I never thought I'd ever make a thread on TeamLiquid, and never did I think my first thread would be about Flash. I don't know formatting very well, and I don't know how to credit the original interview. Should/can I add images? Oh well, BW 5ever. I picked up the game for the first time in over a year. Playing this game hurts my brain. But so fun :D Without further ado.
With regards to Korean eSports, Lee Young Ho (Flash) is truly a special person. That such an influential person decided to retire was very heartbreaking for many fans. This sadness must have come from the realization that fans would never be able to see Flash compete anymore. In his retirement ceremony, many fans came to watch the Ultimate Weapons take the stage one last time.
Fans readily welcomed Flash when he came back after his short retirement. His first personal broadcast on Afreeca pulled in such a crowd that his streams kept crashing until he disabled chat. That day, the largest simultaneous viewer count numbered over 70,000.
Due to the immense amount of interest towards Flash, we thought Flash would have already shared everything about his former pro-gamer life. Now that we’ve met him through Afreeca, we wanted to hear more of his story as a civilian who streams rather than his story as a pro.
Flash introduced himself as a “BJ who just started his first broadcast, a former pro.” Having successfully finished his first stream, Flash shared about his past 9 years as well as his future goals.
This interview will be split into two parts. Part 1 covers some lighthearted stories of Flash, and part 2 will cover Flash’s plans for the future.
Part 1
This is the first time seeing you since you retired. How have you been since retiring? I didn’t do much. I rested a lot, and I had a lot of time to think about things like what I needed to do in the future. After my contract with Afreeca was confirmed, I thought a lot about how I would run the stream. I also practiced a lot of BW to raise my skills.
Did you ever regret retiring? Did you ever think about restarting life as a pro-gamer?
As of yet, I have not had those thoughts. Every once in awhile, I’ll have thoughts of the past, but they’re simply that--the past. I don’t regret retiring, and I think it was the right decision. I tried my best as a pro-gamer up until the point I retired, but after retirement I have no regrets.
You must have had many offers, but why did you choose Afreeca?
I had a lot of parties ask lightly if I wanted to do something with them, but the first to formally offer me a position was Afreeca. They didn’t simply talk about streaming, but they had prepared a more holistic plan of what and how things would run. I felt Afreeca’s passion, especially from director Chae.
But I think the timing of the broadcast came a lot sooner than I had expected. I wanted to perfect my BW skills before showing anyone, but due to certain circumstances, the stream happened at the time it did. On the flipside, I wanted to announce that I would be streaming earlier. I wanted to announce my streams at an Afreeca Freecs ceremony/press conference, but certain issues pushed the announcement back to after the Starleague Finals.
You retired an SC2 pro. Why did you choose to stream BW?
I’m not going to stream only BW; I just chose it as my first game. I also had some lingering disappointment with the forced transition from BW to SC2. I’m sure I’m not the only BW pro who has these feelings. Even SC2 pros who are very successful still share these regrets. It only made sense for me to start with BW, but I plan to play other games in the future as well.
Then what do BW and SC2 mean to you?
To me BW and SC2 are the same game. I tried my best in both. In SC2, I didn’t have the success I did in BW, but that doesn’t mean I dislike SC2. It’s just as important of a game. But objectively speaking, if the interest I received in BW was 100, then the interest I had in SC2 was about a 10. I wonder whether I would have been able to draw such a crowd if I started my first broadcast with SC2. I’m pretty sure many people came to watch remembering the Flash of the BW days.
Interest in SC2 has died down due to a myriad of circumstances. I tried my best to garner more interest, but it wasn’t easy. I wish the best to the pros who still play the game, especially those who came after me. BW, LotV, all are still StarCraft, and I wish that fans would show interest in both rather than criticize the other.
I think the SC2 pros need to continue to be successful for me to be remembered. Most pros think fondly of all games they’ve played. I was an SC2 pro for 4 years, and the game was fun for me throughout that time. It’s a task the current SC2 pros need to continue to succeed in.
You were an SC2 pro for 4 years. Did you play any BW during that time?
I didn’t play a single game. That’s why it was so hard to get used to the BW user interface after playing SC2 for so long. I had to remember and relearn everything from the interface to control groups, and my hands were definitely not as quick and precise as before.
How did you practice before the first stream?
