ASK A PRO INCONTROL

Nachdem wir vor knapp einem Monat mit unser Serie "Ask a Pro" starteten, präsentieren wir euch nun heute Teil 2 mit Geoff "INcontrol" Robinson. Ihr hattet mehrere Tage um interessante Fragen zu stellen an den Amerikanischen Profispieler. Wir haben die besten 13 rausgefiltert. Nun haben wir sie endlich zurück und können sie euch präsentieren! Möchtet ihr das Interview auf Deutsch lesen könnt ihr euch die Übersetzung von Marc Jäggle, einem treuen Communitymitglied HIER durchlesen.

 

K4iSeR: When was your first contact with computer games and later than with eSports?

 

iNcontroL: I have always been a gamer. I have played the typical grade school stuff like Battle Chess, Math Blaster and some other educationally based games. Eventually I gravitated to more recreational games like Warcraft II, Counter Strike 1.6 and the Command & Conquer series. This was when I was 10 years old or so but I really enjoyed them. My friends would want to play it for an hour or two and then go do something else but I would be completely taken with the games and want to only do those lol. We would lan it up in our houses, play via dial up modem or over the net but what was most important for me and my friends was a sense of competition and I think that is a big part of the reason why my love for SC2 has remained so strong for so many years.

 

 

neocron: When assuming you will be able to play on a high level for the next 2-5 years. What will you do for living after this time? Finding a job in the E-sport scene or something completely different?

 

iNcontroL: The hope is that I make enough connections or I set myself up well enough that I can fall back on doing something in eSports like managing a team, coaching (if SC2 gets that high!) or something related to that. I love it here and obviously doing what I am doing doesn't lend itself too well to a future in some other field or something! It could be worse for sure but I just want to continue to follow my passion. If all else fails I will get my teaching degree and be that awesome college professor that used to travel the world playing a video game OR a highschool teach that coaches football and can relate to the kids :)

 

 

Gandhii: Your team, Evil Geniuses, opened a gaming house in USA. Wouldn’t  it be better to do such a big step in Korea?

 

iNcontroL: Not necessarily. In korea you are removed from most of the western tourneys like an IEM, ESL or MLG. These are the tourneys our sponsors want attention for and the ones we are more likely to succeed at. In Korea you are training with the best for sure and that is certainly a huge benefit but does that outweigh the presence in the west? Not sure. Additionally travel from korea and back is extremely expensive and while we are a very lucrative organization we are not bottomless. We would sap our travel budget very fast if we had the entire team living abroad in korea.

 

 

divine: Have you ever thought about that your life could be better without eSports?

 

iNcontroL: Does the proefessional surfer sit on his board amidst a gorgeous oceanic day looking at the sunset and ponder how his life could be better doing something else? My estimate is no. I wake up each day and live my dream. I am surrounded by my best friends and I work for a company that loves me. I have fans and competitions... I am content and happy! If I were to sit around and think about what else I could have done to make me happier I'd be too spoiled!

 

 

McIvor: How is your experience to life together with IdrA?

 

iNcontroL: IdrA is a very simple man. He wakes up and eats the same meal he likes to have a shake meal throughout the middle of the day and then a meaty dinner. Aside from that we joke around, go to the gym each day and in general have a good time. He is a fairly easy guy to be around so there isn't too much more to say here.

 

 

Koopa: What thoughts do you have about the first NASL Season, especially about the finals.

 

iNcontroL: It was an awesome experience that was a lot of fun an event to learn from. I know I couldn't have done it any longer because it is such a time suck and it is a LOT of work. I was also getting stressed out because in a role like that you simply cannot please everyone and I was getting a LOT of negative attention for various reasons.. stuff I don't typically want to have to put up with because I am not very well equipped to handle so much stress in that form. That said it was a lot of fun casting, I do enjoy that. I also made some great friends and like I said, I learned a lot! So the experience was truly worth it. The finals were a huge relief for me. It takes a LOT to put on an offline SC2 event and I didn't do much but I certainly worried for those that did.. when we were able to put on a good show on day 2 and 3 I was extremely relieved and overjoyed to see it all come together. I was also very stressed out about casting the final games because I knew the fan favorites were desired but it wouldn't be right if the first season of the NASL didn't have the finals casted by it's regular duo.. and after we did what I thought was a fantastic performance I was extremely relieved.. it was like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders..

