EPTHere's the link: http://www.itsgosu.com/game/sc2/blogs/gsl-november-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-format_118
I've normally posted my blogging thoughts here and while I do feel a sense of loyalty to TL I also want to support my team's site as well. I'm posting the blog in its entirety here, but I do politely ask that you guys at least give the link a click and check out the other stuff around the site.
glhf!
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GSL November! or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Format.
Hey guys. This season at the GSL we've got a new format. As you've noticed it's not a typical "new format = slight difference from old format". The new GSL is hugely different from the old one in a lot of ways. Naturally this has both players and fans worried as far as how this will affect their careers (players) and how it'll affect their favorite players (fans). I've seen some other explanations out there, but I don't think any of them have quite been able to explain why the changes are indeed for the better. After doing a lot of thinking on it I really do believe that this format is superior and not just because I work for GOM. Trust me; if the new format was bad they'd never hear the end of it from us casters! Hopefully this blog will put some fears to rest and get people excited about the changes that GSL is going through.
The big initial difference is that we'll be starting with Code S rather than Code A. The reason for this is that Code A can't actually begin until the Ro32 Code S is finished. I've heard people compare it to a loser's bracket type thing, but I feel that it's different enough that it's more confusing than helpful to try to compare it to other events. It's not a loser's bracket. It's not even a separate tournament. It's just the Code A part of the GSL. The Up and Down matches are also another part. My best advice is to take Code S, Code A, and the Up and Down matches as 3 parts of the same tournament; not as three separate things.
I won't take the time now to explain how the new format operates. I think there's enough written about that already out there. If enough people ask though I'll be glad to explain the format in detail in another blog. (I might actually do it anyway) Instead, I'm going to concentrate on what the new format means for players and fans since I feel that that's the most important thing to really understand.
Today we saw some pretty good players take 4th place in their groups in the Code S Ro32. This is the only moment in the GSL where players can be knocked completely out. If the 4th place player in his Code S group loses his Ro48 match in Code A then he's completely out. Now here's why that shouldn't bother anyone; player or fan. In theory, if a true Code S level player was knocked into Code A by some sort of fluke or cheese then he should have no problem beating his opponent in the Code A Ro48. If Losira loses a Bo3 to "xXGSLnoobXx" then maybe he does need to take a little time off and work on his game. A big idea behind this new format is making sure that the people in Code S are the people that really deserve to be there. It sounds harsh, but the new format is going to show us who the best players really are. No one is going to argue that up to now there have been some Code S players that have been just sort of existing in this Code S Ro16 limbo where they never win, but always manage to edge their way through the Ro32 and get to keep a Code S spot. This new format is going to weed those players out since anyone who doesn't make it to the Code S Ro8 is going to get at least a taste of Code A. In an ideal world anyone who makes it to the Ro8 should have a real chance at winning the whole thing and genuinely deserves to keep a Code S spot at that point. People might argue that it's not that way right now, but that's the entire point of changing things isn't it?
We've seen some players speak out about not liking this aspect of the new format, so let's really take a moment to think about this from the player perspective. If you get 3rd in your group in the Code S Ro32 then you need to win two Bo3's in Code A to get back into Code S automatically and skip the Up and Downs. If you lose before that then you still go to the Up and Downs anyway, which gives you another yet chance to get into Code S. I know I'm considered the nice guy caster and this might sound harsh again, but any GSL fan (or player) should agree that if you can't win two Bo3s in a row in Code A or win in the Up and Down matches then you're probably not a Code S level player. You've actually got more chances to get into Code S in a shorter amount of time than in the old format. This again reinforces the idea that the new format will make players try harder to prove themselves to their peers and their fans, which should result in more entertaining, higher level games.
Now that we've looked at the implications of bouncing between Code S and Code A, let's take a look at Code A foreign seeds and Up and Downs. There is a bit of grey area here because we don't know exactly how this will all be determined, but there's enough revealed already that I think we can certainly say that there is an improvement over the previous GSL format. If you look at the graph you'll see that 2 foreign players will be seeded directly into the Up and Down matches. How this will be decided is not clear yet, but I think this is a superior situation to simply giving someone Code S if they win an MLG. While a non-Korean winning an MLG is a great accomplishment, it doesn't really say a whole lot as to if they can really compete at the Code S level. (not counting MLGs won by non-Koreans that train in Korea of course) Remember that the new GSL format is all about proving yourself. In the Up and Downs you'll get a chance to make Code S, but at the very least you'll still have Code A if you don't make it. Next season this foreigner would only need to win one Bo3 in the Code A Ro48 to get back into the Up and Downs again. This is going to help more foreigners who want to be in Korea for an extended period have a better chance of staying in the GSL while they're here. It also appears that there will still be some Code A seeds given to non-Koreans as well. Again, these players will only need to win their Bo3s in the Code A Ro48 in order to make it to the Up and Down matches and at the very least they'll still be in Code A for sure next season. In the previous season a non-Korean Code A seed (or foreign player who got in through the qualifiers here in Korea) would need to make it to the Code A Ro8 to have a chance to get into Code S through the Up and Downs. Which format seems harder now? Foreign players especially should be happy about the changes! We really will see more Code S foreigners and also more non-Koreans in the GSL for more than a guest appearance as well. Hopefully this will bring more players to Korea for the long-term and diversify the players pool more than it is now. The opportunity is certainly there.
That more or less sums up my feelings on the new GSL format. I think the biggest thing to keep in mind is that being knocked into Code A is much less of a bigger deal than it was before. You can get knocked down to Code A in the first day of GSL and be right back in Code S by the end of the season. If any Code S player complains about being afraid of getting knocked down into Code A I'd ask them why. If they truly belong in Code S then they'll be back in it quickly. If not then there's no shame in admitting that you need to improve and that Code A is the right place for you. That's what the GSL is all about. Improving and being the best. Now the top players really have a chance to do exactly that while we fans get enjoy the benefits!
So in the end this is what we've got to look forward to in the GSL due to the new format: More foreigners in the GSL for a longer time, more Code S foreigners, the best of the best rising to the top, and higher level play than we've ever seen before. I hope that clears things up a bit. If not, then don't worry about it. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the best GSL yet. glhf!
