|
| Interview with ToT)Selector(
|
|
| |
He is a caught hacker and abuser, but has proved several times that he has very decent skills without hacking and promised often that he will never hack again, but failed with that statement. What's up with this guy?
Selector against the wall.
Third placed at  Germany's WCG, a spot in WCG finals in  Singapore and recently joined the team of Pro-Gaming (just turned back to ToT). Furthermore good results in various ladders and offline tournaments, but also caught as a hacker several times, founded guilty as beeing a abuser in ladders and tournaments. A very kindly and pleasent person on several offline LAN tournaments, but accused of being bad-mannered on the internet. Apparently a very two sided player, disliked by the one side, liked by the others. Just after the recent German WCG and his joining of team ToT enough reasons to sit down with him and start to ask him questions. Here we go!
Let's start with that usual stuff : name,age and occupation?
- My Name is Florian Rappl, 21 and I am computer scientest at Infineon in Regensburg.
Any Hobbys?
- Sure ! Going out with friends, watching movies, going biking and i am keen on skiing ;D
What are your favourite movies, any genre?
- Hm I like all martial art movies! Matrix of course, but also Ong-bak or Kung-Fu Hustle. I am a huge fan of Tiger and Dragon and House of flying daggers, but I also like art movies like Amelie (yeah very romantic) or Legends of the fall. Very entertaining!
Yea, watched some of the martial arts movies too already, kinda entertaining. Any favourite music or bands you like?
- Generally I have to say that I dont have any special music genre! I like all music which "sounds good" in my ears :D, but bands, hm! Blind Guardien for sure! I like U2 and all kind of good electronic music. I even was at mayday this year (in dortmund). I like that electronic stuff.
When going out , disco and bars, any favourite drink ?
- Mojito!
Brazil Rum or something?! Not sure what mojito is exactly.
- Ha i dunno either, but i like the taste ;)
- Its something with mint.
Lets come to some StarCraft related stuff. When did you start playing?
- I started when the game was released in USA. I was there on vacation and saw it. I had to buy it! I played the campaign and started playing it on lans, but then other games were more interesting. When i got internet I tried any games to play and for sure StarCraft was back on track! With a friend I started playing in 2001 - convincing more and more friends to play it with me. We had great times, but I am the only survivor!
You played a specific race in the beginning or switched around between the 3?
- I knew from the LAN games that I like to play protoss so I started playing Protoss. I only played 2on2, then a new league was formed called BWCL and I started playing 1on1. For some reason I used Zerg in 1on1s. But then switched to Protoss. I had several race changes in all the years but I always came back to Protoss. Its the race I want to get the perfection :D!
You think you played best with Protoss ?
- Mojito is white rum (e.g. havanna club) - just found out :D. And yes I think its the race I can compete best. I played it most. Its simple.
- Not the race is simple but its easy fact that the race you play most is your best.
Does Protoss have any special advantages the other races dont have or you like most?
- I think Protoss could be stronger with stronger Psi Storm (more damage) or higher supply (limit 220, Terran 180 and Zerg 200) - but the game is balanced. It depends mostly on the maps. Protoss is a race which needs to be played perfectly. Any missed storm or bad decision can be your death. I like protoss race due to their arrogance (look at picture at game summery screen!)!
Many people say that Protoss has advantages on air maps, Zerg has some disadvantages. Zerg player sometimes keep switching the race then... you think same?
- I think Z>P in a way on landmaps and P>Z on island maps. But there is still a decent chance of winning at modern island maps (I mean no Dire Straits style). When I look how Breakdown fooled me (and Fisheye) on Estrella on German WCG finals. Ok I made some faults but I havent thought on losing it :)! So there is a chance!
What about the current WCG maps, are they balanced in your opinion?
- They are great! Just great! I mean on the last WCG Maps I always had a kind of dismotivation to use'em. This time I feel they are balanced and Protoss does have very good chances! I really like these Maps! They are very nice balanced!
Any map you favour most or dislike for a reason?
- Depends on matchups. Generally I favour gaia cause I have played it most. And I really hate Paranoid! Can't play that map :) I am just too stupid for it :/
You recently showed some good results in German WCG, beeing able to get a ticket to Singapore. Was it difficult to get the spot ?
