EPT![[image loading]](http://us.media3.battle.net/cms/blog_header/IK1UAXHLJA6W1340656644021.jpg)
I got a chance to sit down and interview TBLS (Bisu, Stork, Jaedong, Flash) at MLG Anaheim for Blizzard eSports, in hands-down the most exciting and humbling moment of my eSports career. I asked them to speak on their transition to StarCraft II, what's been most difficult for them, why KeSPA players percieve Protoss to be so strong, if they'd be ready for the OS2L in July, and more. And yes, there is a Korea and America comparison question in there, but to be fair I asked without knowing Slasher did. And it's the last question. And Bisu gives an awesome, unique answer. : )
What were your initial impressions of StarCraft II?
Jaedong: I think StarCraft II is very similar to Brood War except for the UI. StarCraft II is really fun so I wish to continue to play it. Although I was a Brood War pro-gamer when StarCraft II was launched, I had good feelings about it and really wanted to play the game because I thought this game would be loved globally.
Flash: Honestly, I didn’t like StarCraft II at first because I have been doing very well with Brood War, and I thought that Brood War would continue to be more popular. However, StarCraft II became a global trend and I found it to actually be really fun, so I decided to practice StarCraft II to become a super-star.
Bisu: Hello, I am Taek Young Kim! As a pro-gamer, not as a gamer, I felt a little bit anxious at first because I worried I would lose my job. As time went on, I quickly began to think “Someday I will play StarCraft II,” as I watched the growing popularity of the game. I was sad at first because I lost a lot, but now I’m enjoying the game as I feel my skill grow. I wish to reach a Grand Final at a global competition for passionate global fans.
When you first played StarCraft II, how did your games go?
Jaedong: It was really difficult to play StarCraft II in my first game because I was used to playing Brood War.
Flash: My first StarCraft II game was almost a year after the game was released. I had arm surgery and rehabilitated with athletes in the mountains at that time, then suddenly I felt like playing StarCraft II, so I played alone secretly. Nothing but losses filled my game history, but I kept playing so I could find common ground between Brood War and StarCraft II.
Bisu: I have trouble playing StarCraft II because so many protoss units have been changed. I knew I could change Hotkeys but I didn’t, in order to get used to the new game.
Stork: About two years ago, when StarCraft II launched, StarCraft II was the only game that was allowed to be played in my team house besides Brood War, so we played StarCraft II during break time. I adapted soon because not only were units like the zealot similar, but the overall trend of the game resembled Brood War. Although two Brood War pro-gamers in my team house rapidly turned into StarCraft II pros, I believed that I could catch up with them soon so I remained in the team house.
Many players in the KeSPA Proleague have claimed Protoss is especially strong, and Protoss players seem to be having the most success in their transition. What causes this, would you say?
Jaedong: Strong? Is protoss strong? I’m not sure about that. I don’t know whether protoss is really strong and I think balance always changes as time passes.
Flash: The reason protoss is so strong is… oh, honestly, I have no idea. I don’t think I have enough skill to judge the balance. However I can say StarCraft II protoss has advantages for new players, like Warp Gates.
Bisu: I think protoss is a race which everybody can play well at first. The protoss win rate is quite a bit higher than other races among us because our skill is not that high yet. However, protoss doesn’t seem to have that many advantages for all high-level matches that I watched. I believe protoss strength is based on a lot of studies and practices that protoss players have done.
Stork: On my team (Samsung Electronic Khan), I have seen protoss players’ skill grow quicker than other races when we started to play the game. Compared to Brood War, I think Brood War and StarCraft II protoss have many things in common and protoss is the most convenient race to control and needs the least consideration. So I think it makes protoss stronger at low levels, but the strongest race would be zerg as players’ skills grow.
Jaedong: I think StarCraft II is very similar to Brood War except for the UI. StarCraft II is really fun so I wish to continue to play it. Although I was a Brood War pro-gamer when StarCraft II was launched, I had good feelings about it and really wanted to play the game because I thought this game would be loved globally.
Flash: Honestly, I didn’t like StarCraft II at first because I have been doing very well with Brood War, and I thought that Brood War would continue to be more popular. However, StarCraft II became a global trend and I found it to actually be really fun, so I decided to practice StarCraft II to become a super-star.
Bisu: Hello, I am Taek Young Kim! As a pro-gamer, not as a gamer, I felt a little bit anxious at first because I worried I would lose my job. As time went on, I quickly began to think “Someday I will play StarCraft II,” as I watched the growing popularity of the game. I was sad at first because I lost a lot, but now I’m enjoying the game as I feel my skill grow. I wish to reach a Grand Final at a global competition for passionate global fans.
When you first played StarCraft II, how did your games go?
Jaedong: It was really difficult to play StarCraft II in my first game because I was used to playing Brood War.
Flash: My first StarCraft II game was almost a year after the game was released. I had arm surgery and rehabilitated with athletes in the mountains at that time, then suddenly I felt like playing StarCraft II, so I played alone secretly. Nothing but losses filled my game history, but I kept playing so I could find common ground between Brood War and StarCraft II.
Bisu: I have trouble playing StarCraft II because so many protoss units have been changed. I knew I could change Hotkeys but I didn’t, in order to get used to the new game.
Stork: About two years ago, when StarCraft II launched, StarCraft II was the only game that was allowed to be played in my team house besides Brood War, so we played StarCraft II during break time. I adapted soon because not only were units like the zealot similar, but the overall trend of the game resembled Brood War. Although two Brood War pro-gamers in my team house rapidly turned into StarCraft II pros, I believed that I could catch up with them soon so I remained in the team house.
Many players in the KeSPA Proleague have claimed Protoss is especially strong, and Protoss players seem to be having the most success in their transition. What causes this, would you say?
Jaedong: Strong? Is protoss strong? I’m not sure about that. I don’t know whether protoss is really strong and I think balance always changes as time passes.
Flash: The reason protoss is so strong is… oh, honestly, I have no idea. I don’t think I have enough skill to judge the balance. However I can say StarCraft II protoss has advantages for new players, like Warp Gates.
Bisu: I think protoss is a race which everybody can play well at first. The protoss win rate is quite a bit higher than other races among us because our skill is not that high yet. However, protoss doesn’t seem to have that many advantages for all high-level matches that I watched. I believe protoss strength is based on a lot of studies and practices that protoss players have done.
Stork: On my team (Samsung Electronic Khan), I have seen protoss players’ skill grow quicker than other races when we started to play the game. Compared to Brood War, I think Brood War and StarCraft II protoss have many things in common and protoss is the most convenient race to control and needs the least consideration. So I think it makes protoss stronger at low levels, but the strongest race would be zerg as players’ skills grow.
For the rest of the interview, check it out over at Battle.net. And please, leave me feedback! I wanna hear what questions were good, what was bad, and what I should focus on for next time I interview someone.
I hope you enjoy!
All images in the article belong to R1CH and Silverfire and are used with permission from TeamLiquid staff.
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