His career skyrocketed from there. He went to the WCG 2005 finals in Singapore soon afterwards and just about every major international event StarCraft had. Tasteless's knowledge and passion have earned him worldwide admiration and acclaim. His humour and love for the game have earned him this appreciation video (by Kennigit from TeamLiquid.net; the image was messed up through the conversion process):
How much time did you need to decide if you are taking the offer to shoutcast in Korea or not?
About two days and there was about three weeks of preparation like getting my passport renewed and stopping college.
Did you have any doubts about going at all?
No, not really, I always wanted to live in Korea for a while so I figured this would be the perfect opportunity.
"It really is like the national sport. Everywhere I go people know about StarCraft and play StarCraft. The progamers really do have fan clubs with women who scream when they play as if it was a Beatles concert."
Is Korea a dream land for you only because it's the place to be if you play StarCraft, or were there any other reasons?Korea is very technologically advanced and also very big, I like those factors. Having StarCraft on TV all day is good too.
Can you see yourself staying in Korea for good? And can you see yourself shoutcasting for the rest of your life?
I can see both. but who knows what the future holds : ) I will have to finish college at some point in time.
Tell us about what StarCraft really is in Korea. Some say it's a true national sport and everyone is crazy about it, others say it's exaggerated. What's it really like?
It really is like the national sport. Everywhere I go people know about StarCraft and play StarCraft. There's really no exaggeration to be made, the events are huge, they feel like football games. The progamers really do have enormous fan clubs with women who scream when they play as if it was a Beattles concert.
Do you see billboards with pro gamers promoting chocolates or soft drinks?
Hmm... I'm not sure if I see much of that but you see them on tv all the time and the sponsors for their events are very big. Many Koreans have a favorite progamer too.
So it would be no lie to say that if you go grocery shopping you could talk about Bisu while paying at the counter?
Yes. Although older Koreans aren't as familiar with it, everyone seems to know about it. I go out of my way to ask Koreans about StarCraft and they always seem to know about it.
Is the first English speaking shoutcaster in Korea a big deal for the locals?
Hmm... I'm not sure actually. I guess it is? lol
Do people recognise you, know who you are and so on?
I have had this happen but it's only at events for StarCraft. the rest of the time I'm in Korea I play Koreans in PC bangs or go drinking with Rekrul.
What about Warcraft 3? When living in Korea can you notice that such a game exists?
I don't actually. It seems quite unpopular. The events draw only a small crowd. Starcraft is so big in Korea it's difficult for other esports to squeeze in.
"WC3 has less going on at any given point in time so there's less for an observer to focus on, which means the game has a slower feel as a spectator sport."
How can you explain the failure of WC3 to even get close to SC in Korea in terms of popularity?Warcraft 3 moves at a very slow pace. Koreans seem to like fast games and very intense games. I'm not attempting to steal away the thunder of Warcraft 3, I think it's a good game, but in a SC game the entire game tide can turn within seconds. This seems to be part of the fascination with the game.
WC3 also has less going on at any given point in time so there's less for an observer to focus on, which means the game has a slower feel as a spectator sport. The bases are smaller... the unit grouping is easier and usually smaller, it's also difficult to tell what's going on during a battle unless you have experience.
Is DotA popular in Korea? What do you think of that one as an esport?
I don't have much to say about DotA. It's a very one-dimensional game. It's not too popular in Korea, although you will see people playing it in PC bangs from time to time.
Does it surprise you that it will be played at the ESWC?
Not really, most tournaments are trendy as hell. Granted it takes some skill, it's still a fairly simple game.
You are in Korea to cast both SC and WC3. How's your WC3 knowledge?
My WC3 knowledge is much weaker when compared to my SC knowledge. I've been having some WC3 pros teach me so I can do the game justice : )
Technoboy has been the most help out of all of them, ToD as well. I've spoken with him a few times, mostly early on before I got here.
"My biggest difficulty has been mastering when to build tension during a battle. In SC once a battle starts you have to act intense, in WC3 a battle can last a very long time."
How is shoutcasting SC different to shoutcasting WC3? What are the different approaches you have to take, what are the difficulties?My biggest difficulty has been mastering when to build tension during a battle. In SC once a battle starts you have to act intense, in WC3 a battle can last a very long time.
