oGs.NaDa talks about school and an eSports life.

Few names command respect in the eSports industry like Lee Yoon 'NaDa' Yeol.  Declaired a bonjwa, NaDa is easily one of the greatest Starcraft players of all time - if not the best of all time.  After departing WeMade FOX, NaDa moved to oGs in order to continue his career as a Starcraft 2 pro-gamer.  The change of games shocked the industry - but made sense to a lot of people as NaDa was going to focus on school more now that his career was changing.

Cameron 'fams' Carson recently caught up with NaDa in order to talk about his life in eSports, what he is doing now while in school and what his future is looking like.  You can read the entire interview below:

Hi NaDa, how are you doing, thank you for taking the time to doing this interview.

Hi ^^, I’m doing great. It’s always a pleasure to be doing interviews for you guys.

You are one of the few professional gamers who also attends school full time.  Can you tell us a little about what you are studying currently, and how you are coping with studying and playing professionally at the same time?

I’ve always been concentrating on professional gaming and was never able to really get into studies or school. That brought a lot of depression in me and I really wanted to know how it feels like studying and normal life. After going back to school and living a really bright normal life, it helped cure a lot of my depression and it felt really really good. My major at the moment is Computer engineering.

What made you decide to attend school instead of solely playing Starcraft 2 professionally?

As I explained above, I really wanted to have a normal life as a student and other depression issues that I had.

You are one of the most accomplished gamers in the world, and considered somewhat of a minor celebrity in Korea – do you ever get recognized at school or on the streets?

Before a few years back a lot of people recognized me, mostly guys ^^. Nowadays, those fans have aged a bit so its mostly the older guys who recognize me. Also because I’m much taller than what I look like on TV, people don’t recognize me as well.

You have spent the past decade as a professional gamer – how would you say eSports has changed you over these years?

Well, it has basically changed everything. I’ve lost and earned many things the past few years. The positives were gaining a lot of confidence in myself and learned to go through pressure on stage in front of lots of people and doing big interviews etc. Negatives is mostly about losing my personal life, not having enough time for friends.

What was the most memorable moment in your career?

It was when I won Shinhanbank Starleague 2. My whole family was there and it was really dramatic win!

NaDa shortly after joining oGs - Image courtesy of TeamLiquid.net

How was your social life affected once you became a professional gamer?

I had to live under a team house losing a lot of privacy and it felt weird at first when people started to recognize me in the streets.

Do you ever regret the decision you made to become a professional gamer instead of leading a more “normal” life?

That I never regretted J

After you complete your education, will you do your mandatory military service?

I think I’ll have to enter the military before graduation since I have a long way to go with school.

Is eSports going to be your career after you are done school/military or will you follow a different path after?

I want to be able to multi task and do business related to eSports as well as other things.

What made you decide to focus on Starcraft II when your contract expired in 2010 instead of continuing on with Brood War?

Very simple, to keep on playing.

What made you decide to join oGs?

The family like atmosphere really touched me. Everyone in the team has a very close family like relationship.

You still maintain a very high level of play even though you live away from the oGs team house, and focus on school – can you tell us what your practice regimen is like on a weekly basis?

Normally I just go to school and play a little bit of ladder here and there. When I have a match coming up, I started practicing much more after school concentrating a lot more.

NaDa in school - Image courtesy of TeamLiquid.net

When you switched to Starcraft II, what was your initial reaction, did a lot of your skill and knowledge from Brood War transition over, or like other games, was it a bit of an adjustment switching games?

The new units like mauraders, sentrys, banelings made it kind of hard at first but in the end it was pretty similar. The speed of the game being much faster took a bit of time to adjust as well.

Have you seen the new units in the expansion – what are your thoughts?

Yes the new units seemed very interesting, but what I would really want from blizzard is creating a new fourth race ^^.

After a decade of being a professional gamer, what pieces of advice would you give to beginners (Bronze-Platinum) who wish to become professional gamers?

Don’t think too far ahead. When you enter your group in the battlenet ladder, just concentrate on beating your opponent just 1 rank above you and take it slowly. If you keep it up, one day you will be at the top with no one else higher than you.

What are your goals for Starcraft II – what do you wish to accomplish with your Starcraft II career?

To hold up another championship trophy.

Looking back at your career when you first started out, how has eSports changed in your eyes?

The market is growing massively and there are much more fans now. It feels great!

What does eSports mean to you?

Half of my life.

Do you have any closing words for your fans?

I love you all and always thank you for all the support!