EPT
fOrGG” Ji Soo the “Conquerer” has returned to Starcraft 2 as a progamer. On September 30, 2011, team oGs has announced that the MSL Champion Pro-gamer, fOrGG has joined the team. This was 9 months after fOrGG announced that he is retired from pro-gaming.
After returning from the retirement, fOrGG was able to confidently break through the Sony Ericson GSL Season 7 Code A Qualifier and illustrate his greatness as a player. He beat
Sage(NSHoseo) 2:0 and also beat the Super Tournament Winner, Polt (TSL), 2:0 and was continuing his dominance. Now fOrGG just has to beat 
July (Startale), “the God of War,” in the Round 3 to guarantee his spot at the Code S. fOrGG who has been practicing legitimately for 2 months after returning to Starcraft 2, illustrated his confidence in himself: “If I manage to play like the way I used to before, I think I have a great potential in winning.” Furthermore he stated “Since I am now in Starcraft 2, I might as well do even better and win more than I did in Starcraft 1.”
![[image loading]](http://file.thisisgame.com/board/files/0/img/20111202103952_049db7bd.jpg)
It has been two months since you returned as a StarCraft 2 Pro-gamer.
Before I started practicing for the tournament, I had no clue what to do. Fortunately, because I am an experienced pro-gamer from StarCraft 1, I was able to concentrate well on my practice and learn quickly. Before I started practicing, I actually had no idea on what to do against Sage, but after some period of practice, I felt that my games were beginning to find their missing pieces. Also I have improved even more after preparing myself for the match against Polt.
Your match against Sage was quite a match.
The game flowed the way I wanted it to. In the first game, I knew that a successful 2 Barrack rush will create a huge mental impact on my opponent. Fortunately, such was the case. I was able to play comfortably after the first game.
As a previous MSL Champion, you are getting a lot of attention. Is that burdensome?
Of course, but I am not nervous because of that. I was able to prepare my self comfortably for my match against Sage.
What convinced you to move over to StarCraft 2 after retiring from StarCraft 1?
I was planning on going to the mandatory military service after retiring from the pro-gaming, but due to my braces, I was unable to enlist. After that, I got interested in Starcraft 2 and saw the great potential of Starcraft 2 from watching the GSL. I did not want people to think that I retired suddenly from Starcraft 1 just to play Starcraft 2, therefore I decided to practice hard and prove myself as a player. I really wanted to qualify for Starcraft 2 as quickly as possible, but I was not confident that I will qualify. Therefore I pondered for a really long time.
Before getting into a legit practice with StarCraft 2, you were highly ranked in the ladder.
Every time I got confident in playing Terran on the ladder, the race got nerfed and I lost my confidence. When I was thinking hard about returning to Starcraft 2, Kim “
Gon” Seong Gon contacted me and tried to convince me to play Starcraft 2 professionally. After a while, I was finally convinced and decided to join oGs. Gon told me that the best way to improve was to practice inside the teamhouse, and such was the case. After Gon convinced me to join oGs, he left to enlist in the mandatory military service. I feel like I was tricked… hahaWhat’s the benefit of being in oGs?
The team atmosphere is very comfortable to me. When I was in Starcraft 1, my life centered around practice all the time with a tight practice schedule. But practicing in oGs team is definitely more relaxing. I guess I feel like being a human again?
A lot of people predict that top players from Starcraft 1 will do well in Starcraft 2. What do you think about?
Top players from Starcraft 1 have great potential to do well in Starcraft 2. Players who have been a pro-gamer in Starcraft 1 definitely has a different mindset. A lot of top Starcraft 1 players have great experiences with big matches, therefore they have great mind control and I think they’ll be able to learn Starcraft 2 quickly.
You are currently living with a foreign player, Jonathan “
Jinro” Walsh, how is that?There’s nothing different between living with him and living with a Korean player. Also Jinro is very good at understanding Korean, therefore we never have a communication issue.
Is there a particular reason why you chose to play Terran in Starcraft 2?
I tried out Protoss, but in the end I decided to play Terran. I played Terran in Starcraft 1, therefore I believe I am most familiar with that race.
What’s the difference between the Terran from Starcraft 1 and Starcraft 2?
