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Looking at Barcodes from Koran GM

Blogs > Ludwigvan
Post a Reply
Ludwigvan
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Germany2371 Posts
August 13 2012 12:48 GMT
#1
[image loading]

Many progamers use "barcode" account names (I picked the name up from Husky casting TSL). I looked a bit at all names from the Korean Grandmaster Division. I got the data from here on 13/8 2012 1 pm GMT.


  • I found out that there are 109 barcode names. The names consist of non-capital "L"s and capital "i"s only.

  • I found out that there are 49 names that consist only of 12 non-capital "L"s. Most others are a mixture between both letters.

  • Overall I counted 1296 characters. 311 are "i"s (24%) and 985 are "L"s (76%).

  • 7 of the names had less then 12 characters. The others had exaclty 12. So, there is a possibility that the people using less than 12 characters are copycats. (^_^)


If I put away the "copycats" and the 49 only "L"s, then I have 53 names with 285 "I"s (45%) and 351 "L"s (55%). So, the names are pretty random. There are still names in it like 11 "L"s and 1 "i" that are probably human generated. But overall I think if we put them out, then we can be close to sure that there are a couple of progaming teams that randomly generate the names.


here is the formated list that I used:
+ Show Spoiler +
IlIIIlIllIll
lIlIlIlIlIlI
llllllllll
llllllllllll
IlIllIIIlllI
lIllIlllIIlI
llllllllllll
llllIIIIllII
llIIllIIllII
lllIlIllIlIl
llllllllllll
lIlIlIllllll
lllIlllIlllI
lIlIlIlIlIlI
llllllllllll
IlIllIlIIIlI
IllIIIllIlIl
IIlIllIIIlll
llllllllll
llllllllllll
lIlIlIIlIlIl
IIIllllIIlll
llIIlIlllIlI
IlllllllIlll
IIlllIllIIII
llllllllllll
llllllllllll
llllllllllll
llllllllllll
llIIllIIllII
IllIllIlIlII
llllllllllll
lIlIlIlIlIll
lIIlllIllIIl
IIIIIIIIlIlI
IIIIIIIIIII
lIlllIlllIll
llllllllllll
llllllllllll
llllllllllll
llllllllllll
llllllllllll
lllllIllllll
llllllllllll
lIlIlIlIIIll
lllIlllIlll
llllllllllll
lIIIllIllIlI
lllllllllllI
lIIIlllllIlI
llllllllllll
IlllllllIlll
llllllllllll
lIlllllIl
lIIllIIllllI
llllllllllll
lllIIIIIIlll
llllllllllll
IIIIIIIlllll
lllllIlllll
lllIIlllllll
llllllllllll
llllllllllll
IIIIIIIIIIII
IlIllllIIIll
llllllllllll
llllllllllll
llIllIllIllI
llllllllllll
lllllllllllI
llllllllllll
llllllllllll
lIIIIIIIIIll
IIlIllIIIlll
llllllllllll
llllllllllll
lIlIIIlIllII
llllllllllll
llllllllllll
IlIlIlIlIlIl
llllllllllll
llllllllllll
llllllllllll
IIIIllllIIII
llllllllllll
llllllllllll
llllllllllll
IIIIIIIIII
IllllIIIllII
llllllllllll
llllllllllll
lIlIllllllII
IIlIllIIIlll
lIlIlIlIlIlI
lllllllIIIII
llllIlllIlll
llllllllllll
llllllllllll
IIIIIIIIIIII
llllllllllll
llllllIIIIII
llllllllllll
llllllllllll
IIIlIlIllIll
llllllllllll
lllllllIlIlI
llllllllllll
llllllllllll
llllllllllll


Conclusion

We probably can say that players with 12 non-capital "L"s belong to the same teams. Also players with random 12 character names belong to the same teams. And we have copycats that have names that were not generated by a team, but by individuals (that might also belong to teams). Of course if enough people read this thread, things might change. The metagame is shifting.

**
IshinShishi
Profile Joined April 2012
Japan6156 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-08-13 13:00:48
August 13 2012 12:58 GMT
#2
So much time wasted for some shady and barely logical assumptions, 2/5 for the time spent.
So... what that make you? Good? You're not good. You just know how to hide, how to lie
Deleted User 101379
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
4849 Posts
August 13 2012 13:03 GMT
#3
It might be just me but i don't see the point you try to make...
Ludwigvan
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Germany2371 Posts
August 13 2012 13:08 GMT
#4
On August 13 2012 21:58 IshinShishi wrote:
So much time wasted for some shady and barely logical assumptions, 2/5 for the time spent.

what is not logical about the assumptions?

