Yoon Yong-Tae: "It's regrettable to retire...but I was happy!"
When we interview retiring players, there are generally two different moods that we see. For players who know what they will be doing in the future, the interviews are bright and cheerful. Those who retired under undesired circumstances are often a bit more indecisive.
Yoon Yong-Tae's case was the latter. Because he still had a desire to play games and had posted good results in the past season, he had been looking forward to challenging the coming season. With the team reaching its first Proleague final (under the name Woongjin Stars), he continued practicing hard to prepare for the next season, but was shocked to hear that the team would be drastically downsizing. After a difficult waiver period, with no teams expressing interest in taking him, Yoon Yong-Tae announced his retirement. Meeting him a few months after the Proleague finals, we saw that his expression had worsened noticeably. It appeared that his spirit had suffered immensely.
After receiving the request for an interview, Yoon Yong-Tae responded in early November. After organizing his thoughts, he wished to do an interview in order to close off his progaming career and speak as he wished to the fans one last time.
Sitting in a coffee shop, Yoon Yong-Tae recalled the events of the past ten years. Although he had difficulty keeping his composure early on, as he went on telling his stories, he appeared to become more calm. At the end, he said that he had experienced many happy memories. Let us hear those stories now.
"The reason for my sadness..." Before the current Woongjin team was created, when Yoon Yong-Tae was on the team Hanbit Stars, he had the nickname of "God of Thunder". He was the "6 Million Won Ace". The name came about because even as the Ace single-handedly saving the team, he received the same pay as when he was a practice partner, 500,000 Won per month (~500USD).
When Hanbit was taken over by Woongjin, Yoon Yong-Tae was finally able to receive compensation for his work. It wasn't on the scale of hundreds of millions of Won, but compared to his 6 million from before, it was much better.
But even that happiness was brief. Woongjin soon came under financial difficulty. There were even rumors that Woongjin would disband the team. This made Yoon Yong-Tae more uneasy than even his days on Hanbit.
However, with the team's encouragement, Yoon Yong-Tae and the other players approached the coming season with passion and determination. Hearing that the team would not be disbanding, he planned to put everything into the next season.
"I heard that STX Soul's players had already been told midway through the season that the team would be disbanding. But there was no such news from Woongjin. So I kept trying hard and did not even consider quitting being a progamer. After the finals, all of the players were determined to win the next time."
But in the off-season, Yoon Yong-Tae and other core players Kim Myung-Hoon (ZerO), No Joon-Gyu (BrAvO), and Lee Jae-Ho (Light) heard shocking news. While they would continue running the team, Woongjin would drastically cut all of the player salaries. Given the state of the company, it was an unavoidable decision, but for Yoon Yong-Tae and the other core players who had pushed the team to first place in the regular season, it was a difficult thing to hear.
"After hearing that we should keep up hope that the team would stay together, the sudden news that the salaries would be cut so much left us dazed. It was a huge cut, to the point where I could not continue being a progamer. Lee Jae-Ho chose to retire right then, and the rest of us said, 'there's no way we can agree to a contract with that kind of salary'. I do think that the company did everything they could. In the end, we were put up on waiver."
Although it was an unavoidable situation, Yoon Yong-Tae couldn't help but panic. He would have to leave the team that he had played with for ten years, from way back in the Hanbit days. Given his age, he knew that other teams would not take him in, and thus knew that retirement was coming.
"I did not retire because I wanted to, because I was not having fun, nor because I lost motivation. I also considered going to a foreign team. I had never thought about ending my progaming career, so I was very confused. In the current situation, just the fact that they kept the team at all is something to be thankful for. But I can't help but feel sad for myself."
Yoon Yong-Tae, who didn't want to blame anyone, then said, "now let's only talk about happy moments".
"Whatever I do, I have the confidence to succeed." It is difficult to keep up any activity for ten years straight. How many people are there who have worked the same job for over ten years? With that attitude, Yoon Yong-Tae look back proudly on his ten years as a progamer.
"I think it's okay to be proud (laugh). I worked hard at something for ten years and managed to achieve my own success. I will be able to tell people how I spent my twenties without shame. Plus I have built the confidence to go forward and succeed in anything."
