Panda Global Prepares to Take on the Competition!

The team shares their excitement, plans, and thoughts surrounding the upcoming tournament!

Panda Global is ready to fight for first in the H1Z1: Fight for the Crown Tournament! A tight-knit team, Panda Global's dynamic roster includes CamSim, ShellShock, Geesh, KandiVan, and MistaCarta. Each member of Panda Global has a weighted history in competitive gaming, and brings a unique skill set to the table. ShellShock and Geesh have been contenders in the competitive scene since playing in Champions Arena, and CamSim earned himself a spot as a standby for the 2016 Invitational with his impressive performance in the Qualifiers. KandiVan and MistaCarta are aggressive players who have proven their skills both in-game and on the leaderboards. We got a chance to sit down with the team and talk about some of the different aspects that make Panda Global a strong contender in the upcoming H1Z1: Fight for the Crown Tournament.

The Players:

CamSim	ShellShock	Geesh	KandiVan	MistaCarta

How do you get in the mindset to play a competitive match?

KandiVan: Back in the days of Z1, leaderboard grinding was how you could get your name out there. It was the initial start of wanting to be one of the best. I got to know a lot of people from the leaderboards, and from that I really go into the competitive aspect.

ShellShock: I started out playing in Champions Arena and the TA tournament servers. Getting to play with some of the best players in the game really got me hooked on wanting to improve so I could keep playing against better players.

Geesh: I come from a really competitive background in sports and other video games. When I saw a Champions Arena match streamed on Twitch, I decided I wanted to be a part of it, so I started grinding H1Z1. I was eventually able to get into Champions Arena, and ever since then it was something I've really enjoyed.

What was your reaction when you found out you were going to be on Panda Global's H1Z1 team?

KandiVan: I don't know about everyone else, but when I found out I was going to be on Panda Global, I went and found my mom to tell her "I made it!" Hahaha - that aside, Panda Global is a great organization, and I'm stoked to get to represent them.

CamSim: Haha, we were definitely all excited. We all want to make an impression on the competitive H1Z1 scene as it grows, and leave our mark as one of the groups that helped pave the way.

What's a moment of synergy you've had with your teammates?

Geesh: As teammates, we like to have fun even if we're playing seriously. We were playing in scrims one time and we were all talking in funny voices, having fun but still playing the game seriously. I'm pretty sure every one of us was laughing to the point where it was uncontrollable - that moment made us realize we weren't just a team anymore, but a family too.

MistaCarta: Let's go!

KandiVan: I'm gonna have to agree with that.

MistaCarta: I don't think anyone else needs to even answer that, haha. He covered it pretty well for all of us.

How would each of you describe your individual playstyles?

CamSim: I definitely think I'm more of a strategic player. I like to take the safest approach to every situation.

Geesh: I'm a little bit more of a risk-taker, but I still try to stay safe. I try to get the right angles around people so they don't know exactly where I'm coming from.

KandiVan: I guess you could describe my playstyle as "pretty aggro", haha. I'm never afraid to take a fight. Cam has toned me down quite a bit, but it can really pay off when it comes to those late game pushes.

ShellShock: I use a mix of strategic and aggressive playstyles. I like to play it safe when I can, but when we need to make a push or take fights I'm confident enough in my aim to do so.

MistaCarta: I'm also pretty aggressive. When it comes to fights, I like to position myself so it becomes a contest of aim rather than luck.

How does Panda Global get into the mindset to compete?

MistaCarta: Every time a scrim starts, we get our LAN pants on! That's how you know it's time for us to take things seriously.

What strategies do you use when you go out in scrims?

CamSim: Well, we don't want to give too much away! But I'd say our best moments definitely come when we're super aggressive. 

MistaCarta: Dropping in and looting is second nature to us; after that when the action starts to happen, we let CamSim and ShellShock do the shot-calling. They point us in the direction we need to shoot, and that's all we need.

If you could give advice to someone who wanted to pursue competitive H1Z1, what would you tell them? 

CamSim: Make a presence when you fight in your solo games - I picked all these guys up for Panda Global because our interactions in-game left such an impression on me.

Geesh: Grinding leaderboards, showcasing your skill in solos, and killing top-tier players are all great ways to get noticed. Make an impact - people will remember your name if they see you making plays in scrims or solos.

Any closing thoughts you want to share?

CamSim: All of the teams that make it into this tournament are going to have insanely good players. Everyone in this community has an amazing shot, so I think it's really going to come down to how well teams work together, and how the teams end up playing their odds.

Panda Global is gunning for their share of $300,000 in the H1Z1: Fight for the Crown tournament! Keep an eye out as we profile more teams who will be competing.