The Interview: Gaming AURA

He’s been talking to you all on the camera for a long time, today he took the chance to talk to us and have a heart-to-heart conversation. He is none other than Abhishek Bisht AKA. Gaming Aura. A caster, analyst, content creator, and a wonderful human overall, we spoke to him today about the Free Fire Esports scene in the country, how it used to be, where it has come now, and what he thinks the future looks like. 

Hi Aura. There’s a lot of things we want to ask you, but let’s start with the basic ones. What is the major difference between a player and a caster?

Aura: It’s fun to be a player. As a caster, I’m supposed to paint a picture of the game, make a story, name the relevant characters, and take the viewer on a journey through that story. But when you play the game yourself, then you realize the shortcomings and the advantages, the ups and downs. It’s easier for us as casters to say “Team A should have done this, maybe if team B did this, they could win”. But when we play, then we realize why they took the decisions. Sometimes certain strategies aren’t viable, for reasons that we as casters don’t realize. 

How has the meta and the playstyle of the players evolved from the start of the year till now?

Aura: Oh a lot! It has been completely overhauled! The esports scene has grown at a tremendous pace, and the overall skill level of the players and the entire tournament has improved. There is no one team that can dominate every tournament. The competition is cut-throat. And that’s better because eventually, the teams have to keep continuously improving to be relevant. When the skill level crosses a certain level, players get more serious about improving not just their style of playing, but improving their practice process. Earlier we used to copy the playstyle of Brazilian and SEA teams. Now the Indian teams have evolved and are developing their own playstyle. 

How is the esports scene growing?

Aura: As the players become better and more mature, they start to understand how esports works beyond just playing the game. The community has been growing. More and more viewers are watching the tournament, even when there aren’t any drops. They watch it to watch their favourite players play or because they want to learn something new. When so many people are involved in the process, it grows. Sponsors, esports organizations, third-party tournaments, and the media coverage, all of it increases, legitimizing the scene even more! Very soon, the esports scene will become the livelihoods of more than just the players. 

Which teams have impressed you the most?

Aura: I don’t really have a favourite, but if you put me in a spot like that and I’m compelled to choose, I’d say GZ-Army. They have grown so much. I remember when they used to be a squad of star-aimers. Now they’ve become so much more disciplined and strategic. I’d wish they were a bit more flexible and try out new drop locations every time and expand their own playbook, but I know that they’re constantly working on that. 

Who are your top 5 favourite players?

Aura: TG-Mafiabala, CRX-Pahadi, OS-Ayush, SS-MrJAYYT, and GZ-Gowdru, in no particular order, for no rhyme or reason.

What’s a common mistake that teams keep on making?

Aura: I believe that the teams are too tunnel-visioned once they see an opponent. They will figure out how to fight them, or when, but they don’t think of the side effects. That is, they don’t know how to protect themselves from getting third partied. The fights go on for too long, and this alerts the enemies around you. If you start a fight, finish it in 30 seconds or less. Or maybe get a pick and back off. That’s acceptable too. You don’t need to fully commit to a fight just because you got a kill and know that the enemy is weak. 

While looking to third party someone, they don’t believe that some other team might be looking to interfere in that same fight, which essentially is a fourth party situation. This shortsightedness leads to so many teams throwing away their advantages. 

Do you believe that Indian teams can do well in the upcoming international tournament?

Aure: I think we will have a fair shot at the Free Fire Continental Series. A few months ago we had Free Fire All-Stars, where an Indian team finished 3rd. That seems forever ago! The level of gameplay for Indian teams have increased by leaps and bounds. I believe that the Indian flag will fly high at the upcoming tournament. 

Thanks for joining us for this session today. Do you have any closing words?

Aura: Keep playing Free Fire! And also don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel *chuckles*