Spooky's Streaming Equipment Seized by the Department of Homeland Security

[Kaelan?]

http://iplaywinner.com/news/2011/9/2...f-homelan.html

I know, this title reads as if it was taken straight from the Onion but it is no joke. Sp00ky's stream gear -- specifically his laptop and a few camcorders -- were jacked by the Dept. of Homeland Security on his way back from T12.

What does this mean for all you stream monsters? Well first off Guard Crush this week will be handled by deputy streamer Min on his channel. Secondly, Seasons Beatings is still a go as Sp00ky has some back up gear to make that happen. That said, both before and after Seasons Beatings he will be taking a break from streaming while getting everything sorted out. Check out the full video where he talks about this incident below.

http://kotaku.com/5844439/homeland-s...eizes-hardware

Homeland Security officers detailed pro-gaming web broadcaster Victor "Spooky" Fontanez and seized his equipment Monday as he reentered the country following a fighting game championship in Toronto, Canada.

Team Sp00ky's laptop, cell phone and two camcorders were seized, according to the Detention Notice and Custody Receipt for Detained Property issued by the Department of Homeland Security.

The laptop, which Fontanez and Team Sp00ky use to stream live game coverage and prepare videos from tournaments, contained about 200 hours of footage from multiple tournaments, Fontanez told Kotaku.

Fontanez said he was on a bus on his way back to his home in Brooklyn, New York about 3 p.m. from the Toronto Fighting Game Championships 12 when the bus pulled in to the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Office in Buffalo, New York.

"The questioning began when after seeing one of my bags in the X-ray scanner they noticed the multitude of wires, extension cables and converters I was carrying," he said. "They asked me what I was carrying and seemed very suspicious when I mentioned that I had cameras.

Fontanez told Kotaku he was stopped, searched and questioned him about the equipment he had and what he was using it for. After questioning him, an officer confiscated his equipment and sent him on his way, he said.

Items seized by Homeland Security can be detained for up to 30 days, unless an ongoing investigation mandates a longer period of time. Kotaku has filed an Freedom of Information Act request with the department seeking more details about the seizure and the timing of the equipment's release.

"We have a big event coming up next week, and a weekly tournament that I won't be able to cover," Fontanez said, who makes his living by broadcasting. "I can't really travel and cover tournaments without my equipment."

The fuck?

[Vandole]

http://www.deviantart.com/download/5..._Kool_AIDS.jpg


olde news aside, it's fucking horrible. But considering a bunch of brown guys were talking about how some canadians got blown up..

[Kaelan?]

olde news aside

It happened after he came back from T12 this Sunday. He recorded the video yesterday

[Kiarax]

It was discussed a little in the SF4 thread already.

[Kaelan?]

Should have made a thread for it then for people who don't follow SF; I wasn't even aware of this till a few minutes ago. I'll add the Kotaku story to the OP, since their reporting on it is a little better than iPlayWinner's, in any case.

[Jefe]

Peeps who don't follow the SF thread aren't worth a damn. There, I said it. but yeah, it sux.

[Vandole]

Peeps who don't follow the SF thread aren't worth a damn. There, I said it. but yeah, it sux.

aaaaand /thread

[Sonomaa]

stop being dicks SF thread people, Im one of you and Im ashamed you didnt make this thread more public to make more awareness about someone in the esports community getting shit on

[AoE]

Was gonna post it in the MVC3 thread so I saw it when the twitter was posted through my phone but I was on my commute and couldn't really copy/paste the url. Then I figured since it was posted in the Street Fighter thread people would've known about it. My bad.

Honestly don't think it needs it's own thread tbh but whatev.

[Blackice]

stop being dicks SF thread people, Im one of you and Im ashamed you didnt make this thread more public to make more awareness about someone in the esports community getting shit on

This. Sucks ass either way, I hope it makes a bigger splash than it already has. Especially since there was NO FUCKING GOOD REASON why it all got confiscated.

[Xno Kappa]

Sp00ky spending that pawned equipment money on booze and hookers.

[Katlan]

thats fucked up. Especially since Spooky is one of the better stream's

[Xno Kappa]

sp00ky streams become unbearable the second his boy Salturo picks up a mic.

[Katlan]

you speak the truth, but I like sp00ky himself and find him to be one of the better streamers w/o talking just to hear himself speak

[Yuri-G]

welcome to post 9/11 amerukkka! please feel free to check your civil liberties at the door we hope you enjoy your stay!

seriously, this is bullshit and has implications far beyond gaming. the only reason it might not deserve a thread is because this shit happens all the fucking time, but that's all the more reason to bring attention to it.

[Blackice]

Part of Salturo's issues while commentating is that he's so fucking down on himself and loves to tell the world about it. If he got it through his head that 5-6k viewers don't want to hear him whine, he wouldn't be as bad. Nothing like hearing him bitch about how trash AE is because his turtle game got thrown out of window, wah wah Sim sucks now wah wah...

[Lokus]

The major downside for Mr. Victor Font.. is that streaming is essentially his business. DHS essentially shit on his work. Just imagine if you were a photographer or cameraman and had your equipment confiscated when you needed to do a shoot the next day. And to add insult to injury, Spooky had to buy another bus ticket to go home since the info was on his laptop and cell phone and they wouldn't allow him to look for it.

Ultra David posted on his twitter for Spooky not to worry about it but regardless if it's procedure and for our protection, it should not take a long time for the DHS to do their investigation. That's one thing they need to streamline.