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[Interview] Perfectman Joins KT

Forum Index > BW General
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rotinegg
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
United States1719 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-16 23:57:08
January 16 2012 18:45 GMT
#1
* There is already a thread created by Pro7ecT that has a picture of Perfectman in a KT uniform and a link to a Fomos article that's in Korean; this is a translation of DES's interview for English users. I wanted to translate this article in particular because it sheds light on the sad reality that is the life of a progamer, and what his future beholds.

(P)PerfectMan upon joining KT: "I ran my ass up in the middle of doing manual labor"

[image loading]


"When KT gave me the call I ran my ass up without giving it a second thought. I was desperate. I feel like I just won the lottery."

Perfectman was lost when Hwaseung Oz disbanded abruptly. He wasn't drafted during the posting process, so 22-year-old perfectman had to give up his dream as a progamer, and enlist himself in the labor forces for manual labor jobs. Perhaps that explains why perfectman looked much thinner than when we had met him five months ago.

"It wasn't because our house is poor (laughs). After ending my career as a progamer I had nothing to do. I didn't want to sit at home and do nothing. I didn't want to waste my time as a twenty two-year-old. The best option for me was manual labor." [T/N: My cousin did manual labor on weekends to buy a present for his girlfriend. Think illegal alien labor markets if you are American: you enlist yourself and gather at 6:30am where employers will pick their workers for the day and you do whatever they tell you. You get decent pay but it is physically demanding, and you can't stop because the next worker in line is always waiting to replace you tomorrow.]

Perfectman felt a sense of appreciation for the game, one that he hadn't felt while he still had his career. He regretted not giving it his best shot while he still had the chance. He had a hard time resisting the urge to go back to playing BW for a career.

"I finally realized what it feels to be unable to play [as a career] even if you want. All these memories of PL made me melancholy. I felt like that was where I belonged but in reality I was here and I questioned why. Watching my ex-teammates win games made me crave playing BW even more strongly. But I couldn't play."

Perfectman was forced to give it all up. He had to report to the labor forces facilities by 5am [Ok I guess it's even earlier than I remember] and perform manual labor daily, putting away his dreams as a progamer, until one day out of the blue, he received a call from KT. They asked if he would like to play again.

"I didn't even listen to their suggested salary, benefits, terms or conditions. I literally bowed on the phone and said thank you. Even though they couldn't see it I bowed. I packed my stuff immediately and went up to Seoul that day. Somebody up there must have heard my prayers and decided to give me a second chance."

Even when news broke of Wemade Fox and MBC Game disbanding, Perfectman felt it was a non-concern. But after Hwaseung Oz announced their disbandment after the 10-11 season in August, Perfectman's days were spent in misery. Even the posting process did little to lift up his mood.

"I didn't believe it. Hwaseung isn't some small, local company; it's a big company, so disbanding didn't even cross my mind. I didn't feel anything when I heard the news of posting. I felt like I had lost everything overnight."

When Perfectman's hopes of continuing his career through the posting process were smothered, he was at a loss. He realized his days of progaming were over, but he couldn't just sit at home and do nothing. He felt ashamed to mooch off of his parents at the age of twenty-two, so he entered the workforce.

"Doing manual labor taught me that money doesn't come easy. Of course I'm not saying that progaming is an easy job, but at least I enjoyed it, and I was building a career towards my dream. Other jobs, you just work for pay, day in and day out. It was stifling."

This period has taught Perfectman many lessons. He realized the value behind every one of his games. After joining KT a week ago, he has played every game with a thankful mindset. He has been practicing harder than anybody and doing his best to return to form.

"There is no desperation as great as mine. I hit rock bottom so I can only go up from here. I will not waste my second chance that almost never came. I am not the Perfectman of the past. I will absolutely play to the best of my abilities."

Even though he took a break for five months, he says his skill has not deteriorated that much. He has been learning a thing or two from KT's (P)Stats and developing as a player. Perfectman is determined to pay back his savior, KT, with good results.

"I will do my best. I never want to have the regrets that I had when I was doing manual labor. If I give every moment my best, regardless of what happens, at least I won't have any regrets. I hope KT doesn't have any plans of disbanding anytime soon (laughs)? My life is on the line so please give me support and be on the lookout for me."

Source: Daily E-sports
Translator
Fionn
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
United States23455 Posts
January 16 2012 18:50 GMT
#2
Wow, one of the best interviews I've ever read. Perfectman is a boss.
Writerhttps://twitter.com/FionnOnFire
prplhz
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Denmark8045 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-16 18:51:20
January 16 2012 18:51 GMT
#3
Nice translation, thanks a lot.

