Fnatic - A profesional gaming team

How do you keep yourself motivated day to day? Do you use things such as music or movies to help inspire you?
It`s hard to keep yourself motivated to play day to day, especially if you don’t have anything to look forward to. I usually just try and find small things that give me motivation to play… little match ups against good players, fans, people who believe in me etc.

As long as I enjoy the game and it`s fun, I`m happy to play every day:).

Would you rather a negative impact or a positive impact to help inspire you?
Both really, usually a positive impact makes me pumped, I will always find myself playing better and better and getting really good winning streaks.. and it makes me enjoy the game a lot.

However, the negative impacts are the most important ones.. those are the ones that make me improve my game, that give me the right motivation to do the “hard work”, meaning (Quakelive example) , re-learn the basics, skill up if needed, study other people’ playing style and so forth.

Playing many different disciplines professionally must create a lot of stress, especially when you have to catch up in terms of the skill gaps, how do you stay motivated to practice and become professional?
Switching games, catching up in terms of skill gaps, it`s these that give me so much motivation and will to play and improve my game. It`s the part I love the most. Watching replays, studying other people`s styles, and tricks; it gives me so many things to work on and it helps me stay motivated to play more and more. When I see the results, when I see that I start increasing my skill, step by step improving my game and beating opponents that were so much better than me before, it`s a great feeling.

After the CGS died was it hard to stay motivated towards E-Sports? Did you want to just give up on it?
It was definitely a hard hit, but let`s just say I was ready for such a thing to happen. I have seen it in the past (CPL,WSVG,etc), and I just dealt with it in the same way. It`s a transition time, things will get better in a few months, new games, new tournaments…..

How would you say having a manager has helped you in terms of morale and motivation?
A manager / team manager is always there for you. It helps you get ready for a certain match, gives you motivation and a morale boost before tournaments, in some cases, even remember important key points before a certain match.

In my case, I learned that It`s always important to choose your manager. I have been lucky enough to always have great people supporting me. My advice for new players would be to make sure that you have someone behind you that really cares about you, that`s a good friend and not that he/she just cares about his/her own business. There isn’t a worse thing than getting lectured or rescinding a contract from someone after a tough loss. There needs to always be support, something to look forward to, motivation and an important study of the mistakes you made to make sure they won`t happen again. That`s the win-win situation in my opinion.

What sort of impact do your family and friends have on your morale?
Having friends and family supporting you is a really important factor. I personally don’t think I would have made it where I am today if it wasn`t for them. Having people close to you, supporting you in good and bad moments, trying to cheer you up all the time and knowing that they will be there for you, it`s really important.

When things in your personal life aren’t going too well, does that frustration carry over into your E-Sports career as well? Do you find it hard to ‘keep focus’ on your goals, etc?
It was hard to keep focus on my goals if things in my personal life weren`t going to well at the start of my career. With time you learn to deal with it and you know what it takes to reach what you want, however, you will still have a small impact if something isn’t right. It`s always better to feel good with yourself, in every sport / work.

What advice would you give to players who are having trouble keeping motivated when the skill gaps are too high in games like Wc3, CS and Quake?
Never give up, always try to keep yourself motivated, practice a lot and take a break if your morale and your mental game isn`t going right. It`s not easy to step up your game in such games, there are people who have been playing for years, so you can`t make it to the top in 10 days, neither in 2 months. It takes time, but if you believe in it, you will be able to reach your goal.

Is it hard to stay motivated when tournaments don’t pay out prizes, other events and teams go bankrupt left and right, and games go in and out of style?
Yeah that isn’t cool at all. I have been lucky enough to not get paid by just “a few small events” and also to have important people behind me to make sure everything would work out. My advice would be; don`t be scared and get a lawyer and whoever you need to protect your rights. Players should be treated better.

What sort of impact does losing have on your morale? If you are losing in practice/matches constantly, and you are in a rut, how do you attempt to get out of that?
I usually take a break, try to relax, do a lot of sports, watch some of my replays and study my own game. When I start playing again, step by step I will go over basic things before playing like I was used to before, with time things will go back to normal.

