ICO is closed ecosystem. Best way for noob to be let into games is faking an account, otherwise you have 50-60% chance of being kicked. To do that log into ICO, start game vs AI and quit immediately. Then start anather game vs AI, ally yourself with it, start game and quit. Repeat until you get 10+ games. Aim at 30% win ratio.  Cynical, but true. HF.

Well, it makes it easier for us smurfs

Anyways, to the Original Poster, think of ICO as like an exclusive club, it shouldn't be exclusive, but after many years of isolation, it has become that way, the people that play on it are usually very loyal to it and there are few noobs.  Many players are skilled and are veterans of the triumphs and tribulations that come from playing on ICO.  Expect litle mercy from pro players who will expect nothing but greatness out of you.  If you can break through the first ten or so games of probably utter failure and get a grasp on the strategies of the game, you can become a mainstay of the ICO community if you so please.  Remember, the best way to get better is play if you have the opportunity to, identify good players, and if you get your ass handed to you or if your team loses, or heck even if your team wins, watch the replay to identify any areas in which you could improve.

As for the questions in the post, I will explain some of the most basic things you need to do to when you join a "skilled game".  First, unless otherwise explicitly stated by the host, go to team 10 and wait for 2 captains to emerge and begin picking teams.  Beware of asking questions, because this immediately creates a cloud of suspicion over your head as people will either view you as a total noob, or a "smurf" trying to fake noobiness.  Either way is not a good way to go.  If you have any questions, post them on forums.  If you are picked, go to that team, and green up.  Try to listen to directions if the player giving them to you is named Auqia, or is in the clan [DT], or even [_].

As far as your question goes, "who are the pros, and how good are they?" you will just have to decide on that for yourself.  There is not a published ladder, but as you continue to play games, you will see how you stack up among everyone else and this will usually effect where you are picked in the PUGs, or Pick-up-Games.

Hope this helps,

Star Player

Yada Yada, Fagolas and some other hosts openly kick noobs. I'm just being honest to him. He will get kicked simply for being new.

Yes Howthe I was thinking of adding you in exclusion sentence. You are the only one that has more that 400 games on his DT tag. Last time I checked you stats you were on 1200 I think.

I'm sorry. Hope that   is enough for my mistake to be forgotten. 

I was on yesterday and I was pleasantly surprised that mecha played couple of games on his main.

Funniest is that Greg is smurfing himself, like when he lost those 3 skirantras in 30s:> 

A liar is a liar is a liar.  There are no degrees of lies. Only the lie.   Smurfer = Liar.  Period. If your smurfing your misrepresenting yourself to others.   No one can believe ANYTHING you say as a smurf because you have already presented yourself as a liar.

Example:  Michael Jordan joins a pickup game of basketball under an Smurf name, the captains of the team only get to talk to the players not see their faces.  Michael does the right thing and tells the captains who he is "to be fair".  So he is expecting the captains to take him on his ANONYMOUS word?  Would your trust some stranger without a face? You cannot introduce yourself with a lie, then expect to be trusted. Thats just  dumb, and anyone who cant see that is an idiot.  

THINK ABOUT IT

{Not directed only at Greg, he just put up good example, sorry Greg but its true, i dont think you you as a major smurfer, and I smurf somtimes myself, and I know its bad, but sometimes if ya cant beat em, ya gotta join them}