When I first picked up the mouse, I questioned whether this was the game I used to play. It felt like such a different game. But I thought since I had played SC2 my hands would move quickly, but that was far from the truth. On top of that BW is not a game you can practice in the mornings. You have to play other BJs at night, and it was hard to play just 15 games a day. My skills were returning at a quick rate, but I wasn’t satisfied. I could have improved even more, but it was hard. Other hard circumstances also existed.
I also never revealed my new ID, but everyone seemed to know. Even if the skill level is different from the past, many people have a feel for ‘This is X player’ just by playing against them. I never said anything, but Sea hyung was like, ‘This is 100% Flash.’
There must have been other things you had to prepare outside of gaming
I tried my best to learn about streaming, but it wasn’t easy. I didn’t have anyone to ask about streaming, so that sucked. But on the day of the stream, someone from Afreeca came and helped set up everything so it started without problems. But once the stream started and the masses started coming in, the room couldn’t stand it. We tried restarting the stream, but in the end we had to freeze chat.
The stream started and I was super nervous. I don’t normally drink Pocari Sweat, but I drink it when I’m nervous. I drank it like crazy yesterday. Every second seemed like a competition. I was so drained after each game. But for the first time in forever, I had butterflies in my stomach (T/N: in a very good way. Kind of like when your CFA smiles at you. The Korean word is most used in a romantic/getting to like something setting). The largest crowd was over 70,000, and I was thankful for the faithful interest of everyone who watched.
Yesterday on stream you said you wouldn’t enter any competitions. Any particular reasons for this?
People asked me if I was going to participate in the Cheolgoo Starleague. I said I wouldn’t, not because I have a personal thing against the person but rather because my skill is just not up to par yet. I had a PM today asking if I would play, and I firmly, respectfully said I would not participate. There’s no other reason.
Whatever that person might have done, it hasn’t affected me, and I won’t misinterpret what others have said. If he had done something against me, I might have to reconsider, but this was just a request to participate, and I declined. I can’t fine control my units yet, and I’m not satisfied with my early game. When I improve on those points, I might enter some contests. At the soonest, it’ll take a month, and at the latest, three. He might have hosted the tournament to earn money, but at least we both share our love for BW, so I’m sure he’ll understand my reasons.
If you plan on streaming different games, is League of Legends on your radar?
I’m looking at this broadcast for the long run, so I can play any game. When I played League (when he was injured in the hospital if I remember correctly), I got to diamond 2 just playing Evelynn. But now, instead of ranking, I just play for fun. I’m currently at diamond 5. Back when I played only Evelynn, I’d win around 18 out of 20 games. I think I might have been on a lucky streak.
If you’re that good, shouldn’t you be considering going pro?
I’m not that good (laughs). My wrist isn’t the best either… If I focus too much on gaming and play too much, my wrist still hurts. But it’s been a long time since surgery, and I know certain practices to limit pains so I’ll be ok. It used to get bad to the point where it would burn when I was player. The doctor strongly recommended surgery and said life would be hard if I didn’t get it. Surgery and rehab was hard as well. I also gained a lot of weight during that time, so I’d work out for up to 6 hours a day.
When I said my arm hurt a bit yesterday, people kept telling me to play more. So I said that my true fans would tell me to rest if I was tired. I probably shouldn’t have reacted that way, but I was a bit frustrated when I saw the people who kept telling me to play.
You said that the reason you started streaming was to interact with fans.
As a pro-gamer I didn’t have much news/rumors about me. Honestly, I’m not a very interesting or important person (laughs). However, my fans are curious about stories I couldn’t share back as a pro. I wanted to comfortably share and talk with people.
You’ve spent some time outside of the team house now. How is it?
The hardest part is the loneliness. From that loneliness, I contacted a lot of people around me. I contact Jaedong hyung a lot. Jaedong hyung also lives alone, and we talk a lot. It seems like we’re all the same. If you live alone, you don’t have much to do, so you play a lot of games. It’s regrettable, but I think there’s a fun aspect to doing things by yourself.
I can’t imagine Flash doing laundry for himself.
After retiring, I did laundry for the first time. I have a drum laundry machine, so it was easier than I had expected. More than laundry, the meals are the problem. I normally order food, but cleaning it up is a pain. If I make my own food, I just need to do the dishes, but cleaning up after ordering is annoying. So I eat out a bit too. Or I just eat with my KT friends or with by.Rain. I did enough dishes when I was the youngest, so I’m confident in my dishwashing skills as I am in my gaming skills. At that time I didn’t even dream of a time like this coming (laughs).
How are you doing with Rain?
