This week in AoCZone news:
I interviewed the infamous number one player in the world TheViper.
Also, commentary from 8th Wonder and Hoot_T on what this game needs.
The best Russian players talk a bit about the Nations cup.
Plus updates on current tournaments, recent outcomes, and what is next to come!
[READMORELINKDOTS...]
<TOAO_Nai> First off, tell me a bit about you.
<[TyRanT]TheViper> My name is Ørjan, I'm 23 years old
and have been playing AOC properly since 2010. I also
played when I was very young. I had some basics known when
I started playing competitively.
<TOAO_Nai> Do you take breaks from AoC often?
<[TyRanT]TheViper> Lately I feel like not playing more
often than playing, but it's up and down. The high level
competetive games are what keep my interest and those aren't
always available. The only times I would force myself to play
would be during tournaments. I need to take longer breaks between
tournaments, as it affects my motivation to play when I'm constantly
active in between competition as well.
<TOAO_Nai> Do the trolls ever get to you?
?<[TyRanT]TheViper> A couple years back, but I'm past that now.
I have mental strength which is necessary in this game. I'm confident
in my ability, and the trolls don't affect me anymore. Everyone must
get past criticism to be able to perform 100% no matter what others say.
But, a huge problem with spectators is that when the losing team gets out
of a game, they will have offensive text to read directed at them. It is obvious
why so many choose to disallow spectators
<TOAO_Nai> How do you think the spectator system could be improved?
?<[TyRanT]TheViper> It's an amazing feature that has been essentially to the
livelihood of this game and the community, aside from a glitch that doesn't allow
those that join late as players to spectate I can't think of anything.
There is an option to mute spectators, and that kind of solves the earlier
mentioned problem.
<TOAO_Nai> Talk to me about you and Jordan.
?<[TyRanT]TheViper> Jordan has always felt like the biggest threat to me,
both in terms of results and playstyle. I feel that we have such a similar
view on the game, what works best and so on, so our games are often mirrors
of eachother where small things usually make the difference. Often the map
generation alone will be the cause for a win for either side, simply because
we're so similar, but he has struggled more vs other opponents, but in a heads
up duel he would still be the one I would "fear" the most, so to say.
<TOAO_Nai> Do you talk with him outside of voobly and aoc?
?<[TyRanT]TheViper> Jordan and I talk pretty much every day, either via Whatsapp, Skype,
Facebook, or the game. We've become great friends through this game!
<TOAO_Nai> Who would win in a drinking contest?
<[TyRanT]TheViper> Jordan outdrank Daut, I can't touch that level of drinking 11
<TOAO_Nai> Who are you excited to meet in the Maldives?
<[TyRanT]TheViper> I could pretty much mention everyone going! Just meeting
all the staff and casters, from the English speaking and Chinese side,
it is going to be great. We are going to have a lot of fun and interesting
conversations! :D I've had such great experiences so far meeting AOC players
in real life, that I expect this to be no less exciting.
<TOAO_Nai> Definitely sounds like a good time. I am quite jealous aha.
Switching gears a little for the last few questions people are curious
about your favourite maps, specifically I was asked to ask you why you don't
play 1v1 nomad very often
<[TyRanT]TheViper> I like faster paced land maps these days. I used to enjoy
a big variation of maps including water, but things have changed. These days
a water map is a big turn off for me, and I don't even pick them much as home maps
in tournaments even though my score on water maps usually favors me. Land maps
like Arabia are the maps I enjoy the most at the moment. When it comes to Nomad,
it can be a fun map, and there are things you can do and know to have an advantage
over your opponent on it, but in general it is much more luck based
compared to other maps.
<TOAO_Nai> Do you find yourself trying to make your own strategies, imrprove off of
the ideas of others, play it by feel, or a mix?
?<[TyRanT]TheViper> I feel like in terms of strategies AoC is very figured out,
but there are certain playstyles that can still be changed up and be very effective
in different scenarios. I find myself experimenting often with small or big changes
to my execution of things to see if they are viable. Sometimes they turn out well,
sometimes they completely fail. Usually the things I do I've thought about before,
but on occassion I get a pop up in my head because of the situation I am in
and I am compelled to try something new. It's mostly by feel, or curiosity from
past thoughts with the addition of experience.
<TOAO_Nai> What does AoC need most right now?
?<[TyRanT]TheViper> Now that's a tough question! 11
<TOAO_Nai> It's what I am here for.
