Flash's Interview about Dreamhack, retirement wave, and SC2's current predicament
This translated interview is a shortened version of the Inven's interview about Flash.
As always, it is important to note about the things that lost during the two translation processes.
Q: How did you spend your Chuseok (Korean festival)?
Flash: Although it is vocation, I spent my time practicing and only rest at the weekend. Before Dreamhack, I mainly practiced for Dreamhack.
Q: In order to go into Global Finals, you must have good result in Season 3.
Flash: First, I must get to Ro4. Also, I need to perform well in the season finals and achieve a huge comeback. This season’s goal is Ro4 and I will climb up step by step.
Q: Jaedong is very active in the Season Finals. As your old enemy, you must feel something.
Flash: I am happy for Jaedong’s success. That’s also a motivation for me. Both Jaedong and I have a long way to go. So we will work hard and fight to come back to our prime time.
Q: Is participating in both foreign and domestic tournaments difficult for you?
Flash: There is no much difference. Surprisingly, my foreign tournaments’ results are very good, except this Dreamhack. Although my result was not good in this Dreamhack, I will make foreign tournaments my main focus.
Q: What should be improved?
Flash: My strategies are not diverse enough. So I was often specifically countered by my opponents. Terran is a race with limited diversity, and my strategic diversity is even more limited. I have to change this. Many people have pointed out this weakness.
Q: Your old competitors have retired one by one. How do you feel?
Flash: I knew long ago that the older brothers (meaning: the older players) will retire. We sometimes have some drinks, so I know beforehand. I feel very pity. They are supposed to be the hardworking players. However, because of the falling size of the fans and SC2’s current situation, they can’t hang on anymore.
Progamer is a tough profession. The older brothers practiced 12 hours a day. This life is tiring and dull. Everyone is wondering how will things turn out after playing for one more year. And many people in the starcraft scene are constantly saying that the current situation is grim. I have no idea why they keep emphasizing on this sentence constantly.
Players are the ones who know the scene the most, right? When people around you are talking about the negativity all the time, players will feel ashamed. Who doesn’t know that SC2 is facing difficulties? But even so, telling negativity to the hardworking players will only increase their hardship. There are no players who don’t know about the deteriorating situation, but keeping listening to these will certainly make players exhausted and powerless.
Q: Is SC2’s fall regretful to those very active players?
Flash: Certainly you can’t see the future of next year and the years after that. This is the reality. Based on the standpoint of KeSPA, they can develop other programs. But in the standpoint of players, they will think “I have already achieved this kind of results but my salary will still be cut next year.” So some players do not want to work under KeSPA anymore. Innovation’s transfer is certainly not unrelated to this reason. In foreign teams, you can play for tournaments freely.
Q: Do you worry about your future?
Flash: I do not have such concern. I feel like I can do anything, so I don’t feel worried. I will worry when I join the army. I have a lot of things to do. I want to go to school and also do some business.
Q: Many people are starting to play SC2 recently. What’s your advice?
Flash: This game is very easy. Comparing to SC1, multitasking is easier and hotkeys are easier. So utilizing this part, everyone can play well.
Specifically when your opponent all-ins, do not panic. Once you panic, you will lose. I also try to be calm but sometimes I still can’t do it.
Q: Are you satisfied with your current place?
Flash: I have satisfied long ago. I am working hard regardless of where I am. Many people have high hope for me. I don’t know if it is because SC2’s current difficulties, I am very satisfied now if I can achieve good results.
I have played this game for so long after all. It is impossible to not have a sense of mission to this game. If you don’t have it, then it is a lack of responsibility. I have a sense of responsibility of all of my games. Anyway, I need to show good results first.
Q: Have you thought about what you will be like after 10 years?
Flash: I may be a coach, or may be doing things outside esports. I am the person who don’t want to work under people, so my job is probably the type where I can have control.
Nice interview. It really reveals a lot about Flash's hard working mindset and how he was able to achieve so much success in Brood War. I'm hoping he can do the same in SC2!
