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Sean "Daler" Price Interview

Author: Roger LaMarca & UltimateP Published: 2003-05-22	(Post a Comment)

Sean "Daler" Price is one of the rising stars on the pro-gaming scene. He recently placed 2rd at QuakeCon 2002 winning $10,000 and placed 2nd in the World Cyber Games New York Finals. He is currently getting ready to travel to Korea to represent the United States in the World Cyber Games (WCG). Download s69|Daler's config here.

PlanetQuake3: How did you get into gaming in the first place? What were some of the first games you played?
s69|Daler: Well, I kind of started gaming with a 486 playing doom :D Then went on to play quake 1 with a p2. I was hardly much back then, I pretty much only played team fortress online. 28.8k modem days.

PlanetQuake3: How did you get into Quake3? Did friends introduce the game to you?
s69|Daler: Forget when Quake3 came out, but it was the same winter as Unreal Tournament. I got both games, played both a bit, and then for some odd reason, I only played UT for the longest time. After a LAN, I kind of stuck with quake3, finally realizing its the better game. A few of my friends played quake3, so that's mainly the reason I switched. But I basically started playing Quake 3 competitively 2 summers ago when I got my cable connection

PlanetQuake3: Are you excited about going to Korea or are you nervous at all? Who do you expect to be your biggest competition?
s69|Daler: Yea I'm psyched about going to Korea. Not nervous at all really. Going into it mentally better than QuakeCon2002. I'm not really worried about anyone outside of my bracket right now. My main focus is actually making out of it. Rocketboy and St Germain are the two players I'm probably most worried about. I forget though if pipi is going for Argentina. I remember playing him last time at QuakeCon, he's definitely NOT to be underestimated.

PlanetQuake3: Korea is pretty far to travel for a tourney for living in the United States. Did you have any second thoughts about going?
s69|Daler: Not at all. I'm too excited about being given the chance of going to even think about not going! Ten days in Korea, who would pass that up?

PlanetQuake3: What is the average day of Daler like?
s69|Daler: Boring to say the least. Eh, sleep, spamming on IRC, chatting, school, go out some, spam some more on IRC, play a good hour or two of Quake, chat some more, get bored and result to spamming, the usual. Oh yea, and a good hour of WC3 Tower Defense every night, the greatest mod for any game, next to OSP of course.

PlanetQuake3: How do you find time to be a professional gamer traveling all around the world and still manage to go to school and doing regular things like spend time with family and friends? Do you ever find yourself lacking time to do things?
s69|Daler: I don't play as much Quake3 as I should be I think. I am home schooled and taking a few college courses at the same time and yet, I actually have more time than I'd like. I always have time to spend time with family/friends. Playing computer games gets kind of boring sometimes, so I try to find other things to do.

PlanetQuake3: What are some of the activities you do besides gaming?
s69|Daler: Not much lately, been trying to pass my classes. I spend time with my family, and hang out with friends on the weekend. I should be working this semester heh, but I kind of pushed it off until after the new year and WCG/CPL is over. Been watching lots of DVDs lately too.

PlanetQuake3: Do you have a certain group of people you play against to practice for matches?
s69|Daler: Lately, I haven't been playing much at all really, don't know why. Whenever I do though, I either play socrates or zero4 some. I sometimes get bored and play aliased on a few servers. But mostly to prep, I have been watching demos from some of the top players trying to learn new tricks.

PlanetQuake3: What are some of your favorite Quake3 maps and mods?
s69|Daler: My favorite mod is Promode, and map is cpm1a. Its small, and I practically don't have to move to make numerous kills in a row. For OSP, its not really a big secret, but my favorite is definitely Pro-q3dm6. Its what I have always been playing, kind of stuck with me. BTW, play CPMA!

PlanetQuake3: Do you ever watch demos of yourself playing and analyze them for mistakes you might have made to get better?
s69|Daler: I never watch myself play. I'm not really the brightest player, I make so many stupid mistakes I cant stand watching it for 15min. I'm not really sure if it would make me a better player or not, but I find it best to watch others play, and learn off of them.

PlanetQuake3: When you first started playing Quake3 did you ever imagine that one day you would be one of the best players in the world? Did you set out to try and become one of the best players or did it just happen?
s69|Daler: lol, never. When I first started watching demos (from RazerCPL), I dreamed of playing the top players someday sure, but I never actually thought I'd be up there with them. I never expected to be on this level of play I am now. When I first started, I set out to not lose to all my friends. I kind of went from a semi-noob to a decent player in a matter of a few months. Good practice and lots of time I guess.

PlanetQuake3: How do you prepare yourself for a big match? (what rituals do u go through)
s69|Daler: Well, I don't have much experience of big matches. NORMALLY, I go into it scared shitless. But I'm learning to play it cool and stay confident. I usually just load up some music to get me psyched and stay calm.

PlanetQuake3: How many hours a day do you usually practice?
s69|Daler: Lately, around 1-2 hours. I find myself chatting (spamming) or watching DVDs rather than getting in some good practice hours. I've been playing better than I ever have lately, so I have no doubt in my game at all. I got two nights left to practice which ill be taking advantage of.

PlanetQuake3: What did you do with the $10,000 you won at QuakeCon and what do you plan on using the money you might win in Korea for?
s69|Daler: Bought a ton of clothes/DVDs/computer accessories. Still planning to buy a home theatre. Depending on what happens in Korea, I might get a car as well.

PlanetQuake3: From what you've seen about Doom3 so far, what are your thoughts about it? If id does a good job with the multiplayer, do you think you would consider playing it?
s69|Daler: Doom 3 is not a multi-player game as i understand it, so im really excited about the single-player. Before Quake 3, I played Half-Life, and it was the best single-player game ever. I can only hope this can top that. If Doom 3 does have a great multi-player feature, ill definitely play it. Probably 1v1 mostly, but I don't have my hopes up.

PlanetQuake3: Do you go to many local LAN parties or play Quake3 online on public servers often?
s69|Daler: If any local LANs, its the *69 Lan parties at Katsu's house. Prepped me for QuakeCon and WCG Texas, definitely the best place for practicing. Due to my Connection, I only play on Dallas Speakeasy or SLA.

PlanetQuake3: Do you have a favorite match that you think you played exceptionally well in?
s69|Daler: I haven't had too many matches in my Quake3 career, but I think the one that stands out in my head is the ospdm8 match against fatal1ty at QuakeCon. It was the match I was most nervous on too. I was down by a few frags, and with him running on the largest 1v1 map I've ever played on, I didn't know what to do. I made a quick move and rocket jumped to the spot he has been camping usually, and luckily caught him.

PlanetQuake3: Who is your biggest supporter?
s69|Daler: I have a few, but the ones that stand out are my teammates (especially Katsu), DonKing and Keymaster. They have been supporting me even before I won at QuakeCon. Thanks guys! and to all those who didn't ban me. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, mad props to K9|Moonshine!

s69|Daler's Computer Specs:
CPU: AMD 1900+ XP
Motherboard: Kt3 Ultra-aru (raid)
OS: Windows 2000
RAM: 786 2700ddr ram
Video Card: Radeon 9700 Pro
Mouse: Logitech MX500
Mouse Pad: Func mousing surface
Keyboard: Logitech Elite Keyboard
Monitor: Samsung 955df 19"

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