EPTSo I head to gamescom well prepared. I took a notebook with a pen for signatures if I can get some, and my father's digital camera, as the best I have is a phone camera. My goal was to watch the IEM finals, and try to get some pictures with the pro's and perhaps a signature or two.
So after driving all the way to Cologne, we go into Gamescom. I decide to basically do what I do when I find a new open world game, let myself get completely immersed. I just walked around, looking at things that were interesting, until I decided to look for the IEM stage to go sit there.
We walked past a booth with so many pc's, it was the HOTS testing area. I'd love to try HOTS, but the queue was pretty long and I wanted to secure myself the good spot in the audience, so we skipped it for now. (I'd provide a picture of the HOTS booth, but that's on the digital camera, I'll probably get my hands on that memory card tomorrow keke) Eventually we found the hall with the IEM event happening, and with the booths of few bigger games companies like Riot Games.
I tell my friends (who are much more interested in LoL than some 'nerve-wracking game such as SC2') that I'll go sit in the audience for a while. At first I was unsure where to sit, so I sat on the ground, but when I saw my chance, took a good spot behind the caster booth, usually I'd be the guy right next to Kaelaris' right sleeve on stream haha
Watched a few amazing games between Socke and Real, and after that Daisy and Goody. What also caught my eye was that I was sitting around 2-3 meters away from the one and only legend, Supernova. (I'd provide a picture but it's on my dad's camera again)
So around this time my dad's camera runs out of batteries because he forgot to charge it, so I had to swap to my crappy mobile phone's camera.
I notice someone taking a picture with Supernova in the staff area behind the audience. I try to identify the small asian man and it appears to be none other than David Kim! Supernova invited him to sit next to him, so I quickly snapped a picture with my phone of the two. keke
![[image loading]](http://i45.tinypic.com/p29w0.jpg)
Supernova and David Kim relaxing and watching ESP cup
Shortly after, I'm pretty sure during the Goody vs Daisy game, Tastosis decided to have a seat in the staff area, so I couldn't resist the temptation to get a low quality picture of the duo.
![[image loading]](http://i50.tinypic.com/2iid93q.jpg)
Tastosis watching EPS
So Goody vs Daisy ends, and inori joins Supernova in the staff area behind the crowd. Anyway, he takes place in the front row, and I take the opportunity to get two korean pro's on a picture. >:D
![[image loading]](http://i47.tinypic.com/2wc1zwx.jpg)
Supernova and inori sitting in the staff area
So there's a huge break, a break of about an hour, between the end of the EPS cup and the start of the IEM semifinals. I contemplated leaving until it started, but I didn't want to give up the amazing spot behind the caster's 'booth'. I see a young man taking pictures with Supernova and inori, and I decided to get myself together and go and ask for a picture too.
I approach inori first, because he's sitting in the front, obviously it'd be rude to ask for Supernova right away, and I might as well take the opportunity to get as many pictures as I can. I ask him for a picture and he politely agrees.
![[image loading]](http://i48.tinypic.com/ebc7f5.jpg)
inori takes a picture with me
I thank him for the picture and ask if he could get Supernova for a picture. He agrees. At this point, my mind went kind of blank. Meeting someone such as Supernova so suddenly, haha. I shake hands with him, and inori nicely offers to take the picture for me. This is the resul
![[image loading]](http://i48.tinypic.com/34nfyo8.jpg)
Supernova takes some time for a picture with me! (So fond of this picture kekeke)
After that I thank both of them for their time and return to my seat.
After a while, the two friends I took to Cologne come and visit me at IEM, and we decide to watch together. But not before one more thing happening. I happen to spot Day9 leaving his caster's 'booth', and some people immediately jump up and run up to the barrier. I have an ideal seat so I can literally stand up and be right on top of Day9.
So Day9 walks up the barrier and starts talking to the lady who was sitting next to me. She was a big fan of his and gave him a hug and a huge thanks. I was hoping it'd be my turn, but Day9 apologizes and says he had to go get his lunch. The crowd of ~10 people decides to stay standing until he returns.
When he did return, he had a conversation with the man standing next to me. After that was done, he looked at me. I decided that I had to start the conversation, and it basically went as follows:
+ Show Spoiler +
S = Sean
A = Me
A: Hi Sean!
S: Hi, what's your name?
A: I'm Anthonie. How is it in Germany?
S: It's actually been really hot in here, whew.
A: Totally agreed, so who do you think is going to take IEM?
S: Hmm, I actually think it's going to be MVP.
A: I hope so too! That guy is amazing. I was really worried watching the quarterfinals, because 3 zergs had qualified already, and I was so afraid of a 4 zerg semifinals.
S: Yeah, that was just nerve wracking.
A: So my friends and I really enjoy your dailies, and I particularily enjoyed Daily #100.
(Sean decided to wave at my friends sitting in the crowd and they happily waved back.)
S: Hahah, yeah, my career has been all downhill from there.
(We share a laugh.)
S: So where are you from?
A: Holland.
S: Really? You have no accent at all, your pronunciation is great!
A: Ah really? Thank you.
(I ask him for a picture and a signature and he kindly agrees to do so)
A: Thanks so much, and good luck casting the IEM.
S: Haha, you too!
(We share another short laugh)
S: Alright, cheers!
A: Cheers!
A = Me
A: Hi Sean!
S: Hi, what's your name?
A: I'm Anthonie. How is it in Germany?
S: It's actually been really hot in here, whew.
A: Totally agreed, so who do you think is going to take IEM?
S: Hmm, I actually think it's going to be MVP.
A: I hope so too! That guy is amazing. I was really worried watching the quarterfinals, because 3 zergs had qualified already, and I was so afraid of a 4 zerg semifinals.
S: Yeah, that was just nerve wracking.
A: So my friends and I really enjoy your dailies, and I particularily enjoyed Daily #100.
(Sean decided to wave at my friends sitting in the crowd and they happily waved back.)
S: Hahah, yeah, my career has been all downhill from there.
(We share a laugh.)
S: So where are you from?
A: Holland.
S: Really? You have no accent at all, your pronunciation is great!
A: Ah really? Thank you.
(I ask him for a picture and a signature and he kindly agrees to do so)
A: Thanks so much, and good luck casting the IEM.
S: Haha, you too!
(We share another short laugh)
S: Alright, cheers!
A: Cheers!
It really surprised me that I managed to have a casual conversation with Sean Plott in my life. I expected him to just sign a few autographs and get back to casting, instead, he treated every fan as a good friend of his. By the way, this is the picture I took with him.
![[image loading]](http://i46.tinypic.com/110yvtd.jpg)
Something I'd have only dreamt of months ago, a picture with Sean Plott~~
After that amazing experience, IEM starts. My friends enjoy the show together and totally spaz out over seeing all these korean games and well known casters. They leave for a walk about 3 hours later, and I decided to finish watching the semifinal between MVP and VortiX (It was already past meeting time, so I had to skip the finals to go home :<). When I see them again, they've played HOTS, and suddenly developed a huge interest in SC2.
--
So overall, this was one of the best days of the year, if not more. In a nutshell, I got to meet and takes pictures with several players, including Supernova, and with Day9, and got to chat with him and get a signature. I also enjoyed the IEM semifinals with 2 of my friends, and at the end of the day, my two more LoL oriented friends have established much more interest in SC2, something I've been trying for so very long.
Thanks for the read. ^^
![[image loading]](http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft/images2/thumb/b/b0/Inori_2012MLGSpringArena2.jpg/220px-Inori_2012MLGSpringArena2.jpg)
