Topics
Each topic is an active time-stamp. Just click on the question that interests you and you'll be taken to that exact part of the interview. The occasional quote is merely an excerpt of Sue Lee's answer.
Introduction
Where are you from and where did you grow up?
“I was born in Korea but before I was a year old I moved to New York and so I grew up in New York. Now I am in Saint Louis because I go to school here [...]”
What are your plans after graduating? Full time eSports?
“I just don't see translating becoming something full time unless things change […] as of now I am thinking of going into occupational therapy […]”
Will you continue doing StarCraft II related stuff?
“IPL, MLG... as many tournaments as I can. This upcoming weekend I will be at the Red Bull Lan [...]”
What brought you to StarCraft and to Teamliquid?
“It all started because my brother was a really good gamer [...]”
“Then fastforward to 2008. I was in Korea and I was really really jet-lagged and at night they play all these different channels that are kind of Not Safe For Work […] so I was trying to look for a channel I could watch and I found this channel and it was StarCraft [...]”
THE REST OF THE TIMESTAMPS ARE IN THIS SPOILER:
+ Show Spoiler +
When and how did you get involved with Teamliquid?
“...[At the MSL] they have these group ceremonies […] it's really entertaining. Usually Korean pro gamers give like very boring interviews but group ceremonies were just the time where people got to show their colors and personalities and be BM if they wanted so I really wanted to translate one of them because I thought it was hilarious and that was like my first step into the TL community and I've just been trying to help out ever since.”
Have you ever had problems with nerves on stage that has affected your translating?
“For sure [laughs]. It was especially bad at the first tournament I translated at which was IPL3 [...]”
Have you ever forgotten something half-way through the sentence?
Have you ever encountered any unfamiliar phrases, different grammar, certain slang and perhaps even swearing that made you uncomfortable?
How come you translate so fluently? Did you have to train a lot for it? Were you born into a bilingual family?
How do you translate idioms or expressions that don't directly translate into English?
For someone who is learning Korean as a second language, are there any tips you can give them?
What's your most embarrassing translating screw up?
“This was so bad. I was really, really surprised no one caught it […] and I'm really embarrassed to reveal it now [...]”
Do you have a favorite pro gamer, BW and SC2?
Flash “[...] but I want to clarify that, when I started cheering for him and liking him, he wasn't that good yet so I wasn't cheering for the Yankees or anything.”
MMA “[...]I always cheer for the person that I start watching that sport through and I started watching Brood War through Flash and that's why I had a soft spot for him. I started watching StarCraft II through MMA ...”
“I'll always be cheering for Teamliquid, so you guys should cheer for them too [laughs]”
Turns out both of these players are Terran. Do you play yourself and do you play Terran?
What league are you in?
Hybrid Pro League. Did you watch it? Who didn't meet your expectations and who exceeded them? What do you think about the transition right now?
“[...]from what I've heard the Korean response hasn't been that great either.”
“[From a friend who was reading community boards in Korea] It's kind of scary to read because usually what happens is that you'll find a lot of people trolling on the forums but this time there was like zero trolling and genuine disappointment [...]”
What's your favorite food and drink?
How much alcohol do you drink and what's your favorite alcoholic beverage?
[Smix takes the camera and shows us her wine bottle collection]
Do you have a pet?
“Not here, but at home I have pug […] her name is Muffy and she's really cute but it's very unfortunate because once I got to college I actually became allergic to dogs and cats […] so I can't hug her and kiss her anymore. Now she doesn't like me anymore because she thinks I don't like her anymore [...] ”
A question for the Automated Ban List Thread: Do you like hamsters?
“My first pet was a hamster...” [The rest of the answer is quite graphic. If you love hamsters, I advise you to skip this ]
What do you do in your free time when you don't attend StarCraft II tournaments and events?
“If I were to say that my non-Starcraft life was 90% and my StarCraft life was 10% in the beginning, now the scale has significantly shifted [...]”
How do you explain StarCraft and what you do to people who have no idea about StarCraft and eSports?
Smix' thoughts on guys
What's it like working in a male-dominated field?
Live question from zatic: “Can you sing Almost Lover live on stream right now?”
Reference: http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Smix/almostlover.mp3
I read in one of your blogs that you have a very strong visual memory. Are there memories that stuck with you for a long time and that are very important for you?
“[...] I will say those memories kind of keep me going and are a motivation and perspective checker. If you're interested they are in my blogs on TL.”
Reference: http://www.teamliquid.net/blog/Smix
Parody Songs – Do you have any musical training and background or did you just pick it up?
How did it all start with the Parody Songs?
“It all started back in June of 2010 [...]”
I remember you posted in the “GG Maybe” thread that you just used your macbook. Do you really just use the built in Macbook mic?
Reference: SC2 Parody Song “GG Maybe” http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Smix/ggmaybe2.mp3
Talking Teamliquid – How do you think Teamliquid has changed since you joined?
