The Liquid Weekly #8

Hi JinTLO! What's up in Incheon?

Jinro: Nothing much, the house is almost empty as half the oGs team is celebrating Chuseok with their families and spunky is out for the day. Waiting for pizza to arrive. =] The day is young anyway, only been up since 6 pm.


Late night?

TLO: Well… At least I woke up before you, Jinro.

Jinro: Well, that’s because you caught some shuteye in between. Unfair imo.

TLO: That’s only because I wake up so much earlier than the rest of you wimps.

Jinro: But yeah, a loss like yesterday’s necessitates at least some drinking.

TLO: Hehe I really needed that... just to get a fresh start and stop thinking about my loss.


So what plans for the evening now, especially considering it's a rare off day?

TLO: Oh to be honest I'll go to bed pretty early. I wanna wake up early and practice hard, and for that I need a good rhythm.

Jinro: My hangover only just passed, so I’m content with just some pizza and a movie or something – I’ve got a new sc2 account as well (previously been borrowing one) so gotta grind that back up. =)


Work, work, work as usual, eh? GL with those games. Speaking of which, everyone has heard of Nada and July switching to SC2. Any ladder sightings or rumours of them yet?

TLO: I’ve played Julyzerg a lot on ladder already, but I didn’t face Nada yet so no, I haven’t played him since IEM Cologne. Gon asked him but it didn’t work out. Julyzerg didn’t impress me yet, but he learns really quickly. You could see huge improvements in his play after only a few days.
Jinro: Yeah, Nada has a pretty good looking record, and Julyzerg has been playing for a while now. He’s a lot scarier when he doesn’t try to allin.


Do you expect to see them in the next GSL?

TLO: Hmmm, well I can't speak for the others but I’m pretty apprehensive. They will be good soon and probably qualify! It’s gonna be so much harder, and I just hope I'll be able to compete still.

Jinro: I have no idea what the format will be, or how much harder the qualifiers will be
if it’s the same as last time and the tournament doesn’t have any seeds from the first season. If so, they should make it for sure. Nada already has a 200 – 100 ladder record.


What is the general feeling around the house (and around the scene) about Broodwar players getting into SC2?

TLO: I have a lot respect for the SCBW stars coming in. They are obviously super talented but most of the Koreans probably don't care so much since they are very confident and know that they have a big lead here.


You guys were the first Liquidians to arrive in Korea, but soon Haypro and Ret will be joining you. Excited?

TLO: The more the merrier - it’s gonna be a lot of fun. I'm really happy whenever a foreign player comes here, not only Liquidians. Everyone is invited by me.


So first night out with them, dinner is on you then?

Jinro: Well his budget is based around winning a future GSL, so every dinner should really be on him.


What about bunks? Which ones do they get?

Jinro: They can have bunk beds once they have proven themselves sleep on the floor for a month like we did imo! (^^)

TLO: I'm afraid Ret is ripped enough to throw you out of your bunk easily!

Jinro: Pfft.


So there is an initiation process being planned then?

TLO: The initiation process can't be revealed. It dates back centuries and only the chosen ones will experience it.


You were both eliminated at different stages in this ongoing GSL. Looking back on the tournament, and looking ahead to the next GSL Open, what do you think you'll be focusing on the most as you prepare for it?

TLO: I still need to become a lot more solid in my play. My skill varies too much. I have days on which I can take out everyone, not matter who. And then sometimes I just choke. People know this problem and I know it too. I guess only massive training can help there.

Jinro: Sleeping more than 3 hours the day before and hopefully having decided on a build for every map way in advance. Don’t even know what the maps are yet though!


When we spoke to you both last, things were just starting to settle down after Nazgul's departure and you mentioned that a daily rhythm was just starting to take place. How is that going?

TLO: Oh pretty good... I was thrown off my rhythm after the GSL but I think tomorrow it will be in place again. I really notice how it helps me practice better if things are more routine.


Have practice sessions begun to incorporate more strategy discussions yet? In your last interview you guys said it was still minimal.

TLO: It’s probably still gonna take a long time to communicate with the Koreans on that level. Having more people from Liquid here will improve the situation too I guess.


Indeed! And you're getting two Zergs to spar against. Excited about the TvZs which you'll be able to analyse together?

Jinro: I think he’s more excited about the prospect of forcing his ZvT style on them.


Well, compulsion is always a good motivator, or so they say. Looking ahead, what is the talk in the trenches about the balance changes announced for Patch 1.1?

Jinro: Well the Ultralisk splash bug of death looks like fun…

TLO: I don't think the Koreans care much about it, and neither do I. The balance changes are small and it’s not gonna change a lot. The bug with the Ultralisk is gonna be fixed quite soon I suppose.


Are there any features that you expected in Patch 1.1 that haven't made the cut?

TLO: Hmmm... Well nothing specific but I kinda expected more changes. This patch is pretty boring!

Jinro: Was hoping for some more ladder maps.


Oh, thanks for bringing that up. Maps! Let's talk about them. What does the Korean scene in general feel about the present map pool? Especially seeing that Korean map makers were an integral part of keeping pro Broodwar alive and kicking, has there been any sort of talk of Korean maps for SC2 so far?

TLO: Hmmm, not have heard about. I only know that the Koreans here are in agreement with the fact that many of the current maps are quite horrible. I'm pretty sure some people are already working on new maps somewhere though. We'll just have to be patient and wait for good maps!

Jinro: Well all the Korean pro-mapping stuff was done by the SCBW scene, right? I doubt GOM - being the only major organisation to switch so far - has a map team at the moment. I also doubt that there are many people actually qualified to make SC2 maps yet.


If you guys could give the Blizzard map team one piece of advice as they make their next round of ladder battlegrounds, what would it be?

