G!vioce vol 03 en by gamania gvoice

Gamania View

Forward into e-Sports

CONTENTS

Features

Korean e-Sports Report

The Maturing of Korean e-Sports Teams

A Bright Future Ahead for Professional e-Sports

Gama Bears on the March

Star Athlete of Korean E-Sports

On July 18 2008, Gamania formed our own professional e-Sports team. Our mission is to change Taiwanese society's prejudices against games. In the past few years, online gaming has had a major impact on the industry and people's values. From playing games just for fun, or to have a sense of achievement to playing games for profit, the game industry is now having an increasing impact on society as a whole. If we look at how Korean society has promoted competitive gaming and its supporting organizations, we can see how the legitimacy of emerging industries depends on society's acceptance. This is the target that we are striving for.

At Gamania, we always do only what we believe is right.

People We believe that the game industry is not just a way for young people to join the work force. The skills and sense of achievement it offers are not just a momentary flash in a pan but an endless world of fun. What e-Sports

Interview with Park Jung-Suk

offer is a new perspective on the game industry. If you still have some prejudices against e-sports, in this issue of the Gamania GVOICE, we will take you on an in-depth tour of the e-sports world that starts from the Korean perspective and goes on to looks at how it applies to Taiwan.

Special

Do you like gaming or are you prejudiced against it?

Project

SPACE 17 Exhibition Guide

Publisher: Albert Lius Editorial Desk: Eric Chen Directing Supervisor: Jean Chang Editor-in-Chief: Sisi Chan, James Chang Special correspondent: Nan Yoon-Sung, Lee Won-Hee, Rong Project Manager: Yoyo Dai Creative Desk: Misha Wu, Ayo Hsu Text Editor:Rong Art Editor: Michael Wu Web Planner: Francis Huang Publishing: Gamania Brand Center Printing: Fundation Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.

- 02

Features

What is the future like for competitive gamers? Embrace your dreams, ignore the barbs Go gaming!

We are not just gamers

Korea from afar

If the Japanese are the best at game development, then the Koreans are the best at game playing. This issue of the Gamania GVOICE looks at the history of competitive gaming in Korea and the lessons it holds for Taiwan.

Eyes on Taiwan

Taiwan, how hard is competitive gaming? What's next for Gamania's Gama Bears? Still looking at the world through tinted glasses? Take a step forward for e-sports in Taiwan!

- 04

Features

ully developed e-sports environment Can only be realized Through the support of the government, society and media.

Korean e-Sports Report South Korea is known as the "Birthplace of e-Sports" because they not only organized the first computer gaming This eventually gave rise to a new cultural phenomenon.

tournament in the world for "Starcraft" but also acquired a regular fanbase through a partnership with the media. Korean youths' devotion to e-Sports is taken seriously by society as a whole Source: http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/02XH1Cx0glfFL/610x.jpg

History of e-Sports in Korea Korean e-sports had its origins in

e-sports, the Onmedia Group set up

Internet cafes and Starcraft. Thanks to

Onegamenet, a TV channel dedicated

LAN gaming, a population of gamers

to gaming. The Tooniverse Starleague

had formed by 1997 and it eventually

was also reorganized to become the

grew to become a national sport by the

Ongamenet Starleague.

end of the 1990's. After 2000, the league tour nament formats became increasingly formalized.

organized by various websites for their

In 1999, the Korean KTF Group set up

anniversary celebrations. The scale of

the first professional gaming team,

the competitions continued to grow and

and by the end of 2000 there were 40

finally, the Korea Pro-Gamers League

professional gaming teams around

(KPGL) was held in December 1992 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

the country, a reflection of the risky

the first national e-sports tournament.

investment climate at the time.

Between 1998 and 1999 online

Between 2002 and 2004, the star and

tournaments were held for the best

team leagues on Onegamenet, as well as

gamers around the country on dedicated

the MSL and team tournaments hosted

servers and these were known as "PGL".

by MBC Game, all began attracting

Samsung Electronics' e-Sports fans cheering their team on with headbands and inflated bats.

