TLAF-Liquid`Jinro and TLAF-Liquid`Ret played their GSL Open S3 Ro64 matches this week and beat their opponents 2 - 1 and 2 - 0 respectively to advance to the Ro32, in the process making this Liquid's best GSL yet.
Read on for an exclusive interview with the duo, and stay tuned to the Liquid Weekly for more from these guys as they fly the Liquid flag high in Korea.
Jinro and Ret: One Down, Four to Go
Pictures via Fomos.
Hi Jonathan, Hi Jos! Congratulations on being a part of Liquid's most successful GSL Ro64 yet.
Ret: Thanks a lot, happy to be a part of it, and hopefully we aren't going anywhere any time soon. ^_^
Jinro: Howdy! Tyty, good to be a part of it!
This is the first GSL for the both of you and yet you have both progressed to the Ro32. Were you confident you would get past this round, and what are your goals for this tournament?
Jinro: Goal 1 to win Ro32 Goal 2 to win ro16 Goal 3 to win ro8 Goal 4 to win ro4 Goal 5 to win the final
Ret: I was pretty confident about my first round, my opponent wasn’t a big name or anything so I felt good about it. Like I've said in other interviews, my goal is of course to win.
Hahaha. Awesome! How did you feel your series went in general? Any additional insight into things that stream viewers may have missed?
Ret: Game 1 was kinda messy, I should've defended vs the phoenix harass much better instead of being overly aggressive. The game became kind of close because of that at some points. Game 2 was smooth sailing for me, just a standard macro game.
Jinro: Well, I think I played all right but I was too hesitant, a trap I sometimes fall into in important games... I also kinda autopiloted game 2 without properly adjusting to how my opponent was playing, since next to nobody plays that way. I was playing the way you’d play vs ling baneling muta, which is of course a mistake.
You've both watched two GSL Ro64s so far. How do you feel this one stacked up when compared to its predecessors, both in terms of your games and the other competition you saw unfold over the past few days?
Jinro: To be honest I haven't watched the GSL that closely, mostly just teammates' games, but there has been some surprisingly quality play from "unknowns". I say unknowns, but the fOu guys aren’t really unknowns I guess. Alivefou in particular has been quite impressive.
Ret: As expected it's been pretty high level all around, less and less people who have no idea what they're doing and lucked through the qualifiers, although there were still a couple. I don't think there will be any more freebies in GSL from this point forward, and there's a steady increase in skill level.
Speaking of fOu, Ret, you’re playing TheBestfOu. What thoughts on that?
Ret: He's a terran user in fou, and so far all the fou guys have been really strong, so I am expecting a strong terran opponent. Unfortunately the maps aren't really backing me on this one, being Metalopolis, Steppes and Jungle. Nonetheless I feel that ZvT is my best matchup and hopefully I will be able to pull out a win here.
I wish they didn't make it set maps, especially with the Ro32 maps for zerg players....a lot of people have been really unlucky and I feel for them. Some maps in SC2 are so imbalanced they shouldn't be played in tournaments.
Jinro, you’re going up against Moon in one of the biggest games of the GSL so far. How confident are you that you can walk away with a win?
Jinro: I dunno, I can’t say too much before I see the maps. It’s gonna range from "quite confident" to "shit." depending on them. At least it’s hard to get screwed as bad as ST_Monster as Terran. ^^ What we really need is new maps, some of the maps are starting to show their age already.
The stagnant map pool seems to be a recurring problem in SC2 so far. What are some long term solutions to this problem?
Jinro: Map making teams need to eventually pop up, and their maps need to be adopted by tournaments. Also, we should preferably have more than 1 map making team!
Ret: Think we need to move to a system similar to BW where the community makes the maps. BW has seen some amazing maps made by the koreans, I feel like there are enough dedicated people out there who really enjoy this sort of thing that could create great maps for competitive play. In general I feel like larger maps create more balanced and entertaining games.
This was your first televised game in Korea. Did you feel nervous going in? What did you take away from this experience on the whole, and will you do anything different when you prepare to go on camera again in the next round?
Jinro: I don’t feel much in the way of nerves any more, but they still show up a little bit on my play - usually manifested by overly cautious play.
