DOTASG_PAPA
08-14-2007, 08:20 PM
http://www.dotasg.com/album/WCG_NF2007_Day2/slides/SSL22177.JPG
I have finally caught up with Micronology to bring you once again an exclusive interview with them. They are Mike(DkMaG3), Jovi Sen Joon(Moon/TruE), Zhiren(Bouncy), Shawn(queen), HanYong(hyhy) and their current team manager Kelly. Although they are busy, however are still nice enough to be interviewed. How could they resist the charm of the PaPa. Ok, lame jokes aside, below is the interview I had with the guys (and gal).
PaPa: First maybe can let your fans know, how micronology came about?
Dk-MaG3:Micro started off from hyhy and 3 other of their friends/schoolmates. Then zr came in followed by me andTruE
Tru3: We believed in forming a team consisting of players highly expert in micro-ing DotA characters. Thus we came up with the team name , Micronology.
PaPa: Since the formation of the team up till now, what is the training regiment/plan like for Micro?
Dk-MaG3:. We train once a week in lan, and a few games online everyday, of cause before competition, we increase the intensity. Like recent WCG, we train every week at lan. Recently, there will be a change of lan training location.
PaPa: Is it due to possibility of training location's sponsor coming in?
Kelly: Micronology is now considering the best option out of the many sponsors choices offered to them by a few prestigious companies.
PaPa:Then, is there any usual training kakis or clans?
Queen: For that, we train mostly with singaporean teams but occasionally arrange some serious training with overseas teams. mainly indonesia and malaysia.
PaPa: Serious? Why these two countries?
Kelly: Because Indonesia and Malaysia has a few of the best teams in Asia.
PaPa: Could you highlight any teams from those countries?
Tru3: There are no usual training opponents as i believe training over and over with same opponents wont spark any creativity. I would highlight Cybertime Roa and XCN. They are both top in their countries.
PaPa: Cybertime, they are pretty famous. Heard about their team alot. Is arrangement of games with these overseas country difficult?
Tru3: Not at all, use MSN since we are based in asia. There is no lag due to ggc platform.
PaPa: So ggc is more widely used for arranged games? How about
lancraft?
Tru3: Lancraft is more suited for Singapore players only. Basically, just anyone who stays in your country games to be able to play teams from USA, GGC is needed to reduce the lag significantly.
PaPa: But recently there are rumors that ggc spike badly compare to lancraft.
Tru3: Well the problem has been resolved and its working smoothly once again.
Kelly: This is due to the high percentage of players switching and starting to play ggc now.
Tru3: Its a good platform which includes experience points to level up , channels , buddy list and many more more Singaporeans are starting to use ggc and the best part is You can host ggc games with router or rather firewall.
PaPa: Okay, next question, I understand that you all have trained hard for this year's WCG. So despite all the trainings are you all nervous before and during the competitions?
Queen: Trainings are just to make sure we are ready for the competition; in terms of skill levels.
Tru3: We were definitely nervous as this is our first major competition together.
Queen: Well, WCG is a very tense environment.
Dk-MaG3: Every team was a tough match, as we have to research individually on each on the team play styles.
Queen: We are an experienced team, who has participated many competitions before. We are able to comfortably play during the WCG but finals match was the most tense becuase iot was the first time micro was playing on stage, and everyone was looking at you. The pressure was insane even could hear the commentators shouting.
PaPa: You mentioned research, how was the research done?
Dk-Mag3: We watch their replays. We would analyse their play-style
and what hero is their wildcard then we will devise strategies and plans to destroy their play style, its like exams , always come prepared..
PaPa: Wow, did not know you all did so much homework on your opponents. Oh yeah, talking about hearing commentator shouting, do you think that's good for stage game? Does it affect your gameflow?
Tru3: Yes of course.
Queen: Depends on which part. are you winning or losing, hahaha.
Tru3: It draws the crowds and brings them into the game as well.
PaPa: So is that good or is that bad?
Tru3: Good, it pumps ur adrenaline and makes you wanna give ur best shot since theres a thousand eyes watching you.