- I trained well for it and I was well prepared. Due to some personal reasons I couldn't reach the whole aim of skill, but after seeing the grid I knew that I would have a decent chance. I think I had some advantage in the tourney (until WB finale) because I play many offline events (huge ones) and I had nothing to lose. I was very relaxed and therefore it was pretty standard - not easy but not very difficult.
How did you practice the WCG maps? Met with ToT/pG members and played a lot? Rumors say that Mondragon gave you a lot of training.
- Mondragon offered me to be my coach when he was in Regensburg 2 weeks before my holiday trip with my former girlfriend. He said he wont participate and therefore can train me. I agreed. After coming back from that trip I played on Game-i and on West a lot (only LT) for the pure skill and played on Europe for knowing WCG maps against pG members.
- Mondragon told them to play me ;D and they did! I learned a lot. I always asked for tips and requested better strats and opinions. They were very nice and gave me useful advices. But the best ones and strategies where from Mondragon (da Master) himself. We invented all WCG Map strats and used it in High Class Games (e.g. Mondragon vs Testie) and improved them etc. I practiced like 3-5 hours a day for 2-3 Weeks!
How did it feel after you won deciding games which gave you to the spot to Singapore? Like a dream coming true or something?
- It felt unreal. I couldnt realise it. Its the dream of every BW Gamer I think. I made it. This year there was a lot of motivation for me. Last year I felt disappointed. I didnt want to go to Düsseldorf, but I went because mondragon said :D. I wasnt prepared and forgot my keyboard at home. I played shit. The only thing which was funny was, that I beat hexer 2:1 with Random.
- He practiced so much and played so bad - he was so pissed. Its a lot about day shape! I was very concentrated this time. Just focusing on the result. I always knew what to do! I always had a clear mind about the coming games. So yes you could say it was like a dream coming true - I even cannot believe it now! I made it! In one of the toughest WCG Prelimaries out of Korea!
 Nowadays, some days and weeks after the deciding games, probably some replay watching, who was your toughest / hardest opponent during German WCG?
- In the games before I was in Singapore: InFiNitY. I mean: I expected Stormy as 2nd Opponent and he didnt come. I wasnt prepared. My mind was focused on somebody else. It was hard! But generally the competition with Breakdown was so hard. I really wanted it and lost 1-2. The games vs. Fisheye were just playing. We made party the night and Fish was still focusing on grand final. He played better. GG by him! After game 1 I knew it.
You had a match-up you liked most during WCG germany or something you really hated maybe because of a map?!
- I always like playing PvT - I am very confident there. I play it most vs Korean semi-pro. So if I go 100% I know I have a chance in beating every non-korean T (I said chance!). I always dislike PvZ - especially on Azalea ;P - I need a Strat there :D gimme one and I give you a kiss :-x
It's open for the interview readers afterwards to send you some strats ;). It's still some time left until WCG finals in Singapore. Have you planned how much train you will have before you fly over there?
- First I have to move. I will leave my old flat (about 40 m²) and move into a better flat which is more modern and bigger (70m²). Its now in the 1st floor and not in the 3rd and a little bit more central. After having moved I will go on train on West realm. I will play like always - step by step. First goal is group round!
If you have to guess, how many hours will you probably play on average a day before wcg finals, after finnishing your moving?
- I am currently thinking about 4-5 hours! But I dont know how many things I have to handle at that time. At the moment there is no big task in my schedule so I think i could handle it that way. Playing 3 Weeks 4-5 Hours the right game could (again) improve my skill. I hope so! I dont want to be the loser like all wanna see :)
Lets change the topic from WCG to you as person in the StarCraft world/community. You are "hated/disliked" by many due hacking and abusing in the past. Nevertheless you were invited to/joined pG. Can you describe how this developed? I guess your real life friendship to Mondi had a big influence?!
- Ha I think many don't know me in reallife. I think I am not the "online" guy. I always thought "online is fun" but for many people its "reality". So I made some enemies due to bm actions (not reporting loses) or something else which was kiddy. After the hacking affairs I was so laid in the community and I am still. Its not easy, but hey life is hard. I think I changed - and I dont think it was this year. I won't go into details about this. My RL Friendship to Mondi had a huge influence.
- He knows me RL - and its my better side. There I am "real"; in internet my actions making me some kind of artificial which makes me kind of "joke" or "hated", but all I can say is sorry for all problems with me and if you dont want to give me 100. chance - ok I understand it. But you cant change the past, you just can work on yourself to have better future and present.