Ret: I feel at home inside the booth. I wish I didn't have to leave, I truly feel one with the chair, desk and computer in front of me. It's like I was born to be there. So no, no nerves. Oh, I'll probably smile more. I didn't think my parents were gonna watch.
Haha, OK! Generally, what’s the atmosphere like at the event? Jinro, we noticed you having a chuckle as you chatted in the lobby with your opponent. Thousands of fans only see you guys in the booth though, so why not tell us a bit about the run up to games and what that process is like once you arrive at the studio?
Ret: Well, I got about 20 minutes to set up my stuff to warm up. Then 'make-up' (2 min because i have no hair), then waiting around starring at the Korean commentar girl because she's so pretty. Then game-time! Oh ya, some random chit chat with Artosis and Tasteless to ease your mind before the match helps. I didn't talk to my opponent at all, would've been different if I actually knew him I guess.
Jinro: Well, I don’t remember what I was laughing about exactly, but NEXDrug and me were chatting about SC1, as I recognized him from there and he said he thought he recognized my ID as well. He seemed to have pretty fluent English and was very nice, so it was fun.
The process is pretty much what Jos describe, what most people probably don’t know though is that there’s quite loud SC music playing inside your booth to drown out outside sound, so you gotta play with your sounds set to maximum. When the game starts, the music goes way up too, masking everything. It’s good, but was a bit of a surprise for me.
You guys both have the weekend to prepare for the Ro32. Ret you have a ZvT to practice for, and Jinro, you’re gonna be working on your TvZ. Any Bo50s vs each other planned?
Jinro: Hopefully I get the same maps as him so we can do nothing but play.
Ret: I'm sure we'll play a lot. Don't wanna smash his confidence though, so I'll go easy.
Jinro: Any other maps and I’d agree.
Ret: In all seriousness though, I was rooting for Moon hardcore because I really wanted a Terran I could practice with. I'm really glad we both have the same matchup.
Hahaha. All right, we’re going to let you guys go now, but here’s one for the road. Jinro, what’s the most annoying part about Ret’s play, and Ret, what do you find most frustrating in playing Jinro?
Jinro: The fact that he always has more units and drones than anyone else at any given point in the game. And that he makes my computer lag with his limit in banelings.
Ret: I hate when my banelings are about to kill a bunch of marines and then he puts em all in dropships and drops down single marines and makes me waste those precious banelings. Generally hes nice to play though, because he rarely allins. <3 terrans who dont allin! His marine spreading is getting too good though. =(
Well, here’s to a frustrating weekend for both of you! Good luck, have fun, and own it up next week, OK? Go Jinro, Go Ret, Liquid fighting!
Jinro: Liquid fighting!
Ret: Liquid`Nazgul Fighting.
Liquid` is proudly sponsored by The Little App Factory, makers of fine applications for Windows and Mac OS X and fans of great Starcraft! Their flagship program, iRip allows you to recover your music from iPods - a life saver if you, like many of us, do tech support for friends and family. In fact, for a limited time, you can use the coupon code TEAMLIQUID to get 25% off when you get TLAF products!
I'm so stupid to look at teamliquid start site without watching the jinro-game. i have been spoilered. :/ but good work ret and jinro! and rets games were really impressing. jinros games im watching in a few minutes.
Great interviews, I like the confidence! Compared to a number of korean games, it was a nice change of pace to see longer macro games from both liquid representatives.
Wow when i opened this thread apparently only HayprO commented on it so far by then time i submit this there'll probably be several pages at least xD
anyways, thanks for the sharing! haha "liquid nazgul fighting!" lol
also lol at 2 mins for makeup since he doesn't have hair they can really stylize
an interesting thing i learned about the booths was the sound turned on maximum... are they talking about both speakers and ingame sound on maximum? usually i turn down my sound effects a little and music a little higher, because i find the constant shooting/attacking/dying etc sounds during battles to be quite annoying and noisy. Is it really loud in there, or is the booth big enough to "lessen" the sound's power? Like how when you're in a car and turn up really loud music, if you open all the windows it actually doesn't hurt your ears, and i don't feel any disturbance at all. If so, then cool... if it's really loud and rumbly, i feel bad for you guys.