How do you try to maintain a good morale and consistent level of motivation day to day?
Well I do not think about it “every single day”. For me it`s just a routine, get a few hours of practice a day, make sure the skill base is still there and that I can compete any day if a tournament is announced.

When you are preparing for an event, then it`s the most important part. If you are practicing so many hours a day, especially against good players, winning or losing, I always try and make sure that I know I`m better in my head. I try to visualize me winning the whole tournament, I also think about certain matches, play them in my head, etc.. Doing a lot of sports, get the stress out of your system and do something else like reading or watch a movie in between practice sessions, will help you to not stress out, refresh your mind, and make yourself ready and a bit more motivated to start the next practice session.

Is it easier to stay motivated and hungrier for the top spots when you are at the top, or when you are on your way to the top?
For me it`s way easier to stay motivated on the way to the top, because I want to get there so badly and I`m motivated to play more and more, and learn something every game. When you are on top, it`s always hard because there`s always someone else who is going to practice as much or more than you, just because he wants to take your spot. New playing styles will come along and you will have to adapt, because eventually yours will get old and predictable. You will also have more competition and pressure… so you will have to keep practicing a lot, but when you are up there, it`s not “as easy” as it was for you to get there. At least for me, I find it hard to change my whole game drastically after I have been used to winning with that certain playing style, or just practice 6/8 hours a day, when you played that much for months before. On my hand though, I can say experience, skill, confidence, etc. will really help you out when you are already up there. That`s also why, motivation-wise, you are not as “hungry” as you were before.

As the best SC player in China is it hard to stay motivated when Korea is right next door and you can’t compete in any of the events?
There is out of question Korean players are quite good, but they are not unbeatable. If you can keep practicing above 5 hours a day, concentrating on the games with excellent performance and good strain capacity, of course a little bit more luck, you won't think Korea players are that unconquerable once you have all above characteristics

What sorts of things do you do to try and stay motivated? Do you listen to music or watch inspiring movies?
When I feel I cannot beat a certain player, I will stay motivated because of that, it will make me keep practicing until I think I can win the next game against him. This process might be one day or one week, however, this kind of practice is quite clean. I will listen to the songs I like a lot and go to see the latest films.

Do you ever rely on your teammates or manager to help you stay motivated?
I need their help badly, my teammates are very powerful, I practice with them every day in order to increase my skills. When I lose to them, they will figure out the mistakes and let me know. As my manager, Ash always help me looking for top players from Europe, I learn much from the games with them, Europe player's styles are totally different compared to Chinese players, they are smart and they have a lot of strategies which broaden my horizon.

Do you ever help your teammates stay motivated?
Of course, when they lose to me in practice games, I will figure out the mistakes they made, we help each other to improve.

What advice would you give to a player who has problems keeping up morale?
What if you want to be a top player, you have to find a goal, and then you need to achieve it with your effort and enjoy the whole course. When you achieve the goal you will feel proud of yourself.

Do you ever ‘go through the motions’ while playing or practicing?
No, If you "go through the motions" while playing or practicing, the only thing you get is left-behind. I always concentrate on games, whatever a formal game or just a practice game, I don't want to lose any of them.

If you are having problems keeping motivated does it also affect your personal life?
I don't think it will affect my life. I have never met this type of problem so I cannot guarantee the answers: P

Does your family have any sort of impact on your morale? Do they encourage you in your SC career or do they do the opposite and bash it?
Family will impact on your morale for sure, my family support me as a pro-gamer, this is my most important motivational tool, therefore, I will put more effort on the practicing.

What would you prefer; positive reinforcement or negativity to keep you motivated?
No matter what the positive reinforcement or negativity, they all can be your motivators, I know the people whoever encourage me are concerned for me, according to that, I can not disappoint them.