On August 13 2012 22:03 Morfildur wrote:
It might be just me but i don't see the point you try to make...

haha. I don't want to make a point. I just try to analyze the data and then assume that accounts with similar names probably have their names from the same source (their teams).
Saechiis
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Netherlands4989 Posts
August 13 2012 13:15 GMT
#5
Sweet.
I think esports is pretty nice.
TheKwas
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
Iceland372 Posts
August 13 2012 13:29 GMT
#6
We probably can say that players with 12 non-capital "L"s belong to the same teams

Why?

Also players with random 12 character names belong to the same teams.

Why?

So, there is a possibility that the people using less than 12 characters are copycats. (^_^)

Sure, but is the possibility significantly bigger than the possibility that those using 12 characters are copycats? And isn't everyone using barcode names just copying the first person to do it?

Seriously, all of your conclusions are unsupported.
Ludwigvan
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Germany2371 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-08-13 15:26:12
August 13 2012 13:40 GMT
#7
On August 13 2012 22:29 TheKwas wrote:
Show nested quote +
We probably can say that players with 12 non-capital "L"s belong to the same teams

Why?

Show nested quote +
Also players with random 12 character names belong to the same teams.

Why?

Show nested quote +
So, there is a possibility that the people using less than 12 characters are copycats. (^_^)

Sure, but is the possibility significantly bigger than the possibility that those using 12 characters are copycats? And isn't everyone using barcode names just copying the first person to do it?

Seriously, all of your conclusions are unsupported.

Yes, you are right. I haven't explained everything well enough and I am assuming in the dark. So, let me try to say why I assume that teams are responsible for the names:

I think it is very obvious that we have two big groups. On the one hand the "L"-names and on the other hand those with 12 characters with a mixture of both letters. We know that players are organized in teams. We know that there are barcode names with similar patterns. So, let's assume some kind of snowball system. One player starts this barcoding and another one sees, that if enough people do this, then players can practice without their opponent knowing who they are. So, they create a similar account. Then another one picks up this naming and so on. But if the reasoning for the barcodes is the anonymity, why would somebody start it on his own? If there are only a few players with a barcode, it is pretty obvious who they are. So, this system of barcoding has to be organized, if player groups act reasonable. And from that point on it is reasonable to assume that the player groups are teams. Because this organization already exists, so no new kind of organization has to be created just to be anonymous.

EDIT: So, we have two system possibilities. This barcode naming is either organized, or its some kind of snowball system (or of course a mixture).

Why isn't it reasonable to assume that if I find patterns in the naming, that these patterns come from an organziation rather than a snowball system? Wouldn't a snowball system be much more random? Why are most names exactly 12 letters? In a snowball system wouldn't we have much more differences coming from some kind of Chinese whispers? Wouldn't a snowball system also create a lot of names that only consist of 12 "i"s?
Apollo_Shards
Profile Joined February 2011
1210 Posts
August 13 2012 19:02 GMT
#8
On August 13 2012 22:40 Ludwigvan wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 13 2012 22:29 TheKwas wrote:
We probably can say that players with 12 non-capital "L"s belong to the same teams

Why?

Also players with random 12 character names belong to the same teams.

Why?

So, there is a possibility that the people using less than 12 characters are copycats. (^_^)

Sure, but is the possibility significantly bigger than the possibility that those using 12 characters are copycats? And isn't everyone using barcode names just copying the first person to do it?

Seriously, all of your conclusions are unsupported.

Yes, you are right. I haven't explained everything well enough and I am assuming in the dark. So, let me try to say why I assume that teams are responsible for the names:

I think it is very obvious that we have two big groups. On the one hand the "L"-names and on the other hand those with 12 characters with a mixture of both letters. We know that players are organized in teams. We know that there are barcode names with similar patterns. So, let's assume some kind of snowball system. One player starts this barcoding and another one sees, that if enough people do this, then players can practice without their opponent knowing who they are. So, they create a similar account. Then another one picks up this naming and so on. But if the reasoning for the barcodes is the anonymity, why would somebody start it on his own? If there are only a few players with a barcode, it is pretty obvious who they are. So, this system of barcoding has to be organized, if player groups act reasonable. And from that point on it is reasonable to assume that the player groups are teams. Because this organization already exists, so no new kind of organization has to be created just to be anonymous.

EDIT: So, we have two system possibilities. This barcode naming is either organized, or its some kind of snowball system (or of course a mixture).

Why isn't it reasonable to assume that if I find patterns in the naming, that these patterns come from an organziation rather than a snowball system? Wouldn't a snowball system be much more random? Why are most names exactly 12 letters? In a snowball system wouldn't we have much more differences coming from some kind of Chinese whispers? Wouldn't a snowball system also create a lot of names that only consist of 12 "i"s?


