With the WCG Canadian Finals just a day away, I sat down with 
oG)Pride over MSN to talk about this years Canadian Finals and about what he thought.
Phantom[xz]:
alright, well this is my first time giving an interview so it'll be pretty informal
oG)Pride:
those are the best ones
Phantom[xz]:
haha, k well for the record, what's your name (game handle), race, years playing SC, and are you single?
Phantom[xz]:
you don't have to answer that last one...O_o...
oG)Pride:
hey... my name's dan, aka oG)Pride:, i play toss and I have been playing since 1999. Currently I am not single =o.
Phantom[xz]:
Ah, ok let's get straight to the WCG questions
oG)Pride:
sure thing
Phantom[xz]:
So how many years have you participated in the World Cyber Games in Canada?
oG)Pride:
hmmm this will be my 4th year I believe
Phantom[xz]:
Have you made it to the Canadian Finals each year?
oG)Pride:
yes, I have. The first 2 years anyone could walk up to the finals, these past 2 years I have had to qualify in ontario somewhere to get to the finals
Phantom[xz]:
How have you found the competition in this years WCG thus far?
oG)Pride:
the usual thus far. Testie dominated ontario this year, unlike last year, thanks to the fact that the koreans were not allowed to play. Apart from that there was alex and Jian (Arikin) at the ontario finals and ... well they traditionally don't beat nick or myself.
oG)Pride:
The finals will be different though, lots of new faces and players
Phantom[xz]:
Speaking of new faces and players, what do you think of the players at this years finals?
oG)Pride:
well... it's a mixed bag really. We have the players who are skilled and traditionally do well and some well practiced players who will be interesting to see. I would put me, testie and veg in that first group and zergraptor, fayth, coolt and vasmos in that second group. We will see this year which group is better, the old farts or the practicing youngins
oG)Pride:
but everyone who made it deserved it, that much I can tell you already
Phantom[xz]:
haha, well what are your predictions for this years WCG finalists, who do you think will make it to the Grand Finals?
oG)Pride:
top 2? Prolly Testie and Zergraptor... I think veg will lose this year to someone unseeded last year... possibly vasmos or fayth, veg's TvP is not his strongest mu
Phantom[xz]:
What about you? have you been playing more to practise for the Canadian WCG?
oG)Pride:
a game here and there. I'm busy with life lately and have had time for only a few games in preparation. Girlfriend, working out and WoW are all keeping me busy in my 'spare time'
Phantom[xz]:
=O WoW!
Phantom[xz]:
But anyways...*cringe*
Phantom[xz]:
how does one prepare for something like the WCG?
oG)Pride:
for someone as experienced as me or testie or veg there is not a lot to it. Obviously you want to know the maps, apart from that you can just use what you have done in the past on similar maps to come up with your strategies and meta games for your opponents... it's maps like azalea where there is not a lot of similar maps which give you trouble in preparation
Phantom[xz]:
So have you thought up of any new strats that will take the other players by surprise? ^^
oG)Pride:
well, these maps are a lot more toss friendly than in past years. Where last year I had to do hidden gates vs testie on dahlia to win ... this year I can play straight up and go toe to toe with anyone there, I am positive. So you will probably see a lot less surprises than in prior years... I've revamped my play style a bit to accomodate the toss benefits
Phantom[xz]:
Ooo, sounds good
Phantom[xz]:
So when the Canadian players go to Singapore this year, what do you think seperates the Canadian StarCraft gamers from the rest of the gamers around the world?
oG)Pride:
apart from where we live?
Phantom[xz]:
Lol yes! =P
oG)Pride:
ummm I dunno, we are prolly the most laid back and nicest gamers around
Phantom[xz]:
Really? O_o...are you just saying that because most people view us like that around the world?
oG)Pride:
no... we really are
Phantom[xz]:
oh..well then..cool!...Next Question!
Phantom[xz]:
With new management over WCG Canada have you noticed any difference in management of the tournaments and scheduling?
oG)Pride:
well, we got the finals schedule very late this year, like usual. I wish they had things planned well in advnance but the way the economics of it works they only start getting money at 2nd quarter to spend on the WCG which is a bit late to get concrete plans down. I liked the fact that they took gaming back to the cafe level... it was an experiment and it worked in some places (Ontario) but not in
oG)Pride:
others (BC). We will see how the finals are, they seem very promising and fun
Phantom[xz]:
Ah yes, the Canadian Finals are being held at the Olympic Spirit Center, what do you think of the symbolism in this? Do you think that this is sort of like a transtion for e-Games in North America to an Olympic level?
oG)Pride:
hellz no. I am sure a lot of the gamers wish that the finals were still at playdium. I think that e-sports in canada/usa are still far too young to be in somewhere as ... refined as the olympic spirit center. Maybe in 10-15 years it will be... who knows but most of us are used to playing in like convention centres or at cafes or whatever, this will be interesting to say the least.
Phantom[xz]:
Do you think it'll have a better and faster set up?
oG)Pride:
probably not, judging by how late we got the info. I imagine no games will be played tomorrow, which really sucks for some people who are missing class / work to come play. Ah well, the top 2 get a free trip to singapore, so who are we to complain?
Phantom[xz]:
lol, how well do you think the Canadians will do in the WCG Grand Finals this year?
oG)Pride:
one to top 16, 1 not out of group play
Phantom[xz]:
ah ok, well thanks for the interview! ^_^
oG)Pride:
cool, no problems!
oG)Pride:
see you there this weekend?
Phantom[xz]:
Good Luck at the Finals this weekend =) go kick some ass!
Phantom[xz]:
ah yes for sure
Links
Canada WCG Website - Canadian Finals Details
Olympic Spirit Toronto - Venue for 2005 WCG Canadian Finals