Players are the ones who know the scene most, right? When people around you are talking about the negativity all the time, players will feel ashamed. Who doesn’t know that SC2 is facing difficulties? But even so, telling negativity to the hardworking players will only increase their hardship. There are no players who don’t know about the deteriorating situation, but keeping listening to these will certainly make players exhausted and powerless.
It's me or is he meaning that all this doom and gloom is indeed self-fullfilling prophecy?
On September 22 2013 16:11 larse wrote: Flash: This game is very easy. Comparing to SC1, multitasking is easier and hotkeys are easier. So utilizing this part, everyone can play well.
Flash: This game is very easy. Comparing to SC1, multitasking is easier and hotkeys are easier. So utilizing this part, everyone can play well.
If it's so easy, why isn't he winning anything? I agree that SC2 is easier than BW but Taeja and Bomber are clearly playing better SC2 than Flash is.
Because SC2 is mechanically easier and other things matter more than pure mechanics (outside of TvZ lol). Bomber's clever pick of builds when he is on fire for example. Or TaeJa's overall greatness.
Flash: This game is very easy. Comparing to SC1, multitasking is easier and hotkeys are easier. So utilizing this part, everyone can play well.
If it's so easy, why isn't he winning anything? I agree that SC2 is easier than BW but Taeja and Bomber are clearly playing better SC2 than Flash is.
Did you read the interview in order? Because he clearly pointed out the reason he's losing games and recognizes what he needs to fix... Of course, stating it is one thing. Being able to do it is another. I think he was simply talking about basic army commands/UI which if you have ever seen BW is an incredibly acceptable comparison regardless of what your opinion on either game is.
I'm glad we got an interview out of Flash though. I'd be really happy to see him and Jaedong in the finals but I'm getting the feeling he's going to have a really tough time making the cut
On September 22 2013 16:11 larse wrote: Flash: This game is very easy. Comparing to SC1, multitasking is easier and hotkeys are easier. So utilizing this part, everyone can play well.
Ice cold, damn.
Yep, that's the point though. They wanted it to be this way.
On September 22 2013 16:11 larse wrote: Flash: This game is very easy. Comparing to SC1, multitasking is easier and hotkeys are easier. So utilizing this part, everyone can play well.
Ice cold, damn.
Yep, that's the point though. They wanted it to be this way.
You mean the translator wanted it to sound that way?
On September 22 2013 16:11 larse wrote: Flash: This game is very easy. Comparing to SC1, multitasking is easier and hotkeys are easier. So utilizing this part, everyone can play well.
Ice cold, damn.
Yep, that's the point though. They wanted it to be this way.
You mean the translator wanted it to sound that way?
Do not read too much into the wording. He means the game is easier than SC1 and that's it.
On September 22 2013 16:11 larse wrote: Flash: This game is very easy. Comparing to SC1, multitasking is easier and hotkeys are easier. So utilizing this part, everyone can play well.
Ice cold, damn.
Not really...did you even read the question that was asked? It's directed at people who just started the game, and it's absolutely true...if other RTS felt absolutely overwhelming when you first started, then SC2's entry barrier will feel a lot lower.
On September 22 2013 16:11 larse wrote: Flash: I am the person who don’t want to work under people, so my job is probably the type where I can have control.
On September 22 2013 16:11 larse wrote: Flash: This game is very easy. Comparing to SC1, multitasking is easier and hotkeys are easier. So utilizing this part, everyone can play well.
Ice cold, damn.
Not really...did you even read the question that was asked? It's directed at people who just started the game, and it's absolutely true...if other RTS felt absolutely overwhelming when you first started, then SC2's entry barrier will feel a lot lower.
Flash: This game is very easy. Comparing to SC1, multitasking is easier and hotkeys are easier. So utilizing this part, everyone can play well.
If it's so easy, why isn't he winning anything? I agree that SC2 is easier than BW but Taeja and Bomber are clearly playing better SC2 than Flash is.
Read the question he was asked: "Many people are starting to play...". i.e. players not trying to be pro, but trying to get better. SC2 is much more forgiving for entry level players in SC2 than BW. The reasons why are pretty obvious.
EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/KXwlFGa.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/rO8EfTh.jpg)
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