English interview - For Is Here #11 - Majestic

It starts with CoD

[M] TinkeR : I saw you've started competitive gaming with Call of Duty, how did you eventually ended up switching to StarCraft II ?

[mouz]Majestic : In 2011, I was playing Call of Duty on Xbox 360 and I started to be interested in the competition. That's when I heard about the most important tournament of e-Sports in Spain (LVP). Then I started to be fascinated and interested in e-Sports, and that's the time I first saw StarCraft II. The first StarCraft II match that I watched was LucifroN vs VortiX.

I played Call of Duty rather casually (I played at Dreamhack Valencia 2012). I've also played a bit StarCraft II and League of Legends around 2012, I was fascinated how big was the StarCraft II scene at that time compared to Call of Duty's. The problem was that I had to share a computer with my brother, so I only played two or three games of StarCraft II a day, and I was usually following some tournaments like DreamHack. I managed to get to the Master league and that's when I realized that I wanted to compete in StarCraft II, and eventually I bought another computer. At the end of 2012, I definitely switched to what I've considered the best game : StarCraft II.

How could you describe the path you've taken to be where you are right now ?

A great journey of more than two years where I managed to grow as a person and learn more in depth about my greatest passion, eSports. At first I didn't play very often (I used to play more League of Legends games with my friends), but as time passed by, I was enjoying the game more and more starting to follow tournaments. When I finally got promoted to Grandmaster league in 2013, I thought that I could do something in the competitive scene and until now I just try to fullfill the objectives that I've set myself. I am not so naive to think that I can be the best in the world in a snap. Actually, all the goals that I had for 2014 have been accomplished : winning a Spanish championship in 2014, having a good run at DreamHack, and now qualifying for WCS. The next goals are reaching WCS Premier League, winning another Spanish championship, to become a better player and being more professional. I only have 17 years old and I hope that I'll have a long stay in StarCraft II.

What was your very first league placement, and how long did it take you to reach Grandmaster ?

My first league placement was Gold with Protoss, but I lowered down to Silver pretty early afterwards. If I count from when I bought the game, it took me two years, but until the summer of 2012 I only had around 300 games played. I reached Grandmaster at the end of 2013. In my first season, I get top 45 and it was really easy for me get Grandmaster with two or three other accounts.

Were you following someone/a team in particular at your beginnings ?

I always followed the best Spanish players, but specifically I always watched the games of VortiX and LucifroN. I especially remembered the Karont3 vs Empire match, WCS Europe 2012 or DreamHack Valencia 2013 when I was watching their games.

From Nation Wars to WCS

According to your Twitter, you seemed quite happy with being qualified to WCS for the first time, what does that mean to you ?

Qualifying for the WCS is everything for a StarCraft II player, and it was the next step in my career as a StarCraft II player. I was really super excited when I won against TLO, and joined my teammates in the Challenger League.

Your results are getting better and better recently since the first time I personnaly saw you (back in NationWars), doing great at DreamHack Valencia as you said, and now qualifying for WCS. Did you actually change something on the way you are practicing ?

No, I have the same practice method. I usually play two or three hours ladder a day and watch some streams, I don't play custom games very often. I am beginning to think that I should change my way of practicing because it feels very casual. I should watch VODs and study more the game, but it's hard when you only have four hours a day to play StarCraft II. My results are better just because with the time passing by, I'm getting better and I will be better and better because everyday I learn something, and I have passion.

What impact does joining Mousesports on July had on you ? How have you been contacted by them ?

The first impression was a smile because I thought it was a good opportunity to bring my skills to the next level. I wanted to overcome their expectations, I started to train harder than before. It was also a really important  thing for me to know my teammates, players with a long career. Thanks to Mousesports, I am better player and really professional now. I hope that 2015 will be a good year for both of us. I've been contact by Markus [Kemper, Mousesports manager] through Skype.

I understood you're currently in school, how do you manage to deal with both your studies and you progaming career ? Are you planning to go full-time in a short/mid-term ?

For now I manage to properly follow my studies, but I'm not a great student and that's partly because I play so many hours of StarCraft II. I don't want to be full time, I'd rather take my time to study because if I'd be full-time, I'm afraid I couldn't go back to study. If in the future I am the best foreigner and I have the opportunity to go to Korea, then maybe I would go full time.

