|
Belgium9947 Posts
Currently in third place we can find Idra[Media] playing on his TSL.Idra account. Together with Strelok and Advokate a contestant for the best foreign Terran title, he is confident and solid. I got his MSN through my 1337 connections and asked him a few questions.
Hi Idra! Please state your name, age and location.
I'm Greg Fields, 18, and I live in New Jersey, USA.
That means you haven't travelled to Korea yet? When can we expect you to do so?
I'm supposed to be going this Wednesday, there have been a few delays but the date seems fairly concrete this time.
How will this influence your TSL qualification? Will you be allowed to play with a Korean IP?
The details aren't worked out yet but yes I've spoken to the TSL admins and I will be allowed to play from Korea as long as we have some satisfactory method of showing that its me playing and not one of the progamers, so I might have to record a video of myself playing. That stuff has to be worked out, but yes I will be allowed to play.
Nice to see that they're putting up such an effort to allow you to play. A couple of months ago, everybody was puzzled when they saw you permanently banned from TL.net by request? Any explanation?
I spend too much time on the site and thought not being able to post might curb that, but it didnt really so I requested to be unbanned a few days ago.
Can we expect any pro-gaming rumours from you, leaking out of e-Stro? Will you still be a regular poster?
Well Rekrul likes to stir shit up by publicizing private stuff because he's an attention whore. I'd rather avoid that kind of stuff. But ya I still intend to post on TL.net in my free time.
You are currently ranked third, behind Canadians TT1 and XiaOzi, and are followed by NonY and Mondragon. Do you have any predictions on upcoming changes in that top 5?
Everything is gonna slow down as it gets to the point where people cant really get games and avoid koreans at the same time. I think XiaOzi will end the season in first because hes been playing koreans all along and I expect he'll keep playing until the end, I'm gonna drop off a bit because I dont intend to ladder while im in Korea unless it looks like my spot is in jeopardy.
But you'll be going for the top 16? Or don't you mind playing an extra qualificationbracket?
It depends on how much effort it looks like it will take. I expect mid B+ will get top 16 and I'll try to maintain that, but if 16 players somehow manage to newb bash their way to A- I probably wont bother. The extra match wouldnt worry me much.
Do you feel like you're having a hard time qualifying up till now? Or is everything going smoothly?
It's been pretty easy, I think I've been in the top 5 the whole time.
What do you think about the anti-hacker statement TL is making by banning confirmed hackers (of the past year)?
It's a good step. Hackers should get second chances, people make mistakes and are capable of change, but the community has been giving them no reason to change in the recent past. Oldy openly admitted he hacked and got nothing but an easily avoidable ban from iccup. All administrators need to make it clear that hacking is unacceptable, and TSL's decision will hopefully serve as a model for them.
What have you been enjoying the most up till now: TL Attack or TSL?
TSL, definitely. It's been so long since the foreign community has had something this big outside WCG. It's reinvigorated the community by giving everyone something to play for.
What's your goal in TSL? Top 3? First place?
First place obviously, theres no point in playing something if you don't intend to win it.
Let's keep that brave statement as a finisher. Any shoutouts and/or small thoughts on the tournament?
Shoutout to Media and a big thanks to all the TSL Admins for doing such an awesome job.
Ok, that's it. Thanks for the interview. I wish you good luck in the TSL and in Korea ofcourse!
Ok, thanks.
Ofcourse, I also asked him for a replay. Download here.
+ Show Spoiler [His words on this comeback:] +I didn't know it was Chosen at the time and he had bad stats so I wasn't really focusing at first. That got me way behind. At one point he has guards + lurk/swarm in my base and I had to lift my nat cc. Spent the rest of the game trying to turtle and harass my way back in.
EDIT: Changed replay filename so it doesnt bug out
|
Thanks for the interview! I'd like to see the video of him playing :D
|
He certainly doesnt hold back his thoughts lol nice interview
|
Nice IdrA, I hope you train good enough to rival the pros 
|
Why should he hold thoughts :oooo
|
South Africa4316 Posts
This is an interesting interview, I'd like to see how he does, and if B+ is really enough for final 16. Thanks Rage!
|
Really glad to hear Idra will still be able to play. During his stay in Korea, Idra is gonna go super saiyen on TSL! Hopefully he doesn't get sick of Starcraft.
|
I dont think he should be allowed to play if hes in korea.... o_O So easy to get one of the Estro pros to play 4 him -.-
|
On April 07 2008 04:56 Worked! wrote:
I dont think he should be allowed to play if hes in korea.... o_O So easy to get one of the Estro pros to play 4 him -.-
... as long as we have some satisfactory method of showing that its me playing and not one of the progamers, so I might have to record a video of myself playing.