E-sports began as gaming competitions

popular attention. It was from this point In 1999, the media began to play role by

on that e-sports entered its real growth

providing live broadcasts of e-sports

- 06

games. Seeing the growth potential in

phase. The Korean national player Lim Yo-Han originally played for SK Telecom. He is now spending his military service in the Air Force's Ace team.

Features

The way the fingers dance across the keyboards are part of the pro-gamer mystique Source: http://cache.daylife.com/

Features

2004年國內手機廠商：Pantech Curitel 創立電玩職團--Curious。

imageserve/0dDjcJ8e3x9Zj/610x.jpg

Cultivation as a Cultural Industry The first round of the SKY league finals held

One of the goals of the Korean Ministry of Culture,

at Pusan in July 2004, for example, attracted

Sports and Tourism is to make the Korean gaming

widespread attention. The competition also marked

cultural industry the world leader in e-Sports. Once

the point where e-Sports in Korea shifted from

competitive gaming was realized domestically,

individual competitors to team-based competitions.

the next step was to set up international gaming tournaments.

In 2005 Ongamenet and MBC Game combined their respective professional and team leagues.

This culminated in the release of an e-Sports

Management was also reorganized under a single

development plan by the Korean government. From

organization, resulting in a formal league format.

that point on, the government began moving away from league management and focusing its attention

The joint leagues between 2005 and 2006 were all

on popularizing e-sports instead. In 2007, it hosted

sponsored by the mobile phone maker SKY, opening

the first national amateur gaming tournament and

the doors to the professional gaming. The SinHan

the overall framework is now becoming clear in

Bank became a sponsor in April 2007 and the name

2008.

was changed to the "SinHan Bank OSL".

年度重要聯賽「新韓銀行盃」是選手們重視的賽事之一。

圖片來源：http://www.samsungkhan.co.kr/webdata/khan/bbs/8/171.jpg

- 08

Features

e-Sports and the Media e-Sports is different from simple gaming and it has

It offers detailed reports on all kinds of e-sports in

now grown into a sports and cultural phenomenon

Korea, making it easy for young people to find out

in Korea. The media played a pivotal role in this

about e-sports developments.

process particularly in encouraging young people to watch e-sports games.

The e-Sports Weekly was also launched in August 2005. It has a strong following among e-sports fans

e-Sports are currently being televised in an

and has a weekly print run of up to 70,000 copies.

increasing number of formats. The duration of

The magazine mainly focuses on summarizing the

the broadcasts is also on the rise as well. In 2007,

major developments in the e-Sports world during

broadcast rights for e-Sports were offered for the

the week.

first time. Revenues are now currently shared using a fixed formula between the organizers and the broadcast right holders. Most of the league tournaments held in Korea can be followed through webzines (web magazines). The most well known of these is the Fighterforum.

電玩頻道主持人主持比賽大會。

代表世界電玩賽事的WCG，是職業電玩選手注目的焦點。

上圖來源：http://www.gxgame.cn/Article/UploadFiles/200710/2007107135859503.jpg 下圖來源： http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/WCG_2008_Samsung_Euro_ Championship.jpg

Pro-Gamers and the Team System To b e c o m e a p ro - g a m e r, a c a n d i d a t e m u s t

The hosting of different competitions also provided

undertake a series of tests recognized by the Korea

pro-gamers with lucrative match fees.

e-Sports Association (KeSPA) and pass a test

> Final version of esFORCE's issue 136, the first dedicated e-Sports magazine in Korea

before they can join a team. Since the 2nd KeSPA

For pro-gamers, joining a team not only provided a

was established, the selection system has been

source of income but also a way of realizing their

reformed and placed on a more official basis.

dreams and ambitions.

It was the establishment of the team system that offered pro-gamers a steadier source of income. As the popularity of e-Sports increased, major corporations set up their own pro-gaming teams.