As a manager how do you keep your players motivated to practice, and perform well?
Actually I am not that guy who likes to control the players if they practice or not. The thing is that my players were always professional and always hard working. There was never the point when I thought that they were lazy or not taking their job serious. The thing is to stay on top in this business you have to have a big self-control and if you don’t like to practice you wont achieve that much.

How much of your job is keeping your players motivated?
It’s a part of my job to keep the players motivated by talking to them if they have any needs or if there is something bothering. But I would say its just a small part I am not that kind of person who is forcing someone to play if he doesn’t feel like doing and I expect players to be professional enough to stay motivated or if not to call it quits.

Do you find it better being your player’s friends, or strictly their manager?
I guess a bit of both of it is the best combination. Being a manager of a Korean or lets say an Asian team makes the job a bit easier. In the Asian culture it is not really common to be friend with an older person and in my position there was never a player who was in my age or older they were always younger than me so they never misbehaved towards me cause of courtesy and respect. My players know me so they can always talk to me if there is something they need.

With E-Sports having so many problems, and as a manager you have to deal with them regularly, how do you stay motivated and focused?
It is the passion to E-Sport and right now there might be problems with sponsors cutting money and less tournaments but it will be just for a while and after that E-Sports will get back on track and getting bigger and bigger.

How much of a role do you feel morale plays in players’ performances?
The morale must be high in the team and there shouldn’t be any difficulties. We win together and we lose together and we try to support each other.

How important is it, do you feel for players to be motivated?
Its important of course without being motivated you can’t really win there will be some games that you win but mostly you will lose and the community can actually see if a player doesn’t really focus . In my case if I see someone playing really bad I ask myself what is that guy doing cause if someone is telling me that he is training hard and I see him playing like crap than there is something wrong. So I talk with him to find out what the problem is that keeps his motivation down.

How does it affect team morale when new players are introduced or when old players leave the team?
Its always sad if someone leaves who was part of the team for a while but that happens in this business you want to play be on top you have to exchange once in a while. If someone new joins its always something new and always a great input.

How do you try and handle the loss and newcomers?
I try to stay focused and to make the best I can. If a player has to leave it doesn’t mean that I wont keep in touch with him cause we just wont be a part of the same team anymore.

When looking for players, do you look for players who will get along with and support the other players on your team?
The player has to be a good addition otherwise it wont make any sense to get a new player on board. I do some research before I hire someone and try to find out what kind of person he is and talk with my players if they can tell me something about him.

Do you notice players’ morale change from whether they are at home, or whether they are at an event?
Well some players behave different when they are home or on offline events but I guess that’s common in the esport business. It’s easier for people to act different on the computer than in the real life.

What has kept you playing over so many years?
I can´t really point out one single thing that keeps me playing, I think it’s a sweet mixture of my passion for traveling, joy of competition and finally, the thing that kept me into this industry is because I'm quite successful. Looking back in my career there are some key matches I have come out on top from, where a defeat would have changed the direction of my career.

What keeps you motivated when you say goodbye to teammates, and then bring on new ones for events coming up very quickly?
Losing first INS and later on Archi felt pretty awkward, I realized nothing lasts forever, which I never really did during the roller-coaster we were in, traveling and playing 2 years together. It was painful but a change was needed in both cases, both Oskars got more from moving on in life, instead of gaming, whilst the rest of us had more to give. Obviously this opened doors for two talents, GeT_RiGht and Gux. I think the new blood gave me more motivation, we had the possibility to add more tactics and try new setups and I was willing to put my life and soul into this for a final ride.

When you are on top, like right now, is it hard to keep motivated to practice and play regularly?
Being the team to beat requires us to consider our tactics more than being an upcoming team; our rivals will study us but also respect us. I can´t really see an end to our era, and I get enough motivation just knowing there is new tournaments to come and more adventures ahead of me.

What sort of attitude helps motivate you? For instance, do you prefer getting negative feedback to help fuel the fire or do you like to hear that you are doing a good job so that you can continue on?
I have been in both of your examples. There was a time in my career when I wanted to prove to everyone what I´m capable of but after being in the same team for 4 years now I feel I have steady ground to work from; it´s just a joy and giving great feed-back is something that keeps me going.