You have to focus on when heroes are close to death. The game is hero-oriented so that's what you must focus on. There are also long periods of down time in WC3.
What are the most difficult things to translate to the viewer in SC and WC3?
In SC it's about making the game understandable and fun for all viewers. SC is immensely complex so I need to make it understandable for newbs but still quality for top players.
This depends heavily on the audience. For instance at BilzzCon I was casting to many WoW players. So in that case I made it very simple. At the GOMtv Invitational I will make my analysis much more complex since mostly hardcore SC gamers will be watching.
In WC3 you have to spend more time focusing on possibilities which involve analyzing the units' items and position. It must be articulated well, which can be difficult for me because I'm a SC player.
Can you explain why Warcraft 3 has so few good English-speaking commentators despite having a well-developed international scene?
This is a good question, I don't really know. I think there is less of a following overall for WC3. It's more fun to play than to watch so I think there is less of a general interest in casting in it. That's my assumption at least.
Do you think a "universal shoutcaster" can make a WC3 or SC match good to watch?
Yes I do, casters have different roles and universal casters can definitely partake in a hardcore game like SC. They just need to know what info to give and what info to not give.
"Korean pros seem confused by Blizzard stating they want an esport yet are willing to implement MBS, automining and a 150 unit selection cap."
Are Koreans very hyped up about SC2?There are very mixed responses. Korean pros seem confused by Blizzard stating they want an esport yet are willing to implement MBS (multiple building selection), automining and a 150 unit selection cap. I generally see an overall negative view on the features
I read on fourms about people who are for it, but I have yet to meet them in person.
Any performance anxiety before tomorrow's debut?
No, lol =] I don't really get nervous before I cast.
How about your excitement levels?
It's a big deal. It's easily one of the most important tournaments in history. The greatest gamers of all time and the strongest new players.
"It's easily one of the most important tournaments in history. The greatest gamers of all time and the strongest new players."
Who is your personal favourite? Don't say you don't have one.I think the strongest player is Jaedong. Even though he lost his match today in Khan vs Lecaff. Jaedong is so powerful I can see him taking the whole event.
How many matches of this event will you shoutcast?
Every single one.
Do you have anything to add to this interview?
I am overjoyed that there are people who love SC as much as I love it. I know that not everyone likes my casts, and that's ok. I'm just happy I can share the game I grew up playing with, a game that has had massive positive impacts on my life, with the rest of the world.
Please tune in for the GOMtv Xnote Star Invitational. I want to show Koreans that there are more of us than the world would guess.
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You can find the coverage of the Xnote Star invitational right here. The first games start on Sunday at 10:00 CET.
Watch the BlizzCon 2007 final with Tasteless's commentary here:
* sAviOr vs. Nal_rA part 1
* sAviOr vs. Nal_rA part 2
* sAviOr vs. Nal_rA part 3
http://pl.youtube.com/user/KlazartSC
Btw, good interview.
heard some of him and wheat too :) that was awesome stuff :)
I know Tasteless is learning WC3 right now, but with all the bad vibes he has (had) towards the games, I can't see how the guy could someday manage to shoutcast a decent WC3, while understanding all the minor details that make the game so awesome.You need thousands of game to see what's so brilliant in FoV harassement, or Grubby's units moves and choices.
He wont catch-up that; but he sure IS the best Broodwar caster, and I'll tune in for the GSI.
keep up the good tasteful work Tasteless!
I think this was an interview at the right time with the right person. Thx Carmac.
Hum, well if he could translate that to WC3 that would be great, but somehow I doubt that he can get the same feeling of being genuine over.
loudest doesn't equal best.
People who deny it are simply blind. Micro, macro, unit control, number of units, timing, expansions, building placement, strategy, creativity, I mean E V E R Y T H I N G is so much more complex in SC than in WC3. It's a great shame that WC3 has tourneys every two weeks with big money prize and _THE_ most complex game (to master) ever created like SC, besides Korea, has, literally, none.
And I'm not an SC player nor WC3. I play Quake. But I follow the Korean SC scene (mostly youtube vods with Klazart, moletrap and diggity commentary) and I understand the game really well. It's the hardest esports game to date. No doubt about it. Everyone who thinks otherwise - think again.
Tasteless ftw!
tasteless is a n000000b