Of the things that Yoon Yong-Tae got out of his career as a progamer, the most important was confidence. Although some might think it an easy job, there is no path more difficult than that of a progamer. It is a job where you must practice over ten hours a day for ten years with no time for yourself. Also, the level of competition makes the stress many times that of a normal office job.
"Outsiders may not know, but all progamers probably share that same feeling, the confidence to succeed in anything. I walked this difficult path for ten years; there's nothing I cannot do. Whether it's studying or working, I've gained the confidence to succeed."
Wishing to greet the fans again as a successful person in another field, Yoon Yong-Tae chose to do his best going forward to work in technology. There will probably be many who will want to hear good news from him in another ten years.
The teammates and fans that he loves Often we cannot see the value of things that are close to us. Yoon Yong-Tae said that as well. After separating from his teammates with whom he had laughed and cried over the past ten years, he came to realize how valuable they were to him.
"I came to understand how deeply they had affected my life. Obviously, since they had always stood by me, after separating, I honestly felt lonely. No matter where they are, I hope that things go well for them and wish for their happiness."
Yoon Yong-Tae did not forget to thank those fans who had loved and supported him until the very end. He was perhaps the first with a "Noona (older sister) Squad". He missed those fans who had stayed with him even when he did not fully understand the depth of their love.
"Are you all well (laugh)? I still remember those fans who came out to cheer for me. Without them, the current Yoon Yong-Tae would not exist. In the future, I would like it if you give me a friendly greeting when you see me on the street. I will remember them as long as I live. I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Although he had started off in a gloomy mood, we felt Yoon Yong-Tae's mood lighten up. He joked, "my only regret is that I retired before Song Byung-Goo (Stork)". We will never forget the Yoon Yong-Tae who could fight battles better than anyone else, and knowing that, he could leave with a smile.
"I want to ask those who have loved e-sports all this time to raise their voices. The StarCraft 2 teams are seeing reductions and difficulties, but I trust that with the support of the fans, e-sports can last forever. Please continue your support going forward so that I can later look back and be proud to have been involved in this place. I will wish for your health and happiness. I will do my best for my happiness as well."
Thank you for the translation. Woongjin players case is a sad story. free was one my favourite protoss, I wish him the best. I didn't know his salaray was that low when the team was sponsored by Hanbit.
Well at least from free perspective he can be almost "anything" with that confidence which is no doubt something special and an ability that could help him through hard times . All the best in life and thanks for the translation juki.
Free is a good guy. I'm more sad that we didn't get a lot of interviews with him behind the scenes like we got with TBLS. I can't wait to see what he gets into next.
I want to ask those who have loved e-sports all this time to raise their voices. The StarCraft 2 teams are seeing reductions and difficulties, but I trust that with the support of the fans, e-sports can last forever. Please continue your support going forward so that I can later look back and be proud to have been involved in this place. I will wish for your health and happiness. I will do my best for my happiness as well.
Well i do support esports but i just dont like SC2. Although i love all the bad news about sc2 coming up these days iam still sad about the players themself.
I want to ask those who have loved e-sports all this time to raise their voices. The StarCraft 2 teams are seeing reductions and difficulties, but I trust that with the support of the fans, e-sports can last forever. Please continue your support going forward so that I can later look back and be proud to have been involved in this place. I will wish for your health and happiness. I will do my best for my happiness as well.
Well i do support esports but i just dont like SC2. Although i love all the bad news about sc2 coming up these days iam still sad about the players themself.
I want to ask those who have loved e-sports all this time to raise their voices. The StarCraft 2 teams are seeing reductions and difficulties, but I trust that with the support of the fans, e-sports can last forever. Please continue your support going forward so that I can later look back and be proud to have been involved in this place. I will wish for your health and happiness. I will do my best for my happiness as well.
Well i do support esports but i just dont like SC2. Although i love all the bad news about sc2 coming up these days iam still sad about the players themself.
What is wrong with you?
If he doesn't like SC2, it's not an unreasonable thing to say. As for not liking SC2 in the first place - not an unreasonable position either.
I want to ask those who have loved e-sports all this time to raise their voices. The StarCraft 2 teams are seeing reductions and difficulties, but I trust that with the support of the fans, e-sports can last forever. Please continue your support going forward so that I can later look back and be proud to have been involved in this place. I will wish for your health and happiness. I will do my best for my happiness as well.
