DPM: 'I want to set an example'

Eight years of Dota long duration. So How did you get into Dota?

My debate teammates got bored of our LAN CounterStrike sessions and wanted to throw in other games into the mix. I hated DotA at first because there were so many things to learn. But after I knew the basics and items for Skeleton King, I was hooked and eager to play more. Only played LAN games for a year, before I realized I could play on Bnet.

Along with Dota you are also seen playing SC2. Which one attracts you the most, SC2 or Dota?

I never thought I would enjoy traditional RTS games. But, I found StarCraft 2 fun in December 2011 and bought it this January. The funniest thing is that most of my friends who play both games play Dota to take a break, while I play SC2 and other games to take a break (only because I play Dota more seriously than I do SC2).

Can you describe your journey in Dota from being a beginner to the level you have achieved currently?

I never took learning DotA seriously. I just play and learn along the way. My favorite role is support, which is great for me because you rarely will find pubs fighting over the support role (though it has happened!) I started refining my skills when I made some competitive player friends. Ended up winning a Garena China contest in 2009, which I only joined for fun. Though I’m not a TI2 pro, I get invites because I’m a support player.



Also, can you describe your Journey in terms of your work in eSports?

It all started because my friends in Hong Kong wanted more competitions. At the time I was working freelance in the academic field. I was voluntarily working for the community, such as work on PlayDotA. Passion and talent are recognized in gaming, so I ended up working with all sorts of organizations, such as the World Cyber Games, Garena, Alienware and Valve, to mention a few.

Currently, I work freelance in eSports. One of my bigger projects is managing the Facebook and Twitter pages of Alienware Asia Pacific. I also have upcoming projects and will be attending many events, which I will announce in the coming months.

I’ve been super happy recently since I’ve joined Twitch TV’s Network Development team. It’s an awesome company with great people and goals. They’ve sent me to the Pinoy Gaming Festival, Blizzard World Cup, IEM Singapore, Garena Carnival and the WCG Grand Final

Since you are a female streamer, do you find people/viewers have a different attitude towards you?

Everyone is treated the same, in the sense that we are all treated differently for one reason or the other. Anyone working in the public side of gaming needs to be able to deal with trolls and random comments. I have only come across a few, probably because I am recognized on my own merits, do not emphasize being female and am against special treatment for girls. I only stream for fun when I’m playing because some have asked. I don’t mind sharing my experiences and showcasing some pros’ skills, especially when they aren’t able to stream themselves. I will definitely be cutting down in the coming months because I will be working more and playing less.

How do you take back the criticism given to you by the community? Does it help you in any way constructively?

Criticism and suggestions are always welcome and important. Everyone’s opinion matters. If referring to suggestions for me, most of them are about gaining a bigger audience, which is not my goal. My current streaming basically is just me playing when I’m relaxing. I don’t mind if anyone is watching or not. But, I also receive a lot of feedback about various things in eSports and gaming, which is very interesting and useful.

A strong competition is given by females in all fields. Do you think in esports we need something that must be done to encourage more female teams/players and streamers? Any obstacles for female casters?

Any special treatment is unnecessary. There is too much counter-productive favoritism for females in eSports and it should be cut down, preferably eliminated. Professional teams should be formed based on skill and chemistry, not because they’re all girls. I have seen cases where some girls are content with their current skills, even though they probably would gain more from joining a regular team. It also deeply saddens me to see some companies explicitly looking for females for positions where sex shouldn’t matter at all.

However, I think we should not over generalize and bash these girls who choose to take that path in eSports. There is room for casual gaming and gimmicky things, which is different from professional eSports. Also, it is hard to blame someone for taking up an opportunity. I have friends who have taken this route and we remain friends. The community should focus more on pushing sponsors and organizers if we want change.



You have attended the International can you describe your experience at The International? How different is it from the past International which you attended? Any suggestions that you can offer for the third event next year?

Valve constantly listens and eagerly encourages suggestions. There are many huge improvements that the whole world has witnessed. Already given in some suggestions, but there are too many to mention. I guess the most interesting for your readers, are my community-focused suggestions. I hope they will have events with prizes for Dota fans, the biggest being an all-expense-paid trip to The International 3.

I also think it would be cool to have special “meet the teams”passes/events. Let’s hope that they make that happen!

As compared to European Dota 2 competitive scene, we don’t see much tournament for the SEA region. What changes can be done in the SEA region so that the number of tournaments in SEA equals or exceeds to the number of tournaments held in Eurpoe ?

There are actually many DotA and Dota 2 tournaments in South East Asia. They just don’t receive much exposure in Western mainstream eSports media. Improvements in marketing and coordination would help them. If you are talking about the Dota 2 scene in particular, some of the SEA competitions are reluctant to move to Dota 2 because of technical lag and PC requirement issues. I believe, that that transition will eventually be made after more development. Lastly, there is definitely much room for improvement in terms of the quality of online and offline tournaments in the region. Once events finally reach their full potential in terms of reach, more sponsors will be interested.

Many European teams have undergone roster changes after the International: your view about the team roster changes?

Roster changes are normal throughout the year, but especially after events. It is expected to have major changes after the biggest annual Dota 2 event. Considering that all seven Asian teams were in the top eight and won money, it is the European teams that are more likely to have the biggest changes. I wouldn’t know whether or not those changes would work because team communication and spirit are really important and can change at any moment.



This is regarding casters Purge and Draskyl, who made the remark that it is ‘more profitable’ to be a caster than a professional player in the scene. What are your thoughts about this? And if it is profitable then does it apply only for Dota2 or in general for esports casting is more profitable than a professional player in the scene?

A career is as profitable as one makes it. I do not have all of the facts and figures, but it really depends on the individual. Both casters and players can maximize earnings by proper branding and relationship building. Tons of current top gamers and casters still have tons of more room to earn more with some changes.

I must say that gamers in a team game take a higher risk because their success relies heavily on their teammates. Also, professional gamers should develop additional skills and decide on where they want to head after they pass their peak.

Out of all casters, which casting style suits and pleases you the most?(=Which caster do you favor?)

I don't get to watch tournaments closely as much as the past due to work, even when I am at the event. My most preferred way to watch a match is in-game. There is room for all types of casters to suit different types of audiences, especially when they can cast in pairs and balance things out.

According to you, which is the toughest challenge that a caster faces in the competitive Dota 2 scene and why?

That many organizations in eSports undervalue casting. Many casters are approached with very inadequate offers with an attitude that the organization is doing them a huge favor. This isn’t exclusive to new and emerging casters and happens to seasoned casters as well. The good news is that this is starting to change, especially after The International showcased more casters and roles.

Can you think of a feature you would like to be added to Dota 2?

Competitive news tab under “Today” to provide more information to gamers and give more exposure to events. “Events” tab under “Community” for fun community events. Wish list and gift feature. Pausable Dota 2 themed mini games for breaks and while queuing for games. “Follower” feature, so people can easily track games of their friends or favorite gamers/casters. In-game stream system, where people can watch a game in the client complete with camera + voice. Also, with a subscription option so that these people can earn more money by providing additional benefits to paying followers. In-client streaming to external sites feature.



Every streamer has his/her own benchmark. You are known for her giveaways in the dota community. How did the giveaway thing began and will there be giveaways in future from you?