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Do progamers listen to music while they play live?

Forum Index > SC2 General
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Otori
Profile Joined June 2011
Sweden164 Posts
July 12 2011 19:28 GMT
#1
Yeah, I know most progamers are listening to music while they're laddering and such, but do they listen to music/playlists while they're playing important tournaments offline, in their little booths?

Anyone knows if they do or do they just use the sc2 sounds only for more focus, or do they feel more relaxed/comfortable with their standard playlist on that they use for laddering? How does it affect their game if they aren't listening to music live when they do it constantly while laddering/practicing?
ApBuLLet
Profile Joined September 2010
United States604 Posts
July 12 2011 19:31 GMT
#2
I have heard some players say that they do like listening to music at live events, particularly less organized ones where they aren't in their own booths and there are other things going on around them that may be distracting. I'm sure it depends on the player, but I bet many of them do listen to music while they play. Like you said it's largely a comfort thing that will ease the nerves/adrenaline so they can just focus on the game like they would in private.
HaXXspetten
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
Sweden15718 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-07-12 19:32:45
July 12 2011 19:31 GMT
#3
This has been discussed before, and as far as I know, they do not listen to music while playing important tournaments. While music is relaxing when laddering, in a tournament where everything is on the line, you want to be able to hear everything: missing a "nuclear launch detected" or a nydus worm screaming could be fatal.

Of course I can't say for everyone though, it's an individual question.
SilverPotato
Profile Joined July 2010
United States560 Posts
July 12 2011 19:33 GMT
#4
I do believe incontrol said one time in an interview at MLG that he listens to music during live matches.
"The ability to learn faster than your competitors may be the only sustainable competitive advantage." ~Arie de Geus
GreEny K
Profile Joined February 2008
Germany7312 Posts
July 12 2011 19:35 GMT
#5
I'm gonna go ahead and assume some do and some don't...
Why would you ever choose failure, when success is an option.
bo0
Profile Joined April 2011
Belgium550 Posts
July 12 2011 19:36 GMT
#6
I haven't heard anything about this subject but I'm surprised they allow it. I don't know much about software 'n shit but couldn't someone set up some suspicious program to "listen to music" and cheat in some way? xD
iDrone
Profile Joined December 2010
United States176 Posts
July 12 2011 19:37 GMT
#7
I would assume that the large majority of them are listening to music yes.
darlhet
Profile Joined March 2011
Italy548 Posts
July 12 2011 19:42 GMT
#8
i would assume that the large majority of them arent listening to music no
"i feel like im wasting your time" qxc to whitera after getting crushed 0-4
merz
Profile Blog Joined July 2004
Sweden2760 Posts
July 12 2011 19:44 GMT
#9
I would say the the large majority (from personal experience at LANs like DH, CPH, IEM, Assembly etc.) doesn't listen to music when they are playing important games. I've seen some players have 1 song that they start up in the beginning of each game, and just let that song play out and then just use in-game sound for the rest of the game. I'd imagine it's some sort of thing they do to not have their focus disturbed and get "into the game".

I've tried both, sometimes it helps, if it's really noisy around you and you have people watching/walking around it helps to close everything out and you feel more at home (because players usually ladder/practice with music). But if it's a really intense game or a very important game I sometimes feel, or at least get paranoid of, that it might hurt my gameplay so I usually leave it off then.
Winners never quit, quitters never win.
Virtue
Profile Joined July 2010
United States318 Posts
July 12 2011 19:47 GMT
#10
I watched a EU pro player playing at MLG Columbus and he had a Grooveshark playlist going on in the background, and I know Tasteless has said that he always used to use his Ipod when he played at Lans.
GreEny K
Profile Joined February 2008
Germany7312 Posts
July 12 2011 19:51 GMT
#11
On July 13 2011 04:36 Meancookie wrote:
I haven't heard anything about this subject but I'm surprised they allow it. I don't know much about software 'n shit but couldn't someone set up some suspicious program to "listen to music" and cheat in some way? xD