|
Thanks for the interview.
|
Braavos36375 Posts
On April 07 2008 04:56 Worked! wrote:
I dont think he should be allowed to play if hes in korea.... o_O So easy to get one of the Estro pros to play 4 him -.-
Yes, "so easy" includes video-editing to superimpose Idra's image over UpMagiC playing the game, and UpMagiC learning Idra's exact hotkeys.
|
its not hard to learn hotkeys, theres only 10 keys and its basically same with everyone ( 1 2 3 units 4567 rax/facts 890 scans obviously a little different but for most part the same, how exactly r u gonna have video of him playing? So he video tapes himself playing a game it could be vs Garm Brood
|
Good interview. Good luck in Korea Greg.
|
Braavos36375 Posts
On April 07 2008 07:04 Worked! wrote:
its not hard to learn hotkeys, theres only 10 keys and its basically same with everyone ( 1 2 3 units 4567 rax/facts 890 scans obviously a little different but for most part the same, how exactly r u gonna have video of him playing? So he video tapes himself playing a game it could be vs Garm Brood
You have got to be kidding me.
|
|
|
Braavos36375 Posts
The video of him playing would obviously include the screen of the game he is playing in the TSL, otherwise what's the point of ever recording a video? He could've recorded it 10 years ago playing in his basement that is setup to look like the eStro house.
|
r u gonna have a heart attack?
|
Braavos36375 Posts
On April 07 2008 07:36 Worked! wrote:
r u gonna have a heart attack?
what? lol
|
Braavos36375 Posts
worked, we could send you personally a copy of the video, and use your super detective skills to figure out that Idra is in fact not playing against Garm Brood
you can write the press release, we'll send it to the New York Times
|
|
|
Nice interview, good luck in korea Idra!
|
I don't really care U r making it into a big deal I just said my opinion ( which doesn't matter ) I am sorry I don't want another ogogo incident I must just be weird!
|
Braavos36375 Posts
Rest assured, if we were not absolutely sure in our methods to make sure Idra is actually the one playing, we wouldn't allow him.
|
|
|
is awesome32274 Posts
|
4492 Posts
On April 07 2008 07:32 Hot_Bid wrote:
The video of him playing would obviously include the screen of the game he is playing in the TSL, otherwise what's the point of ever recording a video? He could've recorded it 10 years ago playing in his basement that is setup to look like the eStro house.
A cute little 8 yr old IdrA?
|
Belgium9947 Posts
lol good luck making upmagics hair resemble idras
thats would be one crazy videoedit
|
why would the pros want to waste their time on TSL anyway?
|
because $5000 to play 1 final 16 tournament is a nice chunk of change even for them ~_~
|
I would edit a video of anyone playing the TSL for only $4900!
hehe nice interview. Keep em coming ^^
|
Braavos36375 Posts
On April 07 2008 13:17 rushz0rz wrote:
why would the pros want to waste their time on TSL anyway?
Obviously, we wouldn't rely on "why would they waste their time to win $5000?" as proof.
-_-
|
Hmm. Maybe idra will answer questions here.
Do you get to bring your own computer or do they supply one there?
Just curious I guess.
|
I'm sure they would supply one.
|
ya they supply one, im just bringing my own mouse and keyboard
|
This is the funniest thread i've read in a while
lol
r u gonna have a heart attack loooooool
|
On April 07 2008 16:37 IdrA wrote:
ya they supply one, im just bringing my own mouse and keyboard
So what do you use? I've always been partial to my old dell quietkey keyboard. I caved into the pressure and got a logitech mini, though. Can't say i don't love it.
|
i used to use a dell quietkey but most of the keys dont work on it anymore, now i just have some generic dell keyboard that has the same type of keys as the quietkey.
a logitech g5 mouse
|
ha, i know what you u mean. this keyboard of mine is a HP multimedia with volume knob. my last one broke a long time ago so when I had to replace it there was only 1 left and it was a returned item. i bought it anyways since I like it so much.
|
Thanks for the interview, and good luck to IdrA in Korea! Give it your best!
TranTranTranTranTranTranTranTranTranTranTranTran
|
On April 07 2008 10:49 RaGe wrote:
lol good luck making upmagics hair resemble idras
thats would be one crazy videoedit
*wishes he could find a picture of Idra so he could put his hair on UPmagic*
Any genies out there ;p?
EDIT: Something like this?
FAIL.
|
Calgary25980 Posts
Why are there korean symbols on the right side of Idra's hair?
Yae Yaeshee?
Does anyone else see this? What could it mean? O_O
|
On April 08 2008 06:28 Chill wrote:
Why are there korean symbols on the right side of Idra's hair?
