Stephano interviewed by "Gaite lyrique"

Stephano, Professional gamer on Starcraft 2.
More than a passion. Starcraft 2 is a competitive sport and a source of earning for Stephano, 19 who evolves in international tournaments on a profesionnal level. We've asked him how he lives his present and how he sees his future.

- Who are you?

I'm Ilyes Satouri and I'm 19. I'm a professional gamer on Starcraft 2. My nickname is "Stephano" and I'm in the Millenium team.

- What is the specificity of StarCraft 2?

This is a computer game very attractive and very appreciated for its graphics - there are many special effects and beautiful images - but also because it is very rewarding personally: you feel extremely strong and powerful when succeeded. It is also one of the few games where you can become a professional gamer, earning money by fighting against the best and offer great games for other players and fans who watch them.

- What is the route that led you to the professionalism?

Except in South Korea where StarCraft 2 has a special status, the steps that punctuate the career of a player are always the same. First, we are introduced to the game, that we practice for fun, then you play more and more and you become good. Some become so good that they stand out by international and foreign teams. It is where the adventure really begins.
There are two types of professional players: those who stay at home and those who travel the world. The first one will be on the Internet, and the second one usually have no more time to play online even if it's where they became famous. They travel all over the world to come together on the biggest competitions, which all teams and all fans are moving because there is a beautiful game and lots of money to earn.

- Large sums? It's been how many dollars?

Maximum for a win, I earn $ 30 000. This is the largest endowment of the tournaments. Generally, gains for first place are valued around $ 15 000.

- So you climbed up the ladder in the game: the game at home for fun than for competition to the international tournaments. How do you see next?
Do you continue to pursue a career in the game or do you want to eventually do something else?

I try to proceed in stages. Last summer, after completing my degree, I had to choose between become professional and from abroad or stay semi-professional and start studying medicine. I knew I had the ability to progress through the game and make money, so this is the first option I chose. The next summer comes and I have the same choice to make: Do I continue or must I stop? I would like to attend university but I wonder if I would be able to resume a normal work as a result as that demanded by medical studies. Maybe I could go to a course in biology. I think about me right now and ask many questions because I also love my job ... and it is very profitable. This little detail is also quite tip the balance.

- Do you still consider yourself as a player or as a worker? You always take as much pleasure to play StarCraft 2 now that it's become your job?

No, I do not take as much pleasure as in th beginning. I started to play to feel relax and to distract myself when I had free time, the game now occupies all of my days because the game has become my job. For cons, I always find fun with the game but both parties that in the events! I like competitions because there is the adrenaline of victory and the reactions of the crowd.

- Will you continue to have fun with other games?

Yes, of course! A player is a player. I have less fun with StarCraft 2 so I play other games: role games and games on my iPhone especially.

- And you, what kind of player are you? We think you're on a "Spike". How do you see yourself in this scene so special?

In the medium in which I grow, professional players are usually pretty geeky, and stuck closed. They are not going to party and prefer to stay in practice. I play to have a little fun during tournaments and spend the money I earn! I am a rather jovial and open minded. I care less because of losing or winning, and I very rarely get angry when I suffered a defeat. Sometimes I smile when I get beat because these games offer a good show. I do not have a grudge against a particular player, and if ever I have, it's not because of a game but because of a personality type.

- And out of that environment, what is the reaction of people when you tell them what you do in life?

I don't try to talk too much about it! The general opinion is still very negative about the professional players. People are not used to this kind of business and they go straight to think I'm wasting my time and I do nothing else in life than being glued to my screen. The cliché that comes immediately to mind is that of the adolescent remains permanently behind the computer and, in fact, will have poor grades in school and therefore misses his goal, his education, his life, etc. Even my mother was absolutely against the fact that I play the game at a semi-professional and professional because she was afraid of this stuff. She tried to stop me but from the time when there were cash flow, she changed her mind And I can also count on the support of my family and my loved ones.

- How would you do if you had to convince someone that he could be wrong about the image he has of a professional players of video games?

I would tell him my story.