OK! And talking about being the best foreigner, what are your expectations for 2015 ?

My main goal for 2015 is reaching the WCS Premier League, and also make a good run at the next Dreamhack Valencia. My objective is to be a better player, and the results will follow.

StarCraft II in general

When we talk about the StarCraft II scene in Spain, we'll mainly have LucifroN and VortiX in mind. One has been considered at some point as the best foreign Terran player, and the other as the best Zerg, are you planning to be the best Protoss ? :) Actually, how are/were your relations with them when they're still playing StarCraft II, or even now ?

Actually, I won the last two awards years the award of the best Spanish Protoss of the year. Regarding LucifroN and VortiX, when they're still playing StarCraft II, I had a good relation with them and it's still the same now. Sometimes I watch El Nexo [editor's note : VortiX and LucifroN's Heroes of the Storm team] games, it's really fun to see five StarCraft II players "rekt" all these MOBA players.

You are here talking about Heroes of the Storm, actually many StarCraft II players are trying it and even considering switching to it. You talked about VortiX, and there's also HasuObs who's playing, and even your teammate Sjaak for example. What are your thoughts about this ? Do you see Heroes of the Storm as a "threat" to StarCraft II ?

When you find a new game that is fun to play and has the potential to take a big part in the eSports scene, it's normal trying to switch if your StarCraft II passion is decreasing when you are playing it for four years now. I wish good luck to all of the StarCraft II players that are trying the move.

I don't think Heroes of the Storm is a threat, the same goes for Hearthstone. Different Blizzard games can be big in eSports, and nevertheless coexist. I can be a StarCraft II fan and watch Heroes of the Storm games, and the other way around.

How does the StarCraft II scene is going in Spain at the moment ?

The StarCraft II scene is small compared to the others like League of Legends or Call of Duty, but the scene is growing compared to 2013 and the early 2014. We have two offline tournaments per year, and a regular online league. I hope that this tendency will continue this year.

What are you looking forward for Legacy of the Void ? What are your thoughts about the changes that have been announced to be made ?

I am looking forward to Protoss changes, I want a minor dependency on the Colossus and in general, a new metagame where the Protoss race can play without deathball. I think that Blizzard is in the good way, the changes are a good idea but I can't tell much more before the beta.

Do you have any Protoss player (or from another race) that you follow more than the others ? Like a model you like to copy ?

No, I like to see the Korean Protoss and copy some build orders but I don't follow a specific player or personality. I have my personal model about personality and play style.

And who would you consider the best foreign Protoss/world Protoss ?

The best foreign Protoss in 2014 was Welmu. But we have really good foreign Protoss right now like ShoWTimE, Lilbow, Harstem, MaNa and maybe NaNiwa. And the best of the best is Rain.

What about you ?

Let's speak back a bit more about you now. What does your family, and your friends, think about your career ?

My family and friends don't know much about eSports but they support me in any way they can.

Do you have any other hobby besides StarCraft II? Do you actually have the time for it ? :)

I have other hobbies like football, reading, listening to music and playing other games. At the moment, I just can only play StarCraft II now, and I rarely have time for other things.

Where does your nickname come from ?

When I was playing Call of Duty my nickname was « Miguel », and I thought about changing my name when a teammate said that « Majestic » was a good one, so I choosed it. It's not an epic story !

 Bonus questions

I've changed a bit the bonus question for the beginning of this year. I'll propose you two choices for each questions and you'll have to pick one, without having to explain your choice, ok?

Ok :D

DreamHack, IEM or RedBull Battle Grounds ?

DreamHack.

DT or Oracle ?

Oracle.

Apollo or Artosis ?

Artosis.

Zest or sOs ?

Zest.

Micro or Macro ?

Macro.

Proleague or GSL ?

GSL. Hard questions xD

Razer ou Roccat ? (I'm not sure if they'll let me publish that, may feel like advertisment ahah)

Loool. I don't think if I can answer this question xD. But Razer.

Ok that'll end the interview! Thanks a lot for your time it was a real pleasure :) Do you have any last words for our readers, any shoutouts ?

Thanks so much for the interview : ) I am training hard for the Challenger match and I hope I will not disappoint all the people that cheer for me. Thanks to my team Mousesports and the sponsors BenQ and Epic Gear.

Goodbye !