He’s like a brother to me. When I was a pro-gamer, I had a strong image. I was shy and I didn’t relax when I spoke easily (T/N from the respectful voice in Korean). So I don’t have any deep friends, just a lot of average friends with everyone. When I first met Rain, I felt like we clicked and I thought he was a pretty good guy.
You lived in the KT house after retirement.
After retirement, I needed to decide what to do, so living in Seoul was convenient. The team was generous enough to allow me to live there for a month. At the time Coach Kang gave me great advice and always directed me to the best path. A lot of players were very surprised when I told them I would retire, but they didn’t really react when I left the house because they knew that we’d see each other often enough. And there weren’t any players who spent a whole lot of time with me.
You’re the same age as Stats and P7GAB/Zest/Wooki and you spent a lot of time with them, no?
I’m the same age, and I’m close with them even now. When I moved into the place I am now, Stats, Zest/Wooki, Ty/Baby, and Rain came over and had a housewarming party. They stayed up late sharing stories even though they had practice.
I say this now, but 8 years ago when I first met Stats, he was the most clueless and common senseless person I’ve ever seen in my life. Everyone probably agrees with me on that one (laughs). It was so bad that everyone didn’t like him. He had no social skills because he was a high schooler, and he even was sent home once. After he came back, he was a completely different person. It seems he got his head on straight at home. Now he’s called the harmless-god, and he takes great care of the team. It truly was a 180 degree turnaround. It’s amazing.
When I had surgery on my arm, Wooki came to KT, and his first impression was very scary. His eyes are scary (laughs). So I couldn’t even talk to him properly. After some time passed, we found common ground and we became friends. I once told him he was awkward on TV, but I shouldn’t have said that. Even though we’re the same age, as a player with more experience, I should have helped him first and I regret that part a little.
I knew Ty/Baby from his amateur days, and he’s like a younger brother to me. He’s working very hard even now, and I wish him the best. These 4 came on my first day when I moved in. They didn’t do anything extraordinary, but the fact that they came was much appreciated. They’re special friends for me.
It's too bad Flash's wrist keeps bothering him -- already a challenge to recoup his BW abilities after so many years, so that can't help
Sounds like Flash has good relationships with lots of folks, so I'm really surprised Flash didn't find a friend to help him set up his stream, like Rain or someone... Calm had hero, Bisu had Larva, etc.
On February 24 2016 02:28 Bisu-Fan wrote: I did enough dishes when I was the youngest, so I’m confident in my dishwashing skills as I am in my gaming skills. At that time I didn’t even dream of a time like this coming (laughs). .
.. this is the funniest Flash i ever witnessed.. thanks for translating!
On February 24 2016 02:28 Bisu-Fan wrote: BW, LotV, all are still StarCraft, and I wish that fans would show interest in both rather than criticize the other.
On February 24 2016 02:28 Bisu-Fan wrote: BW, LotV, all are still StarCraft, and I wish that fans would show interest in both rather than criticize the other.
God has spoken!
People are not criticizing each other, most people are just criticizing about SC2's gameplay.
Flash, at age of 23, is confronted for the first time with such exotic acitivites such as laundry and cooking It seems that it could be interesting to see where the life takes someone who has spend such an early age so high in the spotlight.
On February 24 2016 02:28 Bisu-Fan wrote: BW, LotV, all are still StarCraft, and I wish that fans would show interest in both rather than criticize the other.
God has spoken!
Man this has been my point of view for the last years as well dispite the fact that i prefer bw over sc2 like any day. BW elitists really hurt the game itself by having this ridiculous stance against sc2 and especially lotv. It is too bad that the community was polarized this badly and I really blame kespa for not making the switch earlier. 2011 should be the year of the switch. the last couple of osl's were pointless in my opinion. Everyone was super hyped for wol and the infrastructure was there but a huge opportunity was lost because the community was split in half and other games jumped to the oppotunity. Also the majority of the big names of bw got too old and tired 'til 2013, so they prefered to fool around in afreeca than putting hard work and be competitive in sc2.
A thoroughly interesting read, big thanks for posting this and sharing with the community. It's nice to get a glimpse into the life of a man called 'god'.
On February 24 2016 02:28 Bisu-Fan wrote: BW, LotV, all are still StarCraft, and I wish that fans would show interest in both rather than criticize the other.
God has spoken!
