Just something I've been meaning to write about for a while (I didn't mean for it to be this long =/):
Savior at his best was the closest thing to perfection I've seen in BW. I was shocked each and every time he made a micro mistake. If his harassing mutas took a few swings and missed, I was amazed. When he had the opportunity for a perfect plague but didn't take it, you could hear the surprise in the commentators voices. "Plaguuu! Plaguu!!..... Plagu?" For a while we were even a little shocked whenever his OL scouted the wrong way.
He didn't show a significant hole in his game until Iris pushed him to the limit on Arkanoid, with constant, unrelenting attacks. Finally we saw that his multitasking ability, normally incredible due to an almost inhuman efficiency, could be stressed beyond its limits, flexing until it neared its breaking point.
But then something changed. Savior's iron will would not let him lose. He put the pressure back on Iris; made him start making mistakes. Suddenly those m&m attacks were becoming less effective, and soon enough, Iris was dropping marines onto waiting lurkers. The game was Savior's again.
But the flaw was seen nonetheless. Bisu exploited it every chance he got in the MSL finals. Constant corsair harassment. DTs everywhere. It seemed like every time Savior's back was turned, drones were being hacked apart en masse.
I'm aware that Savior isn't and wasn't perfect when it comes to micro, macro, etc. But for a long while he was the closest I've seen. And if (theoretically) players come along who manage to "perfect" those mechanics, there's still no such thing as perfect multitasking (for humans, at least). It seems it'll come down to who can manage the most going on at once. We've had a glimpse at what that's like in Savior.
Thanks for writing this! I always look forward to these, they are MARVELOUSLY written. Your prose is fantastic. The direction with which you write your articles is very cool, it's like something I'd expect from a high-profile columnist at pgr21 or something. I'm glad you're here at TL writing in English though
I liked your profile on Midas, I think you hit it on the nail there.
On April 26 2007 10:40 SonuvBob wrote: You're a damned good writer. Keep it up.
Just something I've been meaning to write about for a while (I didn't mean for it to be this long =/):
Savior at his best was the closest thing to perfection I've seen in BW. I was shocked each and every time he made a micro mistake. If his harassing mutas took a few swings and missed, I was amazed. When he had the opportunity for a perfect plague but didn't take it, you could hear the surprise in the commentators voices. "Plaguuu! Plaguu!!..... Plagu?" For a while we were even a little shocked whenever his OL scouted the wrong way.
He didn't show a significant hole in his game until Iris pushed him to the limit on Arkanoid, with constant, unrelenting attacks. Finally we saw that his multitasking ability, normally incredible due to an almost inhuman efficiency, could be stressed beyond its limits, flexing until it neared its breaking point.
But then something changed. Savior's iron will would not let him lose. He put the pressure back on Iris; made him start making mistakes. Suddenly those m&m attacks were becoming less effective, and soon enough, Iris was dropping marines onto waiting lurkers. The game was Savior's again.
But the flaw was seen nonetheless. Bisu exploited it every chance he got in the MSL finals. Constant corsair harassment. DTs everywhere. It seemed like every time Savior's back was turned, drones were being hacked apart en masse.
I'm aware that Savior isn't and wasn't perfect when it comes to micro, macro, etc. But for a long while he was the closest I've seen. And if (theoretically) players come along who manage to "perfect" those mechanics, there's still no such thing as perfect multitasking (for humans, at least). It seems it'll come down to who can manage the most going on at once. We've had a glimpse at what that's like in Savior.
So there we have it: the perfect player's flaw.
This is a really excellent point - even the perfect players have a limit to how many things they can pay attention to at once. And you really killed it with the example. No other game illustrates this point (and so dramatically) like that Savior - Iris game 5 on Arkanoid.
I also felt the same way about Savior, that he was near perfect and every click he made had a purpose. I'm very eager to see how he bounces back from his loss to Bisu, to see if he can return to that "...plague?" status.
GrandInquisitor, As for Xellos, he belongs to a different catagory. Xellos (and GoodFriend) are to be a subject for a future entry... but I'm afraid it won't be very flattering.
Good read! More plz. Sometimes the greatest moments in Starcraft is demonstration of perfect skill but it often needs need human imperfection as the main side kick of that particular moment.
On April 26 2007 10:28 GrandInquisitor wrote: It's a little ironic that in your talk of the "Perfect" player you missed out on analyzing the player whose nickname is actually the "Perfect Terran" =P What's with the XellOs hate?
Apparently HonestTea and uhjoo are having a spat. Why else isn't XellOs featured?!
Because he's drawing attention to imperfections. It would seem uhjoo really does have perfect play.
Excellent writing! Talking about midas, I wonder if he regrets he has chosen Savior twice in last OSL. He was beat there and he failed ODT this time IIRC. Had he made a "better" choice and manage to be in seeds, life would be very different.
EPT
