[Crosslink] DongRaeGu Fans Q & A Project Completed
Hi fans of TeamLiquid.net,
What better way to celebrate this wonderful site's birthday than with something completely original! Teamliquid.net is such a special place for all of us esports fans, so today, the fans have banded together to make something truly unique happen.
Today I bring to you a TeamLiquid.net exclusive interview with GSL Champion, MLG Champion, Dreamhack Champion, IEM Champion, Korean StarCraft II Superstar and a generally Awesome person, MVP_DongRaeGu. To my knowledge, this is the first time ordinary fans just like you and I, have been able to make contact with and interview a professional Korean StarCraft player. DRG is someone who we greatly admire for his skills, character and passion for the game.
I want to thank DongRaeGu for always being so kind to his fans, for his sincerity and for being a total BAWS for allowing us this interview.
photo by R1CH
Hi DRG, This interview is conducted by your most loyal international fans. We are working hard to promote your image to starcraft fans all over the world. Won't you please spare a moment to answer these questions when you have time.
1. [Q] DRG, you are one of the most popular professional players outside of Korea. How popular are you in Korea? Do you have as many korean fans as foreign fans?
A) I do have several fans who find their way to the studio to cheer me on but overall, my overseas fans definitely outnumber the amount of Korean fans I have.
2. [Q] DRG, could you describe what your typical day is like? Such as, what time do you wake up, how long you practice, do you have dinner with your teammates, etc?
A) If you're asking what I do on a daily basis: I wake up around 1pm and eat lunch till around 2pm. After I've completely woken up, I practice from around 2 - 5. From 5, I usually eat dinner and then have some free time. Then I practice again till around 10pm and then my teammates and I play a game of soccer. Afterwards, my teammates who feel tired will go to bed while the others will just play some games. In my case, I tend to just surf the internet and then go to bed around 4am.
3. [Q] How many siblings do you have and have you taught them how to be gosu at starcraft yet?
A) I have an older brother who is two years older than me. He's tried SC2 before out of curiosity but he's never expressed any wishes to become a gamer like me so I've never really taught him anything ^^.
4. [Q] Growing up, what did you do for fun and when did you first get into gaming or starcraft?
A) Well, I guess you could say that my friends and I would hang out together a lot after school hours were over. We would also go to PC bangs and play games together. I probably found StarCraft when I was in my second grade of elementary school. An older brother at the computer institute that I was attending at that time introduced StarCraft to me and then from then on, I was hooked.
5. [Q] What has been the sources of your motivation and happiness through difficult times?
A) Well, I'm the type of guy to just sleep it off and forget about it the next day if I ever face a difficult time, so I can't really say I do anything special to get through any difficult times. If I just go to sleep, I feel completely refreshed the next day.
6. [Q] How did you meet your girlfriend?
A) hahahahahaha. I think I'll choose the no comment option for this one. My gf is also sensitive to a question like this so I'll just leave it at.... if the timing is right, fate will bring two people together.
7. [Q] Who are you closest to in the teamhouse? Do you guys do anything fun together?
A) I don't necessary consider anyone to be really close to me. I'm older than most of them so I just kind of view them as close younger brothers whom I get along with. As for doing fun things together... hmm... we play soccer together, and sometimes we'll go out late at night to grab a bite to eat, going to karaoke rooms or billiards rooms.. or sometimes we'll go clothes shopping together. That's pretty much how we hang out haha.
8. [Q] Can you tell us a fun story about the things that go on in the teamhouse?
A) Since living in the team house is like living at an educational academy, even though we have fun together all the time, there isn't necessarily a very funny story that I can think of at this time hahaha. I guess you could say we diss each other a lot, make each other laugh, oh and also, sometimes we'll hide in each other's closets and jump out and scare the other person.
9. [Q] Aside from yourself, who do you consider the best player on MVP?
A) Well, to be honest I can't really pick just one player. They're all really skilled you know? For Zergs, I think Monster and Sniper are the best. For Protoss, I think finale and Vampire are the best. And for Terran, I would say KeeN and Noblesse are the best.
10. [Q] When you are taking a break from practice, how do you like to relax? Do you play other games, do you play sports, etc?
A) I've had times where I'll just lie on my bed and kill time that way. Sometimes I watch movies or dramas. Other times, I'll go to a manga room that's close to the team house and read manga there. I do a lot of different stuff haha.
11. [Q] You don't have to answer this if it's too personal, but why did you tweeted this before the MC match last GSL season?
박수호 @MVPDongRaeGu 울고싶네 (I want to cry)
A) I guess I was facing a personal hardship around that time. But I'm sure it wasn't anything my fans need to be concerned about haha.
12. [Q] What is it like making Lee Jung Hoon (MarineKing) your bitch?*
A) How could you ask such a thing! He is an excellent player who always makes me nervous whenever I face him. He's a rival I always look forward to facing since we have such fun games together.
13. [Q] What do you think about your fan club on teamliquid.net?