Man this has been my point of view for the last years as well dispite the fact that i prefer bw over sc2 like any day. BW elitists really hurt the game itself by having this ridiculous stance against sc2 and especially lotv. It is too bad that the community was polarized this badly and I really blame kespa for not making the switch earlier. 2011 should be the year of the switch. the last couple of osl's were pointless in my opinion. Everyone was super hyped for wol and the infrastructure was there but a huge opportunity was lost because the community was split in half and other games jumped to the oppotunity. Also the majority of the big names of bw got too old and tired 'til 2013, so they prefered to fool around in afreeca than putting hard work and be competitive in sc2.
Whoever understood BW enough to get C level will never favor it over SC2 or I'd question his taste in strategy games in general. Sometimes the reason is so evident that we refuse to accept it.
On February 24 2016 02:28 Bisu-Fan wrote: BW, LotV, all are still StarCraft, and I wish that fans would show interest in both rather than criticize the other.
God has spoken!
Man this has been my point of view for the last years as well dispite the fact that i prefer bw over sc2 like any day. BW elitists really hurt the game itself by having this ridiculous stance against sc2 and especially lotv. It is too bad that the community was polarized this badly and I really blame kespa for not making the switch earlier. 2011 should be the year of the switch. the last couple of osl's were pointless in my opinion. Everyone was super hyped for wol and the infrastructure was there but a huge opportunity was lost because the community was split in half and other games jumped to the oppotunity. Also the majority of the big names of bw got too old and tired 'til 2013, so they prefered to fool around in afreeca than putting hard work and be competitive in sc2.
Whoever understood BW enough to get C level will never favor it over SC2 or I'd question his taste in strategy games in general. Sometimes the reason is so evident that we refuse to accept it.
I got to C in BW and I love both games equally. I'm just not an elitist who thinks BW is the only greatest thing ever and nothing can compare. Both have their faults, but I enjoy both a lot. Although my absolute favorite RTS would be age of empires
Enjoyable interview, wonder how much streaming Flash will do.
On February 24 2016 02:28 Bisu-Fan wrote: BW, LotV, all are still StarCraft, and I wish that fans would show interest in both rather than criticize the other.
God has spoken!
Man this has been my point of view for the last years as well dispite the fact that i prefer bw over sc2 like any day. BW elitists really hurt the game itself by having this ridiculous stance against sc2 and especially lotv. It is too bad that the community was polarized this badly and I really blame kespa for not making the switch earlier. 2011 should be the year of the switch. the last couple of osl's were pointless in my opinion. Everyone was super hyped for wol and the infrastructure was there but a huge opportunity was lost because the community was split in half and other games jumped to the oppotunity. Also the majority of the big names of bw got too old and tired 'til 2013, so they prefered to fool around in afreeca than putting hard work and be competitive in sc2.
Whoever understood BW enough to get C level will never favor it over SC2 or I'd question his taste in strategy games in general. Sometimes the reason is so evident that we refuse to accept it.
I got to C in BW and I love both games equally. I'm just not an elitist who thinks BW is the only greatest thing ever and nothing can compare. Both have their faults, but I enjoy both a lot. Although my absolute favorite RTS would be age of empires
Enjoyable interview, wonder how much streaming Flash will do.
On February 24 2016 02:28 Bisu-Fan wrote: BW, LotV, all are still StarCraft, and I wish that fans would show interest in both rather than criticize the other.
God has spoken!
Man this has been my point of view for the last years as well dispite the fact that i prefer bw over sc2 like any day. BW elitists really hurt the game itself by having this ridiculous stance against sc2 and especially lotv. It is too bad that the community was polarized this badly and I really blame kespa for not making the switch earlier. 2011 should be the year of the switch. the last couple of osl's were pointless in my opinion. Everyone was super hyped for wol and the infrastructure was there but a huge opportunity was lost because the community was split in half and other games jumped to the oppotunity. Also the majority of the big names of bw got too old and tired 'til 2013, so they prefered to fool around in afreeca than putting hard work and be competitive in sc2.
Whoever understood BW enough to get C level will never favor it over SC2 or I'd question his taste in strategy games in general. Sometimes the reason is so evident that we refuse to accept it.
On February 24 2016 06:25 letian wrote: Almost forgot, "But objectively speaking, if the interest I received in BW was 100, then the interest I had in SC2 was about a 10. "
You understand what this quote means, right? It's not his interest in BW vs. SC2, it's what the fans interest was towards him in either game.
He says "I tried my best to learn about streaming, but it wasn’t easy. I didn’t have anyone to ask about streaming, so that sucked." yet he's friends with Rain... or is he trying to say there wasn't anyone who knows how to when he was starting his first broadcast?
