SC2 World Ranking, Part 9: Interviews

Part 8: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?id=360514

+ Show Spoiler [Introduction] +

Lately, I've heard lots of discussion about a StarCraft 2 World Ranking based on tournament results. Essentially, the concept is that you assign points for tournament rankings. Unfortunately, no matter how it is done, the ranking will always be subjective. One person may say that the GSL is worth as much as every other tournament combined, whereas another person may say that the GSL is worth about as much as a MLG.

How do I get around this "subjective" problem? Here's my answer: I'll let you choose the values!

That's right, I'm starting a project to create a World Ranking. The cool thing is that you get to choose how many points each victory is worth and more.

Now updated with "Ratios"! Please check the "How to Use" section for more info. (Current Size: 184 KB)

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/43612415/World Ranking.xlsm

+ Show Spoiler [How to Use] +

The first sheet is known as "Values" and it is the only spreadsheet you should edit. Only edit the highlighted areas!

I have now changed the spreadsheet to work on ratios. First, start with the point ratios. Simply enter the points that you think a 1st place is worth compared to a 2nd place, a 3rd place, a 4th place, etc.

For example, if I enter 1,000 points for 1st place and 500 points for 2nd place, that means 1st place is worth double the amount of points as 2nd place. If another person thinks that 1st place is worth 3 times as much as 2nd place, he/she can put 1st place as 300 points and 2nd place at 100 points.

The section underneath that (highlighted with a darker shade, containing 3rd/4th, 5th/6th, etc.) are optional. You can choose the values yourself if you want. If you do not, they work using averages (3rd/4th averages the points you gave for 3rd place and 4th place).

Next, enter the tournament ratios. For example, if I enter 10 points for GSL and 4 points for MLG, that means GSL will give out 2.5x as many points as MLG. Use these ratios to gauge relative importance of the tournaments. If you think MLG is worth half as much as GSL, make MLG 5 points and GSL 10 points, and so on.

The points are calculated by multiplying the tournament ratios with the point ratios. If I put 100 points for 1st place and 10 points for GSL, it will multiply the two values and give you 1,000 points for GSL 1st place. Here's another example:

Let's say I choose these values: 1st place = 1,000 points, 2nd place = 500 points. GSL = 10 points, MLG = 4 points.

GSL 1st = 1,000*10 = 10,000 points
GSL 2nd = 500*10 = 5,000 points
MLG 1st = 1,000*4 = 4,000 points
MLG 2nd = 500*4 = 2,000 points

The "Sort" button will automatically sort the lists in order of points.

The sheet known as "Rankings" has the ultimate ranking which you are looking for.

+ Show Spoiler [Regression] +

One thing that is very popular in point rankings such as this is the concept of regression. Basically, your points degrade over time, meaning that a GSL today is worth more than a GSL one year ago. I completely agree with this idea, so I've included this.

The sheet "Values" has a "Regression Factor" which you can edit. Right now, the spreadsheet only supports simple regression - exponential decay. Here's how the regression model works:

New Point Value = Original Point Value * (Regression Factor)^(# of Days since the Tournament)

The value I prefer is "0.99769217652702". If you use this value, the number of points will be halved after 300 days (so 10,000 points becomes 5,000 points), the number of points will be 25% after 600 days (so 10,000 points becomes 2,500 points), and so on.

You may choose your own value! If you do not wish to use regression (you think a GSL from one year ago is worth exactly the same as a GSL today), then simply use the value "1".

However, this is not completed yet! In fact, I need your help!

+ Show Spoiler [Checklist] +

Assembly
Red Bull LAN
WCG
WCS
HomeStory
OSL
ESWC
BlizzCon
GSL Code A
Other major tournaments/one-off tournaments (such as IPL Hot Import Nights, GSL All-Stars Invitational, MLG Global Invitational, etc.)
Tournament rankings without prize pool (such as MLG 9th place)

+ Show Spoiler [My Progress] +

+ Show Spoiler +

Part 1: I started this project on Google Spreadsheets and added the three GSL Open Seasons. NesTea topped the rankings with his GSL Open Season win.