“...it has changed a lot! [...]“
Do you use Teamliquid.net as much as you did back then?
Smix' thoughts on the Kespa/MLG Partnership and the reaction to it
Flash's first game
What events will you attend next? Any European events maybe?
Confirmed:
Red Bull Battlegrounds
MLG Anaheim
Do you follow any other eSport beside BW and SC2?
Shout-outs
“...[At the MSL] they have these group ceremonies […] it's really entertaining. Usually Korean pro gamers give like very boring interviews but group ceremonies were just the time where people got to show their colors and personalities and be BM if they wanted so I really wanted to translate one of them because I thought it was hilarious and that was like my first step into the TL community and I've just been trying to help out ever since.”
Have you ever had problems with nerves on stage that has affected your translating?
“For sure [laughs]. It was especially bad at the first tournament I translated at which was IPL3 [...]”
Have you ever forgotten something half-way through the sentence?
Have you ever encountered any unfamiliar phrases, different grammar, certain slang and perhaps even swearing that made you uncomfortable?
How come you translate so fluently? Did you have to train a lot for it? Were you born into a bilingual family?
How do you translate idioms or expressions that don't directly translate into English?
For someone who is learning Korean as a second language, are there any tips you can give them?
What's your most embarrassing translating screw up?
“This was so bad. I was really, really surprised no one caught it […] and I'm really embarrassed to reveal it now [...]”
Do you have a favorite pro gamer, BW and SC2?
Flash “[...] but I want to clarify that, when I started cheering for him and liking him, he wasn't that good yet so I wasn't cheering for the Yankees or anything.”
MMA “[...]I always cheer for the person that I start watching that sport through and I started watching Brood War through Flash and that's why I had a soft spot for him. I started watching StarCraft II through MMA ...”
“I'll always be cheering for Teamliquid, so you guys should cheer for them too [laughs]”
Turns out both of these players are Terran. Do you play yourself and do you play Terran?
What league are you in?
Hybrid Pro League. Did you watch it? Who didn't meet your expectations and who exceeded them? What do you think about the transition right now?
“[...]from what I've heard the Korean response hasn't been that great either.”
“[From a friend who was reading community boards in Korea] It's kind of scary to read because usually what happens is that you'll find a lot of people trolling on the forums but this time there was like zero trolling and genuine disappointment [...]”
What's your favorite food and drink?
How much alcohol do you drink and what's your favorite alcoholic beverage?
[Smix takes the camera and shows us her wine bottle collection]
Do you have a pet?
“Not here, but at home I have pug […] her name is Muffy and she's really cute but it's very unfortunate because once I got to college I actually became allergic to dogs and cats […] so I can't hug her and kiss her anymore. Now she doesn't like me anymore because she thinks I don't like her anymore [...] ”
A question for the Automated Ban List Thread: Do you like hamsters?
“My first pet was a hamster...” [The rest of the answer is quite graphic. If you love hamsters, I advise you to skip this ]
What do you do in your free time when you don't attend StarCraft II tournaments and events?
“If I were to say that my non-Starcraft life was 90% and my StarCraft life was 10% in the beginning, now the scale has significantly shifted [...]”
How do you explain StarCraft and what you do to people who have no idea about StarCraft and eSports?
Smix' thoughts on guys
What's it like working in a male-dominated field?
Live question from zatic: “Can you sing Almost Lover live on stream right now?”
Reference: http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Smix/almostlover.mp3
I read in one of your blogs that you have a very strong visual memory. Are there memories that stuck with you for a long time and that are very important for you?
“[...] I will say those memories kind of keep me going and are a motivation and perspective checker. If you're interested they are in my blogs on TL.”
Reference: http://www.teamliquid.net/blog/Smix
Parody Songs – Do you have any musical training and background or did you just pick it up?
How did it all start with the Parody Songs?
“It all started back in June of 2010 [...]”
I remember you posted in the “GG Maybe” thread that you just used your macbook. Do you really just use the built in Macbook mic?
Reference: SC2 Parody Song “GG Maybe” http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Smix/ggmaybe2.mp3
Talking Teamliquid – How do you think Teamliquid has changed since you joined?
“...it has changed a lot! [...]“
Do you use Teamliquid.net as much as you did back then?
Smix' thoughts on the Kespa/MLG Partnership and the reaction to it
Flash's first game
What events will you attend next? Any European events maybe?
Confirmed:
Red Bull Battlegrounds
MLG Anaheim
Do you follow any other eSport beside BW and SC2?
Shout-outs
Links
Thank You
Thank you to Sue Lee for this fun interview and for allowing me to use the header picture.
Thank you to everyone who submitted questions before and during the interview.
Thank you in advance for any constructive criticism.
Thank you to everyone who submitted questions before and during the interview.
Thank you in advance for any constructive criticism.