PaPa: But in situation, if you want to apply special tactics and it was somehow given away, what would be your reaction?
Tru3: Of course the commentator must be adept in the game knowledge and not give away information so readily such as backstab and stuff which would spoil the game or it be the same as , referee kayu.
PaPa: You mentioned the last game which was with zenith was the most exciting right? So why is it so, since you all did your homework, it should be somehow made easier to deal with?
Tru3: Zenith was the one we did the most homework on and we knew they were our strongest competition, drafting wise, pretty unpredictable. They are well respected in Singapore and our greatest nemesis. so there was extreme intense pressure on us to be actually able to come out on top.
PaPa: So what counter measure(s) you all took and which are the effective one(s) that are effective against them?
Tru3: Mainly, it was drafting, we planned our strategy one month before wcg against zenith. We outwitted them this time in the drafting pattern and based on draft, as ant agrees as well.
PaPa:Other than than drafting, anything else helped you all overcome this uphill task, like more special strategy?
Tru3: Does my girlfriend count?
PaPa: If she is part of the strategy, LOL.
Tru3: We thought of various strats and how to execute them.
Dk-MaG3: LOL, frankly speaking I think high level games almost 80% is about drafting.
PaPa: How about execution?
Tru3: Kudos to my team for sitting at Macdonald for 4 hours talking about draft the day before wcg day 2, of course we planned who and what we suppose to do when we were planning for the drafting, should we play it as pressure style backstaBbing style or land holder style etc. We got it all planned out.
PaPa: So when you all won the compy what was the initial reaction?
Kelly: We were ecstatic.
Tru3: Shocked and disbeilef we won. Part of me was ecstatic, another part of me was shocked.
PaPa: Kinda surreal right?
Tru3: Yes, like, WOW, I would wake up anytime. Hahaha. It took some moments for it to sink in and same for Shawn(Queen) as well.
PaPa: So how long does this feeling lasted?
Tru3: Till next day, when we got smashed to oblivion by the Indonesians and China.
Kelly: Why no one ask me how I feel.
PaPa: LoL! So Miss Manager, what was your first reaction and feeling when they won?
Kelly: I almost cried. I felt that they deserved it after all the hard work and sleepless nights they put in during their trainings. Nothing much was done except for some team bonding talks and during their games, I just supported them wholeheartedly completed with some shouts of encouragements. Wait, make that many shouts.
PaPa: So let's continue, Then the next one after NF wins come the AC competition. Understand in Group stage you all win one and lost another game. Maybe can explain what happened in the two games?
Tru3: We sucked, 2 words. LoL! Actually in more complex terms....
Dk-Mag3: Indonesia they outwitted us in drafting, their play-style different from all Singaporeans. They use Warlock and NA as human ward to cover up for their FV to farm freely.
PaPa: Human ward?
Tru3: Yeah, as in stayed there and die for FV, just sacrifice stay at some backstab prone area for vision as we had chen and beastmaster to hunt meaning once we roar the Warlock the FV has 1 min free to farm, they had 3 faarmers SF, BB and FV.
Kelly: Also the boys performed badly because of diversed attention and they were really tired from training the nights before.
PaPa: why they sacrifice 2 heroes in your opinion?
Tru3: BB farming top FV bottom as Warlock only needs to drop a infernal fatal bond and he is declared useless.
Dk-MaG3: Because basically a farmed FV can take out our entire team, NA as well, good for starting game lane control, and scouting with vendatta but usefulness decreases late game thus relying on a farmed up FV to clear or a BB to tank everything as well.
PaPa: So their two main tanks are farmed BB and FV?
Tru3: Yes. SF kept dying was well but got a Skadi in the end. PaPa: So he somehow became useful although he kept dying?
Tru3: After the FV and BB started owning, naturally SF would earn some income little by little and got Skadi. For the BB and FV to pound relentlessly on slowed hero.
PaPa: Almost like glued to the floor to be slaughtered?
Tru3: LoL, yeah.
PaPa: So after that exp, what you think is the solution to these kinda strat if applied to you again?
Dk-MaG3: Lane control.
Tru3: Ditto.
PaPa: I see. Then how about the India match?