Yae Yaeshee?
Does anyone else see this? What could it mean? O_O
Haha, thats not actually Idra's hair first of all, I just searched the net for ''long curly hair'', I couldnt find a pic of Idra. I think its taken from a drivers licesne I didnt notice that they actually looked korean - haha..
Cheers
|
u gotta skate8152 Posts
!
He'll have to get it cut short when he arrives there anyway. :p
|
He already has it short
check the new GG.net photo fools
|
Braavos36375 Posts
wow that looks so much better lol
|
u gotta skate8152 Posts
On April 08 2008 07:50 Hot_Bid wrote:
wow that looks so much better lol
Was JUST about to say that.
|
btw, Idra where are you going to go to school after you get back, and were you able to get your trip to korea cleared with school?
|
holy shit looks like a different person.
|
Calgary25980 Posts
WOW. Idra you look like a real person now. Holy fuck I know this isn't a fashion contest but that is like fucking night and day.
WOW.
|
iNcontroL
USA29055 Posts
greg! you will make us all proud bro! <3
|
trip got moved again, but actually got bumped up for once. my flight leaves tuesday afternoon(in like 13 hours).
btw, Idra where are you going to go to school after you get back, and were you able to get your trip to korea cleared with school?
rensselaer polytechnic. they ok'd everything, including taking a GED instead of my last semester of highschool
|
umm wtf idra isn't eminem
|
|
|
IdrA looks like skew now
wtfux
|
|
|
idra.... u should let upmagic play on your account so he can ruin mondragon's perfect record against B- and over ranked players >____<
|
Looks like it's really happening this time, just a matter of hours left now.
Good luck over there!
|
nice interview
so idras literally on his way to korea now, that's dope!
good luck ya damn punk lol, make us proud
|
it seems pointless to me for him to go over, hes not even top 5 non korean and even if you're the best non korean you still suck in the land of Korea so.... whats the point and hes so young not even done highschool? Whatever not my life so good luck 2 him, he will need it!
|
Can we get an interview with Draco? really the only person that deserves an interview, being the legend that he is.
|
On April 09 2008 12:00 Worked! wrote:
it seems pointless to me for him to go over, hes not even top 5 non korean and even if you're the best non korean you still suck in the land of Korea so.... whats the point and hes so young not even done highschool? Whatever not my life so good luck 2 him, he will need it!
i think it's cool that he's doing it, because he already understands what he's going into and doesn't have any illusions about false glamour in progaming. he knows it's tantamount to sweatshop labour, so he will be more prepared for it than the last few foreigners that went to korea.
if he has the mindset to go in there and grind it out and not to expect anything, then he's already got one of the key ingredients to do better than guys like PJ or draco.
i'm personally really excited to see idra go over there because he's the first nonkorean i can remember who went over there without any false expectations. who cares if he never get's a tv match, the important thing is that he's going to try his hardest and it'll be fun for the whole community to follow his story.
plus no matter what happens he'll have gotten in a bit of traveling, seen a new culture, and experienced the centre and pulse of progaming. considering this website is dedicated to worshipping progaming, i'd say that we should all be able to understand why those experiences will be worth having even if he doesn't do anything tremendous.
and then, at the end of it all, with super determination you never know, maybe he will do something. a non korean never realizes his full potential until he experiences korean training, so he may just surprise us all and exceed our expectations.
this is just so great for the community!
|
think about it this way:
- 0 expenses, you are paid for housing, food, etc.
- you have no responsibility other than just playing bw
- when you are done, you can go back and go to school
- great life experience (how many white guys can say "I used to be a professional gamer")
anyways, no matter how you look at it, it's going to be great for Idra.
|
On April 09 2008 12:00 Worked! wrote:
it seems pointless to me for him to go over, hes not even top 5 non korean and even if you're the best non korean you still suck in the land of Korea so.... whats the point and hes so young not even done highschool? Whatever not my life so good luck 2 him, he will need it!
lol idra isnt top 5 non kor? you coutning all chinese or what because if you dont he is first or maybe 2nd best t behind strelok
edit: i dont consider chinese as foreign gamers because they have pro leagues and stuff their as well, not to mention the gaming level is ridiculously high
|
On April 09 2008 18:45 Aux1 wrote:Show nested quote +On April 09 2008 12:00 Worked! wrote:
it seems pointless to me for him to go over, hes not even top 5 non korean and even if you're the best non korean you still suck in the land of Korea so.... whats the point and hes so young not even done highschool? Whatever not my life so good luck 2 him, he will need it! lol idra isnt top 5 non kor? you coutning all chinese or what because if you dont he is first or maybe 2nd best t behind strelok edit: i dont consider chinese as foreign gamers because they have pro leagues and stuff their as well, not to mention the gaming level is ridiculously high
agreed idra is definitely one of the best foreign terrans along with strelok (and advokate i guess) and he can beat all the top foreigners including the chinese - i think if he's dedicated enough he can surpass all previous chinese players - and i hope he does. there's a lot of koreans who could achieve top non korean status, but we should still support any guys who are close to top status as SC gamers regardless of their past manner.
|
51451 Posts
Is he in Korea yet?
