INnoVation revealed on Ryung's stream that he will be beginning his mandatory military service in the near future, with the World Team League playoffs likely to be his final competitive event. According to INnoVation, he had received barely a month's notice on his exact enlistment date.
INnoVation said he was not considering a return to StarCraft II after completing his eighteen-month service, citing his age.
Too bad, it'll be weird not having him around, but it did seem like his motivation had diminished a lot. Hope he can go out with a bang in WTL at least.
Yea I mean, this was inevitable, a matter of when and not if. Not surprised though, Innovation has been way out of form for a little while now which means I'm sure he knew (despite the short notice) that mandatory enlistment was an any day thing and since of his age probably time to start moving on.
I'm okay with it, Innovation was so dominant for so long and gave us all so many amazing series, good luck to you in this next phase of life sir.
That's a name I'll dearly miss for sure, such a stable top contender for such a long time. Hope we see one last great Machine performance in the playoffs.
Also going to be interesting what KaiZi Gaming will/can do to replace him, as they'll be a player short come next season of WTL.
I thought Inno has another year before the mandatory time, but I guess its the right time for him. Will truly miss the machine himself and the amazing run in WESG 2019. Its also time for the new 4 Horsemen of Terran nomination.
Although this actually hits me less than some other military departures, it hasn’t felt for a while now that Inno is motivated enough to play at the level he’s shown at the past.
I’ll miss him and his smirk for sure, one of my favourite players but the prospect of The Machine continuing on his current trajectory into being just another good Terran is more painful to my sensibilities.
The best there ever was leave us. I wish him the best in the future, he clearly wasn't quite dedicated to SC2 in the last few years, but hopefully he can pop in from time to time after his military to say hello.
He was consider GOAT just until last year when Maru finally surpassed him (Inno even won the GOAT contest on TL if you remember). He was the history of SC2. It's sad but inevitable.
For nearly ten years, Lee Shin Hyung has been the absolute standard-bearer for greatness. If you wanted to be considered elite, you had to measure up to him specifically. Often even if you weren't Terran. It will feel surreal to see Korean and international competition take place without his name. There is no guarantee that he'll keep his position of not coming back after a year and a half away from the game, but he has the right to make his choice as to where he wants to go with his post-service life.
no innovation.. may favourite terran even hes not winning that much last years. another great terran gone for two years . hope you come back as strong and cool as we know you, take care inno <3
INnoVation said he was not considering a return to StarCraft II after completing his eighteen-month service, citing his age.
Oof
Thanks for the memories and the absolutely incredible games. What a long and storied career this machine has had
Allegedly Inno kinda hates the game. Just played because he was naturally good at it.
He used to play an insane amount during his early days if I remember the rumors him right, definitely cruised on the skills he acquired for years at the end though.
Innovation was an incredible player. I remember when he started to win tournaments, it was even close. He was a robot, in the sense that he did everything perfect and left me wondering how someone could play so perfectly.
On July 11 2021 03:06 RandomPlayer wrote: no one leaves SC2 forever. he will soon find out he's not qualified to do anything else and will come back.
Considering the army will release him roughly after the Blizzard's deal with ESL ends, he may return to BW. It won't be unheard of - e.g. Rain, Soulkey, ForGG. If he dislikes the game... In the end he may already know Blizz won't make another deal, or expects there won't be any other deal and he thinks there's nothing to return to.
Certain players just hit another level, and no matter where there career goes or how long it's been since they've won a big tournament, you know they are a player to be feared in the bracket and that they can bring the heat. And you never forget the time that they seemed absolutely unstoppable. Innovation is in a class of player where only an elite handful have managed to cement themselves and he will be missed.
the comments when old legends retire always remind me that recency bias remains strong among sc2 fans. a lot of these older guys played at a time when sc2 had a lot more money and was a lot more competitive. just cause he's not world dominant now does not take away from the fact that he dominated in a harder era, with a deeper top tier talent pool, team houses, and around the clock coaching. it's a shame these people never stream, i'd love to watch a maru/inno pov stream.
Shame it's happening so soon for him. But at least he'll get it over with sooner than later. Bummed he won't be returning to play SC2 after service either.
On July 09 2021 16:05 RPR_Tempest wrote: A contender for GOAT. Will be missed and the scene will never be quite the same.
If he had continued the last 2-3 years how he did in the previous 4-5 then sure, but I think he is out of the discussion now.
Because of recency bias? Rogue has been a championship contender for a much shorter timespan and most people think he's a contender. I still pick Maru over Inno but I don't think there's a large gap and I don't think it's unreasonable to call Inno the Goat when you look at his achievements.