- 10

Features

Korea's rise as a major gaming nation Goes beyond R&D and marketing e-Sports in particular is a product of everyone working together

The Maturing of Korean e-Sports Teams When the 2nd "Korea e-Sports" association was convened in 2005, e-sports in Korea began shifting to a joint >

2004年在釜山 Kuang an li 海邊舉辦的 pro league 決賽，10萬名觀眾參與。

government-private sector model based upon corporate-sponsored pro-gaming groups.

目前歐美國家對於職業隊也有相當程度的重視。

The Well Developed Korean e-Sports Group Structure The maturing of the pro-gaming team structure in Korea

After the formalization of the league system, the pro-

was linked to the development of e-Sports. Generally

gaming teams have gradually expanded in size. As pro-

speaking, pro-gaming teams usually have their own

gaming teams provide their players with dormitories

team/training facilities. Each team would also have one

and training rooms, the conditions are generally quite

or more coaches/team managers responsible for two or

good for a pro-gamer.

more pro-gamers.

- 12

在 Sam-San 體育館舉辦的 EVER Star League 2008 決賽戰鼓勵加油。

最近舉辦的 Star League 決賽戰，在仁川市的 Sam-San 體育館擠滿了1萬名的觀眾。

圖片來源：http://hongkongphooey.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/gngwc.jpg

高額的獎金，也是讓電競發展快速的重要誘因。

圖片來源：http://pic2008.socgame.com.tw/sp/200808/21481.jpg

Features

Main Categories for e-Sports Teams For most of the pro-gaming teams in Korea their

tournaments on several occasions. All-Game

main competition category is "Starcraft". There are

Net was the first to establish a team for the first

also some teams that focus on FPS games such as

domestically produced FPS game "Special Force".

Counterstrike and Special Force. While KHAN and KTF MAGICNS both fielded The eSTRO team not only competes in Starcraft but

Warcraft 3 and Fifa World Cup teams at one time,

also has a team for Counterstrike. Apart from taking

player retirements and military service means that

part in domestic games, the eSTRO Counterstrike

their main focus is now on Starcraft as well.

team has also competed in major international

2007年3月，空軍的 ACE Pro-Game 團成立。

韓國偶像團體「神話」中的申彗星，也是著名的電玩高手，今年度也參加了MBC舉辦的紀念活動賽。

圖片來源：http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=370596878

Background of Korean e-Sports Teams There are currently 12 registered pro-gaming

The "Hanbit STARS" was formed in 2001 by

teams in Korea. All of the teams became corporate

HanbitSoft. SK Telecom, the largest mobile telecom

sponsored between 2006 and 2007.

company in Korea, founded team "T1" in 2004

and has been a long-time supporter of e-Sports

高大帥氣的空軍電競隊，可是受到相當多人歡迎。

The first e-sports team in Korea was the "青吾SG團

in its role as the chairman of the Korea e-Sports

隊" founded at the end of 1990. The team competed

Association.

in local gaming tournaments held around the country and was the first to rely on prize money and

The Republic of Korea Air Force's "ACE" team was

membership dues to support its operation.

created in 2007. It was founded to allow pro-gamers to continue their career when they do their military

The oldest of the current e-sports teams is "KTF

service.

MAGICNS". It was founded in 1999 by KTF and has been quite successful in a variety of gaming events and team tournaments. Samsung Electronics established a pro-gaming team almost at the same time as KTF. Known as the "KHAN", they quickly established themselves as the

- 14

教練會作戰術模擬提供選手學習。

champions of many games. 專屬於電競隊員的商品，也是未來發展電競周邊的商機。

Features

Pro-Gamer 團的選手和粉絲們一起唱加油歌。

Features

電玩小子曾政承（圖中）一度曾掀起台灣電競熱潮。

Star Cyber-Athletes of Gaming

台灣當年電玩高手机蕙君也想以電競職業選手之路邁進，廠商紛找代言。

Seo Ji-Su of STX Soul has been referred to as the "Female version of Lim Yo-Han". She has dominated the women's competition and can even challenge male progamers as well.