Great interview, it feels like he's much more open and mature than before. Also lol Dae-yeob.
Seems like some Sc2 apologists ended up in this thread, so I won't hold anything back. I played Sc2 in 2010 and it only took me around 3 months to bored of both playing and watching it. Boring units, boring micro, boring strategies, boring mechanics. I switched to HoN for a few years to finally end up with BW in august last year.
I'm not looking at things with rose-colored glasses. BW is an amazing game.
I abhor people who always claim nostalgia is responsible for this divide or criticism. It's the same deal with the Simpsons or even South Park. The first episodes were just better, just deal with it.
"BW Elitist" here. I appreciate the sentiment that we should all just get along, but it's way too naive. Many of us gave SC2 an honest chance and preferred BW. Back in 2011 it became quite clear that the e-sports scene and playerbase had become a zero-sum game, a perception Blizzard heavily encouraged.
So some hardcore fans resent a game they consider inferior that took 80% of their players and killed their tournament scene. I'm sure very few hardcore SC2 fans would be guilty of something like that right?
Could people please stop doing BW vs sc2? people enjoy different things for different reasons.
On topic, glad to see that Flash doing good post retirement, and holy moly 70k concurrent viewers. Gonna be interesting when he decide to enter tournament again, hope it won't be too long.
On February 24 2016 12:32 Savant wrote: "BW Elitist" here. I appreciate the sentiment that we should all just get along, but it's way too naive. Many of us gave SC2 an honest chance and preferred BW. Back in 2011 it became quite clear that the e-sports scene and playerbase had become a zero-sum game, a perception Blizzard heavily encouraged.
So some hardcore fans resent a game they consider inferior that took 80% of their players and killed their tournament scene. I'm sure very few hardcore SC2 fans would be guilty of something like that right?
I understand where the resentment comes from (I think), but isn't it time to let it go? What the point on dividing the community? You're giving a bad time to the people who did nothing wrong: the fans that have to read this trashtalk in almost every thread where SC2 and BW are mentioned, and the players that would like to be the scene more united. What's the purpose of keep feeding this hatred? You gain nothing by doing this and can potentially lose things. I do not understand
On February 24 2016 12:32 Savant wrote: "BW Elitist" here. I appreciate the sentiment that we should all just get along, but it's way too naive. Many of us gave SC2 an honest chance and preferred BW. Back in 2011 it became quite clear that the e-sports scene and playerbase had become a zero-sum game, a perception Blizzard heavily encouraged.
So some hardcore fans resent a game they consider inferior that took 80% of their players and killed their tournament scene. I'm sure very few hardcore SC2 fans would be guilty of something like that right?
Yeah I'd have to agree with this sentiment.
Maybe if Blizzard hadn't tried to actively kill the SC1 scene under the guise of "broadcasting rights" the games would have good relations.
I still watch both pro scenes but it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth to support Blizzard at all.
Don't know if the OP or any mods will read this, but the original writer reached out to me and requested that the original article be linked rather than the Naver Sports one. (http://game.xportsnews.com/?ac=article_view&entry_id=695623)
On February 24 2016 14:19 Wolf wrote: Don't know if the OP or any mods will read this, but the original writer reached out to me and requested that the original article be linked rather than the Naver Sports one. (http://game.xportsnews.com/?ac=article_view&entry_id=695623)
mods are a bit overzealous here i think. Imo this thread didn't really go out of control before the mod announcement, but let's hope it stays that way. I mean it's a great interview, but the answer to this question
Then what do BW and SC2 mean to you?
is worthy of an ambassador when it comes to skills in diplomacy :D So, let GOD be the ambassador Starcraft deserves!
On February 24 2016 20:43 esdf wrote: can someone explain the cheolgoo part? i mean, what's the controversy about?
edit: also, a great interview and thanks for translating
Cheolgoo or chulgoo is TerrOr who's in the process of hosting an online starleague ( http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/brood-war/502988-terror-will-host-online-tournament ) and well terror is a pretty notorious person on afreeca, most recent acts being making Bisu shave off his eyebrows for losing a bet(which was a couple of days before the VANT Starleague Finals)
he was trying to get flash to compete in the starleague but as the interview says he declined.