On July 09 2021 16:05 RPR_Tempest wrote: A contender for GOAT. Will be missed and the scene will never be quite the same.
If he had continued the last 2-3 years how he did in the previous 4-5 then sure, but I think he is out of the discussion now.
Because of recency bias? Rogue has been a championship contender for a much shorter timespan and most people think he's a contender. I still pick Maru over Inno but I don't think there's a large gap and I don't think it's unreasonable to call Inno the Goat when you look at his achievements.
Yeah, there’s nobody in the scene at this stage who has come close to keeping their top shape for the majority of SC2’s lifespan, so it is very much trying to cast your mind back to different eras.
Inno is one of those players who was bloody terrifying to behold and one of very, very few who IMO had a period as the outright best player in the world.
Regardless of what was won, and he also won bloody plenty. I can’t think of many, Mvp had a period where yes, he wasn’t winning everything but he just was the best SC2 player and shaping how Terran was played, with his combo of being mechanically ahead of the field and no dummy strategically either.
Perhaps others will disagree but that first period of Inno hitting his stride, he was just the best player in the world, and that’s definitely got to count for something in GOAT discussions. Especially when, generally these things are measured more in cumulated achievement over many years.
Bear in mind many of us had been watching SC2 for a while, the game was pretty fleshed out and I just vividly recall a ‘what is this? This guy is a fucking monster’ and being blown away by Inno once he got rolling.
Maru has probably had that mantle at some point, I think Serral during his monster year and a bit, Life at his peak too.
On July 09 2021 16:05 RPR_Tempest wrote: A contender for GOAT. Will be missed and the scene will never be quite the same.
If he had continued the last 2-3 years how he did in the previous 4-5 then sure, but I think he is out of the discussion now.
Because of recency bias? Rogue has been a championship contender for a much shorter timespan and most people think he's a contender. I still pick Maru over Inno but I don't think there's a large gap and I don't think it's unreasonable to call Inno the Goat when you look at his achievements.
I wouldn't say it's a recency bias, Rogue won huge accolades, that's why.
Bittersweet to see INnoVation go as he was in his prime from 2012-2017 or so. A four-time GSL champion, one of the four Horsemen of Terran, and arguably a top-10 greatest SC2 player of all time, he has left his mark and legacy on the scene. Wish him well in military and for all future endeavors.
P.S. it’d be nice if there was a running thread of retired SC2 pros and “where are they now,” but understand they become private citizens at that point.
Innovation is one of the few terrans I can tolerate and enjoy...actually definetly my most favorite terran of all time. Not winning a world championship may be a dent in his carrier, but I guess he really is one of the greatest player of all time. Will miss him dearly
To each their own. Most of my SC2 progaming viewing was during the Wings of Liberty era, so I'm skewed toward Mvp, NesTea, MC, MarineKing being the first four of seven (not in order) spots. (and yes, I know I wrote "all time" in my original post). My SC2 viewing is from 2010-2012 and 2019 to now.
Add in recently the likes of Maru, Stats, Zest, Serral, maybe Dark, maybe ByuN. That's already eight-nine top players, so INno is in my top 10 of all-time, but not top five.
Sadly I just wasn't there to witness INnoVation winning four GSL titles, but I'm sure he makes the case for top 3, definitely that if we go according to prize money earned.
On July 14 2021 04:43 tommey.liang wrote: To each their own. Most of my SC2 progaming viewing was during the Wings of Liberty era, so I'm skewed toward Mvp, NesTea, MC, MarineKing being the first four of seven (not in order) spots. (and yes, I know I wrote "all time" in my original post). My SC2 viewing is from 2010-2012 and 2019 to now.
Add in recently the likes of Maru, Stats, Zest, Serral, maybe Dark, maybe ByuN. That's already eight-nine top players, so INno is in my top 10 of all-time, but not top five.
Sadly I just wasn't there to witness INnoVation winning four GSL titles, but I'm sure he makes the case for top 3, definitely that if we go according to prize money earned.
Also, Rogue not in top 10 is really questionable. That guy won tone of accolades and completed resume (=grand slam records) which others might not achieve in their life, even to extend of rewriting the history being the only GOAT of offline BO7 series.
On July 14 2021 04:43 tommey.liang wrote: To each their own. Most of my SC2 progaming viewing was during the Wings of Liberty era, so I'm skewed toward Mvp, NesTea, MC, MarineKing being the first four of seven (not in order) spots. (and yes, I know I wrote "all time" in my original post). My SC2 viewing is from 2010-2012 and 2019 to now.