Tru3: Result is like 60-10 but they put up tough resistance till the end and even complimented us for our teamwork.
PaPa: The one that most people are interested to find out about, the match between Micro and World Elites. What happened there? Is it due to the draft?
Tru3: We had a team conflict, and it went downhill from there, simple enough. Or rather we had a minor team conflict which allowed our opponents to have an early advantage.
PaPa: Maybe can fill us more on that. No worry, now it's over, I am sure it will not affect your team if you all take that as a lesson learnt and not make the same mistake.
Tru3: They played smartly and cautiously, never really letting us get back during game. We gave our best shot but sometimes one fatal mistake could cost the game.
PaPa: Which aspect inside the game where you guys are affected.
Tru3: Communication part, miscommunication.
PaPa: So did you all learnt from that lesson? And have that been fixed?
Tru3: Yes, that was a painful lesson letting Singapore down. We will bear in mind and overcome our problems.
PaPa: Well, dun be sad. I am sure you all will have the chance to make it up for SG.
Tru3: We hope so too.
PaPa: Good attitude you all adopt. Kudos.
Tru3: Thank you.
PaPa: So china went on to destroy all other teams in their path to win the Championship. What's your feeling about their win?
Tru3: They are a strong team and definitely deserved the win. We hope to face them again in future competitions.
PaPa: What do you think is their key factor to winning this, which you all can learnt from them? Anything?
Tru3: Amazing teamwork , Good chemistry and smart gameplay. Despite losing at the start to Cybertime roa in the finals, they pulled themself together and eventually came out top.
Dk-MaG3: Yeah, same thinking.
Tru3: I was watchiing the game till halfway, then I fell asleep for a while as I was pretty sure Malaysia would win but I woke up in time to watch China win. I was lying on bed with girlfriend then somehow my eyes kept closing then heck since i tot Malaysia sure win, end part was sure exciting on my Samsung 22 Inch lcd screen. Smart play by China in my opinion.
PaPa: So now that everything is over, what will be Micro's plan?
Tru3: Establish our team into a household name and have big name sponsors and have a micro girls DotA team + micro cs girls team which is Kelly's cs team which has represented Singapore for eswc to win 3rd in paris.
PaPa: Well that's really an ambitious plan, but with determination, I am pretty sure you guys can make it.
PaPa: So any upcoming compy Micro are aiming?
Tru3: WGT. Wehave no idea when but hope its coming soon.
PaPa: Now talking something off DotA, normal life other than gaming what you all usually do?
Tru3: Movies, Steamboat outings, Swimming outings and basically things to chill out.
PaPa: Swimming was something unusual hangout outing.
Tru3: Because mike just moved in to a new condo with a nice swimming pool so since they all stay near each other they will go swim :D
PaPa: Ah, anyway it's good, balance lifestyle. Does all these DotAing affects all your studies, and how you all cope/balance it?
Kelly: We try to balance our gaming and studies at the same time. At times, it's hard, especially when a major competition draws near. However, we compromise on our schedule, thus, we are able to maintain pressure from both sides.
PaPa: Kelly, as a manager and now that Micro has went pass a major milestone for this year? What will be the next milestone that you set for them in the coming months/year.
Kelly: We will strive to be at the top, however we will not be complacent just because we won WCG. We will continue to work hard.
PaPa: So milestone for being top is? WCG NF2008, AC2008 or all 2008 compies?
Kelly: We will aim to win 80% of the upcoming competitions. Actually we are having a hard time because one of our players who leads most of the time is having his o levels this year.
PaPa: So next year after his 'o' it should be easier then?
Tru3Yes , as we still have a few years to ns, we will play hard and try to win.
PaPa: Ok, on a final note, being one of singapore's top clan, what do you think Micro do/contribute to help local Dota community?
Kelly: We hope that we can make the gaming community a more recognised and acknowledged one. And we welcome anyone with questions about the gameplay to approach us. Micro is friendly! We would love to play lan match and can have friendly lan match anytime with fellow gamers.
This basically ends this execlusive interview with team Micronology. Thanks you Micronology for this interesting interview.