5 months of hard manual labor, I fear for what has happened to the other ex-progamers who haven't found a new team
http://i.imgur.com/M7t7egx.png
Taekwon
Profile Joined May 2010
United States8155 Posts
January 16 2012 18:52 GMT
#4
Wow. Really makes you appreciate Brood War on a whole new level. Happiness just exudes from his pores!

I really hope perfectman does well!
▲ ▲ ▲
Xpeijz
Profile Joined January 2011
Finland400 Posts
January 16 2012 18:58 GMT
#5
That was pretty touching. Perfectman really pouring his heart out, gotta appreciate it. Hope that he will reach satisfying results.
amazingxkcd
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
GRAND OLD AMERICA16375 Posts
January 16 2012 18:58 GMT
#6
What about his dreams as a girls' high school teacher?
The world is burning and you rather be on this terrible website discussing video games and your shallow feelings
Iplaythings
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
Denmark9110 Posts
January 16 2012 19:00 GMT
#7
+1 perfectman fan

Now thats passion for you
In the woods, there lurks..
Condor Hero
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
United States2931 Posts
January 16 2012 19:10 GMT
#8
Wait so his family isn't poor and he did manual labor just to keep busy?
I guess that's cool, at least it's great exercise.
Lebesgue
Profile Joined October 2008
4542 Posts
January 16 2012 19:10 GMT
#9
I found the story very touching. How can one root against him from now on? I will keep my fingers crossed for him. Even though I wasn't his fan I'm really thankful that KT signed him... The kid sounds so happy about it
Kieofire
Profile Joined June 2011
United States1809 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-16 19:16:59
January 16 2012 19:11 GMT
#10
That was a very touching interview, thanks for translating it.

Wish him the best on getting back into form and playing for KT.
FlaShFTW
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
United States10269 Posts
January 16 2012 19:12 GMT
#11
I LOVE YOU PERFECTMAN!!!!

touching. i hope he returns to form to fit in that hole where violet's soul still belongs. Then we'll have a lineup of FlaSh, Stats, Perfectman, Violet, and REACH. (Sorry Hoejja, but SS2 isn't as cool as being the most manly man on earth)
Writer#1 KT and FlaSh Fanboy || Woo Jung Ho Never Forget || Teamliquid Political Decision Desk
TL+ Member
rotinegg
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
United States1719 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-16 19:14:20
January 16 2012 19:12 GMT
#12
On January 17 2012 04:10 Condor Hero wrote:
Wait so his family isn't poor and he did manual labor just to keep busy?
I guess that's cool, at least it's great exercise.

He wanted to work but he had no college degree nor any desirable skills - leaves you with manual labor or working part time at starbucks as your only options.
Translator
KristianJS
Profile Joined October 2009
2107 Posts
January 16 2012 19:15 GMT
#13
Moving interview. Hope he does well!
You need to be 100% behind someone before you can stab them in the back
Essbee
Profile Blog Joined August 2008
Canada2371 Posts
January 16 2012 19:16 GMT
#14
Wow I wish him the best of luck. Brood war need to live forever for all our beloved progamers.

It's sad tho if you think about all the other progamers who didn't find a team
Condor Hero
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
United States2931 Posts
January 16 2012 19:17 GMT
#15
On January 17 2012 04:12 rotinegg wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 17 2012 04:10 Condor Hero wrote:
Wait so his family isn't poor and he did manual labor just to keep busy?
I guess that's cool, at least it's great exercise.

He wanted to work but he had no college degree nor any desirable skills - leaves you with manual labor or working part time at starbucks as your only options.

Did he finish high school at least?
I know he's been around for a long time.
moopie
Profile Joined July 2009
12605 Posts
January 16 2012 19:21 GMT
#16
Not a perfectman fan, but reading this made me very happy for him.

I'm glad he gets to continue following his dream
I'm going to sleep, let me get some of that carpet.
Weedk
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
United States507 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-18 15:45:35
January 16 2012 19:30 GMT
#17
Perfectman put the man in perfectman. Even if his family wasn't poor, he worked manual labor just to not be a drain on his family. I hope his renewed passion leads to better results.

Edit: Wow, how did I not see my typo for days =_=
[sc1f]eonzerg
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
Belgium6802 Posts
January 16 2012 19:52 GMT
#18
gogo perfectman
Muffinman53
Profile Joined November 2010
571 Posts
January 16 2012 20:30 GMT
#19
Wow, such dedication. So glad he's getting another chance <3
Thanks for the translation!
Kiett
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
United States7639 Posts
January 16 2012 20:38 GMT
#20
Man, that's rough. It is sad though that this career path pretty much forces you to have no choices outside of it. You don't have time to go to school because then you're falling behind all the people who are only practicing, but if you don't go to school, you have few skills to succeed outside of gaming :/

I'm glad Perfectman got his second chance.
Writer:o
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