They don't allow you to put your music on LAN computers, if you want to listen to music you have to use an mp3 player.
Why would you ever choose failure, when success is an option.
Otori
Profile Joined June 2011
Sweden164 Posts
July 12 2011 19:52 GMT
#12
Okay, thanks for the insightful answers, I was curious about this and I did not know it had been discussed before.
Lokian
Profile Joined March 2010
United States699 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-07-12 19:56:03
July 12 2011 19:54 GMT
#13
Isn't that against the rules to listen to different music? Using outside devices is forbidden, and there's also risk of cheating using sounds. I KNOW, it sounds farfetch, but people can go extreme when they're playing for thousands of dollars.

for example, maybe you didn't practice and you got a recorder telling you the build order lol
Watch my gaming channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/BedinSpace
k!llua
Profile Blog Joined March 2010
Australia895 Posts
July 12 2011 19:56 GMT
#14
On July 13 2011 04:54 Lokian wrote:
Isn't that against the rules to listen to different music? Using outside devices is forbidden, and there's also risk of cheating using sounds. I KNOW, it sounds farfetch, but people can go extreme when they're playing for thousands of dollars.

for example, maybe you didn't practice and you got a recorder telling you the build order lol


it shouldn't be illegal to, in theory, essentially handicap yourself
my hair is a wookie, your argument is invalid
ZeromuS
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
Canada13389 Posts
July 12 2011 19:59 GMT
#15
Players do what they want. I have heard incontrol say he used to practice without music and play tourneys with. Others I am sure will prefer to do what they do when they practice (re: not ladder). If they listen to a particular playlist im sure that they will listen to the same playlist again while playing should it be allowed. To each his own as everyone is different.
StrategyRTS forever | @ZeromuS_plays | www.twitch.tv/Zeromus_
sjschmidt93
Profile Joined April 2010
United States2518 Posts
July 12 2011 20:05 GMT
#16
Day9 said Incontrol always listened to music w/ no sound in BW and once died to DTs because of it xD
My grandpa could've proxied better, and not only does he have arthritis, he's also dead. -Sean "Day[9]" Plott
lazydino
Profile Joined October 2010
Canada331 Posts
July 12 2011 20:05 GMT
#17
On July 13 2011 04:31 HaXXspetten wrote:
This has been discussed before, and as far as I know, they do not listen to music while playing important tournaments. While music is relaxing when laddering, in a tournament where everything is on the line, you want to be able to hear everything: missing a "nuclear launch detected" or a nydus worm screaming could be fatal.

Of course I can't say for everyone though, it's an individual question.


Nukes and Nydus Worms RARELY happen at tip top level play. Music is the way to go!
"I have this moron thing that I do, it's called thinking" - George Carlin
headbus
Profile Joined March 2011
Canada173 Posts
July 12 2011 20:05 GMT
#18
I would not be surprised if a lot of them did. It's like living on a busy street for 20 years growing up, you find it hard to sleep when its actually dead quiet.

I would imagine going from a relaxing play style that keeps you calm music playing, facebook in the background to all intense mode nothing but game sound would make you actually incredibly nervous.

However I think RTS's are fairly unique in this matter because most other computer games require MUCH higher gamesounds from cs 1.6 hearing footsteps grenade hits and wallbangs to quake gamesounds as well.
Malgrif
Profile Blog Joined March 2010
Canada1095 Posts
July 12 2011 20:06 GMT
#19
wow i just looked at (P)iNcontroL's page and realized now why he wanted to focus more on gaming. o.o he's not doing too hot in sc2
for there to be pro there has to be noob.
seoul_kiM
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
United States545 Posts
July 12 2011 20:11 GMT
#20
Would be funny if someone was listening to their iPhone' music feature or their iPod and had someone on the phone or talking over skype with someone outside the booth looking at the big screen telling them everyone. The second the protoss puts down a Robo Facility - 4 Vikings are being produced. The second a dark shrine goes down, 6 Overseers are being morphed. The second a spire goes down, turrets go down everywhere. LOLMFAO
oGs.MC: Repair IMBAAAAAAAAAAa
fadestep
Profile Blog Joined October 2008
United States605 Posts
July 12 2011 20:13 GMT
#21
On July 13 2011 04:35 GreEny K wrote:
I'm gonna go ahead and assume some do and some don't...