圖片來源： http://www.pcgames.com.cn/pcgames/0509/pic/pcgames_tw_0910np06_thumb.jpg

跑跑卡丁車的冠軍年僅12歲。

Major Development in e-Sports

SK Telecom's most famous player was Lim Yo-

for his handsome appearance as well as the top girl

The 2008 "SinHan Bank OSL" is now entering its final

Hwan, known as "The Emperor", and a popular new

gamer Seo Ji-Soo.

phase. The 2007 champions KHAN are now certain to

addition to team was Kim Taek-Yong who joined in early 2008.

圖片來源：www.socgame.com.tw/viewdoc.php?id=561

take the crown again. A large number of star players have signed up with foreign teams and taken part in Warcraft 3 and other

The results for the Starleague and MSL, the two major

Top KTF MAGICNS pro-gamers included Hong

tournaments as well. They include MYM player Jang

individual tournaments, are coming in as well. STX

Jin-Ho, Park Jung-Suk, Kang Min and Jo Yong Ho

Jae-Ho, online nickname "Moon", as well as Park

SOUL's Park Sung-Jun is now the champion of the

(retired). The team's current star player is the new

Jun of SKGaming.

2008 Starleague. Everyone's attention is now on the

arrival Lee Young-Ho.

MSL finals where Lecaf's Lee Jae-Dong will go head to "Kart Rider" has also produced a number of star

Other teams are also actively cultivating a new

players, such as 9-year old game champion Moon

generation of star cyber-athletes. CJ ENTUS for

Ho-Jun, the "Boy Wonder".

head with KTF's Lee Young-Ho. The outstanding results from Korean pro-gaming teams

example has skilled charismatic players such as Ma

in international tournaments have reinforced Korea's

Jae-Yoon and Seo Ji-Hun; STX SOUL on the other

position as a "Major Gaming Nation".

hand is promoting Ji Young-Soo who is renowned

- 16

Features

Special

Opinions from Gamania Korea For Gamania Korea, where online gaming is king, what do they think of e-sports?

Name Lisa Jung Title Web Designer

Have you ever taken part in e-sports? No. What do you think of e-sports? I would try it if I had the skills.

Name Andy Kim Title GM Part Manager

If you could compete in e-sports, which game would it be? Casual games!

What do you think of e-sports? I rather enjoy watching e-sports. Their amazing mouse and keyboard skills are a joy to watch! If you could compete in e-sports, which game would it be? PVP in MMORPG!

What ability do you admire most in pro-gaming teams? I really admire the spectacular way their fingers move.

What ability do you admire most in pro-gaming teams? Their fantastic finger skills

2006年夏天，參觀 Sky Pro League 2006 季賽的粉絲群。

Name Philip Lee Title Marketer

Have you ever taken part in e-sports? I took part in an Internet café star league when I was a kid, but was knocked out in the final 16.

Name Kervin Kim Title IT System engineer

What do you think of e-sports? It's a good team activity. Businesswise though, the problem is the difficulty of a practical payment model.

Have you ever taken part in e-sports? Counterstrike league tournament. What do you think of e-sports? It's for hardcore gamers. If you could compete in e-sports, which game would it be? FPS. What ability do you admire most in pro-gaming teams? The hand movements and their reflexes.

If you could compete in e-sports, which game would it be? First-Person Shooter (FPS).

Have you ever taken part in e-sports? No.

What ability do you admire most in pro-gaming teams? None in particular.

The SinHan Bank OSL winners' party held at the Korea International Exhibition Center in February, 2008.

Future Development of Korean e-Sports Teams Name

The current market for Korean e-sports is for those

A n o t h e r o p t i o n i s s p o n s o r s h i p s f ro m g a m i n g

Grace Jang

10~30. When e-sports fans have more buying power in

peripherals companies for equipment that players

Title

10 years time, their investment in the e-sports market

frequently use such as mice, keyboards and joysticks.

will increase as well.

This will generate a certain amount of licensing revenues as well.