On February 24 2016 20:43 esdf wrote: can someone explain the cheolgoo part? i mean, what's the controversy about?
edit: also, a great interview and thanks for translating
Cheolgoo or chulgoo is TerrOr who's in the process of hosting an online starleague ( http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/brood-war/502988-terror-will-host-online-tournament ) and well terror is a pretty notorious person on afreeca, most recent acts being making Bisu shave off his eyebrows for losing a bet(which was a couple of days before the VANT Starleague Finals)
he was trying to get flash to compete in the starleague but as the interview says he declined.
makes a lot of sense, the korean e-sports establishment, Kespa especially, has already made clear they are not very fond of persons like Terror and other BJ's who act in a way they perceive as undignified. Flash has stated in an earlier interview already that he will be careful to keep his public/streaming appearances very professional, so i guess that's the reason why. (and yes i read him stating the opposite in the interview)
€: That being said, i love how open, entertaining and charming Flash is in this interview. Quite a different picture that allows us to see a lot more of his personality compared to his Interviews as a Pro in my mind.
On February 24 2016 20:43 esdf wrote: can someone explain the cheolgoo part? i mean, what's the controversy about?
edit: also, a great interview and thanks for translating
Cheolgoo or chulgoo is TerrOr who's in the process of hosting an online starleague ( http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/brood-war/502988-terror-will-host-online-tournament ) and well terror is a pretty notorious person on afreeca, most recent acts being making Bisu shave off his eyebrows for losing a bet(which was a couple of days before the VANT Starleague Finals)
he was trying to get flash to compete in the starleague but as the interview says he declined.
makes a lot of sense, the korean e-sports establishment, Kespa especially, has already made clear they are not very fond of persons like Terror and other BJ's who act in a way they perceive as undignified. Flash has stated in an earlier interview already that he will be careful to keep his public/streaming appearances very professional, so i guess that's the reason why. (and yes i read him stating the opposite in the interview)
€: That being said, i love how open, entertaining and charming Flash is in this interview. Quite a different picture that allows us to see a lot more of his personality compared to his Interviews as a Pro in my mind.
On February 24 2016 20:43 esdf wrote: can someone explain the cheolgoo part? i mean, what's the controversy about?
edit: also, a great interview and thanks for translating
Cheolgoo or chulgoo is TerrOr who's in the process of hosting an online starleague ( http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/brood-war/502988-terror-will-host-online-tournament ) and well terror is a pretty notorious person on afreeca, most recent acts being making Bisu shave off his eyebrows for losing a bet(which was a couple of days before the VANT Starleague Finals)
he was trying to get flash to compete in the starleague but as the interview says he declined.
makes a lot of sense, the korean e-sports establishment, Kespa especially, has already made clear they are not very fond of persons like Terror and other BJ's who act in a way they perceive as undignified. Flash has stated in an earlier interview already that he will be careful to keep his public/streaming appearances very professional, so i guess that's the reason why. (and yes i read him stating the opposite in the interview)
€: That being said, i love how open, entertaining and charming Flash is in this interview. Quite a different picture that allows us to see a lot more of his personality compared to his Interviews as a Pro in my mind.
What changed exactly ?
I think one of the changes is the fact that Kespa is no longer overseeing the BW scene. It allows for more friendly banter in game (I know zero and Flash were chatting early game when they could sneak in some messages). Back in the kespa days, anything other than a "pp" would lose you the game (it wasn't always like this. Yellow and Boxer would go on some funny conversations about how units were OP in game). Back before kespa made everything super professional, I think the games were themselves were spaces where viewers and fans could see players interact with each other. I think this amateur scene kinda promotes that more.
On February 24 2016 20:43 esdf wrote: can someone explain the cheolgoo part? i mean, what's the controversy about?
edit: also, a great interview and thanks for translating
Cheolgoo or chulgoo is TerrOr who's in the process of hosting an online starleague ( http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/brood-war/502988-terror-will-host-online-tournament ) and well terror is a pretty notorious person on afreeca, most recent acts being making Bisu shave off his eyebrows for losing a bet(which was a couple of days before the VANT Starleague Finals)
he was trying to get flash to compete in the starleague but as the interview says he declined.
makes a lot of sense, the korean e-sports establishment, Kespa especially, has already made clear they are not very fond of persons like Terror and other BJ's who act in a way they perceive as undignified. Flash has stated in an earlier interview already that he will be careful to keep his public/streaming appearances very professional, so i guess that's the reason why. (and yes i read him stating the opposite in the interview)
€: That being said, i love how open, entertaining and charming Flash is in this interview. Quite a different picture that allows us to see a lot more of his personality compared to his Interviews as a Pro in my mind.
