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Shane "rapha" Hendrixson, of SK Gaming, spoke in an extensive interview about 2011, the big four of QL (himself, Cooller, cypher and av3k) and the legendary ZeRo4's influence on his development as a player.
rapha is one of the most accomplished Quake duelers of all time, with two IEM World Championships, two QuakeCon titles and an ESWC main event title to his name.
Some excerpts from the interview to whet your appetite:
+ Show Spoiler +
Whose demos did you most enjoy watching during that early period? What quality stands out for each player as you think back now?
I'd say ZeRo4 and Cooller, and someone who I also watched a lot actually was LeXeR. They all played differently but there were good things to be seen from each player. The fact that those three normally had the most demos from which to choose from is probably why I watched them, also helps that they each won tournaments.
I felt like LeXeR had a craftiness about him that some players didn't. He would try to out-think his opponents in a way that set him apart from other players.
ZeRo4 I always remember for aggressive play while in control but at the same time rarely overextending himself. Obviously learning the importance of how much the RL helps out since that was arguably his best weapon.
With Cooller it was definitely his focus on timing and control, and his dodging that set him apart from others. It was interesting to me to watch him back then because most of the time he did everything while barely using rail, that seemed like a weakness for him back then but he would still manage to beat players while barely using it, which was impressive.
What is it like in those close games vs. Cooller when you're going back-and-forth? To what degree is it stressful or intellectually stimulating?
Most of those games I've had to play him in have also been in the highest of stressful situations, being semi-finals and more importantly finals of tournaments. It takes every part of you to stay focused in those situations, with all the pressure of realising one mistake could cost you everything and you won't get a chance to make up for it. We're going blow for blow outwitting each other with good positioning, different traps or nice shot angles one of us hasn't expected. Even after being set back like that instantly in our minds trying to turn the situation back in our favor.
Most of what happens during the game mentally and emotionally for me is indescribable, just can't put words to it. I can't speak for him but I know that every time I've managed to beat him it's been a mixed feeling of relief and accomplishment. You just feel good about it because of how close our games almost always are in the sense that either of us can take them. Being able to be the one who did. He's probably felt the same when he's beat me but you'll have to ask him that yourself
In a game with a lot of engagements how possible is it to aim with maximum focus while simultaneously making decisions on what to do next or planning the next course of action? Is there a price to be paid for focusing on one or the other based on the player's own strengths? How does this relate to your own style of play?
Being able to strategise while you fight can definitely be accomplished but from what I've seen it can be very straining and can only last for so long. If this type of playstyle keeps up during the course of the game players start making more mistakes because they're thinking of doing damage too much and end up overextending themselves, or sometimes just forget certain options the opponent has of escape or what it would mean to die in a certain situation.
Even though I've just said that it can definitely be done trying to balance out both game plans I also think it's evident in certain players's styles that they struggle with one or the other. And to extend on that it might only be on certain maps as well. Since it's very difficult to balance both most of the time players will choose their one strength for the most part. Either being aim, so they focus on getting all sorts of angles to do damage all of the time, or whether it be always trying to calculate steps ahead and have exit strategies in case something goes wrong.
I know for myself that some games I've played, based just on the way I feel that day I've favored one over the other. Almost always the strategy portion in my case. I've noticed the same in cypher, for example, where some games/days he is just so on he focuses on the aiming and damage output portion of his game. Other days he doesn't feel so comfortable aiming so he switches to focusing on strategy and making less mistakes.
I'd say ZeRo4 and Cooller, and someone who I also watched a lot actually was LeXeR. They all played differently but there were good things to be seen from each player. The fact that those three normally had the most demos from which to choose from is probably why I watched them, also helps that they each won tournaments.
I felt like LeXeR had a craftiness about him that some players didn't. He would try to out-think his opponents in a way that set him apart from other players.
ZeRo4 I always remember for aggressive play while in control but at the same time rarely overextending himself. Obviously learning the importance of how much the RL helps out since that was arguably his best weapon.
With Cooller it was definitely his focus on timing and control, and his dodging that set him apart from others. It was interesting to me to watch him back then because most of the time he did everything while barely using rail, that seemed like a weakness for him back then but he would still manage to beat players while barely using it, which was impressive.
What is it like in those close games vs. Cooller when you're going back-and-forth? To what degree is it stressful or intellectually stimulating?
Most of those games I've had to play him in have also been in the highest of stressful situations, being semi-finals and more importantly finals of tournaments. It takes every part of you to stay focused in those situations, with all the pressure of realising one mistake could cost you everything and you won't get a chance to make up for it. We're going blow for blow outwitting each other with good positioning, different traps or nice shot angles one of us hasn't expected. Even after being set back like that instantly in our minds trying to turn the situation back in our favor.
Most of what happens during the game mentally and emotionally for me is indescribable, just can't put words to it. I can't speak for him but I know that every time I've managed to beat him it's been a mixed feeling of relief and accomplishment. You just feel good about it because of how close our games almost always are in the sense that either of us can take them. Being able to be the one who did. He's probably felt the same when he's beat me but you'll have to ask him that yourself
In a game with a lot of engagements how possible is it to aim with maximum focus while simultaneously making decisions on what to do next or planning the next course of action? Is there a price to be paid for focusing on one or the other based on the player's own strengths? How does this relate to your own style of play?
Being able to strategise while you fight can definitely be accomplished but from what I've seen it can be very straining and can only last for so long. If this type of playstyle keeps up during the course of the game players start making more mistakes because they're thinking of doing damage too much and end up overextending themselves, or sometimes just forget certain options the opponent has of escape or what it would mean to die in a certain situation.
Even though I've just said that it can definitely be done trying to balance out both game plans I also think it's evident in certain players's styles that they struggle with one or the other. And to extend on that it might only be on certain maps as well. Since it's very difficult to balance both most of the time players will choose their one strength for the most part. Either being aim, so they focus on getting all sorts of angles to do damage all of the time, or whether it be always trying to calculate steps ahead and have exit strategies in case something goes wrong.
I know for myself that some games I've played, based just on the way I feel that day I've favored one over the other. Almost always the strategy portion in my case. I've noticed the same in cypher, for example, where some games/days he is just so on he focuses on the aiming and damage output portion of his game. Other days he doesn't feel so comfortable aiming so he switches to focusing on strategy and making less mistakes.
The entire interview can be read at SK Gaming.