At the moment, pro-gamers' income come exclusively from licensing agreements and match fees. In the future, however, the teams hope to base their revenues on competition tickets with a fixed proportion shared

Have you ever taken part in e-sports? Internet Café star tournament. What do you think of e-sports? It's fun even if you are just looking at them play. If you could compete in e-sports, which game would it be? Starcraft, FPS. What ability do you admire most in pro-gaming teams? Their hands move really fast!

Name Mazel Lee Title GM

Have you ever taken part in e-sports? ITV's FIFA99 tournament. What do you think of e-sports? It's really great fun! ^^ It's interesting whether you are playing or watching them play. If you could compete in e-sports, which game would it be? Winning Eleven on the PS2 (soccer game). What ability do you admire most in pro-gaming teams? They are ok!

with participating teams.

- 18

Features

Games Showing the Way

Forging e-Sport Stars through Exacting Standards The most important mission of the Taiwan e-Sport League (TeSL) is to promote professional e-sports in Taiwan. To help the industry develop in a sound manner, also presented with professional certification to bring e-Sports on par with conventional professional sports. A minimum salary of $30,000 a month is also mandated so professional cyber-athletes can concentrate on their e-sports performance. The corporate sponsors are also required to provide managers and coaches for managing their teams. Apart

Yuan Tung Chief Executive Officer, Taiwan e-Sport League

Led by Wayi President Huang Bo-Hung, the Way Spider team features skilled players

A Bright Future Ahead for Professional e-Sports

uniform rules and regulations are required. Athletes are

from improving the athletes' professional skills and team rapport, the training regime also includes physical fitness and etiquette. All teams have their own uniforms and some teams even require managerial approval before an athlete can change their hairstyle. All these are aimed at turning around the negative impression people have of "playing games" and forge e-sport stars.

for professional cyber-gaming in Taiwan. According to TeSL CEO Yuan Dong, a new E-Sport Era has now dawned in Taiwan!

The TeSL also organizes regular competitions to create

"The games industry has little in common with e-Sports". The former is a manufacturing industry while the

opportunities for exposure. Long-term exposure and

latter is a sport that involves human beings. If more people become involved and help with popularizing

regular matches will hopefully encourage the audience

e-sports, the standard of professional e-sports will become higher. This will in turn drive the industry's

to tune in on a regular basis. According to Yuan, an

development.

entertainment-oriented e-sports TV produced by ace

Gamania's Gama Bear team will unleash the power of the Formosa Black Bear

The press conference on July 18 not only marked the official start of an e-sports league but a brand new chapter

producer Chan Jen-hsiung is planned for the future to bring professional e-sports in line with the rest of the

> - 20

The e-sport league founded by Gamania, Wayi and Taiwan e-Sport League have great expectations of the future

ESL Wolf represents the TeSL

The launch press conference on July 18 saw the TeSL present the three teams with their professional team certification

sports industry.

Features

Special

Competition Schedule Yuan explained that the first year of e-Sports will feature fewer teams and categories because of the shorter preparation time. December 2008 to October 2009, however, will be a complete competition season that will cover all 5 major categories of FPS, RCG, RTS, FTG and SPG.

Spring Training

Grand Final

This will consist of workshops, symposiums and international friendly matches between professional cyber athletes. Coaches or members of foreign professional e-sports teams will be invited to visit Taiwan to share their experiences and take part in friendly matches.

Selection The professional teams start the new competition season and also select new athletes. After the Lunar New Year holiday season in February, all-star tournaments will be held in support of the Taipei Game Show.

What's the Opinion of Professional e-Sport Teams Out on the Street?

Name

VIVI

I don't feel there is anything

Name

C6H6

It's great! I love games and

Age

wrong with it. It will help

Age

even thought about applying

Profession

Publishing

develop industry and offer a

Profession

Administration,

for a game software company.

Game Experience

proper place for competition. I wouldn't recommend it for young people though.

