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It has been a while since I last blogged on TL and now, with the wrap up of WCS Season 2, it feels like the right time for another.
I’ll admit, I don’t know anywhere near the level of detail my fellow broadcasters have about Starcraft 2, but what I lack in knowledge, I hopefully make up for (a little) with passion for the game, the players and the community. Honestly, I’ve not felt like this about a game for a long time. I do commentate on a lot of games and host tournaments for all manner of genre and overall, I guess I’m just a gamer/esports nerd who loves it all, but sometimes a game comes along that just grabs you by the balls and wont let go, even if you wanted to, you can’t abandon it. Starcraft 2 is that game.
I’m not a great player of the game (hellbat drops ftw!), nor do I pretend to understand the ultimate complexities that the top players seem to unravel with ease. But there is something magical about watching Starcraft, something I just can’t put my finger on, but ultimately something that fills me with adrenaline and makes the hairs on my neck stand up when I see a great play or get ready to watch two amazing players take each other on.
WCS Season 2 was an incredible experience for me as a host. To be involved, even if only on the fringes of this amazing community, was awesome. I got to watch, first hand, some incredible games this weekend. How can we ever forget MC v Jaedong? Game 1 was insane, but then game 2 went and topped it. And just when I thought it wasn’t possible to beat that, Scarlett and Bomber gave us another classic. The matches were just electric.
We also witnessed the downfall of Innovation to Naniwa and the same Swede picking off his WCS Europe nemesis Duckdeok. Until he met Bomber in the semi finals, Taeja looked unstoppable and let’s not forget Scarlett also took out Maru.
In the end, we got the “Bridesmaid Final” between Bomber and Jaedong. The popular Evil Genius player had the crowd support for sure, but Bomber was simply ruthless, even bringing out the triple bunker play he’d saved for use against Scarlett, that he didn’t need.
I thoroughly enjoyed WCS Season 2 finals and I know a lot of you did too. Sure, the final was a bit of a let down (especially for poor JD), but the experience, the other matches and hopefully the show helped everyone in the crowd and especially those who couldn’t be there, appreciate the game and the players.
From the production side, it wasn’t perfect but without wishing to blow our own trumpet, I think we did a bloody good job as a team of people to deliver a great show. Certainly from the feedback, the majority of you really enjoyed it. We can always improve though and I know it’s not just me that is “never happy” with it, we have many people who want to always improve, no matter what the level.
Part of my love for this game is the community. I don’t think I have ever been accepted in to a gaming community so easily or with such affection and whilst this might sound a bit cheesey, I really do appreciate it.
I want to thank all of you for tuning in over the entire season of WCS and thanks for the comments, not just the nice ones, but all of them. We do read feedback and we do implement changes where it is possible to do so. I'm also happy to have gotten through the weekend without dropping anything 
I can't wait for the next Starcraft 2 tournament!
Thank you TL’ers. <3
 
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Montenegro10532 Posts
You did really well. It was the only tournament that grabbed my attention since the end of WoL for more than a couple minutes.
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You guys did a great job this weekend. However you do have to work on that winning ceremony. Bomber looked completely lost and seemed to have no idea what to do after he won.
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It was certainly one of the better tournaments. The later stages left a bit to be desired but in terms of storyline it was very good and the ro16 had some of the best gameplay seen to date. Usually a tournament only has one of those sets, but here it seemed like every set showed something new and amazing.
Plus you're the best person in the world. <333333333
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Indeed a fantastic job overall. By far the best tournament I've watched in SC II.
The player introductions and the storylines for the playoffs were incredibly well done, just added even more to the epicness of the whole thing.
However, like mentioned before, I also think that the winner ceremony was lacking - after so much well delivered content it felt a bit rushed/shallow. I feel it is unfair to criticise considering I don't really have an actionable suggestion to improve it, but it is feedback nonetheless.
Thanks a lot for an entire weekend of epic starcraft action and high quality production and professionalism.
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Thank you for lending your gravitas to SC2, to give the still-young game some much-needed dignity. That having been said, I agree with the criticism of the winning ceremony. I think a short handout to the participating players, instructing them where to go or what to do in the event of a victory might help with getting everyone in the right place at the right time.
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China6330 Posts
You are absolutely great Paul, was there at IEM Shanghai, your hosting is simply great.
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As an almost purely Dota2 watcher nowadays I found myself watching a big chunk of the season finals and have to say I loved it. Most games where great, I loved the handcameras, player closeups cought the tension.
The background noise was sometimes a bit loud imo, but overall not really distracting. Only so much you can do when having a tournament at such a busy location.
Overall a really entertaining event so thanks for that ( I really only did watch the games so can't say anything about you, ReDeYe or interviews etc.)
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You did a fantastic job! Your professionalism is really important for the scene.
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Yeah, if it wasn't clearly expressed by my last post, the whole team did an excellent job. But you were absolutely stunning Paul, the way you talk and creates this rapport with the players is second to none.
I will never forget the "bro fist" with duckdeok on the WCS EUR Season 2.
Every single player interview made me think "that guy absolutely loves doing this", and it shows. Also you clearly makes sure to focus all the attention on the players, humbly keeping them as the stars of the show.
Keep up the inspiring work, the starcraft community has gained so much from having you aboard.
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Easily the most of a weekend tourament I`ve watched. The only negative was the map vetoing. I got the sense it was meant to be like dota2 picks and bans phase but it`s just really dull. A guy with a clipboard crossing off maps brings 0 hype and wastes time.
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On August 26 2013 18:05 Scarecrow wrote:
Easily the most of a weekend tourament I`ve watched. The only negative was the map vetoing. I got the sense it was meant to be like dota2 picks and bans phase but it`s just really dull. A guy with a clipboard crossing off maps brings 0 hype and wastes time.
How does it waste time to broadcast it, since it has to be done anyways and takes around a minute or two?
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It was greate tournament to watch the whole weekend. And not only that, wcs eu was always greate to watch during the whole season. When i think this is the product of esl, i still cant believe it. The whole team did a greate job and i loved that you had chobra, tod and rotterdam there. Mixed in with the regular greate casters kaelaris, apollo and artosis, it seemed like a greate mix. You Redeye, might not be as good to look at as kaci, but you did a fantastic job :-)
Keep up the greate job esl, cant wait for season 3.
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On August 26 2013 18:14 grs wrote:Show nested quote +On August 26 2013 18:05 Scarecrow wrote:
Easily the most of a weekend tourament I`ve watched. The only negative was the map vetoing. I got the sense it was meant to be like dota2 picks and bans phase but it`s just really dull. A guy with a clipboard crossing off maps brings 0 hype and wastes time. How does it waste time to broadcast it, since it has to be done anyways and takes around a minute or two?
They could easily do it backstage before the intros. It just adds to the already significant downtime between when the match is listed to start and when it actually does.
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Must say, you really bring a sense of professionalism to eSports, while at the same time keeping it 'fun & friendly', tux / bowtie was just brilliant!
While the final was quite disappointing (as well as the crowd), the entire production exceeded my expectations.. The casters, the player introductions, the stage setup, from analysis to commentary to who's your favourite superhero, you guys did a brilliant job.
All I can ask, keep it up!
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There were WAY too few seats and one of the screens did not work properly (saturday / sunday). Seems to me like ESL really only cared about the broadcast and not the live venue..
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loved the broadcast. The games, the production, the live audience, it all came together. wp
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Austria24422 Posts
You did good my man. You did good. Loved every minute I watched.
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EPT