?<[TyRanT]TheViper> I think AoC needs the people in charge to stay in charge,
as they have done an amazing job so far, and their fire and drive to constantly
improve the game and its situation is astonishing. The day a man like Taff steps
down from his position will be a sad day for AOC.
<TOAO_Nai> Taff is great he is scheduled for an interview too but he is obviously
super busy.
?<[TyRanT]TheViper> Yeah, he's the best
<TOAO_Nai> Anything to say to the readers of AoCZone News?
<[TyRanT]TheViper> I would encourage them to keep following AoCZone News, tuning in
for AOC streams, and keep supporting this game as always! And I also want to give a
big thumbs up to you for the initiative you've taken with this, it's something we've
been missing!
<TOAO_Nai> Thank you personally and on behalf of the AoC world my friend.
<TOAO_Nai> good luck in your upcoming Nations Cup matches and keep on conquering!
<[TyRanT]TheViper> My name is Ørjan, I'm 23 years old
and have been playing AOC properly since 2010. I also
played when I was very young. I had some basics known when
I started playing competitively.
<TOAO_Nai> Do you take breaks from AoC often?
<[TyRanT]TheViper> Lately I feel like not playing more
often than playing, but it's up and down. The high level
competetive games are what keep my interest and those aren't
always available. The only times I would force myself to play
would be during tournaments. I need to take longer breaks between
tournaments, as it affects my motivation to play when I'm constantly
active in between competition as well.
<TOAO_Nai> Do the trolls ever get to you?
?<[TyRanT]TheViper> A couple years back, but I'm past that now.
I have mental strength which is necessary in this game. I'm confident
in my ability, and the trolls don't affect me anymore. Everyone must
get past criticism to be able to perform 100% no matter what others say.
But, a huge problem with spectators is that when the losing team gets out
of a game, they will have offensive text to read directed at them. It is obvious
why so many choose to disallow spectators
<TOAO_Nai> How do you think the spectator system could be improved?
?<[TyRanT]TheViper> It's an amazing feature that has been essentially to the
livelihood of this game and the community, aside from a glitch that doesn't allow
those that join late as players to spectate I can't think of anything.
There is an option to mute spectators, and that kind of solves the earlier
mentioned problem.
<TOAO_Nai> Talk to me about you and Jordan.
?<[TyRanT]TheViper> Jordan has always felt like the biggest threat to me,
both in terms of results and playstyle. I feel that we have such a similar
view on the game, what works best and so on, so our games are often mirrors
of eachother where small things usually make the difference. Often the map
generation alone will be the cause for a win for either side, simply because
we're so similar, but he has struggled more vs other opponents, but in a heads
up duel he would still be the one I would "fear" the most, so to say.
<TOAO_Nai> Do you talk with him outside of voobly and aoc?
?<[TyRanT]TheViper> Jordan and I talk pretty much every day, either via Whatsapp, Skype,
Facebook, or the game. We've become great friends through this game!
<TOAO_Nai> Who would win in a drinking contest?
<[TyRanT]TheViper> Jordan outdrank Daut, I can't touch that level of drinking 11
<TOAO_Nai> Who are you excited to meet in the Maldives?
<[TyRanT]TheViper> I could pretty much mention everyone going! Just meeting
all the staff and casters, from the English speaking and Chinese side,
it is going to be great. We are going to have a lot of fun and interesting
conversations! :D I've had such great experiences so far meeting AOC players
in real life, that I expect this to be no less exciting.
<TOAO_Nai> Definitely sounds like a good time. I am quite jealous aha.
Switching gears a little for the last few questions people are curious
about your favourite maps, specifically I was asked to ask you why you don't
play 1v1 nomad very often
<[TyRanT]TheViper> I like faster paced land maps these days. I used to enjoy
a big variation of maps including water, but things have changed. These days
a water map is a big turn off for me, and I don't even pick them much as home maps
in tournaments even though my score on water maps usually favors me. Land maps
like Arabia are the maps I enjoy the most at the moment. When it comes to Nomad,
it can be a fun map, and there are things you can do and know to have an advantage
over your opponent on it, but in general it is much more luck based
compared to other maps.
<TOAO_Nai> Do you find yourself trying to make your own strategies, imrprove off of
the ideas of others, play it by feel, or a mix?
