Flamehopper, Stompalittle and SpiritsZ Talk Battle Royale Beginnings at H1Z1 Pro League

Tonight will mark the beginning of the inaugural season of the H1Z1 Pro League, as each of the 15 teams competing in the first battle royale esports league will be looking to show everyone that they should be looked upon as the top H1Z1 team in the world. Three of these teams will be Counter Logic Gaming, Noble esports and SetToDestroyX.

Ahead of tonight's highly anticipated matches, SetToDestroyX's Matthew "Stompalittle" Willis, Nobile esports' Shane "SpiritZ" Adams and Counter Logic Gaming's Casey "Flamehopper" Pitel took part in a panel and discussed how their passion for the battle royale genre and H1Z1 began. 

Stompalittle explained how his Twitch community was a major factor in him pursuing a competitive career in H1Z1. 

"First and foremost, my stream community, they wanted me to play H1Z1. I was really really was scared of it at first because I had never played a battle royale. I was familiar with MOBAs," Stompalittle continued. "I caught the eyes of some of these guys that had played for a really long time and then Z2 came out, so I felt that was my perfect opportunity to come into the game, learn it and become good at it, because I am super competitive. I got destroyed right out of the gate, and it really motivated me to learn how to become better."

SpiritsZ recalled upon his fondness for survival games that drew him to the world of H1Z1 and the battle royale genre.

"I started playing battle royale back in a game called ISS. It was originally a survival game, and that is what orginally drew me to H1Z1 because it started off as a survival game. H1Z1 has always been with me since day one. It was always the most competitive battle royale game and I don't think any other game really compares to it. The genre is really spectacular. There is nothing really like it," said SpiritsZ. "I was addicted right when they started doing private servers. It really wasn't competitive for me, until people started to get into these competitive servers. It started off in Champions Arena with Mini and Flame. That's really when I got my name out there orginally. Then Fight for the Crown was announced, and I was hooked ever since."

Focusing on the emotional impact that battle royale can have on its players, Flamehopper knew that it was the genre for him from the very first time he experienced it. 

"For me, BR is the genre that beforehand nobody knew they always wanted. The first time I played battle royale, it was a different gaming experience than any other game because every round, whether it was a 20 minute or 30 minute game, was an emotional journey that you could go on from the start of the game to the finish of the game. The first time you go on that journey, it's really impactful. With H1Z1, that was the first BR game that I really got into. I started playing it and started streaming it at the same time," said Flamehopper. "I wasn't good at the game, but even just getting to the late game and knowing that 150 people started this game, and I am in the top 10, it was such a good feeling, and no other game gave me that feeling. I was hooked immediately. Originally, my friends were like 'Hey we're trying out this new game called H1Z1', and I am like 'Ah another new game that we are going to play one for weekend and then never play again' and then two and half years later, I am doing it for my job."

From humble beginnings, Stompalittle, SpiritsZ and Flamehopper will be among the 75 players who will take the stage tonight and kick off the very first season of the H1Z1 Pro League. The action begins at 6:15 PM PDT on the league's official Facebook page. 

(quotes have been edited for clarity and length)