Have you ever noticed that EVERY SINGLE PROGAMER says something like "I am not satisfied with winning" when they win, "I will work hard to overcome (insert name) and retain my name" when they lose? Why are progamers so boring?
You see this a lot with interviews. Progamers always say the same generic stuff: that they play and win for their fans, that they will work hard to retain their honor or whatever, and that they will avenge/uphold their name if they've lost in the past. Examples: Fantasy, Jaedong, Savior, ect ect.
It seems like I root for guys because they win; none of these guys have any personality whatsoever. Exception: Firebathero. I've gotten to the point where I don't really care about any of the players. Whenever these people win they say the exact same thing; everyone's so generic. Why root for anyone over anyone else?
Perhaps this has to do with Korean culture, but, if it does, then, Korean culture is conformist and boring.
I'll end with this: Awesome: Boxer, FBH, Rock Snore: Stork, Jangbi
I think the problem is that the same trite questions are asked after each victory.
I'm sure quite a few of the progamers are super-cool guys; it's just that interviews don't generally allow anything to be expressed except the "I will work hard for my fans, family, and myself" deal.
That's not limited just to programing and you're bassically talking about the mentality of asian countries. I personally find their culture very interesting, expecially their strong will and determination.
And it's not like they don't have any personality, their culture puts more accent on respect and not manifesting one's feelings in public.
Actually the personalities they present during interviews or when playing are often quite different to those you see when they're on their own (like during my photo shoots.) or at the fan meetings/just with the other players at matches post-pre games. You can't possibly judge them on the interviews and air time alone because it is a formal environment (much more so than most of the other eSports I've worked at.) and therefore due to the social structure and professional duties of the esports scene and Korea in general they can't act unprofessionally and give outlandish answers. They have a lot of young fans and are seen as role models by default because they are celebrities here. You can't judge them by the same standards as foreign (Non-Korean.) professional gamers. Also some people seem to forget a lot of these gamers are still teenagers - they often lack confidence and follow the examples of their older fellow gamers and/or coaches/managers.
I hate to burst peoples' bubbles, but even Sungeun (Firebathero.) isn't as out-going off camera as people seem to like to think he is. He's a lovely guy, but he is far from the most confident person I've met out of all the gamers (that honor jointly goes to Chalrenge, Canata and Gorush.)
No offense, but you're really making some massively uninformed generalizations in the op both about progamers/the progaming scene and Korean culture in general - different doesn't always equal boring or wrong. Whilst I will admit there are conformist elements to some Asian countries (sometimes due to their government like in North Korea and more often than not due to historical norms establishing a long time ago.) they do not define every single person in the country and they certainly don't define all the gamers I've met so far.
They play a game all day, they are not politicians or movie stars, they are not chosen by their personality or charisma, just because they are good at BW.
On August 23 2009 14:15 CrimsonLotus wrote: They play a game all day, they are not politicians or movie stars, they are not chosen by their personality or charisma, just because they are good at BW.
I would reread NeverGGs post. I don't think there is much room for argument, really. It's simply a difference in culture and the norms of culture.
While I too would think it'd be easier to pick favorite players if they were all more outgoing in interviews or anywhere on set, it's understandable they way it all goes down...not much any of us can do about it any way.
they have an image to uphold dude. why jeopardize the chance of earning hundreds of thousands of dollars just to be quirky and interesting in interviews? makes no sense
i actually agree with the op here, progaming would be more interesting if it there was more bm/rivalry between players/teams, sort of like in american sports
for example, bisu after he bmed hwasin made such an interesting series, otherwise the series would have been shitty and mediocre
Probably because if you don't live in Korea and you miss a lot of stuff that goes on.
Just watching a bit of the bnet attack or live battle shows would give you slightly better insight on how the progamers are. Atleast better than those cheesy post-game interviews. I don't understand any of these, but the few that have been subtitled have been fun. Just watching games and reading the random interview here and there, I would get the impression that JulyZerg was just some random guy that just happened to be really good at SC, but watching the clip of him playing 2v3 on hunters with the MBC commentator and them giving each other high fives, I get the feeling that he's a very friendly guy brimming with confidence and just really cool and likable.
I think it's very unfair to judge them based on those routine interviews. The questions are often stupid too. Like "You won, how do you feel?"
They just say that stuff to be more sportsman like, I do not think they always feel this way. a lot of the players have really fun personalities and humor and just say that stuff not to seem like assholes.
Bro what the hell do u want them to say they are fricken on television. U can't judge them like that and u certainly can't say Korea has a boring culture. Your post is based on a hundred assumptions
On August 23 2009 15:21 Kenpachi wrote: People have their own way of BMing others. You can say t('-'t) in the game.
ex. Offensive CC
yeah dude, like in the CJ vs Oz semifinals in proleague, frickin BM CCs all over the place just to stick it to the other team. I think players can show a bit of personality in their gameplay, and that's pretty cool =)
I think the only other place to see progamer's personality if you don't get to talk to them before their games are during group selections. They speak to every player about why they picked the player they have chosen and sometimes some trash talk each other lol. Like in one osl selection, Rock and Frozean[Name] were going at it(Frozean first starting the trash talk)and basically Frozean was like "I may not be as good as jaedong or flash and have no chance at winnning the osl but that before he fell he would make sure to take Rock with him because rock isn't that good or something like that. Then the rock talks trash back saying why he's even talking like he's good or something. It's not like he's nada or anything. It's not as fun when I explain it but yea stuff like this happens in almost every group selection and u get a taste of progamer's personalities.