Well i do support esports but i just dont like SC2. Although i love all the bad news about sc2 coming up these days iam still sad about the players themself.
What is wrong with you?
Because of SC2, all those players are forced to retire. Must hate against evildoers.
What do most progamers do when they retire?? Make a pcbang, military, afreeca?? If he is going into afreeca this is good news for Starcraft in korea Seems than tournaments are getting bigger, finaly we have teams and sponsor yay
I'm sad to hear about the circumstances of his retirement. While I generally like hearing about those progamers who got fed up with SC2 and retired back to BW, this interview is different. Free didn't mind SC2, he was enjoying his career progression as a progamer, and this was ruined by financial difficulties of his sponsored team. It's a sad day when the very establishment of PROgaming as an actual profession is under threat of reverting back to hardcore fan sponsored fun with the loss of professional gaming as an occupation.
I want to ask those who have loved e-sports all this time to raise their voices. The StarCraft 2 teams are seeing reductions and difficulties, but I trust that with the support of the fans, e-sports can last forever. Please continue your support going forward so that I can later look back and be proud to have been involved in this place. I will wish for your health and happiness. I will do my best for my happiness as well.
Well i do support esports but i just dont like SC2. Although i love all the bad news about sc2 coming up these days iam still sad about the players themself.
What is wrong with you?
If he doesn't like SC2, it's not an unreasonable thing to say. As for not liking SC2 in the first place - not an unreasonable position either.
Sorry, that's a pretty unreasonable thing to say. He could have left it at "I just don't like sc2". You don't talk about loving the bad news about something that other people love, that's disgusting.
I came here to read the interview and learn a bit more about a BW pro that I didn't know much about, and this is what I come in to? Not only BW fans shitting on the game I prefer, but shitting on it in a way that is pretty outrageous and being defended? Maybe we'll never be one community after all.
Dragons to extinction in sc2, sad that Free was enjoying the game and forced to retire. He can go back to BW, the scene is getting good. Btw tomorrow we will have SKT vs MBC in sonic PL.
I want to ask those who have loved e-sports all this time to raise their voices. The StarCraft 2 teams are seeing reductions and difficulties, but I trust that with the support of the fans, e-sports can last forever. Please continue your support going forward so that I can later look back and be proud to have been involved in this place. I will wish for your health and happiness. I will do my best for my happiness as well.
Well i do support esports but i just dont like SC2. Although i love all the bad news about sc2 coming up these days iam still sad about the players themself.
What is wrong with you?
If he doesn't like SC2, it's not an unreasonable thing to say. As for not liking SC2 in the first place - not an unreasonable position either.
Sorry, that's a pretty unreasonable thing to say. He could have left it at "I just don't like sc2". You don't talk about loving the bad news about something that other people love, that's disgusting.
I came here to read the interview and learn a bit more about a BW pro that I didn't know much about, and this is what I come in to? Not only BW fans shitting on the game I prefer, but shitting on it in a way that is pretty outrageous and being defended? Maybe we'll never be one community after all.
Pretty sure it's the other way round when bw players were retiring to play sc2 and it put a lot of us(maybe people like me ) feeling very unhappy about it . Regardless I disagree about how you encounter a few people who may have a disagreement in what they enjoy put a stop in the chance of coexisting of two different community. Also I am sure this is a matter of you putting a blanket statement on the whole bw community being "sc2 haters" sure I don't like sc2 but that doesn't mean you can come to a conclusion we are all like that.
I want to ask those who have loved e-sports all this time to raise their voices. The StarCraft 2 teams are seeing reductions and difficulties, but I trust that with the support of the fans, e-sports can last forever. Please continue your support going forward so that I can later look back and be proud to have been involved in this place. I will wish for your health and happiness. I will do my best for my happiness as well.
Well i do support esports but i just dont like SC2. Although i love all the bad news about sc2 coming up these days iam still sad about the players themself.
What is wrong with you?
If he doesn't like SC2, it's not an unreasonable thing to say. As for not liking SC2 in the first place - not an unreasonable position either.
Sorry, that's a pretty unreasonable thing to say. He could have left it at "I just don't like sc2". You don't talk about loving the bad news about something that other people love, that's disgusting.