That is a bizarre guess. You mean all progamers don't all do the same thing and this thread isn't retarded?
not a hero
Gosi
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
Sweden9072 Posts
July 12 2011 20:14 GMT
#22
If you are playing in booths, doesn't the headphones play random music to shut out as much sound as possible? And then you use your in-ears for ingame sounds under the headphones?

And if you are playing some sort of open bracket in a huge area where you only have your in-ears I would guess no one actually have music as long as you're not allowed to play music tru the computer. I have a hard time seeing someone being able to have 2 set of in-ears in your ears at the same time, 1 for ingame sound and 1 for music from your ipod etc. Can't recall seeing anyone in BW with a real headset, maybe it's more common in SC2?
[13:40] <Qbek> gosi i dreanmt about you
Utinni
Profile Joined November 2010
Canada1196 Posts
July 12 2011 20:15 GMT
#23
On July 13 2011 05:06 Malgrif wrote:
wow i just looked at (P)iNcontroL's page and realized now why he wanted to focus more on gaming. o.o he's not doing too hot in sc2

Having a ELO ranking under 300 in the world is pretty decent for not winning anything. With all the stuff he had on his plate... I am surprised he even did that well. Hopefully we can see some beastly entertaining games in the near future with more dedication towards his craft
“... you don’t have to be Sun freakin Tzu to know that real fighting isn’t about killing or even hurting the other guy, it’s about scaring him enough to call it a day.” - Max Brooks: World War Z
godemperor
Profile Joined October 2010
Belgium2043 Posts
July 12 2011 20:16 GMT
#24
doesn't listening to music put yourself at a disadvantage in regards to dts, Nydus, nuclear missile and others thing which have audio queues and otherwise hard to detect.
TheBanana
Profile Joined December 2010
Norway2183 Posts
July 12 2011 20:19 GMT
#25
On July 13 2011 04:54 Lokian wrote:
Isn't that against the rules to listen to different music? Using outside devices is forbidden, and there's also risk of cheating using sounds. I KNOW, it sounds farfetch, but people can go extreme when they're playing for thousands of dollars.

for example, maybe you didn't practice and you got a recorder telling you the build order lol



Maybe you could use music for perfect timings?

Lock parts of the music to different timings in your memory and take advantage of that.
If you're not getting better faster than everybody else, you're getting worse.
trancey
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
United States430 Posts
July 12 2011 20:23 GMT
#26
there's a few players who play music at tournaments,

I know huk did at a few mlgs.. he has a trademark of leaving whatever song/kpop open after he leaves his station.
Windows 7
Profile Joined December 2010
United States236 Posts
July 12 2011 20:26 GMT
#27
Is it just me, or do players in GSL always have earbuds on under the headphones? Can anyone explain the point of this? I always assumed the earbuds were for music players, since I don't think the gamers can use the computer to play their music from.
FC
Aelip
Profile Joined November 2010
Denmark321 Posts
July 12 2011 20:29 GMT
#28
On July 13 2011 05:26 Windows 7 wrote:
Is it just me, or do players in GSL always have earbuds on under the headphones? Can anyone explain the point of this? I always assumed the earbuds were for music players, since I don't think the gamers can use the computer to play their music from.


The sound comes from the earbuds afaik, the headphones are just extra sound isolation.
vincom2
Profile Joined June 2011
Singapore1775 Posts
July 12 2011 20:30 GMT
#29
On July 13 2011 05:19 TheBanana wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 13 2011 04:54 Lokian wrote:
Isn't that against the rules to listen to different music? Using outside devices is forbidden, and there's also risk of cheating using sounds. I KNOW, it sounds farfetch, but people can go extreme when they're playing for thousands of dollars.

for example, maybe you didn't practice and you got a recorder telling you the build order lol



Maybe you could use music for perfect timings?