?<[TyRanT]TheViper> I feel like in terms of strategies AoC is very figured out,
but there are certain playstyles that can still be changed up and be very effective
in different scenarios. I find myself experimenting often with small or big changes
to my execution of things to see if they are viable. Sometimes they turn out well,
sometimes they completely fail. Usually the things I do I've thought about before,
but on occassion I get a pop up in my head because of the situation I am in
and I am compelled to try something new. It's mostly by feel, or curiosity from
past thoughts with the addition of experience.
<TOAO_Nai> What does AoC need most right now?
?<[TyRanT]TheViper> Now that's a tough question! 11
<TOAO_Nai> It's what I am here for.
?<[TyRanT]TheViper> I think AoC needs the people in charge to stay in charge,
as they have done an amazing job so far, and their fire and drive to constantly
improve the game and its situation is astonishing. The day a man like Taff steps
down from his position will be a sad day for AOC.
<TOAO_Nai> Taff is great he is scheduled for an interview too but he is obviously
super busy.
?<[TyRanT]TheViper> Yeah, he's the best
<TOAO_Nai> Anything to say to the readers of AoCZone News?
<[TyRanT]TheViper> I would encourage them to keep following AoCZone News, tuning in
for AOC streams, and keep supporting this game as always! And I also want to give a
big thumbs up to you for the initiative you've taken with this, it's something we've
been missing!
<TOAO_Nai> Thank you personally and on behalf of the AoC world my friend.
<TOAO_Nai> good luck in your upcoming Nations Cup matches and keep on conquering!
Voobly needs more casters with better game knowledge.
On Twitch, AoC is in the same place it was years ago,
I believe the solution is some creativity and incentives.
For example, on Monday you could do special broadcasts
for new players empahasizing why the pro players made the
choices they did, how and what to explore for, how to wall
properly, build orders, etc. Pro guest casters could be
featured, best rec of the week, anything that will help
AoC from becoming stagnant. Allow subscribers to send in their
recs to get analyzed by pro-players, get people excited!
If it isn't growing it is dying and we can stop AoC from dying
but we can't be standing still.
8th Wonder is a well known Latvian player who has recently come to prominence by obtaining good results against very good opponents.
On Twitch, AoC is in the same place it was years ago,
I believe the solution is some creativity and incentives.
For example, on Monday you could do special broadcasts
for new players empahasizing why the pro players made the
choices they did, how and what to explore for, how to wall
properly, build orders, etc. Pro guest casters could be
featured, best rec of the week, anything that will help
AoC from becoming stagnant. Allow subscribers to send in their
recs to get analyzed by pro-players, get people excited!
If it isn't growing it is dying and we can stop AoC from dying
but we can't be standing still.
8th Wonder is a well known Latvian player who has recently come to prominence by obtaining good results against very good opponents.
AoC makes me forget everything; the stress from my work,
troubles with friends, family, etc.
we have really good time playing whogether my friends
like ex l_clan_cabron caoz, kaiba, vicvega, poke.
But AoC needs more people to play like old times on zone!
We need more promotion!
I know it is an old game but it is the best!
I am still a noob so i wouldnt know what to tell noobs 11
But dont let this game die! Keep playing while u can and try to bring more people
Hoot_T is a smurf nickname, and the real name of the player was revealed to me
but not made available for the general public. Hoot_T is a 2k player from Mexico
and a long time AoC player. Thank you for your time Hoot_T, keep on hootin'.
troubles with friends, family, etc.
we have really good time playing whogether my friends
like ex l_clan_cabron caoz, kaiba, vicvega, poke.
But AoC needs more people to play like old times on zone!
We need more promotion!
I know it is an old game but it is the best!
I am still a noob so i wouldnt know what to tell noobs 11
But dont let this game die! Keep playing while u can and try to bring more people
Hoot_T is a smurf nickname, and the real name of the player was revealed to me
but not made available for the general public. Hoot_T is a 2k player from Mexico
and a long time AoC player. Thank you for your time Hoot_T, keep on hootin'.
_Richthofen_: Hi and thx for taking the time for the interview. Can you introduce yourself at first?
dfs: My Name is Andrey, I am 25, living in St.Petersburg, Russia and working as a freelancing programmer. Also I am active as an Administrator in the Russian AoC Community
_Richthofen_: Russian AoC Community sounds interesting. Tell some more about it
dfs: We have our own site http://rusaoc.ru where Russians and Russian speaking people are playing. Due to language barrier it is easier for Russians to have their own community. We have more than 1000 people registered and more than 100 actively playing there. Also we are hosting Tournaments with price money. Right now the Tournament of 4 stages (http://challonge.com/rusaocevent1).We also stream games with Russian commentary for the players there.
