EPTUniversity of Texas
Q: Is there any history between your team and Berkeley?
A: We were scheduled to play each other in week four or five of the regular season, but for some reason on match day they never showed up. We waited on iCCup on a Sunday afternoon after church for about three hours before deciding to call a WO. I think at around 9 or 10pm that night we got a message from the Berkeley coordinator asking us where we were, as it was their turn to wait online. It seems like communication was still a problem this time around.
So no, no real history.
Q: What have you done as a team to get prepared for this match? Has scheduling around school been a difficult issue?
A: We've done the same preparation as for every match: once the map order is revealed we proceed to fight to the death to decide who gets to play on what map. And then we pray that everyone has at least played the map once before match time. Yes, scheduling with the school has been a difficult issue.
Q: As you probably know, Berkeley offers a class on the mechanics of Starcraft. Do you imagine this giving them any advantage over your team?
A: Yes, but only if they are able to execute some of the things that are taught in the course. For example, the Professor brought up an excellent point about being able to see the amount of gas left on a geyser after performing a manner gas trick (http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=90919). Despite it never happening before in the history of Starcraft, if they can pull this off in any of our matches, it will give them a decisive advantage.
Q: In which area would you say your team has improved most this season?
A: I think friendliness. At the beginning I didn't know anybody, but now I'm on first name basis with all of my teammates.
Q: What is your biggest unknown about Berkeley? Your biggest fear?
A: Along with Texas, Berkeley has one of the highest percentage of Asians in their student body. So the biggest unknown and also fear is whether or not their entire lineup is composed of Asians, and whether or not they are better than our all-Asian lineup.
Q: Which match of the finals do you anticipate will be the most exciting to watch?
A: The match on Rush Hour 3. As it is so imbalanced for Terran, I predict a Protoss/Zerg versus Protoss/Zerg match on the map. Not something you see everyday.
Q: If you were put in charge of getting Starcraft to a wider audience, how would you go about garnering interest?
A: I would design a very sleek looking website, do interviews with various media outlets, and make sure as many matches can be broadcast as possible. Also I would attempt to partner with reputable gaming sites and sponsors. Finally, I would check and double check the rules to make sure they all make sense and are logical.
Q: Any recommendations to people just getting in to watching/playing competitive Starcraft?
A: http://www.teamliquid.net
Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: Good luck everyone! Winner's League should be fun.
University of California, Berkeley
Q: First and foremost, can you provide us with a bit of background on your players' and your own competitive gaming history?
A: We have:
Roy, aka Zeko, a Korean protoss, who I believe to be an up and coming star.
Sherwin, aka Yosh, the known legend.
Tyler, aka Lore, the guy who taught Nimue.
Simon and Michael, 2v2 extraordinaries.
Alan, aka Nimue, the Starcraft teacher.
Q: Is there any history between your team and Texas?
A: Last time we were scheduled to play, there was a time mix-up and our team got recorded as a loss. This time, with the game so high-profile and so watched, there will be no mistake and we will get our win.
Q: What have you done as a team to get prepared for this match? Has scheduling around school been an difficult issue?
A: YES: midterms and finals.
Q: Your school offers a class on the mechanics of Starcraft. Do any of your players come from that class? If so, do you think being in the class has provided them an appreciable advantage this season?
A: Simon is from the class, though his study of SC has been more practical and less theoretical. I am the lecturer for the class and, at the same time, by far the weakest player. Theory is nice, but is useless without the brute application that our players can perform. Also, calculation is one thing; true sense is another.
Q: In which area would you say your team has improved most this season?
A: Waking up on time
Q: If there was one thing you could find out about the opposing team that you don't already know, what would it be and why?
A: VOD's. We need to study. There are hundreds of replays of Yosh out and our players have been featured by Moletrap, Diggity and others. However, we don't know much about the opponents.
Q: Which match of the finals do you anticipate will be the most exciting to watch?
A: Probably TvT on Othello by Sherwin vs his opponent.
Q: Someone, who knows nothing about Starcraft, has come to you expressing interest in watching one professional Starcraft match that has already occurred. Which match would you recommend and why?
A: Reach vs Yellow on Gaia in 2003 (forgot event)
The best of three demonstrated the strengths and weakness of each race, and included a 1 hour long game that used every unit, so the new player can see how each unit is used at its best.
Alternately, bisu vs savior on BlitzX in 2005 might be interesting for someone who knows slightly more about Starcraft.
Q: If you were put in charge of getting Starcraft to a wider audience, how would you go about garnering interest?
A: Show the cheering crowds, preferably non-Asian and non-male. If people see and accept SC as a valid spectator sport, then the stigmas attached will fall away. I think that's one area that WoW has helped us immensely on, to show that a game can be played by everyone. Now, we need to demonstrate excitement and fame.
Q: Any recommendations to people just getting in to watching/playing competitive Starcraft?
A: Watch a game that has good commentary. If you watch competitive Starcraft, you'll be completely lost in the incredible speed at which everything happens. With a good commentator who knows where to focus on the screen and what to talk about, balancing game play and theory, is like watching a lecture by an experienced professor.
Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: Thank you CSL for bringing Starcraft one step closer to mainstream acceptance. With Berkeley winning the first ever CSL, it'll secure our place in history as... the first winner of the Super Bowl, almost. We of course wish our Texan counterparts good games and good luck. Thank you Mona and ywil and everyone else on the staff
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