Regular Competition

Game Experience Current Favorite

18 Shin Sangoku Musou

But the game industry in Taiwan wasn't as well as developed back then. I had to

Professional baseball and

make a living, so became an

basketball sets an example

office worker. It's good hear

for health and fitness. Playing

that the environment is ready

games will only hurt your

for this and I hope it will be a

eyesight and doesn't really

success.

contribute to society. 100 matches expected to be held each year

Taiwan's e-Sports Industry is Confident of Success Taiwan offers many advantages for the development of the e-sports industry such as the popularity of online games

Name

A-Po

It's a good idea, but you can

Name

Jay

I am surprised that people

Age

only be a professional athlete

Age

can now play games for a

for so long. What will you do

Profession

Programmer

living. I am quite envious!

Profession Graduate Student Game Experience Current Favorite

18 Warcraft

and the widespread availability of Internet cafes. In the past, Taiwanese cyber athletes managed to achieve great results in world-class competitions with limited corporate sponsorship. Now that a complete training and support system is available, this will hopefully not only encourage the formation of more formation teams but also generate

after you retire? Being able to play games for a living

Game 8 years, on and off Experience

There is, of course, pressure from training and competition,

sounds attractive, but at the

but at least it's something you

end of the day, you will still

enjoy. This alone is enough

have to deal with reality and

for a lot of office workers to

find a good job. Gaming as a

eat their hearts out over.

hobby is enough.

peripheral benefits as well.

Name

Sam

ove games. Games are

Name

Su Hsiao-Fang

Sounds good having a

Age

still a part of my life even

Age

proper channel for fun and

MIS

though I am married with

Profession

Bank Employee

relaxation. If I was a parent

Game Experience

Profession Game Experience Current Favorite

30 Command and Conquer 3

kids now. I can only say, I wish professional e-sports

though, I wouldn't want my kids to become involved. You

had come to Taiwan earlier.

can't make playing games

If I wasn't too old already, I'd

your life career, after all. Once

jump at the chance.

you retire then realize you don't know anything other than games, it will be pretty

tragic.

- 22

The e-Sport entertainment program will be personally directed by producer Wang Wei-Chung

Features

Gama Bears on the March

SF squad

Responsibility. Passion. Laurels.

Kart Rider squad

Gamania's "Gama Bear" team injects new life into Taiwan's e-Sports scene. What are Gamania's expectations? What preparations were involved? For the founding year of e-Sports in Taiwan, Gamania provided funding and peripherals and became involved in setting up of the TeSL to give Taiwan's e-Sport industry a good head-start.

"Gaming" is a Proper Career that Offers Big Money From the first draft, 24 players in total were picked for

focus fully on training and competition.

3 teams, including just 2 female players. Nevertheless, Gama Bear's Cheng Hsin-Yi took part in the same

Gama Bear' team manager Chang Chien-Hao,

training sessions as the other athletes. Her sex was no

nicknamed "Uncle Chang", says they have a team

obstacle and added more variety to the team as well.

agreement that covers not only basic training but also physical fitness as well. These courses are designed

As most of the athletes on Gama Bear came from

to change society's views of the profession and to

central Taiwan, they all live in the team dormitory.

prove that "Gaming is a sport and career that you can

This not only simplified management but also helped

make money from". These efforts are aimed at gaining

to build up team rapport. TeSL regulations require

society's acceptance for e-sports.

all athletes to be at least 18 and receive a minimum monthly salary of $30,000. This is supplemented by match fees and prize money. For players, this means they don't have to worry about basic necessities so can

- 24

Features

Synergies with the Gamania Brand Spirit

Learning from Overseas Experience

Gama Bear's team motto is RPL â&#x20AC;&#x201C; "Responsibility,

Instead, the company hopes that Gama Bear will

Uncle Chang said with some feeling that he envied

Passion, Laurels". Team members are not only

convey the company's brand spirit and enhance

the comprehensive competition environment and well-

responsible to the team but are expected to be

Gamania's brand value.

developed industry chains in other countries. In Korea

passionate about e-sports. After all, you can only

for example, professional teams may have 50 people or

realize your own potential by doing something you

When selecting team members for example, Gamania

more and even have their own reserves system. Grand

really love. And the laurels, glory and honor offer

set down some ground rules that it wanted the team

finals even draw crowds larger than concerts. As for

players the most direct boost.

members to agree to. If they didn't agree with those

Taiwan, just finding the players to get the ball rolling

rules or refused to follow them, they won't be hired no

posed a headache.