They’re very different. In Starcraft 2, you have to use the bionic unit very well and it was much more complicated. Therefore I was timid to play with Terran at first, but now I am confident in playing the race.
![[image loading]](http://file.thisisgame.com/board/files/0/img/20111202104039_c7dce522.jpg)
What’s the overall difference between the two games?
Starcraft 1 tends to have a lot of different types of diversion plays one can do. Such is not the case with Starcraft 2. I feel that Starcraft 2 is more battle based. Therefore if one loses in a big battle, it’s really hard to recover.
In Starcraft 1, a lot of people called you the “Time Attacker,” but you’re not using the timing attack as much as you used to.
I have only played legitimately for 2 months, therefore I do not fully understand the game yet. I think I’ll be able to return to my playing style from Starcraft 1 once I get some experience.
If you compare between the fOrGG when he was the MSL Champion and fOrGG now?
Back when I won the MSL, my life completely revolved around gaming. Nowadays, I have been thinking about other things outside of gaming. Therefore I am trying to get my head straight and concentrate back on gaming. I have a high expectation of my self and I am afraid that such expectation will back fire on me.
When do you think you’ll be able to reach the result you want?
I am still learning a lot while practicing the game. At this pace, I think I can continue on to the Code S and win it. For some reason, I am very confident with myself right now.
In your opinion, who’s the best Starcraft 2 player right now?
MVP (IM), NesTea(IM), MC (oGs), Leenock (FXO), and JookTo (oGs). Something along that line? I am actually learning a lot from watching MVP’s vod replays. Once a pro-gamer is on fire, they’re usually invincible and I feel that such is the case with MVP. MVP can probably win even without practicing with the way he’s been playing. Also, I respect and am jealous of Nestea who have won 3 times already and have been maintaining his status as a top player for a while despite his old age compared to all the other pro-gamers. Starcraft 2, there are a lot of tournaments with a lot of prize money. You must be interested in those?
Since I am now in Starcraft 2, of course one of my main goal is to make a lot of money. I want to make more money than I did in Starcraft 1.
Do you have a desire to go to the foreign tournaments?
I saw the finals between
MVP (IM) and MMA (SlayerS) and whoa. The fans there are ridiculously awesome! I would love to play in front of those fans. It’s been a long time since I played in front of a big audience and I would love to have that feeling again. You were quite popular in Starcraft 1
I actually lost a lot of fans since I retired from Starcraft 1. I guess I did not take care of them enough. Once I returned as a pro-gamer with Starcraft 2, all of my fans have evaporated. Haha. I’m sure they’re all doing well, but the Conqueror has returned and please support me. I was hoping that I will at least have some fans when debuting… but NONE came and I was shocked… haha
Unfortunately I was unable to take care of my fans because of my sudden decision of retiring from pro-gaming. I am very sorry and now that I am back, please support me again!
Are there any other retired pro-gamers from Starcraft 1 that are thinking of playing Starcraft 2?
I think
HiyA (Hwaseung OZ) was thinking about playing Starcraft 2 professionally. But recently, I heard that he’s going to the mandatory military service. I’m not sure about the rest of the players.Hwaseung OZ, the team you used to be in has been dispatched.
Right before the team was dispatched, I was actually over at the Hwaseung team house to hang out. When I was there, there were a lot of trainees and the atmosphere seemed happy. But it feels really weird to realize that OZ is now gone. I was very sad when Hwaseung OZ was gone.
What’s your future goal?
My current plan is to make it to Code S. GSL is the only tournament I am participating in right now therefore I will put all of my effort into the GSL.
When do you think you will be able to win once again?
If I get my game back, I think I’ll be able to even win the first season of 2012. When I was on a role in Starcraft 1, I did not even have to practice much and new builds will just appear in my head! But now, because I do not have a lot of experiences with this game, I have to study really hard in order to be able to plan a strategy. I think I’ll be able to get better in planning strategies once I practice more. Hopefully I will win by then.
![[image loading]](http://file.thisisgame.com/board/files/0/img/20111202104008_3ce2689f.jpg)
Original Article
Original Article posted on 12/02/2011
Thanks for reading!
Translated by Kevin
Original Article by Mineral
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