 

 

Ricedorf: What’s so special about a teamhouse? Is it the feeling to play with other gamers in one room?

 

iNcontroL: A team house offers an immersion that no other gaming experience can replicate. Talking, playing and in general, being surrounded by SC2 and SC2 likeminded people is a complete immersion that almost by virtue of osmosis makes you better. For me it is also an elevation of responsibility that makes everything I do more serious which means I am able to dedicate more time and energy to becoming the best player I can.

 

 

Lickshotz: What hotkey setup do you use and which one you think is more efficient. To me it seems that grid seems easier to learn, however it forces the hand to stay on the left side of the keyboard. What’s your opinion on that?

 

iNcontroL: It is 100% up to the player. Personally I use grid and it just works for me. I don't really have a comment otherwise because I don't think it matters so long as you the player are comfortable.

 

 

spl4tty: Do you know any European or especially German player and which player is the best in your opinion?

 

iNcontroL: I fancy myself a bit of a SC2 fanatic so I know the entire SC2 scene very well. Germans have always had a spot in my heart because of my ToT background in BW and also my German heritage. I am a huge fan of Hasuobs, I find his play so strong and basic it is great for me to draw inspiration from because I think he wins a LOT of his games on army control. I am also friends with Socke and he is probably the most successful German player atm.. his voice is silk smooth and his general demeanor is hilariously chill. I am a huge fan of his play as well. As far as who is the best EU player.. that is hard to say. Kas sometimes looks amazing and is dominating the EU ladder/online tourneys... but Ret seems to have the highest potential sometimes nearing perfection with his macro Z play. That said, Stephano has amazing results, nerchio has literally made morrow quit ZvZ and White-rA can't help but win almost every major event he participates in. It's a close call but I would probably give it to Ret atm just because of his potential.

 

 

Neckra: Why did you, unlike in SCBW, decide to play Protoss in SCII? Are/were Zerg or Terran another option for you or aren't they fitting to your current playing style?

 

iNcontroL: In SCBW I chose Zerg purely for aesthetic reasons, they look like Tyranids! In Sc2 I had an obligation to pick the race I felt would win me the most games as it is my job now.. so I thought protoss' more methodical and cerebral play would aid me in my quest to be the best.

 

 

TaKeTV: Do you have a car?

 

iNcontroL: Yep. A Jeep 2001 Cherokee.. I named it the "White Knight" as a kid. I am soon going to get myself a brand new Dodge Charger so I can pick up hot studs like Take and maybe kiss them gently.

 

 

Railus: You want to concentrate more on playing and stopped casting cause of that. Can we see you on some big events as caster again or just playing?

 

iNcontroL: I'm not going to lie, each time they talk about a new caster announcement for MLG, ESL, IEM etc etc.. I get a bit sad cause I kinda want to be THAT guy :) I know it's selfish and impossible as I am still a player but I REALLY enjoy casting and want to do it more. So my dream of dreams is a DH or IEM contacts me and says "how do you feel about casting for us for 1 tourney?" I would really enjoy it :)

 

 

TaKeTV: After a few weeks, what do you think about your player from Great Britain, Benjamin Baker?

 

iNcontroL: No joke, I think he is the best player a team could have. Optimistic, hardworking, young, potential is limitless and he is a great personality that can cast / engage the fan-base. I think the sky is the limit for him. He is already turning out results like you'd expect from the very, very best and I actually can see him doing better. He is absolutely amazing in every way possible for a team. Normally this could be written off as "team bias" but I challenge you all, get to know him, see his results, and ask yourself if I am wrong!