NSHoseoSage Interview!

First of all Sage I have to start off by saying you are one of my favorite players to watch! Thanks for taking the time to do this interview with us, is there anything you would like to start off by saying to your fans?


Hi, I am Sage from the team NSHoSeo, I'm glad to have this interview.



Over the past few months, you have become very popular amongst the SC2 community, especially in the foreign scene. How has this newfound popularity affected how you approach playing SC2 and preparing for matches? Has it taken some getting used to?



I don't know if I am still the favorite. Whether I am or not, I have always prepared to not only play an entertaining match for fans, but also win. After the first all kill, I received great responses from the community, I still remember that I used to keep smiling until the next match against FXO.

You recently started streaming on TL.net and have gotten quite a bit of attention, how have you liked it? Do you think it is important for pro players to stream their games for their fans? Is there any benefits or negatives about streaming while practicing versus not streaming?


I don't know If I am getting that much of attention since I don't have as many viewers on stream as some others. I think there are several reasons to stream as a pro-gamer. A pro who gets nervous every match can overcome this by streaming. For hungry gamers like myself, can earn some allowance hahaha, Besides everything else, I feel content that I can show some matches for my fans. Also since I am code B at the moment, I started to stream again. The negatives of it would be showing my strategies to others, but I think I get more positives by streaming.

One of the things that has made you so popular is your creativity, people know that there is a good chance every time you play a game they will see something new or unique, and even notable casters such as Artosis have commented on your level of intelligence in SC2. Have you always thought of yourself as an intelligent or original player? Because of this reputation do you ever feel you have a responsibility to your fans to showcase new or original styles?


I think that the biggest reason for my popularity is that I pursue creative and impressive plays. I think more about what kind of match would the fans like more than fans' expectations. Everyday new play style keeps popping up in my head even when I am eating or in the bathroom. I also think that I might be one of the top tier gamers in terms of build making or improvisions. For creativity of the builds, I also think I could be the top or 2 haha. Rather than pressures from showing a unique style, I feel more cautious that gamers from other teams might use the same style before us. While I stream, I get a lot of comments about how Altosis noted me, I would like to thank him.



When you are creating a newer style or build, what is the process you go through? Does it just sort of happen from playing or is it something you usually think of and then experiment with in practice games? Is it scary taking a build that you have been working on just in practice and then displaying it on a stage as big as the GSL?



Well, I don't really have a strict process of making the builds. I think the builds come naturally from any sources. I often watch the Brood War league and GSL. Even before I go to a sleep, I may flash on something then try it before I go. From various community sites, I use the strategies that amateur players uploaded then I edit them down or watch and learn from other streams. For instance, the match against Lucky at the GSL, I used 8 dark templars drop. I watched White-Ra doing this build. I tuned it up through some practices. I anticipate reaction from the fans and sc2 communities everytime I use a new build at the GSL or the GSTL. When I use my own build, it just feels good and all. So I am always in a uplight mood and chats with the opponent before I play the match.


You were recently the first victim of oGsFin (or ForGG) in GSL Code A, falling to him 2-0, were you nervous going into those games being that nobody had yet seen Fin play in the GSL or any major tournament yet? Were you surprised when you lost? What could have gone differently in those games?



I am still sad that I lost to him. ForGG, after declaring that he will become pro SC2 player, made it into Code A in no time. However, on ladder, he was already known as a Gosu. I also had a few close friends at oGs and had a chance to practice with ForGG before and I knew he was good.
After looking at the people who went through the prelimineries, I wish that I could play anyone but ForGG, but I unfortunately had him in the first round.
And I thought even though this could be hard, I will try my best. I was also quite nervous. In the first match, I made a mistake when engaging with marines, and it cost me a loss. The mistake in the first match kept me from focusing in the next game, which I think I could’ve avoided.


Being able to experience firsthand how strong of a player Fin was in his short time playing SC2, does it concern you as an SC2 pro-gamer what will happen if many BW pros start switching over to SC2? Is this something that is discussed much among pro-gamers that you know?



I think brood war pros can be good at SC2 no matter what. Because Broodwar's interface is harder and it requires much more attention to the detail.Yes, I am concerned about Broodwar pros switching over to sc2 scene.
Besides the fact that their skills are better, they have better financial support from sponsors as opposed to most of SC2 pros. We all know Broodwar pros practice hard and play well, but many SC2 pros are also working as hard as they are.
Since I am a captain of the team, I am worried about the players so I have only discussed this matter with the teammates who are older than me.

Now that you are out of the GSL, how are you preparing to get back in? Although you have performed well in Code A or GSTL you haven't been able to break into Code S, Do you think that is something you can do in the near future?

Right now I'm preparing very hard for the upcoming Code A qualifing matches, I seriously hope I'll make a better result to make it to Code A.

Do you think studying is something you will end up doing after your pro-gaming career is over? Could you do both at the same time?

Right now, I haven't thought of studying and playing games at the same time. I feel like it'll put me behind. I am pretty sure I'll be able to get in Code S easily once I break through Code A



You are the captain of NSHoseo, a relatively newer and more unknown SC2 team when compared to some of the others, but as a team has already shown strong results. What is the atmosphere like in NSHoseo, and what do you think it is about it that has been able to take relatively unknown players and turn them into community favorites and in jjakji's case, a Code S champion!