_Richthofen_: Don't you think it would be a good idea to invite some of the Top Voobly Players in your tournaments to make them more popular for the non Russian AoC Community?
dfs: We want to keep this tournaments for Russian speaking players as we want to encourage them to play and improve with people of mainly the same skill level and also get to know each other. If we would invite Top Players they would probably win the tournaments and receive the prize money, so people might not be too inclined to sign up and participate when it's too uneven matched. So we want to keep it the way it is. The better Russian players of course, are playing on Voobly anyway.
_Richthofen_: So you know your Team-mates in person?
dfs: Yes, most players know each other. We already got to know each other on several LAN Parties or local tournaments.
_Richthofen_: So it was not difficult for you to form a Russian Team for the Nations cup?
dfs: No, actually it was quite easy as we have a big community and lots of players know each other. Probably a lot easier than for other Nations.
_Richthofen_: What was your expectation for the NationsCup?
dfs: We probably had different expectations. For me personally, I wanted to reach the Final Group Stage, and we accomplished that. Also we grew and improved as a Team. That's also important.
_Richthofen_: In the final group stage you came up empty. Do you feel there were some opportunities you left out?
dfs: We had close games vs. USA and Poland that could have gone either way. Last game vs. USA we could have won on BF but in the end the better Team won I guess.
_Richthofen_: Any games you can advise to watch, maybe from Team Russia?
dfs: Well, if you want to see something unusual then you can watch our double Migration games vs. Turkey and Mexico. From the games I have seen so far from NationsCup, I really like this one. http://www.aoczone.net/viewtopic.php?f=1111&t=113937
_Richthofen_: What Team did impress you most you played against?
dfs: Definitely Finland. They played really well vs. us, even on our home map. Not only against us, they had some really good games vs. China as well. Good overall team effort. I hope they would make it to the final.
_Richthofen_: Are there some teams you don't like for personal reasons?
dfs: No it was a good competition and people always were friendly, even in hard fought games. Only thing that was very annoying was playing vs. Chinese Teams, but only because of the lag. It makes it so hard to play and it really wants to make you quit from time to time. Some people can play better with lag and some just can't. As for me, I can't
_Richthofen_: Did you watch your opponents Recs as some kind of preparation?
dfs: Sure. Think we all watched, to try to figure out their Strats on certain maps and find some weak spots in their play
_Richthofen_: Is there anything you would change for next years Nations cup? Maybe about the rules?
dfs: Well, I liked restart at 5mins better than at 4. And I would like to use a mod against slinging. I think it is too common in Team games and it is not that much fun to play or to watch. Actually we were practising with a mod against slinging before Nationscup and it was way more interesting. Unluckily it was decided not to use it for the nations cup. This I would have appreciated.
_Richthofen_: Why do you think Asian Teams perform so well in AoC?
dfs: Because of LAG No, seriously, they have a very big community of active players and follower and since there are so many high level players, they just push the regular players as they have the opportunity to compete on a high level more frequently.
_Richthofen_: Your pick for the final?
dfs: Brazil A vs. China A
_Richthofen_: Obviously What do you think of the future of AoC
dfs: No one would have expected this 2nd life of AoC that we see nowadays, but people are very conservative when it comes about changes. People are so sceptical about the new balance patch and all but I just think that games change and changes can be only good for the game. Probably it is unlikely the future is too bright. Depends on the tournaments as well, but with new games coming out it might split the community.
_Richthofen_: What about your future in AoC?
dfs: I will be inactive now as I have to do spend more time with my work now. But I will try to follow the main tournaments, especially when Russians are participating. Although I will try to be active streaming games for the Russian community.
_Richthofen_: Well, thank you very much for the interview, and I hope you will remain active in AoC, in one way or the other
dfs: My Name is Andrey, I am 25, living in St.Petersburg, Russia and working as a freelancing programmer. Also I am active as an Administrator in the Russian AoC Community
_Richthofen_: Russian AoC Community sounds interesting. Tell some more about it
dfs: We have our own site http://rusaoc.ru where Russians and Russian speaking people are playing. Due to language barrier it is easier for Russians to have their own community. We have more than 1000 people registered and more than 100 actively playing there. Also we are hosting Tournaments with price money. Right now the Tournament of 4 stages (http://challonge.com/rusaocevent1).We also stream games with Russian commentary for the players there.