Which bring me to another question... I thought people wear headphones in there? So are they listening to the game through both the headphones and the booth? Or do they listen to the headphones which have a semi-sound canceler, and then additional sound through the booth to help drown out outside noise even more?
On November 26 2010 03:20 Yoshi Kirishima wrote: Wow when i opened this thread apparently only HayprO commented on it so far by then time i submit this there'll probably be several pages at least xD
anyways, thanks for the sharing! haha "liquid nazgul fighting!" lol
also lol at 2 mins for makeup since he doesn't have hair they can really stylize
an interesting thing i learned about the booths was the sound turned on maximum... are they talking about both speakers and ingame sound on maximum? usually i turn down my sound effects a little and music a little higher, because i find the constant shooting/attacking/dying etc sounds during battles to be quite annoying and noisy. Is it really loud in there, or is the booth big enough to "lessen" the sound's power? Like how when you're in a car and turn up really loud music, if you open all the windows it actually doesn't hurt your ears, and i don't feel any disturbance at all. If so, then cool... if it's really loud and rumbly, i feel bad for you guys.
Which bring me to another question... I thought people wear headphones in there? So are they listening to the game through both the headphones and the booth? Or do they listen to the headphones which have a semi-sound canceler, and then additional sound through the booth to help drown out outside noise even more?
In game sound through headphones, big speakers in the booth play SC music regardless of what settings you have, to cancel out the crowd.
@Jinro : was it that way already in SC1? I thought the headphones were noise-cancelling so that players couldn't hear anything. Would suck if it hindered them to have some music playing, I know I'd hate it - I only want the ingame sounds to have maximum focus.
[Edit] Oh and Ret : I had no idea you were this good, I was very impressed by your games. Jinro : I've seen a few replays from you before you left for Korea, and I have to say, I had the feeling you improved SO much as well. Hope you guys keep going that way
I guess you could say that everyone is realizing how imbalanced the map pool is favored against Zerg. Idra even said it's terribly against them. I can't wait to see what Ret is going to pull out on these maps.
Oh and yeah, about the maps - I have to say, I hate most of the current maps. Ok I am a zerg player, but I'm pretty bad so it has nothing to do with my own experience, I'm mostly interested in watching top level plays, and with such small maps that TEND to favor all-in rushes to a certain extent, it just makes it that less enjoyable.
I sincerely do believe one of the biggest reasons why BW is still that much better at the moment is because the maps are just absolutely lightyears ahead of SC2 maps (which is obviously normal due to the age of both games). Once maps get bigger and better in SC2, it's gonna be so awesome.
Sorry for a noob question, but i didn't quite understand the bit about the maps. Do the pro players want better quality maps and then keep a high quality map pool that rarely changes or do they just want the map pool to continually change because they get boring and predictable? Thx for answering.
On November 26 2010 04:29 Astans wrote: Sorry for a noob question, but i didn't quite understand the bit about the maps. Do the pro players want better quality maps and then keep a high quality map pool that rarely changes or do they just want the map pool to continually change because they get boring and predictable? Thx for answering.
I'd say neither. A pool of high quality maps that changes every year or so is what Ret is suggesting, for example.
It's really too bad that nobody wants to use iCCup's maps. I know, they're not on the ladder, but big tournaments like the GSL can get away with forcing new maps on people and making them practice purely through customs. It would be a big detriment to people without practice partners, but I think that tradeoff is still worth it.
I'm glad that some of the top players are complaining about map imbalances and are pushing for bigger maps, lets hope some tournaments start using custom balanced maps!
On November 26 2010 03:20 Yoshi Kirishima wrote: Wow when i opened this thread apparently only HayprO commented on it so far by then time i submit this there'll probably be several pages at least xD
anyways, thanks for the sharing! haha "liquid nazgul fighting!" lol
also lol at 2 mins for makeup since he doesn't have hair they can really stylize
an interesting thing i learned about the booths was the sound turned on maximum... are they talking about both speakers and ingame sound on maximum? usually i turn down my sound effects a little and music a little higher, because i find the constant shooting/attacking/dying etc sounds during battles to be quite annoying and noisy. Is it really loud in there, or is the booth big enough to "lessen" the sound's power? Like how when you're in a car and turn up really loud music, if you open all the windows it actually doesn't hurt your ears, and i don't feel any disturbance at all. If so, then cool... if it's really loud and rumbly, i feel bad for you guys.