I came here to read the interview and learn a bit more about a BW pro that I didn't know much about, and this is what I come in to? Not only BW fans shitting on the game I prefer, but shitting on it in a way that is pretty outrageous and being defended? Maybe we'll never be one community after all.
Pretty sure it's the other way round when bw players were retiring to play sc2 and it put a lot of us(maybe people like me ) feeling very unhappy about it . Regardless I disagree about how you encounter a few people who may have a disagreement in what they enjoy put a stop in the chance of coexisting of two different community. Also I am sure this is a matter of you putting a blanket statement on the whole bw community being "sc2 haters" sure I don't like sc2 but that doesn't mean you can come to a conclusion we are all like that.
Agreed, a good number here don't like SC2 as a game, but we support our heroes with whatever they do and while some people here might make offensive statements, you surely can't classify an entire community from a handful
dam so sad to read especially since he was forced to retire unlike Jangbi, Bisu or Best who made the decision themselves since they weren't doing too badly(Bisu special case lol). Best of luck to free!
I want to ask those who have loved e-sports all this time to raise their voices. The StarCraft 2 teams are seeing reductions and difficulties, but I trust that with the support of the fans, e-sports can last forever. Please continue your support going forward so that I can later look back and be proud to have been involved in this place. I will wish for your health and happiness. I will do my best for my happiness as well.
Well i do support esports but i just dont like SC2. Although i love all the bad news about sc2 coming up these days iam still sad about the players themself.
What is wrong with you?
If he doesn't like SC2, it's not an unreasonable thing to say. As for not liking SC2 in the first place - not an unreasonable position either.
Sorry, that's a pretty unreasonable thing to say. He could have left it at "I just don't like sc2". You don't talk about loving the bad news about something that other people love, that's disgusting.
I came here to read the interview and learn a bit more about a BW pro that I didn't know much about, and this is what I come in to? Not only BW fans shitting on the game I prefer, but shitting on it in a way that is pretty outrageous and being defended? Maybe we'll never be one community after all.
Pretty sure it's the other way round when bw players were retiring to play sc2 and it put a lot of us(maybe people like me ) feeling very unhappy about it . Regardless I disagree about how you encounter a few people who may have a disagreement in what they enjoy put a stop in the chance of coexisting of two different community. Also I am sure this is a matter of you putting a blanket statement on the whole bw community being "sc2 haters" sure I don't like sc2 but that doesn't mean you can come to a conclusion we are all like that.
So? How does that make it cool for BW fans to spout the same garbage? For all the elitism BW fans have we sure are just as shitty as the "lolbad SC2 fans" people like to make fun of.
It's shameful that a guy saying "haha i love when sc2 gets shit on" has people DEFENDING him. Pathetic. Sad to see everyone is still as stupidly vitriolic as ever.
I hope free comes back. Loved this guy even though he had a habit of being bad at all the worst moments , and then only good when he had to beat Zero. Or in the first half of a game against Flash. Ughhh
Just drop it. Nobody actually cares, especially if you want to watch stuff burn down.. Free was always one of my favorite protoss, even over bisu. Just always such a solid player, like the Yellow or Nada of modern Protoss
guys, please stop making this a BW vs SCII thread. Either bid farewell or leave the thread be. Last thing we need is another one of those. Personally, I think TL mods should be stricter when it comes to these useless game bashing regardless of which one it is.
He joked, "my only regret is that I retired before Song Byung-Goo (Stork)"
This part is really saddening and the circumstances surrounding his retirement only compounds the feeling. I wish him only the best for whatever he'll do.
No foreign team wanted him? He's one of the few kespa players that didn't wish to quit SC2 at all, I wonder whether he just didn't have the connections or whether foreign teams are re-evaluating their SC2 investment as well.
I want to ask those who have loved e-sports all this time to raise their voices. The StarCraft 2 teams are seeing reductions and difficulties, but I trust that with the support of the fans, e-sports can last forever. Please continue your support going forward so that I can later look back and be proud to have been involved in this place. I will wish for your health and happiness. I will do my best for my happiness as well.
Well i do support esports but i just dont like SC2. Although i love all the bad news about sc2 coming up these days iam still sad about the players themself.
What is wrong with you?
If he doesn't like SC2, it's not an unreasonable thing to say. As for not liking SC2 in the first place - not an unreasonable position either.