Add in recently the likes of Maru, Stats, Zest, Serral, maybe Dark, maybe ByuN. That's already eight-nine top players, so INno is in my top 10 of all-time, but not top five.
Sadly I just wasn't there to witness INnoVation winning four GSL titles, but I'm sure he makes the case for top 3, definitely that if we go according to prize money earned.
Also, Rogue not in top 10 is really questionable. That guy won tone of accolades and completed resume (=grand slam records) which others might not achieve in their life, even to extend of rewriting the history being the only GOAT of offline BO7 series.
Oh yeah for sure. I do not disagree with you there. Reminder: There are only so many pros you can remember to include on a post. I see in your signature you are a Rogue and Maru fanboy, which is understandable as both are commendable, respectable, interstellar players. Their achievements are out of this world.
I think we need to be cognizant that this is an online forum for SC2 discussion at the end of the day and different perspectives and opinions of players are expected. Nitpicking what one poster said such as "Wow you have him in top 10, but not in top 5? Shame on you" is pretty condescending and discourages new users from posting. If I'm being too serious, I think what others are thinking of my thinking is too serious. (lol)
Now if there was a lesser-known or lesser player included in the top 10, that deserves more alarm. Won't name any to not belittle anyone.
On July 14 2021 04:43 tommey.liang wrote: To each their own. Most of my SC2 progaming viewing was during the Wings of Liberty era, so I'm skewed toward Mvp, NesTea, MC, MarineKing being the first four of seven (not in order) spots. (and yes, I know I wrote "all time" in my original post). My SC2 viewing is from 2010-2012 and 2019 to now.
Add in recently the likes of Maru, Stats, Zest, Serral, maybe Dark, maybe ByuN. That's already eight-nine top players, so INno is in my top 10 of all-time, but not top five.
Sadly I just wasn't there to witness INnoVation winning four GSL titles, but I'm sure he makes the case for top 3, definitely that if we go according to prize money earned.
Also, Rogue not in top 10 is really questionable. That guy won tone of accolades and completed resume (=grand slam records) which others might not achieve in their life, even to extend of rewriting the history being the only GOAT of offline BO7 series.
Oh yeah for sure. I do not disagree with you there. Reminder: There are only so many pros you can remember to include on a post. I see in your signature you are a Rogue and Maru fanboy, which is understandable as both are commendable, respectable, interstellar players. Their achievements are out of this world.
I think we need to be cognizant that this is an online forum for SC2 discussion at the end of the day and different perspectives and opinions of players are expected. Nitpicking what one poster said such as "Wow you have him in top 10, but not in top 5? Shame on you" is pretty condescending and discourages new users from posting. If I'm being too serious, I think what others are thinking of my thinking is too serious. (lol)
Now if there was a lesser-known or lesser player included in the top 10, that deserves more alarm. Won't name any to not belittle anyone.
+1 for another post for me, I suppose.
Sure people jumped on you a bit much for that. It is an Innovation military/retirement thread so, while understandable given you missed his best years, probably not the wisest to come in and say a guy most have in top 3-GOAT is ‘arguably top 10’.
Would be like me saying ‘hey I haven’t watched tennis for 20 years but this Roger Federer guy is arguably in the top 10’ in a thread full of Federer fans
Anyway do stick around, we’re a nice bunch mostly!
On July 14 2021 04:43 tommey.liang wrote: To each their own. Most of my SC2 progaming viewing was during the Wings of Liberty era, so I'm skewed toward Mvp, NesTea, MC, MarineKing being the first four of seven (not in order) spots. (and yes, I know I wrote "all time" in my original post). My SC2 viewing is from 2010-2012 and 2019 to now.
Add in recently the likes of Maru, Stats, Zest, Serral, maybe Dark, maybe ByuN. That's already eight-nine top players, so INno is in my top 10 of all-time, but not top five.
Sadly I just wasn't there to witness INnoVation winning four GSL titles, but I'm sure he makes the case for top 3, definitely that if we go according to prize money earned.
Let's make it easy for you. Innovation basically reached Mvp's accolades and has more ,Maru overtook him so fast Mvp saw just blur Rogue won multiple world championship and some code S titles.
In the lamen terms - Inno, Maru and Rogue won more than Mvp. If there's Mvp on the list there has to be these three. Unless you're making the list of Koreans with a German nickname, Jürgen is the only one?
On July 14 2021 04:43 tommey.liang wrote: To each their own. Most of my SC2 progaming viewing was during the Wings of Liberty era, so I'm skewed toward Mvp, NesTea, MC, MarineKing being the first four of seven (not in order) spots. (and yes, I know I wrote "all time" in my original post). My SC2 viewing is from 2010-2012 and 2019 to now.