TLO: Please give us some bigger maps and 3 player maps. That’s all I want! Oh, and maps without gold expansions - I really don't like those.

Jinro: They should just make the Peaks of Baekdu clone a ladder map. =) Crossfire, or whatever they have called it. Oh and please stop making only shared bases maps for 2v2... it’s really boring!


Good point you brought up! SC2 already has Lost Temple, a SCBW staple. Which other Broodwar maps do you think would do well as SC2 ports?

Jinro: Hmmm, well not Destination. ^^ We’d just see a bunch of split map turtle TvZs just like on the original.

TLO: Enter the Dragon!!!!

Jinro: Maybe Fighting Spirit?


Is Pro Broodwar followed in any capacity in the house? Were the OSL finals a topic of conversation among you guys, or was the focus solely on the GSL these past few weeks?

Jinro: Very cursory. Some Flash imba comments.

TLO: Let’s hope he doesn’t switch too soon.


You guys are going to play the Liquid FFA in a couple of hours. Do you get to ever play non-serious SC2 with your oGs house mates?

Jinro: Sure, every time there’s a chore to be done, the unlucky person that gets to do it is decided by a custom racing map. It’s hilarious. Someone needs to do the dishes on the days the maid isn’t there? Racing map. Someone needs to go down to the lotte mart and buy ice cream?
Racing map.

TLO: Poor hyperdub, it’s him or Jonathan who get the short end of the stick.

Jinro: Pfft. I’ve got a 50/50 survival ratio, having played the map twice. Hyperdub keeps spawning as a turret though. I feel for him!


Hahahaha, that is amazing! Do you guys ever team game?

Jinro: Don’t think I’ve played any team games at all since getting here... Dario drunkenly managed to agree to a bet game of TT vs TZ vs Gon and Thewind when we first got here but thankfully it seems they have forgotten. I think he snapcalled a 100$ b et or something.

TLO: I am 100% confident that we would Terran the shit out of those guys.


HuK has promised dinner on him when he arrives in Korea. Dario has promised dinner on him for any foreigner arriving in Korea - how will this situation play out?

TLO: The Universe will explode.

Jinro: I will get 2 free dinners. Score!


At the same time? Isn't that like a 4v4 with four Terrans, all meching? i.e Overkill?

If enough alcohol is involved maybe I can get more than 2 free dinners... and there is no such thing as overkill.


TLO you've been saying you need to focus on your TvP. How excited are you that you'll soon have HuK around 24/7 to spar against? Jinro, you looking forward to some Protoss games too?

Jinro: Sure, though I think my TvZ needs more work. But yeah, an additional protoss will be nice.There are only two oGs P players.

TLO: It’s good news for myself. Having a Liquid Protoss over here will help me a ton!


Well, we're looking forward to it too. Thanks a lot for taking the time to talk, guys, and good luck with training!

Jinro: Np, always a pleasure. =]

TLO: I had a great time. See you next time, TL!

Ever wondered what pro players do between laddering and practice sessions? They FFA. Here's an exclusive VOD and replay from one of Liquid's top secret practice runs, featuring Nazgul, Tyler, Jinro, TLO, Ret and HuK, as well as our own playing sponsor, Mat "heosat" Peterson! After you've watched the VOD (thanks for the amazing cast, Husky!) and checked out the replay, look below to read the winner and runner-up interviews and see how Reddit stalked us and why FFA may be the next big thing™.

+ Show Spoiler [Liquid FFA #1 Winner Interview] +

+ Show Spoiler [Liquid FFA #1 Runner-up Interview] +

If you've been here for any time at all on TL, you know FuDDx. Father, balloon gosu and man about town, FuDD has the only five star blog on TL and is certainly one of our top posters. In this Liquid Weekly, we say hi to the man himself, and give him a chance to tell us about why he's a Liquid fan - with balloons!

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Hello Team Liquid !!!

O man, I am excited and nervous. I think I am always nervous. I was asked if I wanted to contribute to the Liquid Weekly with something balloon related and my first thought was to make some sort of unit, doodad, or building from the game that needs no name among us. That idea quickly developed into something more - with the recent news of TLAF becoming an actual team again, with sponsors, I thought let's make our players out of balloons. And that is exactly what this fellow has… umm.... attempted at least. ^_^

This site is the greatest site ever. It means a lot to me to be able to have fun and grow with friends, and as a person through this site and with some great guys and gals. Being an older gamer sometimes can be lonely, but you all give me some company! It also means a lot to be able to contribute, even if in a small way like doing this. I know most of you old timers know me, but some of you new guys may not. You can find out a lot about me on my blog and see more of my balloon work on my photobucket account.

Anyway, I'd first like to just touch on some of my history with balloons, and then we can get down to the meat and tatters and show some latex!! Ive been twisting balloons just over a year now. August 18th 2009 was the day I watched Twisted, and that day has changed all my days since. Definitely check it out - it’s a neat documentary on its own.

Finding out about balloon jams (gatherings of twisters sharing ideas and sculptures usually at a restaurant), I set off and found some local twisters. Since then I have grown my list of things I can make, expanded into balloon Décor work with the only CBA here in Tucson and won 4 awards recently at a balloon convention in Phoenix Arizona. I really love and enjoy balloons, never having “found” the elusive career path that really appealed to me. I hope to one day be able to merge the Décor and twisting with my love for gaming and StarCraft in particular. Maybe I can start doing balloon déco- twisting at video game tourneys and conventions. An old man can dream……

With that said, FuDDx presents,


Thanks so much for letting me share a bit and as always, let me know what you think! Also, Huk - I will make you but it just might have to be after WCG!! Hope to see some of you there!

FuDD