Sorry, that's a pretty unreasonable thing to say. He could have left it at "I just don't like sc2". You don't talk about loving the bad news about something that other people love, that's disgusting.
I came here to read the interview and learn a bit more about a BW pro that I didn't know much about, and this is what I come in to? Not only BW fans shitting on the game I prefer, but shitting on it in a way that is pretty outrageous and being defended? Maybe we'll never be one community after all.
You misunderstand the reasons behind why some of us wants SC2 to die. Kespa forced their players to quit BW and play SC2, or retire. SC2 being released was the only reason why Kespa abandoned BW. This SC2 switch has been doing poorly from the getgo. The attendance dropped overnight, and never regained, and the TV viewers dropped significantly as well. Now they have tried SC2 for a while, and they have to start accepting reality. This is why teams are being disbanded and reduced, and this has helped BW to grow back some of what it had, as fans have grown tired of SC2, and went back to BW, and players have returned as well. The more fans and players that return, the more BW grows.
The current korean BW scene is pathetic compared to what it was, but it's greater than it has ever been, since Kespa pulled the plug, and all of this is thanks to SC2 losing momentum. This is why some of us wants SC2 to die, because the weaker SC2 becomes, the stronger BW gets. If you're offended by this, it's because you don't understand the rivalry between the two games. You can't pick both games. Some primarily BW fans might watch SC2 too, and they may not want to see SC2 dead, but if they got to choose themselves, then they would prefer Kespa switching back to BW, if it would work out.
Basically, I think you're reading it as us wanting SC2 to be dead, simply because "if we can't have a professional scene, then they shouldn't have it either". If someone said it like that, I would understand you, but I think you're making the assumption that BW is completely doomed, when in fact it isn't, and its future is to a great extent linked to the future of SC2. Imagine that Kespa announced today that they were going to abandon their SC2 leagues? This actually happening in the near future isn't very far-fetched, and if it happened, it's not unrealistic that OGN would broadcast some of Sonic's BW leagues. As long as SC2 is going on, this will not happen though, because as long as they support SC2, it's in their best interest to not give BW any attention. The chances of a professional BW league appearing again is very slim, but it could happen, and if it doesn't happen, then anything that goes in that direction is always something.
Been watching some good ol' BW on the Medry stream, came across a few Free games and indeed he was a great player. Not only was he worthy of his nickname "God of Thunder" or "God of Battles", but his imperfections left a lot of fun interpretations that the commentators thrived on. "(After few minutes of no action despite a sizable advantage because Free was being indecisive) Free the God of Battle must recharge for few minutes now that he's spent all his battle energy!"
Hope he finds success in other paths of life as well.
I want to ask those who have loved e-sports all this time to raise their voices. The StarCraft 2 teams are seeing reductions and difficulties, but I trust that with the support of the fans, e-sports can last forever. Please continue your support going forward so that I can later look back and be proud to have been involved in this place. I will wish for your health and happiness. I will do my best for my happiness as well.
Well i do support esports but i just dont like SC2. Although i love all the bad news about sc2 coming up these days iam still sad about the players themself.
What is wrong with you?
If he doesn't like SC2, it's not an unreasonable thing to say. As for not liking SC2 in the first place - not an unreasonable position either.
Sorry, that's a pretty unreasonable thing to say. He could have left it at "I just don't like sc2". You don't talk about loving the bad news about something that other people love, that's disgusting.
I came here to read the interview and learn a bit more about a BW pro that I didn't know much about, and this is what I come in to? Not only BW fans shitting on the game I prefer, but shitting on it in a way that is pretty outrageous and being defended? Maybe we'll never be one community after all.
It's not an unreasonable thing to say, in that it is logically consistent with his feelings about SC2 in general. Your personal feelings about the statement, are a completely different topic: Maybe you need to get out more, but it quite common in the world of sports (or in life in general) for individuals to indicate their like for certain individuals/teams/entities, and similarly their dislike for others. I wasn't aware of such things being labelled as "disgusting," but rather systematically accepted. Granted, sometimes these statements can become decidedly unreasonable (e.g. death threats, etc). Where on the spectrum was this particular statement? I don't know, but I did not find it particularly remarkable one way or another. It may not have been the most enjoyable thing to read for certain people (which by the way, is not the most relevant consideration in this case), but compared to the things that could be, and have been said, on the topic, it is not outrageous at all - and well within rights to state. You may want to reconsider your standards.
