Starcraft training: iNcontrol does coaching for cash

When it comes to Starcraft, the name of the renowned Zerg player and Ultimate Gamer reality TV-star Geoff 'iNcontrol' Robinson is well known. He's a veteran within the scene and the game, and recently qualified into the top 48 of the current Teamliquid Starleague. If that doesn't ring a bell I recommend you to check out this audio interview to learn more about this foreign progamer.

iNcontrol has already for some time been offering his knowledge and skills as a coach to aspiring gamers who want to improve, for a fee of $10 per hour. That might sound unorthodox to many, since there is a deep rooted culture in the Starcraft community stating that content should be free.

However, some types of help are more helpful than others, and maybe even worth paying for. In the short interview below, iNcontrol himself tells you what he offers and why it's worth your money. If you want to go from C- to A on iCCup, this just might be the thing...

PR.com: As you write in your post, you are now offering your services as a coach to aspiring Starcraft players, where you for $10 an hour give comprehensive feedback and advice in order to improve their game play. What, more exactly, does a player get for that money? Do they get to play against you in any match-up, or is the teaching limited to your expert field of Zerg?

 

iNcontrol: The coaching program I have set up follows the model of a personal trainer for like tennis or piano playing. I will play right alongside with you in whatever matchup it is you want to work on, be it 1 or many.

We will work on the map you want and we will even go more specific on the matchup in terms of micro, macro, timings, counters etc.. etc.. whatever it takes to make YOU the customer a better player.

These sessions are done with ventrilo for most effective communication and they are fully capable of being tailored to the needs of the specific client. I have worked with A- skilled players and I have worked with D- skilled players.

Both ends of the spectrum are capable of receiving beneficial training from me since my true worth isn’t necessarily found in my specific skill with this game as a gamer (while that does help) it is more fundamentally found in my knowledge and understanding of the game but further my ability to convey said knowledge and coach to each individual.

PR.com: How long have you been doing this kind of coaching, and how many clients have you had so far?

 

iNcontrol: I have been coaching like this for 3 months now. I have had over 30 clients with many repeat sessions. I have customer reviews published so people can get a sample of the thoughts people have expressed following one of our sessions.

I always offer these reviews to my students as they allow me to improve upon my services but also they offer information for prospect students who want more knowledge of what they are getting themselves into! The customer reviews can be viewed here: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?topic_id=103660

PR.com: There is a lot strategy resources online around the Starcraft community that any player can access to get help and learn how to get better at the game, but very few people with the high enough skills offer this kind of coaching. Why is that so, and is it about to change, do you think?

 

iNcontrol: The reason you don’t see more top players coaching is because it is time extensive and for the most part, not cost effective. Spending hours to help someone with their SCBW game is nice but laborious. This is a very complicated game and it took me many years and many more hours to get to where I am.

I enjoy teaching and coaching so this is part hobby and part passion. I have no dreams of making this my professional career but while I am finishing my degree, and working another job, I have time to spare and engaging in a mutually beneficial endeavor is a fantastic exchange. I get to help the community but at the same time receive payment (albeit small!).

There are countless resources for players these days. Replays, instructional vods, daily podcasts (day9), strategy sections etc etc.. those are all fine and good and people can and HAVE benefited from the information there.

However there simply is no substitute for someone working directly with you on all that information and more importantly: showing you how it is implemented in the logic, philosophy and eventually the direct game play of SCBW. I am very confident in this and the results have spoken for themselves.

Give me 2 hours with you and you will be far better in TvP than you would have had you spent 6 hours watching vods, replays and reading strategy guides. It boils down to are you willing to spend a few bucks to expedite the process?

Additionally many people don’t learn from self researched info.. some need it shown to them. And for those, I am unique and effective.

PR.com: You are a sponsored professional gamer and you’re playing for the team Evil Geniuses, EG. Many of your customers are players that want to break away from the low- or medium skill level where they are, and become good enough to compete with the foreign elite. Some even have the dream of going pro. Starcraft is very challenging, but is it possible with the right help and determination to go fram C- to A- in less that a year, would you say?

 

iNcontrol: It is possible for sure. SCBW requires a talent and dedication to be amongst the best. Some have that ability. Some do not. But the determining factor isn’t ability alone but who you work with. If you do not have access to training with top tier gamers but aspire to one day be a top gamer, I offer a resolution.

If you have top tier training partners but aren’t benefiting, I offer a resolution. Going from C- to A- in a year is difficult but not impossible. For most I would say a year of training, including sessions with me, could improve them around that much. I am not making promises mind you since your benefit is determined entirely upon how much you implement and work on what we talk about.

PR.com: 2010 will likely be the year when Starcraft 2 is released, and a new chapter of progaming begins. Many are waiting for that and the fresh chance it provides, as well as the new possibilities it may bring for eSports. Few of us have played The Sequel yet, but still, if you start learning Starcraft: Brood War now, will those skills translate well into SC2 – in your judgement?

 

iNcontrol: I have played SC2 through the various stages of it’s development and I can tell you that the SCBW skill you develop now will transfer. Especially since Blizzard is working fairly hard to make the games as similar as possible and still remain within their desire to create a new game.

There will of course be entirely new skillsets that we ALL have to learn, but going into the biggest CPU game release of the decade with a pre-set of skills that are transferable sounds mighty good to me!

If that sounds interesting to you, contact iNcontrol here