It only made sense, honestly: If we are going to talk about StarCraft in retrospective, why not talk to the man that has seen it all!
In the interview segment for the "Three Years of Liberty", we chat up with Aleksey "WhiteRa" Krupnyk, a man of eSports with insurmountable legacy in the StarCraft franchise. For Mr. Krupnyk, this is an interview that takes him back years and years, not only to WoL release but all the way back to the StarCraft 1 days. Meanwhile, this is an opportunity for yours truly to finish his WoL writing career as it began - interviewing the father of all protoss.
You’re our first guest for the “Three Years of Liberty” chronicle and this interview is mostly about honoring the past and looking into the future so let’s dive straight into the topic. Looking back all those years, what emotions come to you as you remember Wings of Liberty?
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Most joyful moment from those past three years? What about biggest disappointment and funniest story?
Despite all your ups and downs in performance, you did remain a pillar of StarCraft 2 and eSports in general and you’re still a name that is being talked about and is still tournament-active. In contrast, some of your older colleagues changed careers or retired altogether. I hope there are no plans for your own retirement?
Your legacy, of course, spans way back then just WoL and you’re likely the oldest active progamer on the scene. What does a person need to possess in order to enjoy such a prolonged career?
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How do you feel knowing that WoL marked the end of the player careers of such old-school personalities like Boxer, Nada, July among others?
Wings of Liberty has been a subject of a ton of patches throughout its lifetime. When was the game most balanced and most broken?
During which period did you enjoy protoss the most?
Do you think that at the end of WoL’s life there are still OP things in the game?
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The scene itself changed as much as the game. Are you a fan of any particular player story?
Standing two weeks away from HotS release, how do you appraise the future of the game and the community?
There have been many talks about SC2 declining as eSport but here it is, still going strong. What do you think kept SC2 vibrant during those three years?
Personally, if you have to pick one victory of yours from the beta till now, which would it be and why?
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Of all the players that were active during WoL, who would you say were the ultimate representatives of each race? The kind where you think “protoss” and goes “Ah, yes, it was all about *HIM*!”
You’ve been playing HotS for a long time now, longer than many of your colleagues. What has the expansion got right and wrong in terms of fun factor?
What about balance, is it a step in the right direction or is the game currently more unbalanced than WoL is?
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Which match-up changed the most in terms of dynamics and playstyle?
Is there a potential for "Special Taktik” of HotS?
IEM World Championship is tomorrow. You won’t be playing, unfortunately, but I am sure you will be watching. Your pro player predictions for groups/grand finals?
In which foreigners must we place our hopes? And, in connection to that question, which of the foreigners you’ve played display most skill in HotS?
We’re actually catching you after a long absence from the premier tournament scene. What has WhiteRa been doing in the months after IEM Singapore?
Following on this questions, do you ever miss going deep in important tournament? Or is practicing your heart out in Heart of the Swarm sufficient for the time being?
Words of goodbye for Wings of Liberty? Words of welcome to HotS? Shoutouts?
In the interview segment for the "Three Years of Liberty", we chat up with Aleksey "WhiteRa" Krupnyk, a man of eSports with insurmountable legacy in the StarCraft franchise. For Mr. Krupnyk, this is an interview that takes him back years and years, not only to WoL release but all the way back to the StarCraft 1 days. Meanwhile, this is an opportunity for yours truly to finish his WoL writing career as it began - interviewing the father of all protoss.
You’re our first guest for the “Three Years of Liberty” chronicle and this interview is mostly about honoring the past and looking into the future so let’s dive straight into the topic. Looking back all those years, what emotions come to you as you remember Wings of Liberty?
When the game came out, Wings of Liberty made real splash across all communities. Fans from BroodWar, WarCraft and many more games joined each other I was very happy to see it! It was an exciting time when everybody was just learning the the game.
“
The biggest disappointment was that I did not see a perfect balance like in BroodWar”Biggest moment in my SC2 history was the victory against MC during the first "The World" against "Korea". By this moment he had won two GSLs in a row. And the biggest disappointment was that I did not see a perfect balance like in BroodWar, I think Blizzard stopped too early.
Despite all your ups and downs in performance, you did remain a pillar of StarCraft 2 and eSports in general and you’re still a name that is being talked about and is still tournament-active. In contrast, some of your older colleagues changed careers or retired altogether. I hope there are no plans for your own retirement?
