I've really been enjoying the gom classic tourney recently. Not only are the games with English commentary fun but it's a chance for Starcraft and E-gaming in general to break out of it's niche in S.Korea. One thing that has been bothering me though is Susan asking the pro gamers to make sounds during interviews. I think it's important to keep a pro gamer's status a professional one.
Compare them to Football players here in America, Football fans consider their players as people to be looked up to, not people there to entertain them for a few hours. Imagine a sports correspondent for NBC telling Peyton Manning to make sounds for the audience at the end of an interview. He would look like an idiot. When Susan tells savior to make the sounds an overlord makes I think it undermines the idea that these guys are professionals and doing us (the foreign community) a favor by doing interviews.
I don't want to sound too whiny because I do appreciate what Tasteless, Susan, and Gom are doing for the foreign community but I wanted to get that off my chest.
That's cool dude - everyone's entitled to his/her own opinion. I'm just sick of "I'll try harder next time and show you a good performance. I will train harder. Thank you for your support" But I guess you like the generic answers.
If ONLY someone would ask Peyton to make noises. I bet he would. "I think we played well, my team played well, next week we'll have to push harder and overcome the obstacles that come to us". Bleh.
You have a valid point, but i think susie makes the interviews a bit more interesting, considering most of the people watching foodball are hyper children, highschool jocks, and middle aged men. With starcraft, it's mostly young men with a good sense of a humor.
So, good point? yes, realisitic? not in my opinion.
I completely disagree. I think a part of the popular appeal of Starcraft is that these guys aren't just machines, but people who are willing to be goofy for the camera.
It's good to lighten up the atmosphere, just so long as the player's don't think they are being made fun of , or mocked or anything like that. Someone puts in 100hours of practice for a match, and dedicates everything he has to win, would probably feel disheartened if his victory interview had him making starcraft sounds. Just my opinion though.
Just to be clear the only thing I don't like is the requests to make Starcraft sounds. It's true that the audience is young, so a light hearted interview fits pretty well.
So when they ask the winner of Super Bowl where they are going afterwards is that professional?
(Hint: They always replay DISNEYLAND!)
Its nice that you have your own opinion of what professionalism is in a world youve never experienced, never worked in and only know about what people like Susie tell you. Its also nice that you didnt seem to care about whether these types of questions are considered standard in Korea or in Pro gaming, but hell lets just jump in head first.
Where did you obtain your set of standards from? This is the first thing you need to establish since professionalism in your country/profession may not transfer into Korea/Pro gaming. Here is where I think you make your first mistake, assuming that what Susie did was unprofessional. You should check these types of things out before forming an opinion such as yours.
I personally think that this was not across the board professional but there are other things which are more un-professional which do not affect GOM or Susies stature. (i.e.- The panda shirt). Either way I think they are doing a great job and criticism such as this is needed, I just wish you would maybe check around before making accusations aye?
On October 22 2008 11:32 GeneralStan wrote: I completely disagree. I think a part of the popular appeal of Starcraft is that these guys aren't just machines, but people who are willing to be goofy for the camera.
Agreed especially because most of the pros themselves are barely even out of middle school less alone high school. Baby is like a 7th grader, flash is a 10 grader. Theres a lot of pros who are born in 91 and 92.
On October 22 2008 11:26 lilsusie wrote: That's cool dude - everyone's entitled to his/her own opinion. I'm just sick of "I'll try harder next time and show you a good performance. I will train harder. Thank you for your support" But I guess you like the generic answers.
While what you said it true, I think its clear that a balance needs to be struck. Obviously the generic answers are boring. The bigger problem is that when you ask things like "can you make a unit sound?" they all refuse, and then give you that look that says they're trying to figure out if you're an idiot or not (which is just as boring). Even on TLA, Xiaozi was the only one who even responded to it and everyone there is asked to make sounds.
Getting them to show personality looks like it can be tricky, so maybe it just requires a different angle or a more gradual progression.
Where did you obtain your set of standards from? This is the first thing you need to establish since professionalism in your country/profession may not transfer into Korea/Pro gaming. Here is where I think you make your first mistake, assuming that what Susie did was unprofessional. You should check these types of things out before forming an opinion such as yours.
Considering that the work Susie is doing is in English, I think its safe to assume that the viewers will be judging professionalism from a western perspective and not a Korean one. I'm not sure why this would make you so angry.
Sp1ral you make some good points. I can't say what professionalism is in this context. It is especially difficult because one event is being broadcast to multiple communities with different values and different expectations of the event. I really enjoy watching Suzie and Tasteless cast games, they really enjoy themselves. It's like I'm watching two of my buddies cast which gives the game a happy go lucky charm.
