EPT
Stephano in Korea
Stephano in Korea (again)
EG.Stephano_RC![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/2h37B7J.jpg)
Source: This Is Game
IMPORTANT NOTE: This interview was conducted before Stephano's Code S match.
You are now nearing almost a month since arriving in Korea. How is the team house life?
I really like that I get to live the team house lifestyle with such great teammates. I am having such a great time because the coaching staff take such good care of me.
What kind of friendships have you developed while living the team house lifestyle?
ThorZaIN and JD are the most fun. ThorZaIN is the most fluent in English within the team and he's a very nice and fun friend. JD is just really funny (laughs).
You have GSL ahead of you. How are the preparations coming along?
Rather than focus on the physical aspect of the game, I focused on image training. The amount of strategies that my opponents can do are limited so I thought a lot about counterattacks that I could do.
You have INnoVation, Hack, and DRG in your group. What kind of scenario are you predicting?
I think I'm going to beat INnoVation by a score of 2-0. And I think I'm going to face DRG in the winners' round since he'll probably defeat Hack. I'm not confident in my ZvZs so it's going to be difficult for me to win in the winners' round. I think I'll probably advance by beating a Terran again in the final round.
There are some new maps this season. Icarus, Akilon Flats, and Neo Planet S were added. How do you feel about these maps?
I think Neo Planet S is okay but I don't really know about the other maps. The paths you can take in Neo Planet S are really clear but the other maps have way too many pathways so I think it's going to be hard to play on those.
Currently, Proleague has been going on. How do you feel about the Proleague format now that you've experienced it?
I have some issues with the entry format. You know who's getting sent out so you can predict on some level, who's going to win. And that takes the fun out of the game. I also don't like how the maps are set. Almost every single tournament uses the format where the losers choose the next map but Proleague is not like that so I don't like it. But I think the strictness of Proleague reflects the history of the game well so I like it. I hope KeSPA will realize what the trend is nowadays and try to follow it in the future.
Compared to how much you stream, you must not practice as much. And yet, why do you continue to make good results?
That's just my style. I don't really play a lot on a regular basis. But, I think about the game constantly on a daily basis. In my opinion, that's enough.
Doesn't streaming get in the way of your practicing and planning strategies?
I stream for the fans. I don't use my strategies on stream so it's not a big deal.
Why are you picky about your gaming gear?
I don't really care about what kind of mouse pad, headset, or other gaming gear I use but I am picky about my mouse.
It seems like you don't really use hotkeys all that much but why is this so?
I think up to hotkey #5 is my limit. 1 is my army, 2 is my infestors and spell casters, 3 is my queens, 4 is my hatcheries and 5 is my diversion/defensive army.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/1JjxJUg.jpg)
You gained a lot of fame and recognition when you showed off your 12 minute 200/200 roach strategy during your first ever big game. A lot of fans are wondering as to whether or not you've developed a new strategy for Code S.
Yes I have. I will show them during the GSL. I hope the fans will watch closely.
Almost every tournament out there will be switching to HotS soon. How do you feel about HotS personally?
Personally, I hate it. What I hate the most is that the players who couldn't make it in WoL get to have a head start for HotS. I don't like the fact that they can start making good results just because they got a head start. I also don't like the speed upgrade for medivacs and I also don't like that you can burrow without needing to go to lair. Labeling idle workers, the outline you see when trying to build buildings, and the fact that workers automatically go to mine as soon as the game starts are also things I disapprove of.
It was revealed that you have no intention of pursuing your pro gaming career for a long time. The reason is known as because you've been accepted to a medical school but most of the rumors out there aren't entirely accurate. Could you please tell us what your current situation is like and what your future plans are?
It's not true that I've been accepted to a medical school. I wanted to transfer to one but I have yet to even start. My family is against me gaming. So I promised my family that I would only do it for two years. I made that promise because I felt that I would want to continue for three years after doing it for two and four years after doing it for three. I don't think I'm going to remain forever in the eSports world. If I do give up my pro gaming career then I would like to study economics. But for now, I'm still a pro gamer so I'm going to keep doing the best that I can possibly do.
What kind of goal do you want to achieve during your career as a pro gamer?
I want to find the answer to life. I feel like I've gotten closer to that answer than before I became a pro gamer.
Anything else you would like to say to your Korean fans?
I like everything about Korea. I think Seoul is prettier than Paris and the people are so awesome and pretty. The sights are amazing and so is the food. I want to thank my Korean fans that are cheering me on. Lastly, I want to request that a lot of people cheer me on for the GSL.
150th Interview Translation blog! http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?topic_id=396444 Would appreciate it if you guys would check it out if you have the time