For outsiders, becoming involved in the e-sports

matter how good they are as players. These exacting

industry seems natural for Gamania as it offers brand

standards reinforced the impression that this is

Many parents in Taiwan also feel that Internet cafes

and commercial benefits. Uncle Chang explains,

professional e-sports and not just "playing games".

are a hotbed of crime. In Korea, however, young

however, that an e-sports team costs around eight

people even go to Internet cafes on dates. The lack of

million dollars a year. Gamania's motive for becoming

competition support in games played by Taiwanese

involved in professional e-sports is not to make a profit,

youths is also another reason why Taiwan's e-sport

but because Albert the company CEO doesn't like to

industry chain is not yet fully developed.

do things half-heartedly. Chang emphasized the fact that the games don't necessarily have to be Gamania's.

The experience with e-sports overseas is something Taiwan's advantages are our diversity of gaming genres,

that Taiwan can learn a lot from. Uncle Chang said that

Tactics play an important role

high broadband penetration rates and large gaming population. These gamers are also the consumer group that target sponsors are interested in. It is therefore his belief that there is a great future ahead for e-sports in Taiwan. He hopes that under his leadership, the Gama Bear team will help promote the Gamania brand spirit and also achieve tournament success.

The managers working behind the scenes are also indispensable!

- 26

The two coaches have developed a complete training program for the team

The Gama Bear is led by Chang Chien-Hao (nicknamed Uncle Chang)

The players' calls during training liven up the office

Special

SF Squad

Gama Bear on Parade!

Name Age

Cheng Hsin-Yi 26

Game Age

Favorite Gaming Star None

What does gaming mean to you? It's what lights up my life.

Favorite Game FPS

How has your life changed after joining Gama Bear? Become more fulfilling. It's a dream come true.

Best Personal Record Winning a 1 vs. 3 clan battle.

What would your life be like without games? Flat and boring, I guess!

Favorite Gaming Star BrooM

What does gaming mean to you? A stage where I can train myself and demonstrate my superb skills

Kart Rider Squad Name Age Game Age

Ye Jun-Gu 24 15

Favorite Gaming Star Yun Yun Favorite Game Kart Rider Best Personal Record Completing a lap of Kart Rider's Moonhill City course in 1:50:42.

What does gaming mean to you? Heart must be cold as ice while the game runs hot as a volcano. Ice meets fire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; "challenging yourself"

Name Age

Hsieh Meng-Lun 20

Game Age

Favorite Game FPS Best Personal Record 56 kills and 9 deaths in SF team battle

How has your life changed after joining Gama Bear? Learned how to live in a group. Feeling excited about the future.

How has your life changed after joining Gama Bear? More fulfilling and closer to realizing my dreams. What would your life be like without games? It would feel like the end of the world.

What would your life be like without games? A human tragedy. Name Age

Name Age Game Age

Hsu Pei-Sen 18 10

Favorite Gaming Star TAKI

What does gaming mean to you? Path to a higher plane.

Favorite Game Heat Project, Kart Rider

How has your life changed after joining Gama Bear? Became more fulfilling and challenging.

Best Personal Record Completing a lap of Kart Rider's Desert Drift course in 2:20:00.

What would your life be like without games? Boring.

Liao Kuan-Min 18

Game Age

Favorite Gaming Star M.Rak

What does gaming mean to you? Something to approach with great professionalism.

Favorite Game FPS

How has your life changed after joining Gama Bear? Life is now more colorful and offers the chance to realize my dream.

Best Personal Record 42 kills and 3 deaths in SF team battle

Name Age

Yang Jun-He 24

Game Age

Favorite Gaming Star SK.HeatoN

What does gaming mean to you? A never-ending challenge.