My gripe on the matter is how I feel this should grow. If we treat the pro gamers as people with high social value their transition into other communities as professionals will be easier. I'm all for interesting and light hearted interviews but I just want them to be shown a little more respect, this is where opinion comes into play. When I laugh during an interview I want to be laughing with the interviewee, not at them.
try to get them speak more English imo, it's awesome. Or ask them about what they know about the foreign scene, and if they want to participate in the TL Attack
These kinds of things are awesome. These players aren't heroes you should aspire to be like. They're excellent players at an exciting game, but it's ridiculous to think she's ruining their "integrity." The only problem with it so far is that I haven't seen any of them willing to do it.
Also consider that Korean culture also has some dictation here.
For example: Construction warning signs in Korea have this really cartoony man who's literally drawn like a character you'd see in anime giving you a friendly smile warning you that its a hard hat area.
In the States, you never see that shit. The only image is men using jackhammers or cranes to huge skyscraprers or bulldozers.
You also have to think culture wise, not saying korean professionalism is inferior but I mean its a gaming industry. Also savior hears overlords all the time, I'm sure he wants to get it out. haha
On October 22 2008 11:29 RoC)Ninjah wrote: You have a valid point, but i think susie makes the interviews a bit more interesting, considering most of the people watching foodball are hyper children, highschool jocks, and middle aged men. With starcraft, it's mostly young men with a good sense of a humor.
So, good point? yes, realisitic? not in my opinion.
Wow what a horrible stereotype lol...
Anyway, I don't see any need at all to make these interviews so "professional". I personally enjoyed lilsusie asking for the unit sounds, as indeed it is a break from the usual "I like Starcraft 2 and I will try it out. Also, I will work hard to be the best."
Professonal gamer does not mean dead serious demeanor. Don't gauge how a progamer should act based on what you think will achieve mainstream popularity, because you simply don't know if that's the case(most likely isn't). I mean, FBH makes ridiculous crotch thrusts and half of lecaf dresses as women and they still get so much respect from their fans.
Plus, laughing at unit sounds is hardly laughing at them... it is laughing with them... Just like "I will destroy everyone in 2009". And that was Savior saying it by himself. OMGWTF Savior unprofessional! Ban him from Starcraft!
My only disappointment was in susie not asking Bisu what he used for his hair.
eh. imo susie is fine, i dont particularly like her while shes talking about SC with tasteless, double commentary with her is not a gogo, its a no go, but her questions are unique and well done. interviews are supposed to be fun.
On October 22 2008 12:52 SonuvBob wrote: There's nothing wrong with fun questions, as long as they don't send the player into super-shy mode like w/Savior. :p
I bet after the next round when she asks them again, they'll be more willing to do it.
They should spend some time with their coaches practicing interviewing skills. I find myself becoming a fan of the pros that have given good interviews.
On October 22 2008 14:06 Bosu wrote: They should spend some time with their coaches practicing interviewing skills. I find myself becoming a fan of the pros that have given good interviews.
For whatever reason... when I first read this I thought you were referring to them practicing to make unit sounds with their coaches. I think I am currently a little sleep deprived though.
On October 22 2008 14:06 Bosu wrote: They should spend some time with their coaches practicing interviewing skills. I find myself becoming a fan of the pros that have given good interviews.
For whatever reason... when I first read this I thought you were referring to them practicing to make unit sounds with their coaches. I think I am currently a little sleep deprived though.
They should do that too. Then during proleague matches, both teams can make unit sounds, and imitate a whole battle.
Why not have the progamers have a little bit of an unprofessional side? If you are asking them to be professional all the time does that mean you also want them to stop doing ceremonies?
I always rooted for Zeus to win his 2v2s just so I could see some ceremony action. I think Korean fangirls would also be sad to not see ceremonies.
Unit sounds are awesome. Let's get more of them! Also, it is not insulting and does break the monotony of the normal questions/answers, as lilsusie explained.
I don't mind those questions, but I would like to see more personal questions. Such as favorite movies, who's their girlfriend, favorite girl group, best friend in their team, any beef inside their house (eg savior and iris) (july and gorush)
We're taking into account the fact that Susie's questions are determined by what the fans propose on the GOM website, right? If the OP wants better questions, he should send some professional questions in himself.
On October 22 2008 11:56 GarlicPepper wrote: Just to be clear the only thing I don't like is the requests to make Starcraft sounds. It's true that the audience is young, so a light hearted interview fits pretty well.
if you only dislike the requests for sounds, then don't generalize that all her interview questions are bad. i think they're great. plus, it's sc! the sound mimicking makes it more interesting!