Status report?
|
im sure there will be some kind of news or interview once he gets settled since he was supposed to leave yesterday i believe?
|
|
|
I'm pretty sure he is there now.
|
just hope to god that idra doesnt face jaedong in his first televised match sorta like by.baby of wemade in proleague ^___^
|
Calgary25980 Posts
Idra keep us updated! I expect weekly blogs.
|
Considering he said he would be on the plane in a couple of hours last time he posted, this time he must really be in Korea right now.
|
On April 09 2008 22:28 kyjori wrote:
just hope to god that idra doesnt face jaedong in his first televised match sorta like by.baby of wemade in proleague ^___^
that was baby's 2nd televised match, GET IT RIGHT!
|
On April 09 2008 19:16 littlechava wrote:Show nested quote +On April 09 2008 18:45 Aux1 wrote:On April 09 2008 12:00 Worked! wrote:
it seems pointless to me for him to go over, hes not even top 5 non korean and even if you're the best non korean you still suck in the land of Korea so.... whats the point and hes so young not even done highschool? Whatever not my life so good luck 2 him, he will need it! lol idra isnt top 5 non kor? you coutning all chinese or what because if you dont he is first or maybe 2nd best t behind strelok edit: i dont consider chinese as foreign gamers because they have pro leagues and stuff their as well, not to mention the gaming level is ridiculously high agreed idra is definitely one of the best foreign terrans along with strelok (and advokate i guess) and he can beat all the top foreigners including the chinese - i think if he's dedicated enough he can surpass all previous chinese players - and i hope he does. there's a lot of koreans who could achieve top non korean status, but we should still support any guys who are close to top status as SC gamers regardless of their past manner.
Top 5 terran yes, top 5 I don't think so.
|
On April 09 2008 19:34 GTR-2-Go wrote:
Is he in Korea yet?
Status report?
he's been there less than 24 hours probably, what kinda status report can you expect? lol.
"Dear TL.net,
I just got off my longass flight, and I'm in Korea now.
- Idra"
|
|
|
On April 10 2008 02:02 ShAsTa wrote:Show nested quote +On April 09 2008 19:16 littlechava wrote:On April 09 2008 18:45 Aux1 wrote:On April 09 2008 12:00 Worked! wrote:
it seems pointless to me for him to go over, hes not even top 5 non korean and even if you're the best non korean you still suck in the land of Korea so.... whats the point and hes so young not even done highschool? Whatever not my life so good luck 2 him, he will need it! lol idra isnt top 5 non kor? you coutning all chinese or what because if you dont he is first or maybe 2nd best t behind strelok edit: i dont consider chinese as foreign gamers because they have pro leagues and stuff their as well, not to mention the gaming level is ridiculously high agreed idra is definitely one of the best foreign terrans along with strelok (and advokate i guess) and he can beat all the top foreigners including the chinese - i think if he's dedicated enough he can surpass all previous chinese players - and i hope he does. there's a lot of koreans who could achieve top non korean status, but we should still support any guys who are close to top status as SC gamers regardless of their past manner. Top 5 terran yes, top 5 I don't think so.
lol? he is top 2 terran (arguably first) and i consider him top 5 foreign. there are so many great foreigners its hard to place a top 5 but i would have to put it something like:
Mondragon
Strelok
IefNaij
IdrA
and maybe white-ra? a lot of players could fill this fifth spot.
this is no particualr order, just some names off of the top of my head i definitely would consider idra top 5 though, maybe best terran, hard to place him above strelok though
edit: i dont count inactive players such as draco or testie. they havent done anything for months
|
woulda been awesome if testie went over to cj when they offered it to him the second time. can you imagine seeing idra vs testie in proleague? it be crazy insane with tasteless commentating. >_< although i prefer the korean commentators.... yeah.. but still... for all the people who cant understand korean it would be fucking epic.. but alas no luck for us T_T
|
He's on Iccup at this present time, looks like he has arrived in Korea?
|
|
|
|
|
|
EPT![[image loading]](http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/8682/showimageasprealfileffnzv0.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.rhfweb.com/p19.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i18.tinypic.com/8e1cn51.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/3232/725ps8.png)
