Maleok here with the second interview in the 'Featured Streamer Spotlight' series! This time it's with Sheila 'Pterodactylsftw' Weidman, one of our featured Counter-Strike streamers. Sheila plays CSGO since 1-2 years and has since then achieved the supreme master first class rank, providing both high ranked play and chat interaction during her streaming sessions.

I caught up with her to talk about all there is to know about her partnership with Team Dignitas. If you ever wondered how a streamer interacts with a pro team, she has the answer!

How did you initially get involved with Team Dignitas?

Pterodactylsftw: I think it was at IEM New York 2011. It was Comic Con and there was a League of Legends IEM there. At that point I had only been playing League of Legends for a few months but I was cosplaying as Katarina. I went to the League of Legends area, Keep in mind I wasn't familiar with the pro scene, and this group of guys asked if they could take a picture with me. It was Dignitas and Scarra. This was before I knew he was a Katarina main and that is why they wanted the picture. It was only when I started finally watching E-sports that I realized, "Oh that is Team Dignitas!" and began to really like them. I forget how Scarra and I came back into contact but we became really good friends.

That was my only early interaction with Team Dignitas, being friends with Scarra and being a huge fan of the team. That is until I started streaming last July. Someone had asked me, "Well if you are such a huge Team Dignitas fan, why don't you get partnered with them on Twitch?". I asked Scarra shortly after and he mentioned that he thought it was only for players. At the same time I contacted Sui about it, not really expecting anything but just as a curiosity. Sui told me that I could absolutely be on our streaming platform. Both ODEE and Sui knew who I was through social media but I never had too much of an interaction with them before that. ODEE said that he had watched my stream a few times and loved the fact that I actually played the games to be competitive and to be good at them.

Has working with an E-sports team made a significant impact on your content?

Pterodactylsftw: Absolutely. I play the best that I can, and try and be the best that I can so that I can represent Team Dignitas well. I want to show them in a good light through me. In turn they have helped me gain viewership and gain influence. It's a comfortable give-and-take and we help eachother out a lot. I am so grtful.


Did you ever think that your content would be backed by a company or sponsor?

Pterodactylsftw: Not really no. I started streaming more because I had always wanted to stream. I never had good enough internet or equipment until I had moved to my own place. I never really knew how partnerships work but I knew I wanted one with Twitch at some point. I never thought I would have the chance to have one with an organization of any kind. I got really really lucky that Team Dignitas picked me up and had faith in me. Although I am very very grateful I never thought anything like that would happen.

What can you tell us about the relationship you have with the team?

Pterodactylsftw: Well I actually don't really know anyone other than ODEE or Sui. At least in the skype group, but that's because I am a little shy and don't wanna just jump in. But ODEE and I have had several conversations before and exchanged emails. He will jump in my stream once in a while and see how I'm doing. Sui is actually a really good friend of mine and has made a big effort to keep in contact with me.


What are the perks to working with a professional team?

Pterodactylsftw: Oh the perks! There are nothing but perks. Just the tweets and the exposure from Team Dignitas alone is a perk in itself. I have been on the front page of Twitch thanks to them and it is awesome to have their name behind me. Plus the Corsair sponsorship is awesome, my mouse, keyboard, and headset are all thanks to them. That is amazing, I used to think that only pro players were given equipment but I was happily mistaken. Of course we get the jerseys and the shirts, but I bought those on my own anyway! *laughs*

It's funny because I have collection now. I have the original ones, the ones from last year, and the ones we use now! It's nothing but perks with Team Dignitas, it was my favorite organization for a long time and just getting to represent them is a privilege.


Are there any downsides about being a streamer who represents a team?

Pterodactylsftw: Not really. Other than the fact that people will come into my stream and say things like, "She isn't even that good, what does she even do for Team Dignitas? Is she just a fangirl?". They don't get that streamers provide entertainment and can be an asset to a team. These people think that in order to be a part of an organization you need to be a pro player or staff member. They don't think that streamers have a place in a professional organization. Especially being a girl, I usually get the misogynistic, "Oh she is only part of Team Dignitas because she is a girl".


What about your stream do you think has the biggest draw?

Pterodactylsftw: *laughs* Well my stream is rather interesting, I get very passionate about my game. I just wonder how people can even watch me, I rage a lot. I think that is part of what people enjoy. I am very competitive so when I start dying or playing a little poorly I get loud and start yelling. So I guess some people find that funny. Sometimes people do show up just because I am a girl but after they watch for a bit and realize I am a high rank and play well I hope they stay for that reason.

Sheila ACEing some other Global Elite with an AWP.

In your opinion, what is the best part about being a video game streamer?

Pterodactylsftw: This is my job right now. I started streaming until I found a job, but almost immediately it got to a point where I didn't need any other job. I love doing this more than anything, I was raised around it. My Super Nintendo is older than I am. My parents were playing games before I was born. The second I was old enough to play games I was playing Zelda with my dad or Mario with my mom. I have been playing my entire life, and it is the thing I am most passionate about. As soon as I wake up in the morning it's; cloths, eating, makeup, games. I dreamt about Counter-Strike last night, not even kidding! *laughs* Just the fact that I can spend time streaming games and actually make a living off of it makes me so happy! I never ever thought I would be able to do something like this.


What would you say is more important to you right now, Stream growth or maintaining a steady audience?

Pterodactylsftw: I would prefer to maintain a steady audience. I mean I want to grow as a streamer, obviously I wish I could do both equally. However the people that I do have come in that are regulars are great. Honestly I would rather just have my few 'family' viewers than thousands of people who come in and don't really put anything even mildly intellectual into my chat. As nice as it might be to have tons of viewers I feel like if you have too many, then chat becomes obselete. It goes so fast that you can't really connect with your viewers anymore. Whereas if you have a nice small chat you can read it and actually respond with genuine or personalized answers.


Finally, Is there anything that you would like to tell your followers or people who may have not heard of you before?

Pterodactylsftw: Well to my followers...they already know that I love them. I make fun of them all the time, because that is just how I am, for being dumb or when they come to chat I will just be like, "You can get out of here." *laughs* The other day on my birthday I had more people from my stream support me and tell me 'happy birthday' than my own family. I love them and couldn't be doing this without them so I hope they know that. For anyone who hasn't seen me, just come in and don't put any weight on the very first round you see me play! *laughs* I play bad sometimes, but I play to be the best I can at the game, so if that's what you're about then come on in!

You can find Sheila streaming over on her Twitch channel.