note my translation isn't perfect or correct, but the gist of the original article is there
Three members of KT Rolster's winning season last year have announced their retirement.
With Flash commandeering the Terran line, it would have been impossible for Suny to get games this season. Considering this, he has decided to retire and go to the military.
Despite being one of the key players in KT's playoff run, Perfective had lost interest in the game. He will be going back to his home town to rest before entering the military.
Anyppi received regular playing time with the old best of seven format, but with the new best of five format, he saw it would be difficult to get playing time now, so he has decided to leave the team and retire from Brood War. However, he does not plan on entering the military just yet, and is considering switching to Starcraft 2.
Head Coach Lee Ji-Hoon says that because of the new best of five format, players who seldom saw playing time under the old best of seven format would struggle to find playing time in the new format. Because of this, the players became discouraged, and that retirement seemed the most optimistic option for them.
Anyppi has a 9% winrate... and suny barely 20%, i understand they want to retire because they'll probably never get a chance to play anymore, KT coach isnt crazy. It's more sad for Perfective but he was very rarely playing too.
On January 17 2012 14:27 shaftofpleasure wrote: What happens to mind? Designated Practice Partner?
Nothing. He and Barracks will continue to be backup Terrans for Flash, though I doubt you'll see much of them until the second half when the maps change unless KT wins like ten matches in a row and has the leeway to play second-string lineups.
In the SC2 scene, B-team koreans still have a chance to play among all the "little leagues" - I wonder why there isn't an equivalent in BW nowadays? On the other hand, if they were only playing on online cups with measly prize pools, they're barely advertising their sponsors, and I can see why a team would not pay higher salaries (or even decrease salaries) for them.
On January 17 2012 14:37 lbmaian wrote: In the SC2 scene, B-team koreans still have a chance to play among all the "little leagues" - I wonder why there isn't an equivalent in BW nowadays? On the other hand, if they were only playing on online cups with measly prize pools, they're barely advertising their sponsors, and I can see why a team would not pay higher salaries (or even decrease salaries) for them.
There used to be something called Dream League, which was basically a minor league version of Proleague for rookies. Idra played in it a couple of times when he was with CJ, and some current players like Last racked up impressive numbers of wins there before moving to their respective teams' A squads. However, I'm pretty sure Dream League became another victim of the BW scene contraction at some point in the last year.
On January 17 2012 14:37 lbmaian wrote: In the SC2 scene, B-team koreans still have a chance to play among all the "little leagues" - I wonder why there isn't an equivalent in BW nowadays? On the other hand, if they were only playing on online cups with measly prize pools, they're barely advertising their sponsors, and I can see why a team would not pay higher salaries (or even decrease salaries) for them.
All the "little leagues" come from foreign investment. For example, the Korean weekly is from ESV who isn't exactly from Korea. You see many unknown koreans playing in TL opens/Zotac Cups/NA Playhem instead. For actual Korean tournaments, there isn't anything I know of outside of the GSL.
On January 17 2012 14:37 lbmaian wrote: In the SC2 scene, B-team koreans still have a chance to play among all the "little leagues" - I wonder why there isn't an equivalent in BW nowadays? On the other hand, if they were only playing on online cups with measly prize pools, they're barely advertising their sponsors, and I can see why a team would not pay higher salaries (or even decrease salaries) for them.
All the "little leagues" come from foreign investment. For example, the Korean weekly is from ESV who isn't exactly from Korea. You see many unknown koreans playing in TL opens/Zotac Cups/NA Playhem instead. For actual Korean tournaments, there isn't anything I know of outside of the GSL.
Im not surprised with Suny at all. But anyppi was always mentioned in interviews for helping someone practice and create BOs and perfective actually won several games for KT, I never understood why he only just played 1 game this season. WHYYYYYYY??????
I'd be worried for players at the tail end of the roster like ssak, yeongjae, paralyze, where, bbyong, and everyone else below these guys. they might follow suit.