When things in your personal life aren’t going well, is it hard to stay motivated in terms of your E-Sports career?
I think personal life matters can affect your practice and be counter-productive in matches later on, but I get so exciting going into a playoff and I switch off all sorts of real life matters and just focus on the match.

Do your family and friends play a big role in keeping you encouraged and motivated to keep on with your E-Sports career?
Looking back a few years there was a time when I felt that I had to justify what I´m doing, being a progamer. But I can´t neglect that they have always been there for me, helping me to catch trains and always keep an open door to my home and feed me with the best food ever and everlasting laundry service. My friends have always followed me since they have been players themselves and I actually started playing along with them.

How big of a role do your teammates and manager(s) play in keeping you motivated?
Obviously I would be kinda lonely without them, CS is a team game and the team is never better than its weakest link. And having the superb support from Fnatic and especially MSI, Steelseries, Coolermater and Bestpoker.com we would never have had the chance to participate in all the events.
But to answer more specifically, I think Harley(dsn) has a big impact on my career since we have been playing together for more than 6 years and he was the one brought me on the team.

Do you help others when they are feeling down and demoralized?
I love to think that I can handle these kinds of things pretty well, I think I can contribute a lot of joy into any team I play in just because I never take myself serious – it´s all about having fun for me.
You will have to ask my friends whether this is true or not but I surely hope it is!

What advice would you give to someone who has trouble keeping motivated?
I think in ones life there are some points you will ask yourself if you are even supposed to do this. Life should not be static and changes are always an option, if people consider quitting CS I think they should re-consider their decision more than two times, it´s not like I would force them to stay, that would not be good for any of us.

When in the middle of a match, and losing badly, is it harder to stay focused and determined to win or do you find it easier to do so?
Well I can´t really say it´s ideal to be in a situation where you are down a lot, but CS is a two-sided game with weaker sides depending which map you are playing on and my point is a game is never lost before the last round is played.

The best example of this is a game I played in Eyeballers, being down 1-14 on cbble and winning fifteen straight rounds and being able to see the opponents’ happy smiles transforming to faces of despair. These kinds of matches will happen where the game takes a turn, but honestly you are not feeling good being down a lot, life is easier winning rounds!

What keeps you motivated to stay in the world of E-Sports after all this time?
Sometimes I have those days where I wake up and this question is really difficult to answer. Lately I've been having more and more of those days... It's tough to pinpoint exactly what keeps me motivated from day to day, week to week, event to event. There's definitely a part of me who feels like I've invested far too much into E-Sports, and to not be motivated would simply be pissing away all my efforts. On the flipside, there is a part of me who wants to ask the question, "Haven't you already done enough?"

Unlike a lot of folks in this industry, money is not a motivating factor for me. Sure I love to get paid, but I feel like my effectiveness in eSports has always been two-fold when I've done it for myself and the community.

And honestly, having someone approach you after a great match or at an event and say, "I've been listening to your casts since 2002". That's motivation enough. The community is definitely one of my biggest motivating factors. I aim to please.


As a shoutcaster do you ever notice teams lack the motivation to be champions?
Absolutely. In fact, a measure of motivation is one of the first things you can gather about any team. Some teams carry themselves with huge dedication and motivation regardless of the scale, scope, or size of an event. It doesn't matter if they are at a WCG or a local LAN, they ooze the attitude that comes along with an organized and motivated team. Some teams and players become complacent too easily and that's a terrible trait for any aspiring competitor to have.

If you lack the motivation to get better, improve your game, know your opponent, study maps, watch game demos, or practice mundane shots - then you ultimately lack the trait that can MAKE you a champion.

What would you suggest to players who have a hard time staying motivated?
I don't think there is anything too suggest. I can understand trying to motivate a player who is burnt out or just needs to help getting their game together. But the only way someone can be a champion in gaming is to have self-motivation... and I think that's true for just about anything.