As to your statement regarding BW and SC2 being one community - I wasn't even aware that that existed as a concept. Am I missing something that makes this a relevant point of discussion? Once upon I time, I made a number of dedicated efforts to watch SC2, despite all initial indications, that it was absolutely terrible. I watched. I watched again. And again...games with my favorite players, on the highest stages, with some of the best English commentators...and by end of it all, there was nothing there. A shell with no content. Everything that made BW great, was gone. There is no significant similarity. If you had to make a game specifically designed to push away BW fans, I don't know that it would necessarily be possible to do better than SC2. Are there original BW fans that are now SC2 fans? Is it possible to be an original SC2 fan, become completely aware of what BW can offer, and remain an SC2 fan? I didn't think so, but it would be disturbing to even think about the possibility, based on a comparison of the 2 games.
I don't have any specific enmity towards the SC2 community itself. But rather, SC2 itself, just has absolutely nothing to offer to me. It is boring. I would rather look out my window for 20 minutes than watch an SC2 game. I don't want to see any community information about SC2, in the same way I don't want any community information about women's softball. They both have about the same, essentially non-existent relationship to BW.
Would I say I am happy about hearing bad news about SC2? Not specifically, but if you want to specifically reference the concept of "reason," then consider this: In terms of gameplay and eSports viability(e.g. Korean viewership, player base), it is proving a poor game(much worse than BW in these regards). And if a game is sufficiently poor, then it will subsequently fail, and a better game may take it's place. Simple.
And if a game is sufficiently poor, then it will subsequently fail, and a better game may take it's place. Simple.
Unfortunately, a better game won't take its place. It's just going to be games like LoL and shit.
But I suppose if SC2 "died" and there was room for a new RTS to fill the niche that is the RTS market, we'd get a better game. So you have a point.
There is still a small niche for RTS, which is currently being held by SC2.
Two things:
1. A game like LoL wouldn't necessarily be better in a gameplay sense, depending on what you think (although I would pick LoL over SC2). However, in Korea at least people are playing and watching LoL - making it successful from a business/eSports standpoint, unlike the case with SC2, where players complain of empty arenas, and the player base is very low. Of course, there are other possibilities as well.
2. There is a niche for RTS games like BW, but I wouldn't say it's being held by SC2, so much as SC2 inherited a large viewerbase from BW, which has mostly just been draining away since then. Remember, that even in the most recent BW Proleagues, and Individual Leagues, viewership was still very high compared to other types of programs - much higher than SC2 currently, needless to say. Other games have since gained popularity, but it would be reasonable to assume that if BW was back in its full incarnation, it would be a lot more popular than SC2 is, in Korea. The "BW type" RTS niche is a lot bigger than it may currently appear, due to the terrible performance of SC2.
On November 18 2013 09:59 miercat wrote: Two things:
1. A game like LoL wouldn't necessarily be better in a gameplay sense, depending on what you think (although I would pick LoL over SC2). However, in Korea at least people are playing and watching LoL - making it successful from a business/eSports standpoint, unlike the case with SC2, where players complain of empty arenas, and the player base is very low. Of course, there are other possibilities as well.
If you start to grade games with that methodology, I don't think BW is going to fare all that well either.
On November 18 2013 09:59 miercat wrote: 2. There is a niche for RTS games like BW, but I wouldn't say it's being held by SC2, so much as SC2 inherited a large viewerbase from BW, which has mostly just been draining away since then. Remember, that even in the most recent BW Proleagues, and Individual Leagues, viewership was still very high compared to other types of programs - much higher than SC2 currently, needless to say. Other games have since gained popularity, but it would be reasonable to assume that if BW was back in its full incarnation, it would be a lot more popular than SC2 is, in Korea. The "BW type" RTS niche is a lot bigger than it may currently appear, due to the terrible performance of SC2.
There was not much to inherit outside of Asia where most of the currently enduring viewership of SC2 is. What was inherited came mostly from WC3. WC3 was not significantly more popular as an esport than SC2, it's the other way around. SC2 was the most popular title in western esports for a while before being eclipsed by the MOBAs. SC2 certainly seems to have failed in Korea (as far as the spectators go, the amount of skilled progamers is unbeliveable) but one thing it most certainly has not done is make the RTS genre as a whole less popular. Quite the opposite.
