DotA: SK undergoes another change - Snow, zoN- and Loda talk

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NEWS

By Martin 'Altariel' Schultze

Nov 25, 2008 21:10

Lately SK had to struggle with the losses of two of their oldest members, Bogdan and Akke. Now the changes go on.

The newly added member zoN-, who left Gvision to join SK, was added as a replacement for Bogdan. Loda himself considered him as "young talent" and wanted him to grow and develop within their ranks. Shortly after both sides had to make the experience that this was most likely more wishful thinking than close to reality, it was decided to break up this intermezzo.

However, a door closing will open a new one. That's why SK Gaming can announce the addition of Snow. He had already been playing a lot in the recent past for SK as a stand-in and improved rapidly during a short period of time. Also, the communication with the rest of the team couldn't be better. Snow has known the team for about a year now, because it's not the first time taking the role of a substitute. All these circumstances made the decision more or less easy for the team.

In addition, SK Gaming caught up with Snow, zoN- and Loda to shed some light on the happenings.

Interview with Snow:

"SK Gaming: Some time ago you were a substitute for SK, but it did not end up with you being added to the SK roster. Tell us how it happened that you helped them out again and how do you feel after finally becoming a full time member of SK.DotA?

Snow: Well basically at that time I wasn't good enough to be a full time member of SK. After playing stand-in for SK for about 1 year we parted and I took a break from DotA. Eventually, when I began playing again I started to perform really well, and was as good as I've ever been. That's when Loda asked if I wanted to start playing for SK again, and see what would happen. And, well, apparently it's been working out.

SK Gaming: So you've trained quite a lot with SK lately and the reason of your addition can be seen mainly due to Akke's retirement. How is the communication with the team and do you think you can close the gap Akke left behind?

Snow: Akke was a big part of SK's play style and filling the gap he left behind isn't the easiest task. However, Akke and I play different roles and I think that the role I play in SK now benefits the team the most and fills up the hole, even though it's not the same role at all. Communication is no problem whatsoever, I take up alot of, almost too much, space on ventrilo and never hesitate to state my opinions to the rest of SK.

SK Gaming: Can you describe your role in the team and the tasks which accompany it?

Snow: Well mainly I'll be playing roles similar to what Loda usually plays which will allow him to switch within his playing field. Mostly I play heroes that either solo or carry/semi-carry, such as: Shadow Fiend, Broodmother, Spectre, etc. Also called the Star-role (:!

SK Gaming: So a new star is born?

Snow: Haha, it's an internal joke between me and a few Swedes about how the players that just farm get all the credits while the support players that do a lot of good work don't get anything. So the farm-role = star-role =)

SK Gaming: Lately, SK hasn't been that successful, do you think this is caused by the latest changes and that the team can find a way out of the low?

Snow: I think it's mainly because of version 6.52, in the newest version we are very strong again because of our new play style after my entry to the team.

SK Gaming: So how do you explain some unexpected losses in the F4F tournament where they used for the new map for some time?

Snow: Those loses weren't with our current roster, we have a better team play at the moment.

SK: Gaming: Team play is a good header. SK is known for their good team play and most people explain it by the long friendship all the members share with each other. Do you think you can adapt to that in just a few weeks?

Snow: Well I've known the players of SK for over a year, so we have already established pretty good teamwork and have built up a friendship which extends, I hope, over the internet as well.

SK Gaming: What are your expectations for Dreamhack?

Snow: Winning shouldn't be a problem for us, and anything but top two would be a big disappointment.

SK Gaming: Lastly, please describe to us the player Snow and the person behind the nick.

Snow: Snow, my DotA-person, easily gets carried away by his emotions. If I'm in a good mood, I play really well and act a bit as a captain. However, if I'm in a bad mood, I usually play much worse and am quiet as a mouse on ventrilo.

In real life I'm pretty much just your average joe, I like all the usual stuff you know. Being with friends, going out to parties, hooking up with girls, etc. (:

SK Gaming: Okay, thank you for the interview, good luck in SK and at Dreamhack!