On January 17 2012 14:37 lbmaian wrote: In the SC2 scene, B-team koreans still have a chance to play among all the "little leagues" - I wonder why there isn't an equivalent in BW nowadays? On the other hand, if they were only playing on online cups with measly prize pools, they're barely advertising their sponsors, and I can see why a team would not pay higher salaries (or even decrease salaries) for them.
i'm pretty sure b-teamers don't even get anything but room and board
Damn that sucks. Now we know why KT wanted to pick up Perfectman. I can understand Suny and Anyppi retiring since they haven't had much success but why Roo? He was so unbelievably clutch in last season's playoffs coming out of nowhere and scoring 4 consecutive wins. I used to think Roo, Action, Hoejja and C-H were basically equals in the KT zerg lineup, but considering he's only gotten 1 appearance so far this season he must have gotten buried on the depth chart for some reason. Good luck to Anyppi in SC2 I guess. His record is eerily similar MC's BW record. Who knows maybe big things are in store for him.
I hope this is just some way for KT to circumnavigate certain Kespa rules and these guys are now practicing sc2 full time then suddenly KT announces an SC2 division with these guys. I mean, I dont like sc2 that much but I hope this is whats going on somehow.
On January 17 2012 15:10 SimonB wrote: Another reason the new format is awful.
It was partly implemented to nerf KT, and they're in first place anyway.
I don't care, it sucks in so many other ways.
I wonder how a no-Ace bo7 would've went. I'm also sad how, after pursuing BW in their youth, one of the only major paths left for players is the military.
I suppose I can understand Perfective leaving. Having to practice your heart out everyday, only to hardly get any games in. And you need to get games in to be appreciated for your talent and move towards getting the attention/money S-rankers have. If you can't get games, you can't move up the ladder. How dismal.
imo the military is great. it allows these kids to develop some life skills that they never got the chance to get during their time as a pro gamer in their teens.
On January 17 2012 15:21 GTR wrote: imo the military is great. it allows these kids to develop some life skills that they never got the chance to get during their time as a pro gamer in their teens.
Well, whenever I see a progamer "going off to the military" and not mentioning they're doing it for the compulsory service, I always thought they meant going into career military. But when you put it that way, yeah, makes complete sense.
Being a terran in KT with bo-5 format hurts, especially when they recently picked up Mind and Barracks is still training well I would hope. I think Suny was smart and did the reasonable thing to retire and move on to better things, if anything move to another team
Ohhh Perfective, why? He play very well last season.
Wish good luck to three of them. Thanks for the memories guys. To Suny and Perfective, good luck in military. Thanks GTR for the translating. I'm really appreciate it.
On January 17 2012 15:21 GTR wrote: imo the military is great. it allows these kids to develop some life skills that they never got the chance to get during their time as a pro gamer in their teens.
I doubt they think of it like that. To a lot of young koreans it's just something you have to do, a hassle.
It's so sad to see such them retire, given KT's inspirational performance last year, but given the three of them played a combined total of 1 game this SPL it's not exactly a surprise...
But Anyppi considering SC2 is still at least better news than complete retirement, particularly with the sorry state of Protoss in SC2. (Unless he somehow switches to Terran in which case lol)
5 game format is a bit limited, in this respect, particularly with all the team being very close in strength and basically the top 3 players from any team appearing in every match except to give way to designated snipers. At least with 7 someone other than Flash Stats Hoejja can get games.
A little odd reasons, so many people are happy to even just be on the B-team and hope for occasional play time. Even Flash wasn't played recurrently, because of quick wins. I think what these guys need is more leagues. OSL should be running already, and there should be at least one more important league to keep them busy and involved with serious progaming.
I understand the other two, but it's a pity about Pervective. He's arguably the second best Zerg on the team, and almost as clutch as Hoejja. KT will still be fine without him I guess, but yeah...that's what the new format brings I guess.