Enjoy.
Next up, interview with Zenith. Stay tuned.
I have finally caught up with Micronology to bring you once again an exclusive interview with them. They are Mike(DkMaG3), Jovi Sen Joon(Moon/TruE), Zhiren(Bouncy), Shawn(queen), HanYong(hyhy) and their current team manager Kelly. Although they are busy, however are still nice enough to be interviewed. How could they resist the charm of the PaPa. Ok, lame jokes aside, below is the interview I had with the guys (and gal).
PaPa: First maybe can let your fans know, how micronology came about?
Dk-MaG3:Micro started off from hyhy and 3 other of their friends/schoolmates. Then zr came in followed by me andTruE
Tru3: We believed in forming a team consisting of players highly expert in micro-ing DotA characters. Thus we came up with the team name , Micronology.
PaPa: Since the formation of the team up till now, what is the training regiment/plan like for Micro?
Dk-MaG3:. We train once a week in lan, and a few games online everyday, of cause before competition, we increase the intensity. Like recent WCG, we train every week at lan. Recently, there will be a change of lan training location.
PaPa: Is it due to possibility of training location's sponsor coming in?
Kelly: Micronology is now considering the best option out of the many sponsors choices offered to them by a few prestigious companies.
PaPa:Then, is there any usual training kakis or clans?
Queen: For that, we train mostly with singaporean teams but occasionally arrange some serious training with overseas teams. mainly indonesia and malaysia.
PaPa: Serious? Why these two countries?
Kelly: Because Indonesia and Malaysia has a few of the best teams in Asia.
PaPa: Could you highlight any teams from those countries?
Tru3: There are no usual training opponents as i believe training over and over with same opponents wont spark any creativity. I would highlight Cybertime Roa and XCN. They are both top in their countries.
PaPa: Cybertime, they are pretty famous. Heard about their team alot. Is arrangement of games with these overseas country difficult?
Tru3: Not at all, use MSN since we are based in asia. There is no lag due to ggc platform.
PaPa: So ggc is more widely used for arranged games? How about
lancraft?
Tru3: Lancraft is more suited for Singapore players only. Basically, just anyone who stays in your country games to be able to play teams from USA, GGC is needed to reduce the lag significantly.
PaPa: But recently there are rumors that ggc spike badly compare to lancraft.
Tru3: Well the problem has been resolved and its working smoothly once again.
Kelly: This is due to the high percentage of players switching and starting to play ggc now.
Tru3: Its a good platform which includes experience points to level up , channels , buddy list and many more more Singaporeans are starting to use ggc and the best part is You can host ggc games with router or rather firewall.
PaPa: Okay, next question, I understand that you all have trained hard for this year's WCG. So despite all the trainings are you all nervous before and during the competitions?
Queen: Trainings are just to make sure we are ready for the competition; in terms of skill levels.
Tru3: We were definitely nervous as this is our first major competition together.
Queen: Well, WCG is a very tense environment.
Dk-MaG3: Every team was a tough match, as we have to research individually on each on the team play styles.
Queen: We are an experienced team, who has participated many competitions before. We are able to comfortably play during the WCG but finals match was the most tense becuase iot was the first time micro was playing on stage, and everyone was looking at you. The pressure was insane even could hear the commentators shouting.
PaPa: You mentioned research, how was the research done?
Dk-Mag3: We watch their replays. We would analyse their play-style
and what hero is their wildcard then we will devise strategies and plans to destroy their play style, its like exams , always come prepared..
PaPa: Wow, did not know you all did so much homework on your opponents. Oh yeah, talking about hearing commentator shouting, do you think that's good for stage game? Does it affect your gameflow?
Tru3: Yes of course.
Queen: Depends on which part. are you winning or losing, hahaha.
Tru3: It draws the crowds and brings them into the game as well.
PaPa: So is that good or is that bad?
Tru3: Good, it pumps ur adrenaline and makes you wanna give ur best shot since theres a thousand eyes watching you.
PaPa: But in situation, if you want to apply special tactics and it was somehow given away, what would be your reaction?
