You can find the french unedited version on http://www.i-play.be/d...s/interview_payard_fr.doc
With the first generation of apprehended cheaters due for release from their virtual prisons, we the TF2 community enter the next step in competitive gaming evolution. - The time of former convicts trying to make amends, and reclaim their honor in the all but important rat race that constructs the successful life of a competitive gamer.
With the resurrection of clan Hadoken, tomorrow sees the return of one of the best known cheaters – one of the first to be caught, and one of the few to actually admit he cheated. Payard
Working class hero, and respected idk? Black senior, Slick took on the task to shed light on the maiden voyage, and pick the brain of the redeeming convict.
Has he learnt his lesson? Will he be tempted to cheat once more? How will this reflect on the return of other soon to return heavy weights?
In what follows, an open and honest, down to earth interview with Payard.
Hi Payard, for those who lived in a cave, can you tell us briefly about your backround in TF2?
Well, I started pretty much at the beginning of TF2 as a Heavy for a team made of real life friends. But as the Heavy class was slowly abandoned, I converted to scouting. I started from the lowest French divisions in teams certainly unknown to the Euro community, and progressed on to arrive in pancake (later known as iCon esport). Finally I joined k1ck, where I was caught for cheating and banned.
ED: Payard also played in the first Hadoken, alongside later to be top tier players Bash (wotr/power), Monkiainen (Blight), and Hocz (illegal/power).
What type of cheat did you use, and what motivated you to use it?
It was a triggerbot (a bot that autofires when your crosshair passes infront of a hitbox. For those who say that my crosshair keeps aiming too much at the same spot, they are wrong. - The triggerbot shoots anywhere within the hitbox. I also would like to mention that there were no cheats in my movie, don't see the wrong everywhere!
As for the motivation aspect, incoming drama…here goes: At that period, I had many real life issues that had an overall influence on my moral. To clarify, I didn't enjoy anything anymore be it in the real life or ingame. With no motivation, I kept on going, caring about absolutely nothing. As fortune would have it, I also broke my arm in that period…then, I was up for being trialed by k1ck. So basically I thought f it, I get a cheat installed, and successfully complete my trials. Anyhow, others cheat and they never got caught.
I would also like to add, that being a complete newbie in the e-sport environment, I had no idea what importance this could have for some people. At that point, gaming didn't matter as much to me as it does to others. At that time, I considered it similar to cheating at paper/rocker/scissors
Any regrets? (captain obvious)
Well, yes a lot. I realized the importance of my act too late, and mainly through other people's eyes.
So how do you expect the community to greet you? Maybe get an advantage from being one of the few to admit your cheats? But then again…
To be honest, I don't expect any warm greetings. Even after having "served my sentence", it is very difficult to regain people's trust.
I heard that you are now joined the team of admins to French League, is that some kind of sick joke?
I am the admin of LFTF2 (Le groupe de la ligue francophone de Team Fortress 2) at the moment. It’s French pickups, so I did help in banning certain French cheaters. This is the reason you see so many French people banned from ETF2L lol
Of course, many people thought it was all a joke at the beginning. -But you can consider it community service, which I forced myself to do.
It would be interesting to see you joining the anti cheat team in ETF2L, with all your experience. What do you think?
I was actually asked to be part of the AC team ETF2L, but I don't really know if I should accept. It could be too early to occupy such a position. My ban runs out tomorrow, and I rather start by regaining trust from the Euro community.
It seems the like the French community is very happy of Anakin's departure of ETF2L, any reason to that? Does the French community feel betrayed by Anakin?
Its not really the job that Anakin did (as AC) that’s the problem. Like I said previously, I also helped in banning cheaters myself.
It’s the actual person that he is, a mean and rude person, who’s got nothing but the word cheat at the end of his lips. He allows himself to give lessons on life, an actual 15 year old no lifer that never leaves his room. Anakin actually has 3 VAC accounts banned - it took some digging to find that out.
Sounds like you hold some grudges towards him?
Naa, personally I don’t have a problem with him, its just an observation. I actually worked with Anakin on various issues, I consider my own ban to be deserved. He did his work, that’s all.
Makes me wonder how you would describe someone you actually do hold a grudge against, then
So what are your plans now? Same class? I heard you’re in a new team composed of some known ex div1/div2 players and some ex cheaters as well (the resurrection of clan Hadoken). How are the results coming along?
At the moment, I intend to just play and have fun (in a clean way of course!). I abandoned scout, as I was bored of the class. Hopefully, I will be less associated with cheats as a soldier.
Indeed we have reformed an old team (Hadouken), but many teams refuse to play us due to my past history. As for my “cheating teammates”, I suppose you are talking about pikalash who is the only other banned player on the team. But, in his case, I think it was a mistake and that he didn’t cheat. The AC team always tried to do the best it could, but occasional errors are inevitable.
Anakin made an error?
I think so yes. Even though we all remember the case about Boomeh, a highly skilled player caught cheating, I sincerely believe that pika has always been clean. When I got caught, he was one of the players to show the biggest disappointment.
What about your other former teammates? Do you believe any of them actually cheated despite their denials?
As previously explained, apart from pikalash and maybe Kondor (which were taken in a frenetic spiral ban moment), I think the AC team took the time to do thorough work. And apart from some very few exceptions, I think if you are banned, it's for a reason.
Quad, guilty or innocent ?
mmm I can't answer that, I didn’t take the time to check out his demos.
During your absence, French players have been heavily represented by holysh!t and idk? frogs. What is your opinion on those teams? Are they recognized as some of the best in France or can we expect a lot more next season.
I think they have a good level, but yeah, expect an even higher level next season.
So Payard before you go, can you give us your opinion about the current state of division 1 in ETF2L? Who will win?
In the attempt to be unorthodox, I'll say that Dignitas won’t win this season. I have the impression that they don’t put much effort into it anymore, with no pcws and just sticking to playing officials. To be honest, I could see idk? Black winning if they continue to play the way they have, with an astonishing Extremer. And, no I was not paid to say that :p
I like this chap already! Idk?’s 1-main even-win has clearly made a mark, but for the heck of it I hope your right
Well thanks a lot for your honest answers Payard, I hope I won’t cause you too many problems with your ex Frenchies!**
Hadoken’s current lineup
Dr Justice (Demo)
Shitfly (soldier)
Payard (soldier)
glp aka captain hax (scout)
pikalash (scout)
pn (medic)
bun (backup demo)
Mitsy (backup allaround)
Knoxxx (backup medic)
updated roster*
With this interview in mind, it is will be interesting to see how we accept them back into the community. As I am currently writing this, teams like Colorz are building up their roster once more with the old ex banned players... Paranoia like in Counter Strike? Time will tell.
Originally published on Resupply.eu on 11.03.2010 - 12:43 by Slick.
Archived from Interview with Payard as part of tf2esports.com's preservation of Resupply.eu's TF2 coverage. All rights remain with the original author and Resupply.eu; reposted for historical reference.