On November 18 2013 09:59 miercat wrote: Two things:
1. A game like LoL wouldn't necessarily be better in a gameplay sense, depending on what you think (although I would pick LoL over SC2). However, in Korea at least people are playing and watching LoL - making it successful from a business/eSports standpoint, unlike the case with SC2, where players complain of empty arenas, and the player base is very low. Of course, there are other possibilities as well.
If you start to grade games with that methodology, I don't think BW is going to fare all that well either.
On November 18 2013 09:59 miercat wrote: 2. There is a niche for RTS games like BW, but I wouldn't say it's being held by SC2, so much as SC2 inherited a large viewerbase from BW, which has mostly just been draining away since then. Remember, that even in the most recent BW Proleagues, and Individual Leagues, viewership was still very high compared to other types of programs - much higher than SC2 currently, needless to say. Other games have since gained popularity, but it would be reasonable to assume that if BW was back in its full incarnation, it would be a lot more popular than SC2 is, in Korea. The "BW type" RTS niche is a lot bigger than it may currently appear, due to the terrible performance of SC2.
There was not much to inherit outside of Asia where most of the currently enduring viewership of SC2 is. What was inherited came mostly from WC3. WC3 was not significantly more popular as an esport than SC2, it's the other way around. SC2 was the most popular title in western esports for a while before being eclipsed by the MOBAs. SC2 certainly seems to have failed in Korea (as far as the spectators go, the amount of skilled progamers is unbeliveable) but one thing it most certainly has not done is make the RTS genre as a whole less popular. Quite the opposite.
With regards to the grading methodology: BW was very popular in terms of viewership in the most recent Pro Leagues, and maintains a larger player base than SC2, despite the current conditions, making it at least potentially viable in Korea. Whereas SC2 has essentially nothing to rely on - low players, low viewership = nothing. The distinction is very clear, and should be easy to understand. Feel free to ask for more clarification, if you remain confused.
With regards to the issue of inherited viewers, I was referring to the cases of the Korean hybrid proleague, and subsequent switch to SC2. As one other forum member has mentioned, after the SC2 switch, viewership in Korea declined overnight, and never recovered anything near close to the numbers BW pulled. If anything, viewership has gotten even worse since then. Certainly SC2 has made the "BW type" RTS genre much less popular in Korea, and this is supported by the statistics. In a culture that embraced gaming, and BW, for many years - where viewership in the last BW Leagues was still very high - the rejection of SC2 is very telling, whatever else you might want to consider. I would even argue, that based on gameplay factors, SC2 is not so much part of the RTS genre, as it is a parody of what the RTS genre could be. Consequently, even the current fans of SC2 are not necessarily supporting, nor apparently aware of, what the RTS genre is, and what it could potentially offer - SC2 took full advantage of the massive hype preceding it's release, to pump up it's apparent popularity very quickly, but does it have the inherent gameplay/entertainment elements - the staying power, to make it one of the most successful RTS games of all time? Will it be one of the most popular games for the next 10 years? Or will it just be the case of an overhyped, underwhelming game, getting quickly brought back to reality. In gaming-culture Korea, we already know the answer. In general though, I am not much uncertain about the answer, either.
Feel sad for the guy. What can i say more, this is another evidence of the catastrophy that is SC2 in Korea. I guess they need to bring back some big BW tournaments for people to be interested in the RTS genre.
Thank you for the translation. This is very sad news to hear that he left still pumped and motivated to do better. Free will always be my favorite player because of his amazing mind and personality. I still remember and will always remember Free vs Bisu when I cheered him on. before the game, I praised him out near the entrance he bowed deeply and then quickly rushed off to get ready to play. He beat Bisu moments later and I was smiling like a child to fireworks. That was a special time, and one of my great memories. I hope he does well with himself now, I hope when I return to Seoul again I some how bump into him and say hi. hehe. In the meantime I can remember him and cherish his name signed all the way along the bottom of my DT-35. Yoon Yong tae biggest fan imnida!
EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/ftGAGB3.jpg)
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i wish him luck