Tru3: Of course the commentator must be adept in the game knowledge and not give away information so readily such as backstab and stuff which would spoil the game or it be the same as , referee kayu.
PaPa: You mentioned the last game which was with zenith was the most exciting right? So why is it so, since you all did your homework, it should be somehow made easier to deal with?
Tru3: Zenith was the one we did the most homework on and we knew they were our strongest competition, drafting wise, pretty unpredictable. They are well respected in Singapore and our greatest nemesis. so there was extreme intense pressure on us to be actually able to come out on top.
PaPa: So what counter measure(s) you all took and which are the effective one(s) that are effective against them?
Tru3: Mainly, it was drafting, we planned our strategy one month before wcg against zenith. We outwitted them this time in the drafting pattern and based on draft, as ant agrees as well.
PaPa:Other than than drafting, anything else helped you all overcome this uphill task, like more special strategy?
Tru3: Does my girlfriend count?
PaPa: If she is part of the strategy, LOL.
Tru3: We thought of various strats and how to execute them.
Dk-MaG3: LOL, frankly speaking I think high level games almost 80% is about drafting.
PaPa: How about execution?
Tru3: Kudos to my team for sitting at Macdonald for 4 hours talking about draft the day before wcg day 2, of course we planned who and what we suppose to do when we were planning for the drafting, should we play it as pressure style backstaBbing style or land holder style etc. We got it all planned out.
PaPa: So when you all won the compy what was the initial reaction?
Kelly: We were ecstatic.
Tru3: Shocked and disbeilef we won. Part of me was ecstatic, another part of me was shocked.
PaPa: Kinda surreal right?
Tru3: Yes, like, WOW, I would wake up anytime. Hahaha. It took some moments for it to sink in and same for Shawn(Queen) as well.
PaPa: So how long does this feeling lasted?
Tru3: Till next day, when we got smashed to oblivion by the Indonesians and China.
Kelly: Why no one ask me how I feel.
PaPa: LoL! So Miss Manager, what was your first reaction and feeling when they won?
Kelly: I almost cried. I felt that they deserved it after all the hard work and sleepless nights they put in during their trainings. Nothing much was done except for some team bonding talks and during their games, I just supported them wholeheartedly completed with some shouts of encouragements. Wait, make that many shouts.
PaPa: So let's continue, Then the next one after NF wins come the AC competition. Understand in Group stage you all win one and lost another game. Maybe can explain what happened in the two games?
Tru3: We sucked, 2 words. LoL! Actually in more complex terms....
Dk-Mag3: Indonesia they outwitted us in drafting, their play-style different from all Singaporeans. They use Warlock and NA as human ward to cover up for their FV to farm freely.
PaPa: Human ward?
Tru3: Yeah, as in stayed there and die for FV, just sacrifice stay at some backstab prone area for vision as we had chen and beastmaster to hunt meaning once we roar the Warlock the FV has 1 min free to farm, they had 3 faarmers SF, BB and FV.
Kelly: Also the boys performed badly because of diversed attention and they were really tired from training the nights before.
PaPa: why they sacrifice 2 heroes in your opinion?
Tru3: BB farming top FV bottom as Warlock only needs to drop a infernal fatal bond and he is declared useless.
Dk-MaG3: Because basically a farmed FV can take out our entire team, NA as well, good for starting game lane control, and scouting with vendatta but usefulness decreases late game thus relying on a farmed up FV to clear or a BB to tank everything as well.
PaPa: So their two main tanks are farmed BB and FV?
Tru3: Yes. SF kept dying was well but got a Skadi in the end. PaPa: So he somehow became useful although he kept dying?
Tru3: After the FV and BB started owning, naturally SF would earn some income little by little and got Skadi. For the BB and FV to pound relentlessly on slowed hero.
PaPa: Almost like glued to the floor to be slaughtered?
Tru3: LoL, yeah.
PaPa: So after that exp, what you think is the solution to these kinda strat if applied to you again?
Dk-MaG3: Lane control.
Tru3: Ditto.
PaPa: I see. Then how about the India match?
Tru3: Result is like 60-10 but they put up tough resistance till the end and even complimented us for our teamwork.