Trust me, if I had to rely on other people to motivate me to stay in broadcasting, commentating, and hosting... I wouldn't be here right now.

I think the best find it within themselves to stay motivated on their own, and that's just a part of the game. Sure encouragement is great and certainly welcome, but there is a fundamental quality that any player, skilled or not, needs to have in order to become better than they are - and that's the motivation to do so.

If a player or team is having a tough time staying motivated, I would urge them to look within themselves to see if they are doing what they really want to do. Because when you are deeply invested in a sport or activity - that motivation should come easily.

How greatly do you feel motivation affects a persons’ performance?
Motivation can be a beast, because it can effect a person, player, or team both in and out of game.

During a game, while the clock ticks away, motivation to win can be your driving factor to play better than you've ever played before. Perhaps you're motivated to defeat a team that you've never defeated before, or make a shot that would seem otherwise impossible. These are just a few examples of how motivation can elevate your game to well beyond your limits. Now don't get me wrong... just being motivated to beat PLAYER X won't give you the Superman like skills to suddenly defeat him/her. But what it does give you is confidence, drive, and REASON to perform at your best. Gamers likely give their ALL when in a tournament situation versus scrimming with a scrub team before a large tournament - the difference is motivation.

But what happens when the tournament is over? A whole new level of motivation must be achieved. For a team who comes off of a tournament as champions, motivation should drive them to stay on top. When a team is already on top, or has been for quite sometime, maintaining a healthy level of motivation can be the difference between losing the next tournament or retaining the title as the best. If you're a rising team or player who took 8th, your determination should be to perform better at the next event. Losing can be frustrating, but it can also be incredibly empowering. Because losing should evoke an extreme level of motivation to perform better in the future.

So which one is harder? Being #1 and maintaining a motivation to be the best? Or climbing the competitive ladder one rung at a time using your drive and motivation to excel? I don't think there is necessarily a right answer, but each comes with it's own set of challenges that one must overcome in order to thrive in their discipline.

The bottom line is, if you compare two teams of equal skill level - the one with more motivation and drive will succeed over the other.

How would you describe your motivation and passion for E-Sports?
I'd describe my motivation and passion as pure. In E-Sports there are many different reasons for motivation. A manager might be motivated to create an awesome gaming empire, a player may be driven to be the best at a particular game, a tournament organizer could be motivated to make money off E-Sports... the examples are rather endless.

For me, my motivation and passion have no strings attached. I just want to see E-Sports grow and prosper regardless of how that actually happens. If that means adhering to a more corporate structure so our activity can get more exposure... great, sign me up. Instead of letting my motivation dictate how I believe things SHOULD happen, I allow myself to accept the changes and evolution that come with growing.

I come from the "old-school" where things were done a certain way and that's that. It took me nearly 3 years to realize that my motivation and drive must also change and evolve with the industry, or else I would be left behind like others who have not been willing to conform to the status quo.

Do you think motivational speeches and inspirational talks, etc. are something missing in E-Sports managements these days? Managers in E-Sports don’t generally emulate a “Jerry Maguire” way of managing teams and players.
Missing? Sure. I've never really seen one (sans CGS where some of them were downright fabricated), but that doesn't mean they don't exist. I think that some teams have a better structure and foundation that supports players and fosters their drive and motivation to win.

But to say that our existing players need a "Jerry Maguire" like figure in order to be their best... no I don't think they do.

I think each coach, manager, or team organizer needs to at least KNOW their players. Only then can they know how to properly motivate their team to achieve the best results. In some cases a Jerry Maguire "SHOW ME THE MONEY" speech might be necessary. But in other cases I'd speculate that simple support is enough motivation to keep them at the top of their game. For example, a team who has travel, hotel, clothing, and equipment provided for them to compete may already have a high level of motivation to win - especially over a team who may not have that support and is "battling the odds".