A) I am really really thankful. I always visit it and take any advice given in there in to consideration. I also thoroughly enjoy the fact that the fan club is always active. I especially appreciate the fact that it's active even when I'm not playing at that time. My fan club is also always in the red so I am very happy about that.** I am so grateful for the side projects that go on from time to time and I also really loved that shirt I received with everyone's names on it. I truly hope you guys don't throw me away in the future and keep cheering me on. I promise to keep playing my hardest for you guys!!
*Joke question, just to see some trash talk, please don't flame us MKP fans! XD*
**What he means is that when you click on the fan clubs section, the most recently bumped fan clubs are in red and the less recent ones are yellow. And he notices that his fan club always has a red folder.
"If you're asking what I do on a daily basis: I wake up around 1pm and eat lunch till around 2pm. After I've completely woken up, I practice from around 2 - 5. From 5, I usually eat dinner and then have some free time. Then I practice again till around 10pm and then my teammates and I play a game of soccer. Afterwards, my teammates who feel tired will go to bed while the others will just play some games. In my case, I tend to just surf the internet and then go to bed around 4am."
On September 23 2012 13:54 Demonhunter04 wrote: "If you're asking what I do on a daily basis: I wake up around 1pm and eat lunch till around 2pm. After I've completely woken up, I practice from around 2 - 5. From 5, I usually eat dinner and then have some free time. Then I practice again till around 10pm and then my teammates and I play a game of soccer. Afterwards, my teammates who feel tired will go to bed while the others will just play some games. In my case, I tend to just surf the internet and then go to bed around 4am."
On September 23 2012 13:54 Demonhunter04 wrote: "If you're asking what I do on a daily basis: I wake up around 1pm and eat lunch till around 2pm. After I've completely woken up, I practice from around 2 - 5. From 5, I usually eat dinner and then have some free time. Then I practice again till around 10pm and then my teammates and I play a game of soccer. Afterwards, my teammates who feel tired will go to bed while the others will just play some games. In my case, I tend to just surf the internet and then go to bed around 4am."
Sick! Awesome job you guys! I like that his schedule is a bit relaxed and I'm sure it varies from day to day so don't take it as if its a concrete schedule :p
On September 23 2012 13:54 Demonhunter04 wrote: "If you're asking what I do on a daily basis: I wake up around 1pm and eat lunch till around 2pm. After I've completely woken up, I practice from around 2 - 5. From 5, I usually eat dinner and then have some free time. Then I practice again till around 10pm and then my teammates and I play a game of soccer. Afterwards, my teammates who feel tired will go to bed while the others will just play some games. In my case, I tend to just surf the internet and then go to bed around 4am."
Dafuq kind of schedule is that?
I wake up/go to sleep at the same time O: It's actually perfect, and well thought, since if you go to sleep at 4 AM and wake up at 1 PM, you end up sleeping 9 hours which is more than enough to be active on the day...although IT'S NOT THE COOLEST/HEALTHIEST thing ever but considering that his job is to play a SC, it's perfect
A) hahahahahaha. I think I'll choose the no comment option for this one. My gf is also sensitive to a question like this so I'll just leave it at.... if the timing is right, fate will bring two people together.
unless it was somewhere she would be ashamed of.......Im so curious now
On September 23 2012 15:07 SuperYo1000 wrote: 6. [Q] How did you meet your girlfriend?
A) hahahahahaha. I think I'll choose the no comment option for this one. My gf is also sensitive to a question like this so I'll just leave it at.... if the timing is right, fate will bring two people together.
unless it was somewhere she would be ashamed of.......Im so curious now
I think it's more he/she doesn't want random nerds on the internet talking about them. It's called a personal life for a reason. Just saying.
Great job guys, and big thanks to DongRaeGu as well. You dudes run a mind-blowing fan club - one deserving of DRG himself. I'll be rooting for him in the OSL and I hope he can blast through Code A and reclaim his Code S spot. I'll always be a fan of DRG.
great interview. I really appreciate the time you put into DRG's fan club and everything about him and I am sure he does too. He is by far my favourite and my brothers favourite player.
Oh wow. I didn't actually expect this to work. DRG is a freaking boss. By the way, did you guys make sure that trash talk question was interpreted as such by DRG?
On September 23 2012 15:07 SuperYo1000 wrote: 6. [Q] How did you meet your girlfriend?
A) hahahahahaha. I think I'll choose the no comment option for this one. My gf is also sensitive to a question like this so I'll just leave it at.... if the timing is right, fate will bring two people together.
unless it was somewhere she would be ashamed of.......Im so curious now
they just keep their personal live privat . is not about shame . is about personal life .
This was a really cool idea, thanks to everyone who put time into making this happen! I litterlly LOL'ed at the MKP question! I wasn't expecting that at all.
Thanks for this! I've been a big fan of DRG ever since I finally got to see his debut in his very first GSTL. To be honest though, it's pretty mindbogling that someone can be at such a high level with that kind of sleep/practice schedule. I mean he doesn't really say exactly how long his dinner/free time break is, but it looks like he only practices about 6 hours a day? That seems very little for someone that is trying to be the best. I have no doubt that the KESPA players are putting in 10 hours a day, which is almost double. I wonder if DRG is the exception or if most of the top SC2 pros only practice about 6 hours a day.