On January 17 2012 20:20 EchoZ wrote: So many retirements.
On January 17 2012 14:42 Gescom wrote: Too bad about these three. New format kills more players. Bah.
The owner of FXO said that several A-teamers were planning to switch in the next month, and I imagine more are planning to retire for the military.
Unfortunately, I think the BW scene is in for a few weeks of bad news. I guess losing the B-teamers and some of the A-teamers means the games that are left will be more likely to be top-tier, but TBLS won't be around forever, and there needs to be incentive to cultivate new stars.
I've thought for a while that KeSPA was planning on shunting the lower level players to an SC2 league, while keeping BW around with fewer games but among more S-class players (which the Bo5 format is consistent with). Which gives us one or two years of concentrated awesome BW, but then what? I'm sure there'll be a lot of people playing in courage, but there's only so good you can get before you get picked up by a team, and if the team gets so use out of you...
Ugh. I'm worried that KeSPA's giving up on the long-term future of BW, and is trying to either go out big or make a Hail Mary all-in play to revive interest by only S-class as much as possible. Neither of these are particularly good. I don't think a smaller BW scene is really all that awful. Compared to a normal TV show, you can film a high-quality proleague match relatively cheaply and fill 2-3 hours of airtime, so it can deal with lower ratings if you cut back on the six-figure salaries a bit, and maybe try to cash in on the giant scene for of foreign SC2 fans throwing money at "e-sports", many of whom are interested in BW but for whatever reason find it inaccessible.
Maybe, for once, I'm being too pessimistic on to BW's future. I'm usually the one yelling at other people who whine about BW dying, Maybe I'm just indulging in conspiracy theories, but I'd love to see some indications from KeSPA that they want a BW scene in 2014. I really do think a slightly smaller BW scene could survive long term and maybe even grow back, but the changes to the rules are discouraging the long-term thinking that'd need, and that's something we should be a little scared of.
Or am I being Chicken Little, here? I'd love for someone smart to tell me I'm a moron and I'm all wrong.
didn't kespa say bo5 with no ace match would provide more games from players, who are new or don't play often? i think they should have kept bo7 with no ace.
The loss of the three teams are now even affecting the players from other teams...
Oh well, goodbye to you three, especially Perfective, since you're a part of the KT history(I guess there could only be one perfect guy in KT at a time). Good luck in RL!
Edit: Just a thought, Team 8 should just try to grab excess useless players and prevent them from retiring. Kespa should invest with them until it pays off when someone sponsors them.
On January 17 2012 14:47 iLoveKT wrote: perfective actually won several games for KT, I never understood why he only just played 1 game this season.
Out of five games each match, two were already going to Flash & Stats. That means if one of the three maps those two didn't play on were Zerg favoring, there was a 1-in-4 chance of him playing, if he was playing at the same level as the other 3 KT A-Team Zergs (Crazy-Hydra, Action & HoeJJa).
On January 17 2012 15:21 Fionn wrote: They're good. Have teen strong. Don't really need anyone after Flash/Stats.
Its not just the bo5 (though I'm sure thats a large part of it). Its also the lack of other leagues. No more dream league for these guys to play in, and the last individual league offline prelims were 7 months ago.
Sad as it is, bw in its current state just can't support more than ~10 players per team.
if you like about it, its quite sad. these guys practically gave up their entire teen years to be something that they could only dream of but never achieved. must be very tough but what else is there to do..
Ooh, so there was a good thing about the old format. That sucks, too bad bw rookies will have to swtich to SC2 if they want to make money, it's just too cut throat at the top with only 5 players being fielded. Especially when you're on KT.
I hadn't even considered this to be one of the negatives of the new proleague format. Almost forcing good players to retire because they will essentially get no play time.
Know nothing of broodwar, these players or anything. Still feel sad. The word "retire" just hurts bad. I will be sad with the rest of you, despite my lack of knowledge on this particulair subject!
