" Berry made his way into the Pro Circuit with Call of Duty: Black Ops. During the MLG National Championships in 2011, the newcomer and his team Notorious stunned audiences by finishing 7th in an overall spread that included veteran teams such as OpTic Gaming and Team EnVyUs.

Slacked would return to the MLG National Championships in 2013 alongside heavy hitter Clayster in UNiTE Gaming, where they would take 2nd place to Fariko Impact, only further cementing a reputation that would show no signs of slowing in future events.

For the following several years, Slacked would continue his hard-won reputation as a solid asset to the world of Call of Duty, competing alongside legends such as NAMELESS, PHiZZURP, Saints, and many others. He was seen on the rosters of several well-known gaming organizations, including a year long run with Rise Nation.

Current Team

After years of proving himself on the virutal battlefield, Slacked has settled into his role as an Objectives player with Luminosity Gaming.

This switch was not without controversy, as Slacked left Rise Nation alongside two teammates, Sam "Octane" Larew, and Nicholas "Classic" Di Constanzo, to form an almost entirely brand new Luminosity with Renato "Saints" Forza. It was not a decision made lightly, and in a video that he posted to YouTube, Slacked explained that he felt that the team was no longer progressing in a way that made sense for them.

Formed at the end of 2016, this new iteration of Luminosity had a lot to prove, and they didn't waste any time making it clear that they wouldn't be pushovers. Slacked has been a major force to be reckoned with in the new Luminosity, making a strong showing at MLG Atlanta 2017 and MLG Dallas 2017.

Career Highlights

While Slacked hasn't yet secured a Championship ring, it would be foolish to write him off. At only 19 years old, Slacked has already achieved a career that many can only dream of. And with 1st place finishes at UMG South Carolina Champion Tournament in 2016 and defeating OpTic Gaming at the Totino's Invitational in 2015, it's clear that Slacked has a taste for victory.

Public Persona

If there's one thing that takes you off guard about this 19 year old pro gamer, it's his level of professionalism and respect for the game. During public events and interviews, Slacked has always made it clear how lucky he considers himself to be as a part of this world. And beyond that, it becomes abundantly clear that he respects Call of Duty as a profession, which means he is always bringing his best foot forward, whether it be on the virtual battlefield, or treating his fans with admiration and gratitude.

When he and the majority of Rise Nation left to join Luminosity, Slacked released a video explaining the situation and their reasons for making the change. In this way he made himself something of a mouthpiece for the team. And with his cool head and gracious attitude, it's no wonder that he stands out among his team mates as a thoughtful, consummate professional.

For a deeper look into what makes Josiah "Slacked" Berry a force to be reckoned with, visit his SCUF Living Esports profile, and hear from the man himself!

After days of gameplay, charity, and sleep-deprived entertainment, the 2016 Race To Prestige has finally come and gone. This year the world got its hands on Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, introducing a very new style of game to fans of the long-standing, multi-billion dollar franchise. Futuristic armaments and mechanical rigs have been added to an already chaotic multiplayer game mode, and fans of eSports the world over were looking forward to seeing how that would change team composition and strategy.

2016 Race To Prestige New Added Gameplay

Another new addition to the proud tradition of The Race was the introduction of OpTic Gaming’s team OpTicRTP. As the broadcasts began, viewers all over the world were treated to live video of the OpTic SCUF House and nearly every single team member playing their hearts out. Everyone from Scump to Karma to Hector were present to help ring in the latest Call of Duty, and it was clear that they were having a blast. In a fan favorite moment, Jamie Gray Hyder, who voiced and provided motion capture for Nora Salter, stopped by for a few hours to play and promote Infinite Warfare. She talked to fans and provided some insights into her Navy SEAL training and chats with NASA about space combat. She even shared some thoughts on jetpacks and the strong feelings of the player base surrounding them.

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The donations rolled in steadily as the days passed, and ultimately over $100,000 was raised for the Call of Duty Endowment, and it will all go toward helping countless veterans find work.

Team SCUF is proud to have been a part of The Race To Prestige this year and in years gone by. It’s always a week of exciting action and generosity for a cause that is near and dear to our hearts. Now that the 2016 Race is over, let us know: what were some of your favorite moments? Did you get into the giving spirit and donate?

The best part about the world of eSports is that the next terrific event is always around the corner, and without fail Team SCUF will be there.

SCUF HQ got a surprise visitor today in the form of pro gaming legend James "Clayster" Eubanks, who visited to celebrate the release of his new SCUF controller. The FaZe Clan superstar spent the day in full takeover mode, enjoying the opportunity to take the first SCUF Clayster for a test run, and even including a personalized note for one lucky fan. It's only been a few months since his last visit to Scuf Gaming, and the staff and crew were more than happy to see him return. It was only suiting that Clayster be the one to announce his new SCUF controller, and he gave the world his impressions during a live Q&A.



At the end of a long day, Clayster announced a giveaway to celebrate the arrival of the new controller, before heading out to enjoy the sights and sounds of Atlanta. Clayster's sleek, new design couldn't have asked for a better introduction to the world of gaming.

The new SCUF Clayster controller is based on the labyrinth-like logo of pro gaming legend James “Clayster” Eubanks. Sporting a brightly colored motif against a classic black shell, this maze-like design reminds the world of the incredible twists and turns that Clayster’s career has taken, as he has moved from one team to another, learning and evolving as he went. This new member of the Esports Collection represents the product of hard-won success, and is available for the SCUF IMPACT, Infinity4PS, and Infinity1 Series controllers.

Check out the details on the SCUF Clayster and enter the Giveaway to win one of your own!

May 2nd – 3rd marked the Electronic World Sports Cup (EWSC) tournament at the Zenith Concert Hall in Paris, France. This was the first major tournament since the Call of Duty Championship in March and many teams were attempting to overtake Denial, the current World Champs. Representing #TeamSCUF were OpTic Gaming, Denial, FaZe France and Epsilon. Ultimately the top three were OpTic, Denial and Team Revenge with Denial and Revenge facing off in the Semi Finals.

At the start, it seemed Denial would sweep Revenge 3-0, considering their dominating performance in the first two games, but Revenge managed to push Denial to a Game 5. The final game, S&D on Recovery, was 5-2 in Revenge’s favor. Denial managed a massive rally and pushed to round 11 where they defeated Revenge to enormous cheers and applause from the crowd.

Denial’s win over Revenge placed them against OpTic Gaming for the Final.  And, OpTic were eager for redemption after their 7th place finish at the Call of Duty Championships. The crowd in Paris had been jubilant all weekend, but the cheers for the final two teams as they walked on stage trumped them all. Game 1, Hardpoint on Solar, was even-paced for some time, but OpTic’s Crimsix started slaying and was able to push OpTic to a decisive 250-100 victory. Games 2 and 3 were much closer and went to OpTic and Denial respectively; with Denial pulling off an incredible comeback to win 13-11 with less than a minute to go. Game 4 was a battle for control, CTF on Retreat, with Denial taking an early lead. The play shifted in favor of OpTic halfway through the match.  OpTic ran with it, not allowing Denial room to re-organize and took Game 4 and the tournament to thunderous cheering from the spectators.

This victory gave Crimsix his 3rd ESWC title and gave OpTic Gaming Call of Duty bragging rights once again.



Want to play like your favorite #TeamSCUF teams? Check out the SCUF ONE Controller page HERE and the SCUF 4PS Page HERE and start configuring your very own Custom SCUF Controller now!