The first Intel Extreme Masters III Global Challenge took place in Leipzig in 2008. Nihilum, a Mousesports Worlds of Warcraft crew, grabbed the first place by taking down SK Gaming in the finals, so Intel Extreme Masters had a little chat with them.
IEM: What skills does a good WoW player need?
Luis Di 'Paperkat' Centa: A good WoW player needs fast reflexes and situational awareness. He also needs to know his class inside out and be able to master it completely.
IEM: What do you say to people who have doubts about WoW’s e-sports potential?
Paperkat: People tell me that old games were better, that WoW is down to random number generation (RNG) but all games and most things in real life have some sort of RNG, too. Games are based around luck and fun.
IEM: Does WoW have what it takes to become a fully-fledged e-sports discipline?
Paperkat: It definitely does, especially since Blizzard is trying to make it an e-sport. WoW has a huge player base that follow arenas.
IEM: What characterises the WoW scene and how big is it?
Paperkat: The WoW scene can be characterised by one thing: charisma. It's all about the players and the drama. WoW streams are followed by million of players who play World of Warcraft, and even by some who don't!
IEM: How do you prepare for an event?
Paperkat: Well we play online, try to go for rank one and play skirmish versus top teams. For the GC we had a bootcamp with the Mousesports guys in Berlin right before we went to Leipzig.
IEM: From your point of view, how did the first Intel Extreme Master III Global Challenge go? What was your most thrilling match?
Paperkat: I thought it was probably one of the hardest events ever held. In terms of difficulty, WSVGs were a complete joke by comparison. The most thrilling match for me was probably the one against fnatic where the disconnect happened. Our manager, Archie, who sat right next to us and watched the match, told me it was the match of the year – quite an outcome.
IEM: Is there a best character-mix for the Intel Extreme Masters?
Paperkat: No but some compositions will be stronger than others, most likely a melee, caster, and healer composition.
IEM: Do you and your team have problems with certain character combinations?
Paperkat: No, not really; some teams are harder than others, but it depends on the players' skills.
IEM: Do you want to comment on the remarks from fnatic?
Paperkat: Fnatic were angry at the time, and I think that blinded their actions. I thought it was kind of out of order but it doesn't matter anymore.
IEM: The Pandemic all-stars failed to impress the audience at the Games Convention. In your opinion, why was that?
Paperkat: They were a new team and their class composition didn’t give them any easy setups.
IEM: The next two Global Challenges will take place in Montreal and Los Angeles? Will you participate?
Paperkat: Maybe. I hope. It depends on my lung problem. I might not be allowed to fly for up to 6 months.
IEM: Wrath of the Lich King will bring changes and new possibilities. What do you think about it?
Paperkat: Yes it will, but I will still play warrior, with a caster and a healer.
IEM: Thanks for the interview.
Paperkat: My pleasure. Shout-outs to all the people cheering for us, the whole Nihilum community, Mousesports, Archie and, of course, to our sponsors who enable us to successfully participate in all the exciting tournaments. Thanks a lot. See you in Madrid!
Read the full interview