Snow: Thanks. =)

Interview with zoN-:

"SK Gaming: What kind of feeling is it to be recently added to one of the most famous DotA teams, SK, and now already drooped out after not even being able to play much?

zoN-: Not much, it just didn't work out. =)

SK Gaming: You left your friends from Gvision for SK, you have the chance of a return or what are your plans for the future in DotA?

zoN-: I don't know yet, I'll see what happens, nothing is decided nor do I have any plans.

SK Gaming: Can you try to explain and give us us an insight on what did not work out?

zoN-: I just couldn't "perform" or do any well games when I played with the SK guys.

SK Gaming: But from Gvision we can still remember the opposite some kind of totally different zoN-. What you think are the reasons for it? Was it the internal atmosphere, the communication with the others or how do you explain it?

zoN-: I think I perform the best when I'm in the front doing what I want and somehow people more following my lead, even though I wasn't the leader of Gvision, I could play a totally different game. In SK, I was definitely at the bottom and it was hard to really do what I wanted.

SK Gaming: Lately, SK hasn't performed so well. Do you think the team spirit suffered from those changes recently and when they tried to adapt you into their lineup?

zoN-: I think a team like SK needed a stronger player to join in at a time like that, and I just didn't couldn't be that player :) And every team suffers from changes most of the time.

SK Gaming: You are really young and already a great talent, in what team would you like to find your new home?

zoN-: As I said before, I don't know yet, I will play wherever I'm having fun =).

SK Gaming: So whereabouts can people find you playing in the future?

zoN-: I'll keep playing inhouses and maybe some mixes every now and then and mostly at #idec.

SK Gaming: Okay, thank you very much for your time. I hope you will look ahead and we wish you all the best for your future, wherever it may be!

zoN-: Thanks =)

Interview with Loda:

"SK-Gaming: Loda, explain to us, why did you choose Snow over zoN-?

Loda: 'Cause snow is a player that I have played a lot with over the last year and the last couple of months he has evolved more into a team player than he was before. zoN- was a young talent I thought would be able to work good together with the team but sadly he disappointed me in every single game he wore the SK tag.

SK-Gaming: How does the current state of the development of Snow look like and what do you expect from him?

Loda: Well he is working A LOT better than zoN- ever did ^^ At the moment we're finding out what parts he does the best and where we would like to put him. As it is now he is playing the same kind of role like I do, either main carry or semi-carry. I would like to say that it's working out well, we haven't lost any official 57b matches and this new version has granted us a new fire in the team!

SK-Gaming: So SK is finally recovering from the latest low of the past couple of weeks?

Loda: Well I'd like to hope so, we're absolutely in the top, the big two problems are MYM and Mouz at the moment so we'll just have to wait for Dreamhack and see if we're on top in time! As long as the team is talking and the mood on the team is good I believe we'll impress people with the new team.

SK-Gaming: What can we expect for Dreamhack?

Loda: Top three.

SK-Gaming: MYM found their way back onto the new map and Mouz was recently stronger than ever before they lost a few members a short time ago. Among these was their captain, Drayich, do you think this will affect the team in the future in some way and where do you see mouz after the addition of Puppey?

Loda: I believe that mouz is as strong as they can get with the addition of Puppey! He's a really good player and as long as Mouz will figure out who's the leader they will stay at the top for a long while.

SK-Gaming: SK has no hidden triumph card if it comes to the case you will have to fight them at Dreamhack?

Loda: Haha, we do have some hidden cards, but it's hard to keep secret strategies from your enemies, so I think they know about a couple of them :( But I promise that we at least have one or two in our sleeves ;)

SK-Gaming: Would you say SK finally reached a point of balance and the team can start on working to improving instead of always trying to adapt to the new circumstances and getting to know on each other mainly caused by the many changes?

Loda: Yes, I do believe that. Though that doesn't mean will be 100% adding a new player in the future.

SK-Gaming: If you manage to find your old shape, in consideration of the individual skill of the members, where do you see SK then?

Loda: At the top, of course. We'll be able to beat anyone once we get stuff going!

SK-Gaming: The latest success of the training and the new firmness of the team will be proven at Dreamhack. If you make it to the finals which opponent would you like to meet?

Loda: I would mostly like to face MYM, no reason to change what happened all other Dreamhacks =)

SK-Gaming: Well then good luck at Dreamhack and all the best for the team in the next future!"