What changed exactly ?
I think one of the changes is the fact that Kespa is no longer overseeing the BW scene. It allows for more friendly banter in game (I know zero and Flash were chatting early game when they could sneak in some messages). Back in the kespa days, anything other than a "pp" would lose you the game (it wasn't always like this. Yellow and Boxer would go on some funny conversations about how units were OP in game). Back before kespa made everything super professional, I think the games were themselves were spaces where viewers and fans could see players interact with each other. I think this amateur scene kinda promotes that more.
Just my two cents
Well Kespa's ban of chat is sort of because Boxer confused his oponnents once making him think he couldn't put down a 2nd factory in base because it was too small or something like that. But as i recall it was pretty far fetched.
On February 24 2016 20:43 esdf wrote: can someone explain the cheolgoo part? i mean, what's the controversy about?
edit: also, a great interview and thanks for translating
Cheolgoo or chulgoo is TerrOr who's in the process of hosting an online starleague ( http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/brood-war/502988-terror-will-host-online-tournament ) and well terror is a pretty notorious person on afreeca, most recent acts being making Bisu shave off his eyebrows for losing a bet(which was a couple of days before the VANT Starleague Finals)
he was trying to get flash to compete in the starleague but as the interview says he declined.
makes a lot of sense, the korean e-sports establishment, Kespa especially, has already made clear they are not very fond of persons like Terror and other BJ's who act in a way they perceive as undignified. Flash has stated in an earlier interview already that he will be careful to keep his public/streaming appearances very professional, so i guess that's the reason why. (and yes i read him stating the opposite in the interview)
€: That being said, i love how open, entertaining and charming Flash is in this interview. Quite a different picture that allows us to see a lot more of his personality compared to his Interviews as a Pro in my mind.
What changed exactly ?
I think one of the changes is the fact that Kespa is no longer overseeing the BW scene. It allows for more friendly banter in game (I know zero and Flash were chatting early game when they could sneak in some messages). Back in the kespa days, anything other than a "pp" would lose you the game (it wasn't always like this. Yellow and Boxer would go on some funny conversations about how units were OP in game). Back before kespa made everything super professional, I think the games were themselves were spaces where viewers and fans could see players interact with each other. I think this amateur scene kinda promotes that more.
Just my two cents
Well Kespa's ban of chat is sort of because Boxer confused his oponnents once making him think he couldn't put down a 2nd factory in base because it was too small or something like that. But as i recall it was pretty far fetched.
The origin of the chat ban goes back to 2005. At the Daum Direct OnGameNet Dual Tournament, the emperor Boxer (OSL record of 84 wins and 52 losses then) played against a new player Junitoss (OSL record of 1 win and 2 losses then). The map was Forte which has a small main base. In the middle of the game, Boxer went for a hidden Factory and typed what is translated into English as "no space :[" on the chatting line in an attempt to trick Junitoss into thinking that he had no space to build additional Factories due to the small main base. Junitoss lost the match. Whether he was tricked or not, Boxer's message was likely to disturb the new player who is not used to the psychological aspects of StarCraft. After this match, a debate ensued, some arguing Boxer's action was a valid strategy while some arguing that it was not fair. Later, the chat ban was implemented.
On February 25 2016 04:31 duke91 wrote: It was also Boxer who was responsible for that allying an opponent was forbidden, because he used the spidermine trick which was deemed to overpowered
And the lift/land buildings to blow up interceptors if I recall correctly haha
On February 24 2016 04:12 prech wrote: Thanks Bisu-Fan!
It's too bad Flash's wrist keeps bothering him -- already a challenge to recoup his BW abilities after so many years, so that can't help
Sounds like Flash has good relationships with lots of folks, so I'm really surprised Flash didn't find a friend to help him set up his stream, like Rain or someone... Calm had hero, Bisu had Larva, etc.
Rain did help him a lot on background music and stuff like that. Tbh Afreeca guy was useless af
On February 25 2016 03:11 XiaoJoyce- wrote: The "This is 100% X Player" just by playing against that player.
I get it ! But I dont get it!
I mean , I get what he mean , but I dont get how they are so certain ...
Flash nv play for 4 years, but Sea still reconize Flash just by ... play against him?
Feel like magic. Or maybe instinct... Memory?
Well that's Sea. He may not have been 100% sure, but if he have a hunch he will say it.
