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Milkis posted the following tidbit in the latest 2010 Bacchus OSL news report. Since the news is relevant to StarCraft 2 and not Brood War, I thought it deserved its own thread outside of a Brood War news post so that fans of StarCraft 2 could see it and respond.
On January 07 2011 06:22 Milkis wrote:
GomTV -- Figure out how to attract more than 10 people to the Code S games
The Code S tours have gathered surprisingly little attention in Korea. GomTV decided to rent out a 5000 seat gymnasium for the opening ceremonies and games -- which was a bold move, considering that the last GSL finals only had 1800 people in a 6000 seat stadium.
The result was nothing short of disappointing. Only 500 people showed up, prompting one netizen to comment "Are there Arbiters present? I can't see anyone in the audience".
It only went downhill from there -- only 50 people showed up for Boxer's Code S matches, and apparently, only 10 or so people showed up for Tester's Code S matches. Whatever GomTV is doing, they need to rethink their strategies and retool how they're going to pull this off, because the initial hype in Korea is slowly turning into disinterest. Since it is up for GomTV to keep SC2 alive in Korea -- please, please, promote your games better.
But seriously, happy new year :D
What are everyone's opinions on the implications of these numbers? Does the GSL need more Korean interest to survive, or is their Western viewership enough to support their tournaments?
If the GSL ceases to exist, will Korean StarCraft 2 progamers stop playing, return to Brood War, or more regularly attend international tournaments?
Could a regular-season, large-scale Korean tournament ever replace the GSL? What about Blizzard's financial support of the tournament and involvement in Korean e-sports?
Discuss!
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If i'm correct GSL is broadcast through tv's so many koreans must prefer to watch from the comfort of their own home. Finals are around 5-7pm and i would assume most ppl are eating dinner.
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On January 07 2011 08:03 Boblhead wrote:
If i'm correct GSL is broadcast through tv's so many koreans must prefer to watch from the comfort of their own home. Finals are around 5-7pm and i would assume most ppl are eating dinner.
GomTV is online.
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If the numbers are right it's kind of scary for sc2 in korea ,but do you have the sources for it?
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On January 07 2011 08:03 Boblhead wrote:
If i'm correct GSL is broadcast through tv's so many koreans must prefer to watch from the comfort of their own home. Finals are around 5-7pm and i would assume most ppl are eating dinner.
It's not on TV, Koreans have to watch on the internet just like foreigners unless it has changed recently. BW tournaments have been televized for ten years yet they get significantly bigger audiences for the important matches and even the less important ones. The biggest BW tournament finals have attracted tens of thousands of spectators many a time.
It's a difficult situation, most people in Korea seem to prefer BW and the scene behind the game over SC2, but if that doesn't change soon it can affect the growth of esports immensely. I guess we should all hope that the foreign viewers are enough for Gretech to continue hosting the GSL for years to come and that the korean majority jumps in at some point.
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well koreans are hella fast mechanically, only brood war can make them feel satisfied and taxed.
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Having just read this myself, I must say this is very very concering indeed, id like to hear anyone with insider input explain the reasons?? I thought SC2 had gained abit more popularity since Season 1/2 in Korea
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edited out, pressed quote instead of edit.
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woah thats crazy, some of my friends watch gsl and they have never touched starcraft.
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So what does that mean we should do? Do we need Tornaments out here that make it worthwhile for the Koreans to fly out and play in? Or do we need to support GomTV more?
The thought of them going back to Brood War is a scary one indeed but all to real.
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Give it some time, you cant expect Sc2 to take down the biggest esports game in 6 months.
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I think korea needs to look outwards if it wants to survive as the mecca of starcraft and esports. They can only live on broodwar for so long, especially with so many of the pros switching over to starcraft 2. For one, a revision of how GOM presents the GSL to the west would be great. I know a lot of people that would watch if it weren't on at 4 in the morning. It's nice to have a livestream and all, but perhaps a delayed stream per each timezone would be better. Guaranteed to attract more viewers, and if they put ads in the stream, they would acquire revenue to promote themselves and the game more than they do now.
That said, I know blizzard wants starcraft 2 to succeed in esports(at least I hope they do). If korea fails to deliver, I can easily see blizzard stepping up and hosting a GSL like tournament.
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maybe a solo player league format is just less interesting then an open tournament format or even team league format
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only 50 people showed up for Boxer's match? thats pretty unbelievable actually, but then again its not like regular proleague matches have over 100-200 live audience right?
how far away is Gom studio from the city? is it way out of reach from the city center or something?
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Starcraft popularity, as we know it, might come to an end in Korea. BW peaked years ago and clearly not that many are migrating over to SC 2. Korean gamers seem to be more interested in playing free to play MMO games instead.
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GSL ceasing to exist would not be the end of SC2 in Korea, just the end of Blizzard/Gretech's monopoly. OGN had plans for an OS2L before Blizzard stepped in.
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Pressing quote instead of edit is a skill... Delete please.
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The other day I tuned into a Starleague game and from what I remember there were a grad total of 3 ladies sitting on white plastic chairs in the audience. So what gives?
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On January 07 2011 08:11 pfods wrote:
I think korea needs to look outwards if it wants to survive as the mecca of starcraft and esports. They can only live on broodwar for so long, especially with so many of the pros switching over to starcraft 2. For one, a revision of how GOM presents the GSL to the west would be great. I know a lot of people that would watch if it weren't on at 4 in the morning. It's nice to have a livestream and all, but perhaps a delayed stream per each timezone would be better. Guaranteed to attract more viewers, and if they put ads in the stream, they would acquire revenue to promote themselves and the game more than they do now.
That said, I know blizzard wants starcraft 2 to succeed in esports(at least I hope they do). If korea fails to deliver, I can easily see blizzard stepping up and hosting a GSL like tournament.
That would be a GOD send. Though I'm hesitant to wish for it. Given GOM's history with stream problems....
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On January 07 2011 08:11 pfods wrote:
I think korea needs to look outwards if it wants to survive as the mecca of starcraft and esports. They can only live on broodwar for so long, especially with so many of the pros switching over to starcraft 2. For one, a revision of how GOM presents the GSL to the west would be great. I know a lot of people that would watch if it weren't on at 4 in the morning. It's nice to have a livestream and all, but perhaps a delayed stream per each timezone would be better. Guaranteed to attract more viewers, and if they put ads in the stream, they would acquire revenue to promote themselves and the game more than they do now.
That said, I know blizzard wants starcraft 2 to succeed in esports(at least I hope they do). If korea fails to deliver, I can easily see blizzard stepping up and hosting a GSL like tournament.
Honestly, while I have hope for SC2, this isn't a good sign and Koreans certainly can keep playing Brood War forever. I don't see why they "have" to make the switch, and if 10 people are going to show up to matches on a regular basis, pros aren't going to switch over.
I dunno if anyone can say with any certainty what's going to happen regarding SC2 in the long term in Korea, but I think SC2 will keep going strong in the west, and that's good enough for me. All we have to do as foreigners is keep being badasses and hosting awesome tournaments and we'll have a sick scene all our own. If Korea's scene survives and grows, awesome, we'll have a cool scene there, too.
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EPT