Which bring me to another question... I thought people wear headphones in there? So are they listening to the game through both the headphones and the booth? Or do they listen to the headphones which have a semi-sound canceler, and then additional sound through the booth to help drown out outside noise even more?
In game sound through headphones, big speakers in the booth play SC music regardless of what settings you have, to cancel out the crowd.
Do they play terran music for terrans and zerg music for zergs and so on? I mean if so it's amazing terran haven't won every GSL so far!
I was not impressed with Moon's play at all (More impressed with the fact that he does this sc2 thing part time). With Ret to practice with, and depending on the map pool Jinro draws I wouldn't be surprised at all if he 2-0's him. And wow, good luck Ret it's gonna be a tough series for him. But if any zerg can overcome map imba it's ret.
Awesome interview, you guys are so great<3 best of luck and I hope Jinro gets the same map set for an easy win. I have confidence that Ret could win on any map.
Ret: Well, I got about 20 minutes to set up my stuff to warm up. Then 'make-up' (2 min because i have no hair), then waiting around starring at the Korean commentar girl because she's so pretty.
Ret: I feel at home inside the booth. I wish I didn't have to leave, I truly feel one with the chair, desk and computer in front of me. It's like I was born to be there
What a fuckin baller! You're awesome Ret, I believe in you I believe in Liquid!
On November 26 2010 10:09 Warrior Madness wrote: I was not impressed with Moon's play at all (More impressed with the fact that he does this sc2 thing part time). With Ret to practice with, and depending on the map pool Jinro draws I wouldn't be surprised at all if he 2-0's him. And wow, good luck Ret it's gonna be a tough series for him. But if any zerg can overcome map imba it's ret.
On November 26 2010 10:09 Warrior Madness wrote: I was not impressed with Moon's play at all (More impressed with the fact that he does this sc2 thing part time). With Ret to practice with, and depending on the map pool Jinro draws I wouldn't be surprised at all if he 2-0's him. And wow, good luck Ret it's gonna be a tough series for him. But if any zerg can overcome map imba it's ret.
Scrap Station, Xel Naga and Blistering Sands.....
Ah ok. What do you think about these maps? Scrap is widley considered as Zerg map, isn't it? even though Artosis keeps claiming that its layout is basically terran.
keep it up guys, you both have the potential to win the GSL, theres nothing unrealistic about that goal. give it your best, all the foreigners are cheering for you :D
On November 26 2010 10:09 Warrior Madness wrote: I was not impressed with Moon's play at all (More impressed with the fact that he does this sc2 thing part time). With Ret to practice with, and depending on the map pool Jinro draws I wouldn't be surprised at all if he 2-0's him. And wow, good luck Ret it's gonna be a tough series for him. But if any zerg can overcome map imba it's ret.
Scrap Station, Xel Naga and Blistering Sands.....
Ah ok. What do you think about these maps? Scrap is widley considered as Zerg map, isn't it? even though Artosis keeps claiming that its layout is basically terran.
They are about as bad for me as the round 1 maps were bad for my opponent ;/
I really think the map pool is one of the biggest problem for sc2 right now. The fact that only blizzard can release ladder maps, and that they're quite lazy, doesn't help game balance/ There are already very nice maps done by ICCUP team and inspired by bw maps, but as long as there's only blizzard maps in 1v1 ladder, we probablè won't see them in any tournament and ppl won't train on them.
As said IdrA in his interview, right now the main danger his to face a tough opponent on the wrong maps.
Yeah, maps are really too much of a deciding factor right now in matches I think. It's almost too easy to know who's gonna win when you see the map pool. It's ok to have maps that are a little bit favored for a race, but right now on some maps zerg can't do anything (Jungle Basin / Steppes) if opponent plays well, which is a bit duh.
I don't find Scrap a particularly zerg favored map though, it's clearly not a T/P favored map either but I don't think it really favors anyone apart from the one playing better. Are there statistics from GSL to be found that could prove me wrong/right?
