As a gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that Snip3down is a living legend. His career spanning over two decades and multiple games is nothing short of extraordinary.
I’ve managed to make it into the elite group of esports professionals with the longest careers, having been active for nearly 17 years now. This is not just a job for me; it’s my lifeblood.
Eric “Snip3down” Wrona embodies professionalism, with nearly two decades under his belt, he’s consistently claimed numerous championship titles.
Previously involved in both Halo and Apex Legends teams (specifically with FaZe Clan and Native Gaming), Wrona recently made his entrance as an analyst following a break from the FaZe Clan roster due to a controversy. During this hiatus, he played for Native Gaming, who unfortunately did not manage to qualify for the international Split 2 Playoffs held in Mannheim, Germany.
But despite being adamant that his playing days are not numbered, an appearance on the desk has been a revelation.
I sat down with Snip3down to talk about everything from his favourites and ones to watch during ALGS Split 2, his desk debut, and what his competitive career has to offer in Apex (and not Halo. Unless…).
Desk Debut
During the ALGS Split 2 Playoffs, Snip3down has become a consistent fixture at the commentator’s desk, marking his debut as an analyst. Over the initial two days, he analyzed five out of six Apex Legends gameplay sessions, providing comprehensive analysis of almost the entire Group Stages.
“I have absolutely enjoyed being on the Analyst Desk,” he told me.
“I’m surrounded by many colleagues who once gave me a role in ‘Halo’, and we’ve always been close. They’re currently cheering me on in a big way, and soon, I’ll be returning the favor by cheering on others with them.”
“Since I can’t participate on the court, there’s no other spot I’d rather be during the tournament than at that desk.”
The gaming legend isn’t quite retiring from competitive play just yet, but he has plans to remain active in the esports world after his playing days are over. He believes that transitioning into analysis, along with creating content and streaming, would be an ideal move for him.
“I would absolutely consider, you know, being a permanent desk,” he continued.
“I prefer observing games rather than participating because, when I play, I become so immersed that I don’t feel any nerves – after all these years, I always find myself completely engaged and focused solely on the game. However, when watching, I sense the tension in the matches, see how points are swaying back and forth, and can predict where players should move. Such insights are not available during actual play.”
I find myself growing more anxious when I spectate rather than participate, but the thrill of being part of the audience, witnessing the high-level energy on the field, is truly exhilarating.
Fame or fireworks for the flying Falcons
In a bold move similar to Snip3down’s aggressive gameplay style, his analyst debut is not shy about delivering some daring perspectives. Particularly, he expressed reservations about his former teammate Phillip “ImperialHal” Dosen and the recently formed Team Falcons roster. While this group aims to rule the world, Snip3down suggests they might also turn out to be the biggest disappointment the esports industry has encountered thus far.
I inquired from Snip3 about which teams he considered the “underdogs” and a “team to watch out for” during Split 2, and he promptly pointed out Bleed Esports as a team that might catch others off guard due to their strong performance in the initial two days.
Regarding the X-Factor category, it’s clear that the favorites are the Falcons. They have solidified their position as potential winners, yet there remains a great deal of doubt concerning their roster and the influential individuals within it.
He remarked, “It seems they’re a squad to keep an eye on since their performance in this tournament hasn’t been as dominant as we’re accustomed to.” Previously, they shattered the kill or point record in the previous competition.
However, although he acknowledges that the Falcons are the most thrilling team to watch during matches, there’s also a risk of an enormous power struggle, given the competition between Hal and Zer0 for leadership.
Snip3 remarked, noting that Zero claimed he’d never missed winning a Split 2 Playoffs. He further mentioned that dominant teams like these don’t tolerate anyone else snatching titles away from them and letting other regions keep stealing trophies from under their watchful eyes.
“I believe that people anticipate a clash between Zero and Hal, as it seems they always agree on everything initially. However, when things start going wrong, tension will likely rise and lead to some heated exchanges or disagreements.“
- I also spoke to Hal about his position on Falcons, as he reminisced over past relationships on TSM.
Halo chapter is closed… unless…
This year, Snip3 has not achieved significant triumphs as a professional Apex Legends player, consistently stumbling at the initial challenges in both Pro League splits and failing to qualify for LAN events with both FaZe and Native teams.
Yet, he has zero ambitions of leaving Apex and moving back to Halo.
“Right now, Apex is the primary game I prefer playing, and I doubt I’ll return to competing in Halo,” he expressed.
There was a small pause though as he considered Halo, before he added, “If they have a Halo BR, it would pique my interest. That would be something. I think that they could do a really good job, but we’ve seen some struggles with the launches of some of those titles.”
Five years on, I’m still deeply into Apex Legends and can’t get enough of it. Sure, I’ll dabble in other games now and then, but I can’t imagine a day when I completely walk away from this one. It’s safe to say that this game has me hooked!
The ALGS Year 4 competition is nearing its end, with only the World Championships remaining, yet it’s quite possible that 2025 could witness a resurgence for Snipe3down. If not, there seems to be an ideal position for him as an analyst in future events.
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2024-08-31 21:13