Favorite Game FPS

How has your life changed after joining Gama Bear? Experience of group life. Learning how to communicate and share experiences.

Best Personal Record 1 vs. 8 in SF team battle

Name Age Game Age

Peng Jun-Kai 27 20

Favorite Gaming Star Moon Ho-Jun

What does gaming mean to you? Passion.

Favorite Game Kart Rider

How has your life changed after joining Gama Bear? More fulfilling, energetic, lively and happy.

Best Personal Record Completing a lap of Kart Rider's Zoomtown course in 2 minutes flat

- 28

What would your life be like without games? Monotonous.

Name Age

Gao Chuan-Cheng 19

Game Age

What would your life be like without games? Hard to imagine. Maybe very boring!

What would your life be like without games? Like a software engineer.

Favorite Gaming Star BrooM

What does gaming mean to you? A life that I love.

Favorite Game FPS

How has your life changed after joining Gama Bear? Realized my dream of succeeding through gaming.

Best Personal Record 46 kills and 11 deaths in SF team battle

What would your life be like without games? Become a boring old man.

People

Star Athlete of Korean E-Sports

KTF MagicNS Interview with Park Jung-Suk Park Jung-Suk Belongs to KTF MagicNS One of the top names in Korean e-sports. Park's pro-gaming career began in 2000 with the HANBIT STARS, and in 2002 he won first place in the 2002 SKY Starleague. He has since achieved good results in other competitions as well. He transferred to the KTF MagicNS team shortly after and was very successful in the team tournaments in 2008.

We were fortunate to interview Park Jung-Suk, one of the stars of Korean e-sports. Let us now find out more about the inner world of Korea's e-sports starts!

hen did you start thinking that you could become a proQ. W gamer? >

Chatting with his younger players in Hanbit STARS before the interview

At 16 when I played "Starcraft" for the first time. Back then I was a fan of "Sangoku". I was often teased because I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a good player. I was determined to prove them wrong so gave up on "Sangoku" and switched to "Starcraft". My skills improved and people began recognizing my talent. I was pretty much ready for pro-gaming by 18.

o you didn't actually start out planning to be a proQ. S gamer? My dream was to become a sports athlete. My father loved watching soccer so I wanted to become a soccer player. Baseball became popular in middle school so I thought about becoming a baseball player. One day, I met Kong Pil-sung and asked him how I could realize my dream of becoming a baseball player. He told me that it requires training from an >

early age and I was too old. So, I gave up on baseball.

- 30

KTF's Park Jung-Suk putting his gear away after a match

People

Q. How did you become a pro-gamer? I heard there was an organization called OOPS made up of all the pro-gamers. My friends nominated me because they thought I was a pretty good player and so that's how I ended up in pro-gaming.

Q. Did you parents object when you became a pro-gamer? When I first became a pro-gamer, people were still using the word "gaming". People didn't think "gaming" was a proper job so my family was quite against it. They became very supportive, however, after I won the championship in 2002.

Q. What left the strongest impression on you in your 8 years as a pro-gamer? After losing one match, I was very upset with myself and went out drinking with the rest of the team. I was in poor form the next day and there was a match on as well, so the coach Lee Jae-gyoo didn't say anything and just benched me. That incident really taught me a lot about what being in a "team" really

meant.

Photo of Park taken for the magazine. Girls find his broad back very attractive, so he has also been nicknamed "The Back".

Q. Which game do you remember most? My match with Kang Jin-Ho in the semi-finals of the 2002 SKY Starleague. I had never beaten Kang before and I didn't lose to him that time. Round 5 in particular was amazing because I somehow managed to complete the Psionic Storm upgrade for the Templar. If the attack had gone on for another 2 seconds I would've lost.

Q. What are the good points of becoming a pro-gamer? And the bad points? The good thing about being a pro-gamer is being able to do what you want to do. You also become famous and can serve as an inspiration to other people. The bad point? Well, once you become famous, you can kiss your

private life goodbye.

- 32

Health is important for a professional athlete. Park regularly works out in the gym.

Park Yung Suk's Day Time

Item