Lock parts of the music to different timings in your memory and take advantage of that.

Sounds like episode 7(?) of evangelion lol.

On July 13 2011 05:26 Windows 7 wrote:
Is it just me, or do players in GSL always have earbuds on under the headphones? Can anyone explain the point of this? I always assumed the earbuds were for music players, since I don't think the gamers can use the computer to play their music from.

Aren't the earbuds to listen to the games, and the "headphones" just covers for noise isolation?
Navillus
Profile Joined February 2011
United States1188 Posts
July 12 2011 20:33 GMT
#30
On July 13 2011 04:35 GreEny K wrote:
I'm gonna go ahead and assume some do and some don't...

Blasphemy!!! You must choose one and hold to it, there is no possible way that all progamers can't be thrown into one category or another on every possible issue!
"TL gives excellent advice 99% of the time. The problem is no one listens to it." -Plexa
SomeONEx
Profile Joined April 2011
Sweden641 Posts
July 12 2011 20:41 GMT
#31
On July 13 2011 05:19 TheBanana wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 13 2011 04:54 Lokian wrote:
Isn't that against the rules to listen to different music? Using outside devices is forbidden, and there's also risk of cheating using sounds. I KNOW, it sounds farfetch, but people can go extreme when they're playing for thousands of dollars.

for example, maybe you didn't practice and you got a recorder telling you the build order lol



Maybe you could use music for perfect timings?

Lock parts of the music to different timings in your memory and take advantage of that.


What if you just record yourself to say "Inject Larvae" and "Creep" and have it said every 40 and 30 sec? Or mayby like "DONT FORGET MARINERS!!!!" over and over again.
Wait, brb making laddering-music...
BW hwaiting!
Otori
Profile Joined June 2011
Sweden164 Posts
July 13 2011 02:19 GMT
#32
To you idiots who are insinuating that I was asking weither all progamers listen to music or not, it's obviously not what I ment, I ment to ask how common it is for progamers to do that during live tournaments and was asking how it affects their gameplay to do that or not doing that (if they are not allowed).
Mayor
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
United States472 Posts
July 13 2011 02:21 GMT
#33
MLG injects music into their earbuds while you're in the booth, so, sometimes it's forced.
"You can be creative but I will crush it under the iron fist of my conservative play." - Liquid`Tyler
Noxie
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States2227 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-07-13 02:21:58
July 13 2011 02:21 GMT
#34
Most of the guys on vVv don't at LANs live events . It can get distracting.
Saicam
Profile Joined July 2011
262 Posts
July 13 2011 02:21 GMT
#35
interesting question, i would assume no
imPERSONater
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States1324 Posts
July 13 2011 02:30 GMT
#36
On July 13 2011 04:54 Lokian wrote:
Isn't that against the rules to listen to different music? Using outside devices is forbidden, and there's also risk of cheating using sounds. I KNOW, it sounds farfetch, but people can go extreme when they're playing for thousands of dollars.

for example, maybe you didn't practice and you got a recorder telling you the build order lol


More likely would be audio that dings every 20sec or something so you never miss a larva inject. That would probably be more applicable
Fan of: IdrA, Sen, Stephano, Snute, Axlav, Hero
Gator
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
United States3432 Posts
July 13 2011 02:33 GMT
#37
definitely have seen a clip of TLO looking up his epic music on youtube in between games in some MLG montage
TSM
epikAnglory
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
United States1120 Posts
July 13 2011 02:38 GMT
#38
I do not see any rules about that on the MLG site or anything, sorry. The only fact I know is that Jaedong listens to music on his iPod while practicing a few minutes before his games (Proleague). I personally find that a prestigious, strict tournament should disallow it past the preliminaries, but that is just my opinion though.
710+ Posts with a Probe Icon =D
MaestrO_
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
United States591 Posts
July 13 2011 02:38 GMT
#39
If i'm not mistaken i think at the GSL, they blast the booths with music or some kind of ambient noise to prevent distraction from the outside.
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