No. As long as I get so much support from the gaming community I will stay in E-Sports.
Your legacy, of course, spans way back then just WoL and you’re likely the oldest active progamer on the scene. What does a person need to possess in order to enjoy such a prolonged career?
Have strong nerves and taking pleasure in what you're doing!
“
Once you become a progamer, it's for life.”I think that they all found something else to do with their lives! But I think that once you become a progamer, it's for life.
Wings of Liberty has been a subject of a ton of patches throughout its lifetime. When was the game most balanced and most broken?
It's hard to say. Some would say that the games were most broken during WoL beta but I think the game became less interesting once players learned how to abuse some units.
During which period did you enjoy protoss the most?
When the High Templars had the Khaydarin Amulet upgrade!
Do you think that at the end of WoL’s life there are still OP things in the game?
Yes, Zerg looks a little bit better than Protoss and Terran, both in terms of macro and unit combos.
“
There weren't enough of good stories when it comes to players.”If we talk about the game, I enjoyed the plot of StarCraft 2 as it's science fiction and I like that genre. When it comes to players, however, I think there weren't enough of good stories.
Standing two weeks away from HotS release, how do you appraise the future of the game and the community?
I am sure that the interest in the game will be high. I hope it will be the same as when BroodWar was released years ago.
There have been many talks about SC2 declining as eSport but here it is, still going strong. What do you think kept SC2 vibrant during those three years?
In my opinion, StarCraft at the moment is the fastest, the most difficult game with the most beautiful battles in all of eSport. At the same time it's easy to understand, especially if a good commentary is provided.
Personally, if you have to pick one victory of yours from the beta till now, which would it be and why?
“
Terrans are given too many advantages”Again, I would point towards me against MC during The World against Korea because I showed how you can use Special Tactics against a GSL champion. ;)
Of all the players that were active during WoL, who would you say were the ultimate representatives of each race? The kind where you think “protoss” and goes “Ah, yes, it was all about *HIM*!”
MC, Parting, DongRaeGu, Stephano, MVP, MarineKing.
You’ve been playing HotS for a long time now, longer than many of your colleagues. What has the expansion got right and wrong in terms of fun factor?
Even though I started playing earlier, many players who joined one or two months ago already have more games than me. To the qustion: HotS is bringing interesting moments aplenty. Having new units means new strategies, new timings, new game setting and spectacles.
What about balance, is it a step in the right direction or is the game currently more unbalanced than WoL is?
“
The Koreans have been practicing HotS like crazy”I think right now, the state of the balance is the same when WoL was coming out and Terrans were given too many advantages at the beginning. Examples include the improved reapers, tanks with free siege mode, medivac acceleration, the widow mine and the battle hellion and all of those allow terrans to control the game from the very beginning.
Which match-up changed the most in terms of dynamics and playstyle?
All match-ups changed drastically and have become much more interesting.
Is there a potential for "Special Taktik” of HotS?
Of course, I'm only said because I cannot patent it yet, hehe.
IEM World Championship is tomorrow. You won’t be playing, unfortunately, but I am sure you will be watching. Your pro player predictions for groups/grand finals?
Many good players are there, but I am sure Koreans will show the best peformance, they have been practicing like crazy these past several weeks.
In which foreigners must we place our hopes? And, in connection to that question, which of the foreigners you’ve played display most skill in HotS?
Oh, they're all good! The most important thing for them is to not make mistakes in crucial moments of the game!
We’re actually catching you after a long absence from the premier tournament scene. What has WhiteRa been doing in the months after IEM Singapore?
Heh, it's very easy know if you check white-ra.com or my Facebook and Twitter, whiterasc. The last three weeks I spend traveling through Brazil, Agrentina and Peru as part of the "White-Ra tour".
Following on this questions, do you ever miss going deep in important tournament? Or is practicing your heart out in Heart of the Swarm sufficient for the time being?
In 2013 I want to visit US and European events more often, I miss meeting with my fans there.
Words of goodbye for Wings of Liberty? Words of welcome to HotS? Shoutouts?
Nothing in nature appears out of nowhere, everything transitions from one state to another.
Thanks for the enormous interview, the support from community and my partners from Tt eSPORTS.
Thanks for the enormous interview, the support from community and my partners from Tt eSPORTS.
Interviewer: Radoslav "Nydra" Kolev
IEM World Championship coverage
IEM World Championship coverage
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