Earlier this month I visited Vici Gaming’s gaming house at Shanghai. I wasn’t allowed to take pictures, though, because Vici’s manager, Hunter, was concerned with fans finding where Vici’s gaming houses were.
Vici Gaming is one of China’s biggest esports clubs, currently with two League of Legends teams, one Dota2 team, a Hearthstone team, as well as players who participate in other esports. Only their League of Legend and Dota2 teams live in the gaming houses, however, as the other games are not team games and are mostly played online.
Aside from one gaming house for each team, they also have a special house that they share with LGD for their advertisement and support staff, as well as a gaming house for LV Gaming, a Dota2 team created via collaboration between LGD and Vici Gaming.
Each gaming house has three floors and a basement. The basement and first floor are where the players practice. Along one wall lines five computers for the players, while the coaches’ computers are lined on the opposite wall, so they just have to turn to spectate all the players. The second and third floor are the residence for coaches and players, with two residents for each room, except for one that’s shared by four. There is no dinning hall, so the players all eat around a big table on the first floor just by where they practice.
These huge gaming houses were empty during my visit, however, as most of their teams were out competing. But I had a long chat with Vasilii, as he had just joined VG a few days ago and was waiting for Mata, Dandy, and Heart to arrive before they could move into the team house. Below is an Q/A version of the interview.
Q: There are a lot of Koreans coming to China this season. Were you ever worried about not being able to find a team?
A: I wasn’t really worried. I was getting offers from different teams, but it felt like they were underestimating me. I’m not as famous in China, and when I was in China, I was a substitute, so some people still think I’m a third rated ADC.
Q: A substitute? You mean when LMQ was still in China?
A: Yes. LMQ was formed by merging Royal Club’s secondary team and LM. At that time, LM’s best player was their ADC by far, so I was benched, not because lack of skill, but for the team.
Q: Why did LMQ break up after Worlds this year?
A: Godlike (Ackerman) wanted to play in China after worlds. And people on the team were thinking: “it won’t be the same five man anymore,” so we all just left.
Q: How did you like your time in NA?
A: I really enjoyed my time in NA. I think foreigners are interesting, so I always enjoyed talking with them. Sometimes they probably couldn’t understand what I was saying, but I would just keep talking, and every time I would end up learning something. I feel like my English went from primary school level to high school level. I might actually know less word than some people, but my speaking is probably better.
Q: Was there a player or team that you were super close to?
A: Not in particular. We were really close to everyone. All the teams were really friendly to us. The fans are always encouraging as well, regardless of how well you play.
Q: What kind of music do you listen to? Do you still listen to English songs after coming back?
A: Yes I do. I’ve actually been only listened to western music for a long time.
Q: Before you went to NA?
A: Yes.
Q: Favorite singer?
A: Taylor Swift. I watched her You Belong with Me, and I was just charmed. After that I’ve pretty much only listened to western music.
Q: Second favorite?
A: None. (Smirk)
Q: What do you sing the most in Karaoke nowadays?
A: I’m not the only one, by Sam Smith
Q: Would you like to play in NA again if you get the chance to?
A: I would like to keep playing in NA, but I want to achieve something while I’m still young.
Q: There are a lot of third party tournaments in China, so are you participating in any anytime soon?
A: You probably have to wait till LPL.
Q: Which support player did you enjoy playing with the most in NA solo que?
A: I think I enjoyed playing with Yuno the most. She was really good, and she actually climbed to challenger all by herself, rather than by duo queuing with a good ADC. When I first ran into her in solo que, I would get crushed in lane all the time, and her hooks were always on the mark in team fights, so I would keep asking her “Are you Mata, are you Mata?” Later on we started duo-queuing, and when she told me she was a girl, I was really shocked.. So I started calling her Girl Mata.
Q: Anything you like to say to your fans.
A: Hi my fans. I miss you guys so much. I will play season five LPL, so please watch it, and, I will never forget...(I couldn't catch what he said in the end, and I asked him later and he said he forgot himself).
Bonus Questions (about girlfriends etc.)
+ Show Spoiler +
Q: Did you know you had a bunch of female fans in NA?
A: I only got to know that after I got back to China. I was pretty bad with twitter when I was in NA.
Q: Did you regret not getting a girlfriend?
A: Yeah. (lol)
Q: So you said Yuno chased you to LA with a translator once, but now she's chased you to China. What's your reply?
A: Well, she is in my home field now. So I will definitely do better.
Q: What happened back then?
A: (No comment)
A: I only got to know that after I got back to China. I was pretty bad with twitter when I was in NA.
Q: Did you regret not getting a girlfriend?
A: Yeah. (lol)
Q: So you said Yuno chased you to LA with a translator once, but now she's chased you to China. What's your reply?
A: Well, she is in my home field now. So I will definitely do better.
Q: What happened back then?
A: (No comment)
Bonus Video (I asked him what he would like to say to his fans, but I accidentally put myself in the video, which is pretty unprofessional, so I will leave it here as a bonus. Sorry guys....)
+ Show Spoiler +
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pmcge6qfehiyl4s/vasiliiiiiiiii%20-%20HD%20720p.mov?dl=0
It was my first time doing something like this. I think I might do more if people are interested. Leave a comment if there is something you are interested in.