Yes, the whole point is to be random so they stay anonymous. They are 12 because thats what everyone else did and so if you went below or over you would stand out. Im actually amazed on how certain you can be in your opinion with absolutely no facts to support it.
Jaedong, sOs, avilo, MaSa, Oprah
]343[
Profile Blog Joined May 2008
United States10328 Posts
August 13 2012 19:09 GMT
#9
Thanks for the numbers, but you don't seem to be drawing any sort of valid conclusions from them.
Writer
Ludwigvan
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Germany2371 Posts
August 13 2012 19:12 GMT
#10
I am not certain at all. It doesn't matter for my pride, if my hypothesises are right or wrong. I try to analyze and discuss the topic. If someone can argue against what I write then its good, if he can support it, its also good.

But still I don't see why there are these two factions. Of course it is possible that it is a random progress. But we have no evidence for that, too, have we? I just find the idea interesting to come to a reasonable hypothesis by looking at only the names. Maybe that is not possible, but if I don't try, i cannot be certain of it.
Kleinmuuhg
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Vanuatu4091 Posts
August 13 2012 19:18 GMT
#11
So you want to identify the players behind the barcodes, do I see that correctly?
Then I have one tip for you:
You say you can identify groups of players that are most likely in the same clan? Look at their race distribution,
look at which races players are the best, then look at the teams rosters, try to guess out of the information we have which players /races are good on the teams. Maybe that way you can relate groups of players to teams.
This is highly hypothetical , very shady and most likely wrong.
But then again, so is your OP
This is our town, scrub
Facultyadjutant
Profile Blog Joined January 2012
Sweden1876 Posts
August 13 2012 19:27 GMT
#12
Can never have enough statistics

5/5
#1 FAN OF TERRY THE INTERN - NONY AND IDRA NUMBER #1, EVERY DAY. AXIOM MANOR - Axiom: Ryung, Alicia, Heart and Crank under the Don TotalBiscuit and the Donnesa Genna Bain- Join the family http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=396090#2
Probe1
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States17920 Posts
August 13 2012 20:05 GMT
#13
I appreciate the effort but barcode names have become fashionable and you can see them anywhere from platinum to mid master to GM. Who's to say someone didn't copy twelve I s or whatever? How are you to prove who they belong to without incontrovertible evidence that Team A always uses X amount of I s?

What's there to discuss except theorizing who is who heavily based on our own hopes and opinions?
우정호 KT_VIOLET 1988 - 2012 While we are postponing, life speeds by
Ludwigvan
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Germany2371 Posts
August 13 2012 20:26 GMT
#14
On August 14 2012 05:05 Probe1 wrote:
I appreciate the effort but barcode names have become fashionable and you can see them anywhere from platinum to mid master to GM. Who's to say someone didn't copy twelve I s or whatever? How are you to prove who they belong to without incontrovertible evidence that Team A always uses X amount of I s?

What's there to discuss except theorizing who is who heavily based on our own hopes and opinions?

haha, yes, I already realized that I was a bit hasty with my conclusions. The easiest way would be to ask the pros. XD Browsing through Korean ranking, it seems like most barcode players are in high masters, in lower leagues they dont appear very often. Of course I won't try to build any hypothesis from this now, or Apollo_Shards will become even more angry at me. ^^
Azera
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
3800 Posts
August 13 2012 21:04 GMT
#15
Yeah this is just post hoc ergo propter hoc.
Check out some great music made by TLers - http://bit.ly/QXYhdb , by intrigue. http://bit.ly/RTjpOR , by ohsea.toc.
Ludwigvan
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Germany2371 Posts
August 13 2012 21:21 GMT
#16
On August 14 2012 06:04 Azera wrote:
Yeah this is just post hoc ergo propter hoc.

thx, mate. I did not know this expression, it's amazing. I am going to read through a lot of texts about logic this night. I need some more knowledge to prevent preventable logic mistakes from happening in the future.
SpearWrit
Profile Joined February 2011
United States300 Posts
August 13 2012 21:26 GMT
#17
To the people above:

THIS THREAD IS A TROLL

That is all.
3/5 trolling op.
"Special Tactics is...make surprise for your enemy, and also...eh, still work." -White-Ra
Ludwigvan
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Germany2371 Posts
August 13 2012 21:37 GMT
#18
On August 14 2012 06:26 SpearWrit wrote:
To the people above:

THIS THREAD IS A TROLL

That is all.
3/5 trolling op.

haha, no. I was just dumb. (^_^)
mizU
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States12125 Posts
August 14 2012 02:54 GMT
#19
I think a better use of your time would be to count critters on sc2 maps.
if happy ever afters did exist <3 @watamizu_
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