Add in recently the likes of Maru, Stats, Zest, Serral, maybe Dark, maybe ByuN. That's already eight-nine top players, so INno is in my top 10 of all-time, but not top five.
Sadly I just wasn't there to witness INnoVation winning four GSL titles, but I'm sure he makes the case for top 3, definitely that if we go according to prize money earned.
Let's make it easy for you. Innovation basically reached Mvp's accolades and has more ,Maru overtook him so fast Mvp saw just blur Rogue won multiple world championship and some code S titles.
In the lamen terms - Inno, Maru and Rogue won more than Mvp. If there's Mvp on the list there has to be these three. Unless you're making the list of Koreans with a German nickname, Jürgen is the only one?
Thank you. That is great.
I didn't realize my putting "arguably top-10 SC2 player of all-time in INno" in the moment of my post would stir up such controversy. It seems as though Tommey Liang is the focus of this thread in the past seven+ posts, rather than INnoVation aka Lee Shin-hyung.
Are we focused on myself, a person who hasn't even played since 2011, nitpicking the order of the greatest players leaving for military on this thread, or expressing/celebrating bittersweet feelings for one of the all-time greats retiring? Does it matter what Tommey's order is???
I hope we can put the *spotlight* back onto INnoVation aka LSH. No need to inflate my importance/perspective anymore.
If there's one thing to get a discussion going (whether that is eSports or conventional sports), it's to start a "greatest of all time discussion" haha
And in SC2, it's nice that we don't have a clear consensus GOAT, which spurs some discussions. In Brood War, I think the Flash has ended the discussion long ago on who is the GOAT BW player
To think that INnoVation brought his rather successful, late-KesPa Brood War career to what is arguably the most consistently high level SC2 career of all time is absolutely incredible. He is the macro Terran that "just made more units". These retirements are always sad but on the other hand maybe it's overall for the best: the guy's got nothing left to prove.
Good luck in the military and thanks for being a staple of the StarCraft community.
I still remember to be copying the build orders following the tip of the casters to learn from a person like innovation. Hoping to store the rememberings from the moments this person gave to us with his hardship and commitment.
Hope this person can continue inspiring and guiding peoples everywhere he goes, like a mother who decorates the entire book from a children so she can eager to go study with his book again.
Sorry to bump this thread, but does anyone know how Innovation is doing?
We are nearing a year and a half since he left for the military, does anyone have any information if he's playing any SC2 or brood war and plans to return?
On October 18 2022 22:04 Comedy wrote: Sorry to bump this thread, but does anyone know how Innovation is doing?
We are nearing a year and a half since he left for the military, does anyone have any information if he's playing any SC2 or brood war and plans to return?
I really miss Bogus.
Not sure how he's doing, but I think the consensus was that he would not be returning to SC2.
On October 18 2022 22:04 Comedy wrote: Sorry to bump this thread, but does anyone know how Innovation is doing?
We are nearing a year and a half since he left for the military, does anyone have any information if he's playing any SC2 or brood war and plans to return?
I really miss Bogus.
I heard he might join T1 LOL as coach. And Trap said he would not come back after military.
On October 18 2022 22:04 Comedy wrote: Sorry to bump this thread, but does anyone know how Innovation is doing?
We are nearing a year and a half since he left for the military, does anyone have any information if he's playing any SC2 or brood war and plans to return?
I really miss Bogus.
I heard he might join T1 LOL as coach. And Trap said he would not come back after military.
Is that true? But, many ex Sc players claimed before that they won't return. Ultimately, they returned afterwards.
On October 18 2022 22:04 Comedy wrote: Sorry to bump this thread, but does anyone know how Innovation is doing?
We are nearing a year and a half since he left for the military, does anyone have any information if he's playing any SC2 or brood war and plans to return?
I really miss Bogus.
I heard he might join T1 LOL as coach. And Trap said he would not come back after military.
His younger brother is their AD carry, so it doesn't seem too unusual, but I sure bet that'd be an awkward dynamic!
On October 18 2022 22:04 Comedy wrote: Sorry to bump this thread, but does anyone know how Innovation is doing?
We are nearing a year and a half since he left for the military, does anyone have any information if he's playing any SC2 or brood war and plans to return?
I really miss Bogus.
I heard he might join T1 LOL as coach. And Trap said he would not come back after military.
His younger brother is their AD carry, so it doesn't seem too unusual, but I sure bet that'd be an awkward dynamic!
"lil bro your apm sucks. have you seen my parade pushes?"