In this read you will learn of how "3434" got involved in competitive Dota, and his journey under the spotlight. Hear the story of his Dota career through his own self. Moreover they discuss the future of Dota as an E-sport; his likes and dislikes on heroes and changelogs. He even shares how his sister has supported his passion for gaming. As Dota grows to become a truly global community, this is a perfect opportunity to familiarize yourself with this fantastic player and professional from the other side of the world.
The entire Interview (Translated)
I’m the reporter Xiaoshou from Sgamer.com. Welcome to our “Dota Idol”, and please greet your fans first.
- Hello everyone, I’m the bright and intelligent, handsome and smart, quick-witted and adorable sanshengsanshi, and you can call me 3434 as well.
All those words seem only can be used to describe girls… so where does your id “sanshengsansi” come from? Does that mean a promise you made with a girl? (sanshengsanshi means “pre-life, present life, after-life” in Chinese and is almost always used when you want to express your eternal love to somebody)
- oh, you get it, hehe, I’ve been using this id which embodies some purport since I went to junior high school.
When did you start playing Dota? Before that had you played some other RPG maps, Dynasty Warriors for example?
- Yep, I played DW for about half a year, then I started playing Dota for about 4 years ever since I graduated form junior high school.
Do you still keep your first Dota team in memory?
- The first team I joined is an amateur Dota team set up by my friends, and it’s an online team. Afterward via ZzZ I got to know some new friends who were from Changsha, then we always played together. I still can remember clearly that we had 7 players at that time.
So the first professional team you joined is Ehome, and why did you make a decision to join such a professional Dota team?
- Just like most of other professional players, I did that just for a dream: to make the common play days more characteristic.
But your first trip to professional Dota scene seemed not successful.
- I seldom played in clan wars, so I was totally inexperienced at that time and didn't know how to allocate myself in the team, in a word I was not mature. I learned a lot when I was in Ehome, because I improved my individual ability via the help of my teammates. So after I left Ehome I mulled over all my experiences, which in general were a happy trip, though couldn’t be said to be a successful one.
Why not mention that you were the nominal prentice of Snoy?
- Well, I did learn a lot from Snoy god, who made me realize I was deficient. Snoy is a very strict and diligent teacher.
Even after you left Ehome you still didn't give up your fond dream that you could play as a professional dota player one day, did you? As for being a professional dota player, what’s your family’s attitude toward that?
- After leaving Ehome I felt not consoled to my situation, so I would rather continue playing in a professional Dota team. Of course my family opposed my ideas at that time, on the whole I played all matches with the aid of my family during 2008 to the first half year of 2009.
So you mean though they held a contra-attitude, they still offered financial support?
- I told them I just went out to take part in a minor tournament, but then I had been out for several months…though they were against my opinions, they knew even if I went back home, I still would play day by day, so they just let it be. Most of my financial support came from my sister who lives in Shanghai.
If I give you a song-long time to be grateful to those who aided you, would it be your sister or the girl who brought your id to you?
- I have no idea, I have too many people to give my thanks to, but it must be my sister if I only can appreciate some one.
In the first half year of 2009 CD entered into our eye shot as a dark horse that triumphed over many powerhouses, so how did you think of setting up a team at the beginning?
- At that time there was an offline tournament organized by Changsha shentong, and the organizers promised to sponsor the team that got the first place. So all of us thought it was a chance to play Dota and support ourselves furthermore. That’s why we set up the team at the time.
How did you get to know all other teammates?
- We knew each other when taking part in that tournament. I got to know zippo and zhou before the tournament, while insence was a friend of diqiuchaoren, who came because of another friend. Diqiuchaoren also dropped in his master Caomei then.
Just after being formed for not a long time CD gained the champion in the ACG Finals(Chinese zone) Then who did you tell the news first, and how did you feel?
- Of course we all felt happy because we didn't anticipate that? I told my mom first if you mean somebody who have no business with dota. After the event we all went out drinking beers.
But in ACG offline Finals you got kicked out in eighth-final, and since then you didn't get close to some new glory, were you under strong pressure?
- Yes, the pressure was really heavy, and we were familiar with the strategy of those Southeast Asain teams, and our performances were not satisfactory as well.
Do you feel a bit regretful when missing the last event in 2009－AWL?
- Only a little, I enjoyed the feeling of watching a Chinese team get the champion with a cup of coffee in my hand! But the tri-core tactics gets more and more boring! I hope in 2010 all powerhouses will exploit new strategies in new versions…
As for the new version, it seems that recently your team are inactive, maybe you play in public game? How do you think about the new version then?
- Ancient apparition is a bit imbalanced when it is solo in a lane, while Doom is totally against nature after being remade in 6.66. As for others I think modifying tp make rhythm of Dota become faster than ever, now initiative gank style also works much better than in 6.64. URN of shadows will be an very efficient instrument when used in gank… For the moment gank-style push strategy will be a good way to win a game in my opinion.
How do you think of those frequent changes made by icefrog?
- Development of Dota need more players to join in, and a game is attractive to players only if it’s balanced, while market asks for viewable value, so I think icefrog keeps modifying Dota just to make it both be balanced and have viewable value at the same time.
Your favorite heroes are shadow fiend and storm, so why? Because they ask for a player’s individual ability of micromanagement?
- That’s only one aspect, it’s more important that this two heroes can be used comfortably no matter you gank or farm.
As to the year 2010 do you have some expectations? In your opinion can Dota continue its good momentum in 2009 or will it decline?
- 2010 is a nice year, because it avoids 2009… Dota surely will continue its good momentum according to the current developments of Dota.
Though CD didn’t get many champions recently, your team has been stable so far, What do you think the success is due to?
- Maybe because we insist on our own style and strategy.
Do you have something to say about the retirement of GK, your former teammate?
- GK is a player I admire always, I hope he can find his own way in the days to come. Retirement only means another beginning to him in my opinion.
Thanks for your time.
- You are welcome.
This translation was brought to you courtesy of "gaaralz".
Links
Sgamer.com - Original Interview in Chinese