It's a shame that there are hardly any B-teamers left. Zero talent is flowing into Broodwar, but I still don't see SC2 growing in Korea. Is progaming in general just becoming unfavorable among younger teens there?
It's not a bad to go to the military now, it seems so many progamers delay it alot, it's probably better for them to go early if they feel they are losing the passion for the game. It's sad to lose these players though, like someone said before I remember Anyppi being mentionned alot in interview for helping out the players. Roo was clutch last season, but with that crazy KT zerg line it must be hard to get any play time. Sad loss for KT, however I wish these guys the best in their future endeavors!
On January 17 2012 22:08 moopie wrote: Its not just the bo5 (though I'm sure thats a large part of it). Its also the lack of other leagues. No more dream league for these guys to play in, and the last individual league offline prelims were 7 months ago.
Sad as it is, bw in its current state just can't support more than ~10 players per team.
Wait what? When did this happen? O.o
So sad about Perfective, I was hoping for him Suny as well.
I think it is mainly because there are lots of nice players without team, I hope some sponsors can see the opportunity to form teams and join the PL so we can see more competition and more players with chances to get into the big stage.
I bet KT is going to get a couple of really nice pick-ups.
On January 18 2012 04:09 jumbotroN wrote: I think it is mainly because there are lots of nice players without team, I hope some sponsors can see the opportunity to form teams and join the PL so we can see more competition and more players with chances to get into the big stage.
I bet KT is going to get a couple of really nice pick-ups.
On January 17 2012 20:48 ne4aJIb wrote: didn't kespa say bo5 with no ace match would provide more games from players, who are new or don't play often? i think they should have kept bo7 with no ace.
Indeed. Wasn't Kespa's rationale for reducing bo5 was due to all the practice the team had to do just to prepare for the bo7? But why didn't they realize that players practice that much just to get a change to have an appearance?
On January 18 2012 00:34 imperator-xy wrote: i hope anyppi will do well at sc2
I doubt it. Then again, he's comparable to MC in BW stats...
On January 17 2012 20:48 ne4aJIb wrote: didn't kespa say bo5 with no ace match would provide more games from players, who are new or don't play often? i think they should have kept bo7 with no ace.
Indeed. Wasn't Kespa's rationale for reducing bo5 was due to all the practice the team had to do just to prepare for the bo7? But why didn't they realize that players practice that much just to get a change to have an appearance?
On January 18 2012 00:34 imperator-xy wrote: i hope anyppi will do well at sc2
I doubt it. Then again, he's comparable to MC in BW stats...
The stated reason was that Bo7s were too long and turned off spectators. There may also have been something about the format hurting less deep teams. I don't remember anything about Bo7s requiring more practice--each player can still only practice for one game per match, no matter how many total games there are.
On January 17 2012 20:48 ne4aJIb wrote: didn't kespa say bo5 with no ace match would provide more games from players, who are new or don't play often? i think they should have kept bo7 with no ace.
Indeed. Wasn't Kespa's rationale for reducing bo5 was due to all the practice the team had to do just to prepare for the bo7? But why didn't they realize that players practice that much just to get a change to have an appearance?
On January 18 2012 00:34 imperator-xy wrote: i hope anyppi will do well at sc2
I doubt it. Then again, he's comparable to MC in BW stats...
The stated reason was that Bo7s were too long and turned off spectators. There may also have been something about the format hurting less deep teams. I don't remember anything about Bo7s requiring more practice--each player can still only practice for one game per match, no matter how many total games there are.
Ah, I think the too-much-practice part had to deal with the having too many matches in a week back when there were 12 teams.
The teams shouldnt be allow to use the same line up all the matches this can give other players chance to play some games... Or to include 1 B player every match, is really cute to see a rookies playing >.<
On January 18 2012 23:59 therockmanxx wrote: The teams shouldnt be allow to use the same line up all the matches this can give other players chance to play some games... Or to include 1 B player every match, is really cute to see a rookies playing >.<