With all that being said however... there's absolutely nothing wrong with a good old motivational speech to get someone pumped up, to get their adrenaline flowing, or to get them to be excited for an upcoming match.

Are you the type of person who holds sentimental moments close to stay happy? Or do you focus on the bad and use that to inspire you to do better?
As much as I like to beat myself up for things that I do wrong, or things I believe I can do better... I think I'm much more apt to use "sentimental moments" to spark motivation or to stay happy. I think that both can be incredibly effective when used properly, but can also be incredibly devastating when not.

Take for example... winning. There's nothing quite like it. Winning generates a feeling unlike anything else. A feeling of accomplishment, victory, satisfaction... why wouldn't a team or a player want to hold on to that feeling and use it as motivation in their next tournament or between seasons? So there's nothing better right?

WRONG!

There is something better! Winning AND Losing! It's my belief that Winning cannot be your only motivation in gaming. If winning is the highest high, and losing is the lowest low - staying right in the middle is the best place to be.

Having experienced both wins and losses prepares teams and players for either outcome. Losing can be one of the best things to happen to champions because it alters their motivation, it proves they are not indestructible, and hopefully... it drives them to never lose again. YOU HAVE TO HAVE SUFFERED LOSS in order to be the best. Otherwise you lack the motivation to NOT be a loser... because you've never experienced it before.

Every player and team has their own way of self-motivating... I don't think there is a right or wrong way. However, I would urge players to not stray too far from a happy medium. Use the positive and the negatives to self-motivate, but never put too much emphasis on just one of them.

Do you ever use things like watching inspirational videos or, listen to music to help you through demoralizing times?
Not really. I'm a sociable person, so my demoralizing times are confronted with the help of friends and family. However, I find myself sometimes being a voice in gaming who helps others through demoralizing times. And that in turn helps me.

A great example is Live On Three and the current state of competitive gaming. We are no better off in 2009 than we were in 2006. And I'd argue that this is one of the worst years for pro-gaming. Being able to talk an audience through these tough times without holding anything back has been incredible motivating to me... and I'd like to think to many other individuals as well.

This can be seen most recently in the Fighting Game Community. While I wouldn't classify them as being in "demoralizing times", I would say they are suffering some growing pains. Being able to discuss those growing pains and offer advice and services to help with them, is incredibly satisfying. And I hope that it is helping those who are having a difficult time through these rough spots of gaming.

When you are doing well and happy, is it hard to keep that going?
It's hard to maintain if you have to TRY. For me, I just take things one day at a time, try not to get caught up in the bullshit and drama of this industry, and go with the flow.

STAY MOTIVATED! And if you ever find yourself lacking motivation... don't be afraid to take a break. If you were motivated once, it's very likely you'll find your motivation again. Sometimes stepping away to clear one's mind can be the best way to re-motivate yourself.

Is there anything you do to keep yourself motivated to practice and play matches?
Do not give up! Because I am not a champion yet.

You started off with Clan Go! Then moved to fnatic with some of your teammates, then you were dropped, then you went to a semi-pro Korean team, now you are on nGize. Is it hard to stay motivated through all of the team changes?
Yes but I am in a great team now, I am happy.

What is your morale like when you leave a team and don’t have a new team to go to? What is your state of mind?
I will find real job and try to grow as a person.

Is it hard leaving your teammates; FoCuS, Shy, Space, Minhyuk and YanGe?
Yes.. :( but I'm in Clan Go in Kalimdor, same as they are.

How big a role do your teammates play in keeping you motivated?
I think best thing is the strategy belong to me and mates

Do you find having a manager helps you stay focused and inspired?
Yes I think they do a lot of work , I want to say "Thank you'' to all of them.

What to you is the ideal situation to keep you happy and motivated to play?
Every moment is of happiness in wc3

How big a role do your family and friends play in keeping you motivated?
Sure they help me.

Does not having a major tournament title under your belt push you to do better and try and be on top?
Sure, I'll try to do my best about that.