Of course it sucks if u can't understand korean unless someone translates it :/
On August 23 2009 17:12 MaRiNe23 wrote: I think the only other place to see progamer's personality if you don't get to talk to them before their games are during group selections. They speak to every player about why they picked the player they have chosen and sometimes some trash talk each other lol. Like in one osl selection, Rock and Frozean[Name] were going at it(Frozean first starting the trash talk)and basically Frozean was like "I may not be as good as jaedong or flash and have no chance at winnning the osl but that before he fell he would make sure to take Rock with him because rock isn't that good or something like that. Then the rock talks trash back saying why he's even talking like he's good or something. It's not like he's nada or anything. It's not as fun when I explain it but yea stuff like this happens in almost every group selection and u get a taste of progamer's personalities.
Of course it sucks if u can't understand korean unless someone translates it :/
wow marine23 did you surpass your master exalted yet? i didnt know you were still alive! are parents as strict as always? did you get rid of that acne? hows school, are you talking to girls already?
On August 23 2009 14:15 CrimsonLotus wrote: They play a game all day, they are not politicians or movie stars, they are not chosen by their personality or charisma, just because they are good at BW.
On August 23 2009 17:12 MaRiNe23 wrote: I think the only other place to see progamer's personality if you don't get to talk to them before their games are during group selections. They speak to every player about why they picked the player they have chosen and sometimes some trash talk each other lol. Like in one osl selection, Rock and Frozean[Name] were going at it(Frozean first starting the trash talk)and basically Frozean was like "I may not be as good as jaedong or flash and have no chance at winnning the osl but that before he fell he would make sure to take Rock with him because rock isn't that good or something like that. Then the rock talks trash back saying why he's even talking like he's good or something. It's not like he's nada or anything. It's not as fun when I explain it but yea stuff like this happens in almost every group selection and u get a taste of progamer's personalities.
Of course it sucks if u can't understand korean unless someone translates it :/
wow marine23 did you surpass your master exalted yet? i didnt know you were still alive! are parents as strict as always? did you get rid of that acne? hows school, are you talking to girls already?
LOL? who are u??? Yes I'm waaaaay better than exalted now =) and he still gets on bnet sometimes and i watch him play like old days and talk to him on vent. Parents aren't as strict. Yes alot of the acne is gone..all it took was taking better care of my hygeiene like washing face well and some acne cream(rofl i feel so uncomfortable talking about this). I'm still working on the girls part. (who are u btw?! o.o)
On August 23 2009 15:21 Kenpachi wrote: People have their own way of BMing others. You can say t('-'t) in the game.
ex. Offensive CC
yeah dude, like in the CJ vs Oz semifinals in proleague, frickin BM CCs all over the place just to stick it to the other team. I think players can show a bit of personality in their gameplay, and that's pretty cool =)
I'm pretty sure it was Cj vs Hite, especially since it's go.go on Hite, he's like the godfather of BM.
HAHAHA This picture is almost as bad as that Jaedong one.
Most interviews are really boring, but there are some nice ones. Sangho's from the STX Masters was real nice because they asked about his vacation and it was a nice anecdote. I also enjoyed reading Jaedong's semi-final interview where he talked about how he wasn't actually in a slump despite what people keep and denied all future talk about his "bonjwa status".
On August 23 2009 17:12 MaRiNe23 wrote: I think the only other place to see progamer's personality if you don't get to talk to them before their games are during group selections. They speak to every player about why they picked the player they have chosen and sometimes some trash talk each other lol. Like in one osl selection, Rock and Frozean[Name] were going at it(Frozean first starting the trash talk)and basically Frozean was like "I may not be as good as jaedong or flash and have no chance at winnning the osl but that before he fell he would make sure to take Rock with him because rock isn't that good or something like that. Then the rock talks trash back saying why he's even talking like he's good or something. It's not like he's nada or anything. It's not as fun when I explain it but yea stuff like this happens in almost every group selection and u get a taste of progamer's personalities.
Of course it sucks if u can't understand korean unless someone translates it :/
wow marine23 did you surpass your master exalted yet? i didnt know you were still alive! are parents as strict as always? did you get rid of that acne? hows school, are you talking to girls already?
LOL? who are u??? Yes I'm waaaaay better than exalted now =) and he still gets on bnet sometimes and i watch him play like old days and talk to him on vent. Parents aren't as strict. Yes alot of the acne is gone..all it took was taking better care of my hygeiene like washing face well and some acne cream(rofl i feel so uncomfortable talking about this). I'm still working on the girls part. (who are u btw?! o.o)