_Richthofen_: Don't you think it would be a good idea to invite some of the Top Voobly Players in your tournaments to make them more popular for the non Russian AoC Community?
dfs: We want to keep this tournaments for Russian speaking players as we want to encourage them to play and improve with people of mainly the same skill level and also get to know each other. If we would invite Top Players they would probably win the tournaments and receive the prize money, so people might not be too inclined to sign up and participate when it's too uneven matched. So we want to keep it the way it is. The better Russian players of course, are playing on Voobly anyway.
_Richthofen_: So you know your Team-mates in person?
dfs: Yes, most players know each other. We already got to know each other on several LAN Parties or local tournaments.
_Richthofen_: So it was not difficult for you to form a Russian Team for the Nations cup?
dfs: No, actually it was quite easy as we have a big community and lots of players know each other. Probably a lot easier than for other Nations.
_Richthofen_: What was your expectation for the NationsCup?
dfs: We probably had different expectations. For me personally, I wanted to reach the Final Group Stage, and we accomplished that. Also we grew and improved as a Team. That's also important.
_Richthofen_: In the final group stage you came up empty. Do you feel there were some opportunities you left out?
dfs: We had close games vs. USA and Poland that could have gone either way. Last game vs. USA we could have won on BF but in the end the better Team won I guess.
_Richthofen_: Any games you can advise to watch, maybe from Team Russia?
dfs: Well, if you want to see something unusual then you can watch our double Migration games vs. Turkey and Mexico. From the games I have seen so far from NationsCup, I really like this one. http://www.aoczone.net/viewtopic.php?f=1111&t=113937
_Richthofen_: What Team did impress you most you played against?
dfs: Definitely Finland. They played really well vs. us, even on our home map. Not only against us, they had some really good games vs. China as well. Good overall team effort. I hope they would make it to the final.
_Richthofen_: Are there some teams you don't like for personal reasons?
dfs: No it was a good competition and people always were friendly, even in hard fought games. Only thing that was very annoying was playing vs. Chinese Teams, but only because of the lag. It makes it so hard to play and it really wants to make you quit from time to time. Some people can play better with lag and some just can't. As for me, I can't
_Richthofen_: Did you watch your opponents Recs as some kind of preparation?
dfs: Sure. Think we all watched, to try to figure out their Strats on certain maps and find some weak spots in their play
_Richthofen_: Is there anything you would change for next years Nations cup? Maybe about the rules?
dfs: Well, I liked restart at 5mins better than at 4. And I would like to use a mod against slinging. I think it is too common in Team games and it is not that much fun to play or to watch. Actually we were practising with a mod against slinging before Nationscup and it was way more interesting. Unluckily it was decided not to use it for the nations cup. This I would have appreciated.
_Richthofen_: Why do you think Asian Teams perform so well in AoC?
dfs: Because of LAG No, seriously, they have a very big community of active players and follower and since there are so many high level players, they just push the regular players as they have the opportunity to compete on a high level more frequently.
_Richthofen_: Your pick for the final?
dfs: Brazil A vs. China A
_Richthofen_: Obviously What do you think of the future of AoC
dfs: No one would have expected this 2nd life of AoC that we see nowadays, but people are very conservative when it comes about changes. People are so sceptical about the new balance patch and all but I just think that games change and changes can be only good for the game. Probably it is unlikely the future is too bright. Depends on the tournaments as well, but with new games coming out it might split the community.
_Richthofen_: What about your future in AoC?
dfs: I will be inactive now as I have to do spend more time with my work now. But I will try to follow the main tournaments, especially when Russians are participating. Although I will try to be active streaming games for the Russian community.
_Richthofen_: Well, thank you very much for the interview, and I hope you will remain active in AoC, in one way or the other
Game A
China A 4:1 Argentina A
Game B
Finland 4:2 Norway A
Game C
Brazil A 0:0 Vietnam A
Game D
Brazil B 1:4 Canada
China A 4:1 Argentina A
Game B
Finland 4:2 Norway A
Game C
Brazil A 0:0 Vietnam A
Game D
Brazil B 1:4 Canada
Make sure to follow on Twitter @AoCNews
Thanks for reading!
--TOAO_Nai