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Korean vs Foreign Styles

Blogs > EsX_Raptor
Post a Reply
EsX_Raptor
Profile Blog Joined February 2008
United States2801 Posts
November 04 2009 19:02 GMT
#1
This blog doesn't take into consideration the pro-scene, at all.

We are all foreigners, we have our own styles of play and learn from those who are top SC players outside of Korea. Sure, we can always watch pro-replays and analyze how those monsters play, but then again, this blog doesn't take into consideration the pro SC scene.

The best example of our beautiful organization is the Liquipedia and those guides made by very good foreign players. We have BOs up to the 70th supply count and have countless variations and branchings of those BOs to fit our opponents'.

But something that I have noticed is that us as foreigners have the tendency of playing full-width macro games. Not counting those who cheese to ladder up or because they're just plain noobs, if you look at most of the good foreigners' builds, they tend to be of very high macro orientation.

12 hat, 1 rax fe, etc. are a couple of the builds that all of us have memorized extremely well and know how to execute to a certain degree of preciseness. Also, those are the builds that we are encouraged to learn so that we can "improve and be straight up non-newbie players".

However, there is a little difference between us and the (non-pro) korean players. I will leave some other examples up to you guys since I don't have much time right now to elaborate but if you take a look at how Korean zergs tend to play their zvt, you will see that 90% of the times they will be opting for a really aggressive 2 hat mutas build and follow it up with defilers off of 2 bases.

Why is this the case? Is it because they earn more respect the faster they beat the shit out of their opponents? Or is it because they just have enormous confidence in their APM? Or is it because they just don't like long games?

Discuss!

***
Wohmfg
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
United Kingdom1292 Posts
November 04 2009 19:17 GMT
#2
I think it's because very few people here, foreigners, are going to be playing at a high enough level to have almost perfect mechanics. The best way to get good at starcraft is to get good mechanics and use those mechanics to execute whatever build order or style of play you want. And the best way to get good mechanics is to practice going into the late/macro game in order to practice multi tasking and balancing your control and macro throughout the game.

Most koreans have been playing, at least for fun I guess, since they were very young and so already have amazing mechanics.
BW4Life!
cgrinker
Profile Blog Joined December 2007
United States3824 Posts
November 04 2009 20:29 GMT
#3
I think that Artosis or something always says that the forigners are always 8 months behind Korea. So we still think that we should be playing huge macro games
Zoler
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Sweden6339 Posts
November 04 2009 20:46 GMT
#4
On November 05 2009 05:29 cgrinker wrote:
I think that Artosis or something always says that the forigners are always 8 months behind Korea. So we still think that we should be playing huge macro games


I hope you mean strategy and not overall skill
Lim Yo Hwan forever!
KrAzYfoOL
Profile Blog Joined September 2005
Australia3037 Posts
November 04 2009 20:51 GMT
#5
On November 05 2009 04:02 EsX_Raptor wrote:
but if you take a look at how Korean zergs tend to play their zvt, you will see that 90% of the times they will be opting for a really aggressive 2 hat mutas build and follow it up with defilers off of 2 bases.


Defilers off 2 bases? Have you been watching replays from 2002 or something?
It's better to burn out than to fade away
Zoler
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Sweden6339 Posts
November 04 2009 20:56 GMT
#6
On November 05 2009 05:51 KrAzYfoOL wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 05 2009 04:02 EsX_Raptor wrote:
but if you take a look at how Korean zergs tend to play their zvt, you will see that 90% of the times they will be opting for a really aggressive 2 hat mutas build and follow it up with defilers off of 2 bases.


Defilers off 2 bases? Have you been watching replays from 2002 or something?


+ Show Spoiler +
Or Yellow like 1 week ago maybe? Tho it was a lurker opening
Lim Yo Hwan forever!
DreaM)XeRO
Profile Blog Joined December 2008
Korea (South)4667 Posts
November 04 2009 22:00 GMT
#7
wait... so macro is out?
...
cw)minsean(ru
seppolevne
Profile Blog Joined February 2009
Canada1681 Posts
November 04 2009 22:04 GMT
#8
I think it has to do with the negative view the foreign scene has on cheese. As you mentioned, cheese is used "to ladder up or because they're just plain noobs". A standard player is still considered better then someone he loses to if they cheese him, but a win is a win. SC doesn't have a NR5 rule, and I think if cheese was more accepted as a legitimate strategy you would see it more.
J- Pirate Udyr WW T- Pirate Riven Galio M- Galio Annie S- Sona Lux -- Always farm, never carry.
DarkShadowz
Profile Joined December 2008
Sweden321 Posts
November 04 2009 23:00 GMT
#9
On November 05 2009 07:04 seppolevne wrote:
I think it has to do with the negative view the foreign scene has on cheese. As you mentioned, cheese is used "to ladder up or because they're just plain noobs". A standard player is still considered better then someone he loses to if they cheese him, but a win is a win. SC doesn't have a NR5 rule, and I think if cheese was more accepted as a legitimate strategy you would see it more.

Yep this is the entire reason imo. I hate how so many people constantly call someone a noob unless they won in a drawn out macro game. Imo it reflects good knownledge of the game to see the weaknesses in the opponents build and take advantage of it. Of ocurse there are plenty of foreigners that don't think liek that but overall people have a very negative view on cheese or risky strategies. It's a strategy game and if your strategy counter your opponents wich is the goal, you outsmarted him and won. It's that easy.
maga33
Profile Blog Joined December 2008
United States247 Posts
November 04 2009 23:40 GMT
#10
I agree with Dark. People say that you are noob if you win with cheese but if you think about it, if you loose to cheese, you are either taking a risky build or you suck at micro. Cheese is risky but it gives and easy win and that is similar to a 14cc against someone who does not scout it. You will have a few extra units that can win you the game. Also, do you think you are really that good if you cant win in a micro war against someone a few ranks below you?
The victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.
Xenocide_Knight
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
Korea (South)2625 Posts
November 05 2009 00:59 GMT
#11
I don't know how it is in an semi-pro setting but in casual games, koreans (or at least all the ones i know) are more about having fun rather than trying to work on mechanics when they play. We always set up mini tournaments between us and we're more interested in entertaining our friends rather than working on macro. Also, we don't have all night. :D

Idk, it's not fun cheering on someone who is 1a2a3a with 200/200. but sitting behind your friend who is 2 hatch all-in muta microing is epic.