On September 24 2012 11:16 hunts wrote: Thanks for this! I've been a big fan of DRG ever since I finally got to see his debut in his very first GSTL. To be honest though, it's pretty mindbogling that someone can be at such a high level with that kind of sleep/practice schedule. I mean he doesn't really say exactly how long his dinner/free time break is, but it looks like he only practices about 6 hours a day? That seems very little for someone that is trying to be the best. I have no doubt that the KESPA players are putting in 10 hours a day, which is almost double. I wonder if DRG is the exception or if most of the top SC2 pros only practice about 6 hours a day.
You should read FXOunstable's blog on practice regiments. Long hours does not necessarily yield good results. people burn out, stop thinking, stop analyzing...then it becomes as brainless as streaming.
On September 24 2012 11:16 hunts wrote: Thanks for this! I've been a big fan of DRG ever since I finally got to see his debut in his very first GSTL. To be honest though, it's pretty mindbogling that someone can be at such a high level with that kind of sleep/practice schedule. I mean he doesn't really say exactly how long his dinner/free time break is, but it looks like he only practices about 6 hours a day? That seems very little for someone that is trying to be the best. I have no doubt that the KESPA players are putting in 10 hours a day, which is almost double. I wonder if DRG is the exception or if most of the top SC2 pros only practice about 6 hours a day.
You should read FXOunstable's blog on practice regiments. Long hours does not necessarily yield good results. people burn out, stop thinking, stop analyzing...then it becomes as brainless as streaming.
That's true, but it still feels like 6 is just too little, no? Also I understand you would need to break up your practice into smaller sessions with breaks in between to keep from burning out for the day which would cut into possible practice time. I'll find the blog and read it as I'm curious about this. I always figured that even with fatigue about 8-10 hours is where the absolute top players would be.
On September 24 2012 11:16 hunts wrote: Thanks for this! I've been a big fan of DRG ever since I finally got to see his debut in his very first GSTL. To be honest though, it's pretty mindbogling that someone can be at such a high level with that kind of sleep/practice schedule. I mean he doesn't really say exactly how long his dinner/free time break is, but it looks like he only practices about 6 hours a day? That seems very little for someone that is trying to be the best. I have no doubt that the KESPA players are putting in 10 hours a day, which is almost double. I wonder if DRG is the exception or if most of the top SC2 pros only practice about 6 hours a day.
You should read FXOunstable's blog on practice regiments. Long hours does not necessarily yield good results. people burn out, stop thinking, stop analyzing...then it becomes as brainless as streaming.
That's true, but it still feels like 6 is just too little, no? Also I understand you would need to break up your practice into smaller sessions with breaks in between to keep from burning out for the day which would cut into possible practice time. I'll find the blog and read it as I'm curious about this. I always figured that even with fatigue about 8-10 hours is where the absolute top players would be.
I actually agree. But let's give him the benefit of the doubt. He's won so many tournaments already, must be doing something right...
On September 24 2012 11:16 hunts wrote: Thanks for this! I've been a big fan of DRG ever since I finally got to see his debut in his very first GSTL. To be honest though, it's pretty mindbogling that someone can be at such a high level with that kind of sleep/practice schedule. I mean he doesn't really say exactly how long his dinner/free time break is, but it looks like he only practices about 6 hours a day? That seems very little for someone that is trying to be the best. I have no doubt that the KESPA players are putting in 10 hours a day, which is almost double. I wonder if DRG is the exception or if most of the top SC2 pros only practice about 6 hours a day.
Im just guessing, but I think if a player has a match coming up they'll probably play closer to 10 hours, but if they arent doing anything it might decrease to the minimum.
"Afterwards, my teammates who feel tired will go to bed while the others will just play some games. In my case, I tend to just surf the internet and then go to bed around 4am." Again guessing, but I doubt he "surfs the internet" for 5 hours, im sure he is playing more games like some of his teammates at this time.
DRG once said he doesn't need much practice right after he won Code S
Was it difficult to get enough practice going to MLG 2012 Winter Arena?
I’m not a player who needs a lot of practice. Thinking up builds and strategies in my head is more important and I had time to do that on the plane so it was not a problem.
Remember that BW was much more mechanically demanding, thus practicing 12 hours a day might be the norm. But SC2 is more demanding on tactics, and mindgames...
I guess he uses a lot of his free time to think up strategies on how to crush nerds....
Was it difficult to get enough practice going to MLG 2012 Winter Arena?
I’m not a player who needs a lot of practice. Thinking up builds and strategies in my head is more important and I had time to do that on the plane so it was not a problem.
Remember that BW was much more mechanically demanding, thus practicing 12 hours a day might be the norm. But SC2 is more demanding on tactics, and mindgames...
I guess he uses a lot of his free time to think up strategies on how to crush nerds....
Very important to keep that in mind.... DRG is top-tier.
In SC2, practice time doesn't equate nearly as much to raw skill, as it did in Brood War. In BW, strategy was much more easily made irrelevant by mechanical perfection.
I want to hear more from DRG now... so come on, Neo.
I wonder if he has his sleeping schedule that way to have less of an impact on jet lag, or if his just one of those persons who have a fucked up sleeping schedule.