I think the atmosphere is quite free. Our coach wants players to be able to control themselves and trains them in such way. There are some who play game all day, and ones who procastinate but whenever they have to they do practice very hard I think just the fact that we are "nobody" made us quite famous. Underdog coming up to the champs and having the all kills in GSTL on each race and every player that has different unique styles, all of those seemed quite interesting to fans I think. I wish we could get more famous haha.

What is an average day in the NSHoseo house like? As the captain of NSHoseo, how are your responsibilities different than anyone elses on the team?


As opposed to normal people, we wake up late in 11am and sleep at 2 am in the morning, I don’t know why haha.
Well I really dont have a detailed job. It’s nothing different but a spot where you feel pressure all the time.
I think I have to be the example and try to practice harder. Since we do not have coaching staff, I believe I am taking its place too. It feels good when teammates trust me and follow my footsteps. I think I spend more time on making builds than any other teammates. I also make builds for teammates’ important matches, considering many factors like the opponent’s play style, and maps .I made the build that jjakji used in code S quarter final against Puzzle on “Calm before the storm”, which received good responses from the SC2 community!

Your team member jjakji recently won the Code S championship, which is probably considered the most prestigous title in SC2 at this time, what was the atmosphere in the NSHoseo house like when this happened?


Well there was nothing different,once Jjakji made it to the finals we were sure that jjakji would win and when he did, it was taken naturally. However, when he made to the finals, we were really happy. the semi was the crucial moment, and when he beat Oz, I felt that Terran was OP lol.

In my past interview with your team-mate San, he mentioned that many members of NSHoseo would love to start attending foreign tournaments like MLG if they could get the proper financial support, is this something that you would like to start doing, and how do you think you would fare in a foreign event like MLG? Have you gotten the opportunity to watch events like MLG? What do you think of the foreign fanbase?


As San said, if we do have a sponsor supporting us financially, we want to participate the foreign tournaments. Our manager is preparing it but I don’t know the progress. I do want to participate and watch the MLG in person. Unfortunately I’ve only watched it online. I think I can feel the popularity from the fans in Korea rather than foreign fans due to lack of experience of foreign tournaments. However, the foreign fans seem more passionate on e-sports than korean fans just from watching them cheer at live tournaments. I also want to receive that huge chant from the scene haha. I always appreciate cheers from foreign fans.

Recently mouz.Morrow moved into the NSHoseo to prepare for the next GSL season, is this a sign of things to come with NSHoseo members attending foreign tournaments alongside mouz? If not is there something else in the works for 2012 that would allow NSHoseo members to attend foreign events? How has it been having a non-Korean in your team house?


Morrow is a very smart, kind, and cute player. Morrow came to Hoseo house because San and I know Morrow personally, it doesnt mean that we have some sort of partnerships between with mouz. However, mouz is a great team, I, personally, hope that NSHS and mouz have a partnership and go international.

There have been many changes to the Protoss race lately, how have they affected your game? How do you feel about all of your matchups right now? What is your strongest and what is your weakest? Why?


I like it personally. I do like the warp prism buff and cheaper upgrades, but the fact that protoss can’t have control in the early game against terran makes PvT still hard for me. I’ve always been confident of my PvZ before and after the patch. I’ve had such a hard time with PvP, my weakest matchup. (Both Sage and San didn’t make it to code S because of PvP once or twice if I remember right)

I know that you have a girlfriend, what does she think of you being a pro-gamer? How is it balancing being a full time pro-gamer in Korean team house and having a girlfriend. If you had to choose between being Code S Champion or keeping your girlfriend what would it be? ㅋㅋㅋ


Yes I do have a girlfriend. She thinks that it is quite amazing that I am a pro gamer and she supports me a lot.
Well balancing the time, when I have the tournament I fully concentrate on that so I have less amount of time meeting her. However, I have a lot of free time these days, I wish I could meet her as often as possible but I dont have money. I dont even have money for food. QQ Yes I am poor.
As for choosing between Code S championship and the girlfriend...{lol $@#%$ you JtotheLew}...I think that money and fame I will have another chance later on but not the loved one. Of course I want to win also!

Do you ever go out clubbing in the city? Do you know if many progamers party much? Will you ever get special treatment at a club because you are famous progamer?


Not even once... I've been there...After all, party is not very popular as opposed to North America. We only eat then have a drink. That is it. In Korea, Gamers are not so popular. So besides from Boxer and Yellow, i think no one really notices. QQ

I think that is about it Sage, Thanks so much for your time I really appreciate it. I hope that you can get back into Code A this season and show us many more entertaining games, also I hope you can make it to foreign tourney sometime soon! Do you have anything yuo want to say to your fans before we go?


This is the first time I've had this length of interview and also it was refreshing since it was in English. I wish you can interview me again after I make better results. Thank you for reading. I will be streaming a lot so come and watch, it will help me afford more meals~~!! LOL jk.