Shine[Kal] #1 fan
Zoler
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Sweden6339 Posts
November 05 2009 09:15 GMT
#12
On November 05 2009 09:59 Xenocide_Knight wrote:
I don't know how it is in an semi-pro setting but in casual games, koreans (or at least all the ones i know) are more about having fun rather than trying to work on mechanics when they play. We always set up mini tournaments between us and we're more interested in entertaining our friends rather than working on macro. Also, we don't have all night. :D

Idk, it's not fun cheering on someone who is 1a2a3a with 200/200. but sitting behind your friend who is 2 hatch all-in muta microing is epic.



2 hatch muta is more common than 3 hatch muta these day sadly
Lim Yo Hwan forever!
MrHoon *
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
10183 Posts
November 05 2009 09:24 GMT
#13
Alot of Koreans refer Foreign Protoss players as a "Brick Wall"

Apparently, Foreign Protoss players show off an unstoppable force vibe which isn't really common in the Korean Scene. Or you are a genius like Giyom and Elky
dats racist
evanthebouncy!
Profile Blog Joined June 2006
United States12796 Posts
November 05 2009 09:41 GMT
#14
On November 05 2009 18:24 MrHoon wrote:
Alot of Koreans refer Foreign Protoss players as a "Brick Wall"

Apparently, Foreign Protoss players show off an unstoppable force vibe which isn't really common in the Korean Scene. Or you are a genius like Giyom and Elky


What does that mean? Amazing macro on behalf of forign protoss or what?
O_o

I've jumped at least 500 points on Iccup going 3 hatch hydra vs FE hahaa, it's a breeze now!
Life is run, it is dance, it is fast, passionate and BAM!, you dance and sing and booze while you can for now is the time and time is mine. Smile and laugh when still can for now is the time and soon you die!
Zoler
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Sweden6339 Posts
November 05 2009 14:31 GMT
#15
On November 05 2009 18:24 MrHoon wrote:
Alot of Koreans refer Foreign Protoss players as a "Brick Wall"

Apparently, Foreign Protoss players show off an unstoppable force vibe which isn't really common in the Korean Scene. Or you are a genius like Giyom and Elky


Does that just mean a very safe, perfect macro/mechanics play or how do they mean?
Lim Yo Hwan forever!
MrHoon *
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
10183 Posts
November 05 2009 14:41 GMT
#16
The image and playstyle of Elky/GiYom is still branded into the brains of many veteran SC spectators in Korea. In the hearts of SC lovers over here, Grrr and Elky will never ever be forgotten.

Anyways, many people said watching White-Ra reminded them of the 2 Foreign Genius Protoss Players.

That being said, I haven't slept for more than 2 hours and I don't know what I am saying

errrr white-ra gives koreans nostalgic memories of elky's era
dats racist
EsX_Raptor
Profile Blog Joined February 2008
United States2801 Posts
November 05 2009 14:51 GMT
#17
That's interesting :D

Then this is implying that Korean Protoss players have a different play style. Like we previously mentioned, maybe they refer to foreign Protoss players as "brick walls" because of our macro oriented tendencies (having a lot of shit).

Please elaborate more on the Korean mindsets :D
samachking
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
Bahrain4949 Posts
November 05 2009 15:49 GMT
#18
On November 05 2009 23:41 MrHoon wrote:
The image and playstyle of Elky/GiYom is still branded into the brains of many veteran SC spectators in Korea. In the hearts of SC lovers over here, Grrr and Elky will never ever be forgotten.

Anyways, many people said watching White-Ra reminded them of the 2 Foreign Genius Protoss Players.

That being said, I haven't slept for more than 2 hours and I don't know what I am saying

errrr white-ra gives koreans nostalgic memories of elky's era


buttttt....
Elky is a terran
are you sure you didnt mistranslate or something?
"And then Earthlings discovered tools. Suddenly agreeing with friends could be a form of suicide or worse. But agreements went on, not for the sake of common sense, or decency, or self preservation, but for friendliness."
Liquid`Drone
Profile Joined September 2002
Norway28699 Posts
November 05 2009 18:55 GMT
#19
On November 05 2009 05:51 KrAzYfoOL wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 05 2009 04:02 EsX_Raptor wrote:
but if you take a look at how Korean zergs tend to play their zvt, you will see that 90% of the times they will be opting for a really aggressive 2 hat mutas build and follow it up with defilers off of 2 bases.


Defilers off 2 bases? Have you been watching replays from 2002 or something?


I do that in a majority of my zvt games where terran doesnt open mech

it wins a huuuuge majority of the time xd
Moderator
Foucault
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
Sweden2826 Posts
November 05 2009 18:58 GMT
#20
Foreigners in general macro well.

They are also too slow, have bad micro and can't multi-task very well. There are a few exceptions but the speed and mechanics part is what really sets them off from the koreans.

Foreigners are clumsier with their controls and keyboard usage in general.
I know that deep inside of you there's a humongous set of testicles just waiting to pop out. Let 'em pop bro. //////////////////// AKA JensOfSweden // Lee Yoon Yeol forever.
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