If you are having problems in your personal life, does it make you less likely to want to play and practice?
I can’t deny, if I have a problem in my personal life I will leave wc3

If you are doing well in matches, etc. does that motivate you to do other things in your personal life?
No:D My only hope is doing well in matches now

Going from a regular professional CS1.6 team, to the CGS as a GM, then to nothing to call yours, finally to a partnership with Jason Bass and Jason Lake, how did you keep motivated to stay in E-Sports?
I really love competition. Every episode of my career has been different, but all have taught me valuable lessons. I wouldn't want to be doing anything else in the world right now. Being able to manage players, seeing them strive and succeed, is very exciting to me. Every round won is an adrenaline rush, and outside of the game, being able to work with fantastic partners, make this job very enjoyable.

Were there moments, like when the CGS died, that you were unsure or un-motivated to continue?
I'd say the only time in my career that I considered taking a break, was after winter CPL 2005. JMC had just come in third in the world, after very low expectations, and the team I had been managing for years was finally an international player. Due to some questionable actions from a future sponsor, as well as potential offers that were never fulfilled by another organization, the team left.

To finally gain recognition after spending so much money and time, only to be under handed, was a real blow. I was also in the middle of my first year of University, so I took a two month break, but eventually brought the team back.

As a manager, you have obviously gone through a lot with your team, through the CGS debacle and before that. How much of your job was keeping the players motivated through such struggles as prize money payouts, a shift to the CGS, and then a shift back to CS 1.6?
I think motivation is a huge part of the managers’ job, It doesn't matter what team based game you are dealing with, keeping the players hopeful and in constant communication, is the difference between winning and losing. Outside of the game, players have struggles in life or distractions from gaming and I have always felt it was my job to help them through these, in order for them to focus their attention on victory.

How do you try and keep your players and yourself motivated through such times?
In person (at lans or bootcamps) I think it is very important to take breaks from gaming. I normally will take the team out to eat, or to go relax in the hotel, rather than letting them dwell on their mistakes. Mistakes are to be learned from, but if you let them overcome you, you cannot succeed. I also try and deal with players one on one to address individual frustrations. One frustrated player can ruin an entire team's dynamic.

Do you notice a change in your team’s morale after winning or losing an event? What about leading up to a big event?
I absolutely think winning or losing can effect a team's confidence. Winning will increase confidence, which can sometimes be a negative thing. It's a lot easier to get to the top, then it is to stay on top. When you win a major event, you become a target. Teams will study you and attempt to overcome you. When you win, the real work begins. As for leading up to an event, this is when teams really need to address issues, come up with alternative play styles, and study their opponents. If a team is not focused and hungry, with some sort of set motivation, they will not win. You need a reason to win, you have to want it more then the next guy when it comes to high level gaming. So I make sure my team has whatever motivator that may be.

How do you think a player’s motivation will affect their performance?
I think motivation is a huge factor in both a player and team's performance. We have all seen high level players that try and come back for the wrong reasons, and just don't get it done. Both in E-Sports and traditional sports, you need the motivation to be better then your opponent, or you will lose.

What do you think should be the largest motivating factor to ensure clear motives and success? (ie, revenge, love of the game, money, fame, etc.)
I think each player has their own motivator. There is no universal motivation, for anything. Except possibly talking to women at bars.

Morale in E-Sports in general is very, very low, how do you and the rest of the coL organization stay motivated to continue on in hard times such as these?
I think morale in most industries around the world is lower than normal. These are the economic times we are in. E-Sports makes sense to me, and to my partners. It is not hard to stay motivated in something you truly believe in and have a genuine passion for. With the help of our great sponsors (Creative, Puretrak, g8) we are able to thrive even in these times.

Do you think that when players are looking for teammates, or a team to join, they should also actively seek out a manager/coach as well?
I think having a manager is important to an organization, although of course I would say that! Managers allow players to focus on purely playing, which I really think is invaluable for team success. We can also approach issues from a more objective perspective and deal with outside problems more effectively than a player closely attached to a team may be able too.