So you are kinda thankfull towards Mondragon for giving you a chance, a chance to proove that you are skilled enough to compete with the best AND a person who suits to ToT?!
- I am very graceful. He is a really good friend. When I was down after my last girlfriend ditched me we had a long telephone call. He wasnt the only one I spoke to, but when you can talk and someone listens its always nice. He was there. Its more than BW. Its also with the other ToT. I know many of them. Some from RL some from VL.
- I am looking forward to meet Nick (Testie) and Jamie (Midian) in Singapore! We will have a great party there. We are one huge family and its nice to talk to all of them specially Rob (strafe) - he is just art! When we were in Augsburg he was so drunken that he talked german - was fun!
- I also want to say "HELLOE" to all the finnish guys. They are so amazing! I like all of them :) Scandinavian countries = most mannered!
After your first entrance to pG / ToT , did you feel that you were accepted by everyone?
- Yes, I was introduced to ToT about 1 year ago. But the vote was against me (too many minus! - no negative result but too many!), but this time it was a clear vote pro me. As I said we have played a lot in August so they knew me and accepted me. They give me a chance and I WON'T (say what you want) disappoint them! Let the results in Singapore speak!
As you may have expected or at least a bit, several people within the community (especially in the German) have some aversions towards you. Anything you want to say them? Or do you think its partly just jealousy?
- It is mainly just jealousy - they see I have done mistakes and I am now in the best team out of Korea. I am respected in a way. They want to talk me bad, but I stand above it. To be serious : it was my motivation. I knew some of them are really going mad when I would go to Singapore. So I did it for them :) and look! 200 comments on BW.de for Selector to pG and Lonic kicked. 4 or 5 new board threads with about 300 or 400 postings. The WCG news on Broodwar.de had ~150 comments. It was such a pleasure to read this. It made my day. Don't take it too serious its just a game. I know you all dont like me but I wont die!
What are your biggest friends / allys within the Starcraft community next to the members of ToT?
- I would say all my allies :D - Lets say some: I want to thank iX.MaX, iX.VeenoX, iX.produz00r and even all other iX members (former clan where i have been) for their patience with me! Thanks and sry again for the dumb action (you know what i am talking about).
- Then I wanna say thanks to all guys from iG - they are nice clan. Don't be mad at them that they post news. I am always glad about news from a team. They do something (playing CWs, making showmatches etc.) - so don't flame them.
- I also want to say Helloe to nLx.Zarrr, a nice german protoss player who keeps improving and uT)infernal - also a very nice guy. Both are increasing their skill atm.
- The whole Dkh clan - I like all of them special greetings to Greg (Archi) and Marcel (swift), 2 very nice and relaxed players. Goody is also one of the players i like most. Of course the whole eSa team - special greetings to Chris (breakdown) - thx for ore page ;P and Freddy (fisheye) - for tipps at wcg maps and not to forget schnibl0r: you are da man :)
Ok. Lets slowly come to an end, i think the most important things are said. Just some short questions to finnish it up. You have a unit you like most at Protoss, and why?
- I like the Dragoon cause he came back like me did.
Any unit you dislike most? For some reason?
- I dislike the Reaver because they could be useful but are stupid as my actions in the past :).
I dislike the scarabs, because you cant rely on them.. sometimes they do awefull damage... but sometimes just flying around.
- Yeah its the mistake of them :)
What do you expect for the future, especially after WCG Singapore (some good games, meeting Nick+Jamie, having parties and such stuff)?
- I dont see my BW future clearly atm. Maybe I stop playing StarCraft after WCG - but I said it too often. Lets play WCG first, have a closer look at the results (and the party with nick and jamie etc.) and then ... maybe german StarCraft community won after WCG :)
Ok, thanks a lot for your time, Malla and Pfili are probably very mad at us now since it took some more time as expected ;p. Anyshout outs, greetings to anyone?
- All the guys i mentioned before, of course Arthur ! (the big A) Dissy (Mondragon) and Simon (Phil!). All my real life friends and former girlfriends (I still love you all) and of course the whole GosuGamers.net team! I hope i didnt forget anyone - lets just say its the alcohol of yesterday's night.
Ok. Bye!
- Cu & thx
|
|
|
|
Search
You are not a logged in, or you are not registered. Create an account or login to be able to post a comment.