On October 22 2008 12:52 SonuvBob wrote: There's nothing wrong with fun questions, as long as they don't send the player into super-shy mode like w/Savior. :p
Yea, fun questions are the best only if the progamer is willing to be embarassed. And as for the guy that said it was unprofessional to ask korean progamers to make unit sounds, maybe it is..but I wouldn't exactly call the whole english Gom setup that professional to begin with..Like last season we barely ever got to see Tasteless talk on camera, nor was there a co caster and we had no interviews.. so this season is much better, and I think Tasteless/Susie are just trying to have fun with the whole thing while it lasts.
On October 22 2008 11:28 General Nuke Em wrote: Yeah, more of this is always awesome.
This is the most relevant reply, imo. Boxer made unit sounds famous. Boxer is the essence of starcraft. Therefore, doing unit sounds is also the essence of starcraft. QED.
I mean, it's practically part of Korean subculture.
On October 22 2008 11:26 lilsusie wrote: That's cool dude - everyone's entitled to his/her own opinion. I'm just sick of "I'll try harder next time and show you a good performance. I will train harder. Thank you for your support" But I guess you like the generic answers.
If ONLY someone would ask Peyton to make noises. I bet he would. "I think we played well, my team played well, next week we'll have to push harder and overcome the obstacles that come to us". Bleh.
I can;t imagine why you wouldn;t want someone to do what susie's doing. Random questions like that allow him to act like a human, not a robot like his sponsors want him to be.
Although I agree that the hilarity of unit sounds makes for a much more interesting interview than the platitudes that normal athletes spit out, I can see where the OP is coming from. If SC progaming wants to appeal to a mass audience and have anything more than a cult following, it pretty much has to conform to normal standards. People find clips of korean guys making SC sounds or dancing in drag on youtube hilarious, but they also don't take these videos seriously because the initial impression doesn't jibe with their idea of a professional sport. Of course, if progaming were to gain a wider following, I'm sure there would be many changes that we wouldn't appreciate so maybe it's nice that it really isn't that big and retains it's quirkiness.
susan's interviews are awesome. savior obviously was feeling uncomfortable to make an overlord sound because that unit is useless, he looked very disappointed that you didn't ask him to make a muta or ultralisk sound.
hey susan, next time can you ask the players to shout" ZERGRUSH KEKEKEKEE", to do a handstand, to take their shirts off or to dress as women next game? also you should squeeze more english out of them, a simple "thank you" doesn't satisfy us.
p.s. i like what you were wearing and what you did with your hair =)
On October 22 2008 15:18 Fontong wrote: Why not have the progamers have a little bit of an unprofessional side? If you are asking them to be professional all the time does that mean you also want them to stop doing ceremonies?
I always rooted for Zeus to win his 2v2s just so I could see some ceremony action. I think Korean fangirls would also be sad to not see ceremonies.
On October 22 2008 12:00 floor exercise wrote: I don't like that part of her interviews cause its awkward and they never do it anyway so why keep asking.
this. If the programers went along with making noises it would be fine, but when they all refuse and you keep asking it just looks bad. They dont want to do it, so dont ask.
Asking someone to make a probe noise is just stupid. I mean, it's just a bunch of high-pitched beeping noises. Did you really expect him to make beeping noises, followed by awkward silence?
If you're going to ask a progamer to make a unit noise, at least ask them to attempt to units that actually talk (e.g. marine, BC)
On October 22 2008 12:41 Ack1027 wrote: Also consider that Korean culture also has some dictation here.
For example: Construction warning signs in Korea have this really cartoony man who's literally drawn like a character you'd see in anime giving you a friendly smile warning you that its a hard hat area.
In the States, you never see that shit. The only image is men using jackhammers or cranes to huge skyscraprers or bulldozers.
I thought of the culture factor as well. Here's my take:
It may be normal or entertaining to Korean audiences, but if I'm not mistaken, the audience for these GOMTV streams is the foreign, english speaking community, is it not? So, we'd have to put more weight on how the foreign, not Korean, community views this tidbit.
I personally enjoy the strategy oriented questions.
On October 22 2008 11:28 General Nuke Em wrote: Yeah, more of this is always awesome.
This is the most relevant reply, imo. Boxer made unit sounds famous. Boxer is the essence of starcraft. Therefore, doing unit sounds is also the essence of starcraft. QED.
I mean, it's practically part of Korean subculture.
EPT