Don't forget that although Flash is out of practice, Sea would notice easily that he was a elite player. Even when out of practice, there are very few terrans who could measure up to Flash. And Sea could probably figure out fairly quickly that it wasn't a active player. So that would narrow it down to a handful elite former progamer terrans. He can probably tell the difference between those guys to an extent. It's kind of his job to know his opponents, and Flash is probably the player he analyzed the most throughout his career.
On February 25 2016 03:11 XiaoJoyce- wrote: The "This is 100% X Player" just by playing against that player.
I get it ! But I dont get it!
I mean , I get what he mean , but I dont get how they are so certain ...
Flash nv play for 4 years, but Sea still reconize Flash just by ... play against him?
Feel like magic. Or maybe instinct... Memory?
When you play against a player for years, you'll remember their tedencies, build placements, how they play and stuff. Every pro can probably know how every other pro plays honestly.
On February 25 2016 03:11 XiaoJoyce- wrote: The "This is 100% X Player" just by playing against that player.
I get it ! But I dont get it!
I mean , I get what he mean , but I dont get how they are so certain ...
Flash nv play for 4 years, but Sea still reconize Flash just by ... play against him?
Feel like magic. Or maybe instinct... Memory?
Well that's Sea. He may not have been 100% sure, but if he have a hunch he will say it.
Don't forget that although Flash is out of practice, Sea would notice easily that he was a elite player. Even when out of practice, there are very few terrans who could measure up to Flash. And Sea could probably figure out fairly quickly that it wasn't a active player. So that would narrow it down to a handful elite former progamer terrans. He can probably tell the difference between those guys to an extent. It's kind of his job to know his opponents, and Flash is probably the player he analyzed the most throughout his career.
Yea to add to this when Larva played Flash before his account was confirmed, Larva said whoever the terran is hes on the same level as the other top terrans. So there is this terran whose id does not match any of the current ex-pro terrans but the unknown terran is on their level. Flash has recently announced that he would be streaming and is practicing. The terran has a lot of habits that Flash was known for such as not rallying his scvs. I think adding all these together it wouldn't be too difficult for players to figure out they were playing Flash and more so if they have had experience playing with him before.
On February 25 2016 04:31 duke91 wrote: It was also Boxer who was responsible for that allying an opponent was forbidden, because he used the spidermine trick which was deemed to overpowered
And the lift/land buildings to blow up interceptors if I recall correctly haha
When I was PhD student I would wake up/stay up to watch Flash play trying to get stream going on daumplayer or whatever that was called. Often there were only a couple of people who managed to get the stream going and they would provide live commentary and the rest would be just reading However, over time things got easier and ppl were providing streams from Korea...
On March 06 2016 16:10 Lebesgue wrote: Fantastic interview. Makes me very nostalgic...
When I was PhD student I would wake up/stay up to watch Flash play trying to get stream going on daumplayer or whatever that was called. Often there were only a couple of people who managed to get the stream going and they would provide live commentary and the rest would be just reading However, over time things got easier and ppl were providing streams from Korea...
On March 06 2016 16:10 Lebesgue wrote: Fantastic interview. Makes me very nostalgic...
When I was PhD student I would wake up/stay up to watch Flash play trying to get stream going on daumplayer or whatever that was called. Often there were only a couple of people who managed to get the stream going and they would provide live commentary and the rest would be just reading However, over time things got easier and ppl were providing streams from Korea...
I take it your PhD was math-related? Just curious b/c of the user name
Anyway, I can't believe how much of a rock star Flash is. Oh, having a bad day and need to talk to someone? Let me call my good buddy Jaedong. Just moving in to a new house? Why not have TY, Zest, Stats, and Rain over for a nice dinner.
He's earned that life, though. Don't know where I'm going with this, gl with the rest of your life Flash!
EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/tuSddKU.jpg)
Flash) is truly a special person. That such an influential person decided to retire was very heartbreaking for many fans. This sadness must have come from the realization that fans would never be able to see Flash compete anymore. In his retirement ceremony, many fans came to watch the Ultimate Weapons take the stage one last time.![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/H32xE8o.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/JJweVth.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/cRwwLKY.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/v4q2FFt.jpg)
Jaedong hyung a lot. Jaedong hyung also lives alone, and we talk a lot. It seems like we’re all the same. If you live alone, you don’t have much to do, so you play a lot of games. It’s regrettable, but I think there’s a fun aspect to doing things by yourself.
Rain? ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/4OOKOIa.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/28xTMZ4.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/E6GQEQ0.jpg)
Much appreciated
Just curious b/c of the user name