PaPa: The one that most people are interested to find out about, the match between Micro and World Elites. What happened there? Is it due to the draft?
Tru3: We had a team conflict, and it went downhill from there, simple enough. Or rather we had a minor team conflict which allowed our opponents to have an early advantage.
PaPa: Maybe can fill us more on that. No worry, now it's over, I am sure it will not affect your team if you all take that as a lesson learnt and not make the same mistake.
Tru3: They played smartly and cautiously, never really letting us get back during game. We gave our best shot but sometimes one fatal mistake could cost the game.
PaPa: Which aspect inside the game where you guys are affected.
Tru3: Communication part, miscommunication.
PaPa: So did you all learnt from that lesson? And have that been fixed?
Tru3: Yes, that was a painful lesson letting Singapore down. We will bear in mind and overcome our problems.
PaPa: Well, dun be sad. I am sure you all will have the chance to make it up for SG.
Tru3: We hope so too.
PaPa: Good attitude you all adopt. Kudos.
Tru3: Thank you.
PaPa: So china went on to destroy all other teams in their path to win the Championship. What's your feeling about their win?
Tru3: They are a strong team and definitely deserved the win. We hope to face them again in future competitions.
PaPa: What do you think is their key factor to winning this, which you all can learnt from them? Anything?
Tru3: Amazing teamwork , Good chemistry and smart gameplay. Despite losing at the start to Cybertime roa in the finals, they pulled themself together and eventually came out top.
Dk-MaG3: Yeah, same thinking.
Tru3: I was watchiing the game till halfway, then I fell asleep for a while as I was pretty sure Malaysia would win but I woke up in time to watch China win. I was lying on bed with girlfriend then somehow my eyes kept closing then heck since i tot Malaysia sure win, end part was sure exciting on my Samsung 22 Inch lcd screen. Smart play by China in my opinion.
PaPa: So now that everything is over, what will be Micro's plan?
Tru3: Establish our team into a household name and have big name sponsors and have a micro girls DotA team + micro cs girls team which is Kelly's cs team which has represented Singapore for eswc to win 3rd in paris.
PaPa: Well that's really an ambitious plan, but with determination, I am pretty sure you guys can make it.
PaPa: So any upcoming compy Micro are aiming?
Tru3: WGT. Wehave no idea when but hope its coming soon.
PaPa: Now talking something off DotA, normal life other than gaming what you all usually do?
Tru3: Movies, Steamboat outings, Swimming outings and basically things to chill out.
PaPa: Swimming was something unusual hangout outing.
Tru3: Because mike just moved in to a new condo with a nice swimming pool so since they all stay near each other they will go swim :D
PaPa: Ah, anyway it's good, balance lifestyle. Does all these DotAing affects all your studies, and how you all cope/balance it?
Kelly: We try to balance our gaming and studies at the same time. At times, it's hard, especially when a major competition draws near. However, we compromise on our schedule, thus, we are able to maintain pressure from both sides.
PaPa: Kelly, as a manager and now that Micro has went pass a major milestone for this year? What will be the next milestone that you set for them in the coming months/year.
Kelly: We will strive to be at the top, however we will not be complacent just because we won WCG. We will continue to work hard.
PaPa: So milestone for being top is? WCG NF2008, AC2008 or all 2008 compies?
Kelly: We will aim to win 80% of the upcoming competitions. Actually we are having a hard time because one of our players who leads most of the time is having his o levels this year.
PaPa: So next year after his 'o' it should be easier then?
Tru3Yes , as we still have a few years to ns, we will play hard and try to win.
PaPa: Ok, on a final note, being one of singapore's top clan, what do you think Micro do/contribute to help local Dota community?
Kelly: We hope that we can make the gaming community a more recognised and acknowledged one. And we welcome anyone with questions about the gameplay to approach us. Micro is friendly! We would love to play lan match and can have friendly lan match anytime with fellow gamers.
This basically ends this execlusive interview with team Micronology. Thanks you Micronology for this interesting interview.
Enjoy.
Next up, interview with Zenith. Stay tuned.