Part 2: I added all of the GSL Code S seasons including the World Championship, Super Tournament, and Blizzard Cup. I also moved the project to Microsoft Excel, which is much much faster than Google Spreadsheets. With the addition of more GSL seasons, the GSL king (also known as Mvp) topped the rankings.

Part 3: I added IPL. I changed the spreadsheet into a macro-enabled spreadsheet and protected each sheet except "Values". The addition of IPL allowed Squirtle to break the top ten!

Part 4: I added MLG. MLG gave a lot of points to DongRaeGu and MarineKing, and they rose many places. MC, MMA, and Leenock also rose some places, while NesTea didn't gain any points.

Part 5: I added DreamHack. A high placement in DreamHack allowed Genius to overtake aLive and break into the top 10.

Part 6: I added IEM. Also, I changed the "Values" system to work with ratios rather than point values for each "cluster" of tournaments. Ratios are more flexible in general.

Part 7: I added Top 16 for each DreamHack tournament (before, only the placements with prize money were included in the ranking). Also, I added the NASL, causing PuMa and Stephano to enter the rankings.

Part 8: I added Top 16 for each MLG Arena this year. I added the Iron Squid, giving lots of points to MMA.

Part 9: I added TSL, not much accomplished today.

+ Show Spoiler [How You Can Help!] +

I need lists of tournament rankings. First, I need the name of the tournament, and the date it ended. Then, I need a list of players starting from 1st place until last place. Here's an example:

GSL Open Season 1
10/2/2010

FruitDealer
RainBOw
Ensnare
LiveForever
HongUn
InCa
Maka
TricKsteR
anypro
Check
Clide
Hyperdub
LegalMind
Nettie
San
TOP
IdrA
JookTo
justfake
Keeping
Maru
Polt
TaeJa
Tankboy
TheWinD
TLO
ZanDarke
Zenio
Aory
Artosis
Astraea
BrEEzE
Cella
Cezanne
Chipmunk
Dos
FoCuS
Genius
Gerrard
GuineaPig
Hansin
JiTaeHoon
jjonga
JSL
Junwi
LosirA
MC
miso
Myth
NesTea
New
RenieHouR
SengKun
Sopia
Spunky
SSoja
TorcH
Wind
Xian
Yong

My next goal is foreign tournaments. Do not worry about Code A yet!

Finally, here is my own ranking:

+ Show Spoiler +

1. 26,994 Mvp
2. 24,154 MC
3. 23,290 DongRaeGu
4. 22,161 MMA
5. 17,102 NesTea
6. 14,588 MarineKing
7. 9,826 Seed
8. 9,809 Polt
9. 9,522 PuMa
10. 9,039 Stephano

I added TSL, which did not really shift the rankings at all.

Sorry guys, I was supposed to add Assembly today by request. Unfortunately, I have almost no time today, so I added a small tournament such as TSL. I'll definitely do Assembly tomorrow, and I'll add IEM Cologne when it finishes. (Go Mvp!!)

Honestly, interviews are the main reason why I follow the TSL. Interviews help me understand the players and connections lead to fans, fans lead to the growth of eSports. This is a good thing for everyone, no? Honestly, I think every tournament should post interviews and have a designated place for them. It doesn't matter what language the interviews are conducted in, we have plenty of talented TLers who will translate them.

On the other hand, having every single tournament have interviews would result in too many interviews to catch up with. Therefore, I propose that interviews be cut down to very relevant, specific questions. No more questions such as "How do you feel about your win?" Instead, let's hear specific questions according to the situation. If Squirtle gets knocked out with another 2 rax, ask him "when will you fix your 2 rax problem?" or "have you practiced against 2 rax?" "will you practice against 2 rax?"

I am a big fan of Korean Terrans (because they're soooo good), but they have this reputation of being faceless boring killers who use an OP race (back in the GomTvT days). Interviews would show us that they're lovable people with cool personalities.

I don't think Koreans give boring interviews. I think the interviewers ask the wrong questions.

Next time, stay tuned for Assembly.

Part 10: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?id=361068

SC2 World Ranking, Part 9: Interviews

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