On November 26 2010 10:09 Warrior Madness wrote: I was not impressed with Moon's play at all (More impressed with the fact that he does this sc2 thing part time). With Ret to practice with, and depending on the map pool Jinro draws I wouldn't be surprised at all if he 2-0's him. And wow, good luck Ret it's gonna be a tough series for him. But if any zerg can overcome map imba it's ret.
Scrap Station, Xel Naga and Blistering Sands.....
Ah ok. What do you think about these maps? Scrap is widley considered as Zerg map, isn't it? even though Artosis keeps claiming that its layout is basically terran.
They are about as bad for me as the round 1 maps were bad for my opponent ;/
Uah, that's bad to hear . I really hope you gonna make it though. Moon didn't impress me that much until now and I hope you are not intimidated by his name alone. I'm quite sure you are the better and definitely the more complete player.
On November 26 2010 10:09 Warrior Madness wrote: I was not impressed with Moon's play at all (More impressed with the fact that he does this sc2 thing part time). With Ret to practice with, and depending on the map pool Jinro draws I wouldn't be surprised at all if he 2-0's him. And wow, good luck Ret it's gonna be a tough series for him. But if any zerg can overcome map imba it's ret.
Scrap Station, Xel Naga and Blistering Sands.....
Ah ok. What do you think about these maps? Scrap is widley considered as Zerg map, isn't it? even though Artosis keeps claiming that its layout is basically terran.
They are about as bad for me as the round 1 maps were bad for my opponent ;/
We'll all be cheering for you back home man! Go bash some nerds
Remember; The Moon is made out of cheese - True story! Watch out
On November 26 2010 10:09 Warrior Madness wrote: I was not impressed with Moon's play at all (More impressed with the fact that he does this sc2 thing part time). With Ret to practice with, and depending on the map pool Jinro draws I wouldn't be surprised at all if he 2-0's him. And wow, good luck Ret it's gonna be a tough series for him. But if any zerg can overcome map imba it's ret.
Scrap Station, Xel Naga and Blistering Sands.....
Ah ok. What do you think about these maps? Scrap is widley considered as Zerg map, isn't it? even though Artosis keeps claiming that its layout is basically terran.
They are about as bad for me as the round 1 maps were bad for my opponent ;/
relally? i feel like scraf is the only problematic map for terran blistering is a horror for me playing vs terran. these watchtowers are aweful to hold. and xel naga caverns feels pretty balanced. was at least my feeling. but you are the pro of cause, so maby i just have no clue;) anyways good luck u2
On November 26 2010 17:48 ket- wrote: Yeah, maps are really too much of a deciding factor right now in matches I think. It's almost too easy to know who's gonna win when you see the map pool. It's ok to have maps that are a little bit favored for a race, but right now on some maps zerg can't do anything (Jungle Basin / Steppes) if opponent plays well, which is a bit duh.
I don't find Scrap a particularly zerg favored map though, it's clearly not a T/P favored map either but I don't think it really favors anyone apart from the one playing better. Are there statistics from GSL to be found that could prove me wrong/right?
TvZ: 12-14 (46.2%) [ Games ] ZvP: 4-5 (44.4%) [ Games ] PvT: 10-12 (45.5%) [ Games ]
So awesome to see both Ret and Jinro making it through! Great players, and I must say that I'm really impressed by Ret's incredible macro, and I'm sure it'll only improve from now on!
On November 26 2010 10:09 Warrior Madness wrote: I was not impressed with Moon's play at all (More impressed with the fact that he does this sc2 thing part time). With Ret to practice with, and depending on the map pool Jinro draws I wouldn't be surprised at all if he 2-0's him. And wow, good luck Ret it's gonna be a tough series for him. But if any zerg can overcome map imba it's ret.
Scrap Station, Xel Naga and Blistering Sands.....
Ah ok. What do you think about these maps? Scrap is widley considered as Zerg map, isn't it? even though Artosis keeps claiming that its layout is basically terran.
basically it's bad map pool for terran
and ret has bad map pool for zerg
Idra has steppes in his map pool and has very strong player to play against :/