This is a brilliant move by IdrA. Clearly he's in on something we won't know in another 5 days 4 hours, or Feb 21, 2011 2:00 PM.

You call that orange gunk "natural cheese" btw?
Being european, I thought "natural cheese and beer that doesnt taste like tap water" was a pretty hilarious thing to come from an american. Your barbecue is good though!

Manimal_pro

Romania991 Posts

February 16 2011 08:38 GMT

#243

idra will probably make more money in the US because he has the skill to win major competitions and he will be home

i think everybody is sad we won't get to see the leather gracket in GSL hwaiting anymore

Ownos

United States2147 Posts

February 16 2011 08:40 GMT

#244

On February 16 2011 16:56 ageai wrote:

Show nested quote +

shame? are you kidding me? the price for the 1st wont be any bigger than in the gsl. the players in the gsl will be the best in the future too. nobody in the west will be as good as mvp for example. but its a nice illusion....

all the west vs asia bullshit. korea will be always dominant. face it

I highly doubt there will be a NA tournament that can even match GSL. Player's earnings were posted recently and non-GSL players were earning more than Jinro or Idra and they do it by noob stomping a bunch of smaller $1k tournaments. Or more medium sized tournaments.

Mulletarian

Norway101 Posts

February 16 2011 08:42 GMT

#245

On February 16 2011 17:40 Ownos wrote:

Show nested quote +

You contradicted yourself pretty badly there.

Ownos

United States2147 Posts

February 16 2011 08:46 GMT

#246

On February 16 2011 17:42 Mulletarian wrote:

Show nested quote +

You contradicted yourself pretty badly there.

No, no I didn't. Read it again.

Justanx

United States240 Posts

February 16 2011 08:47 GMT

#247

Its a great idea, because he was all alone out there, the team was not co-integrated like TL with OGS

Idra being able to work with his team mates is a awesome win win

WB bro

anatem

Romania1369 Posts

February 16 2011 08:49 GMT

#248

good luck to him, but i'm very disappointed this move from a purely spectator pov. 1 less foreigner in gsl code s, no eg house for further foreigner growth in korea, no more korean ladder stream.

true, he's gonna stomp in the us most likely and earn good dough, but that'll be more of the same, eu/na already got many amazing players, was kinda fond of us pale faces slowly creeping our way in the korean land of esports

-miDnight-

Taiwan455 Posts

February 16 2011 08:51 GMT

#249

Smart move, he can rule the western tournament.
I only got one question
Will he move back to his parents house or he will get a place of his own?

Essentia

1150 Posts

February 16 2011 08:54 GMT

#250

On February 16 2011 17:51 miDnight_SC wrote:
Smart move, he can rule the western tournament.
I only got one question
Will he move back to his parents house or he will get a place of his own?

He has a roommate, a 40 yr old soccer ref.

infey

Canada64 Posts

February 16 2011 08:56 GMT

#251

GSL may be the most prestigious and high level tournament currently but I'm not convinced it's a viable long term business. A solid business would grow slowly into more tournaments, sponsorships, and larger prize pools as spectator interest in the sport gains traction. Instead we're in a situation where competition has been squelched and prize pools are artificially inflated by Blizzard's marketing budget. GOM is tasked with converting the market advantage they have - IP rights and Blizzard's money - into a self sustaining model before their runway ends. The same factors make GOM the only game in town so it's GSL or bust and GSL is also top heavy with it's prize pool. It all makes it very hard to be a professional SC2 player in Korea - 90% of them live below the poverty line and according to GOM even idra only pulled in around 10k in direct winnings last year - including tournaments outside of the GSL. I feel the whole scene in Korea right now is living on borrowed time. I love the GSL and I hope to hell GOM can turn it self sustaining but I feel right now they have not yet captured the hearts and minds of Korean spectators.

Contrast. In North America and Europe a great interest in SC2 as an esport is emerging. There are far more spectators, much more competition (between tournaments and organisations). There are no artificial factors. The market is developing in tandem with supply/demand and it's growing strong with prize pools, more, and bigger tournaments developing as it becomes viable business. Far more tournaments and money spread around instead of consolidated in one organisation means there's more opportunities for players, sponsors, organisers, casters, etc to make a living.

Right now, as a player you just have to choose between that market stability and pushing yourself to the limit by facing the best of the best.

Also, far be it for me to consider some far off future in which idra wishes to transition his career from player to other aspects of esports business.. but if that's the case the west is looking far more stable from where I'm sitting. All these vectors pointing at North America! Can't wait to hear the big news being teased :>

Kantutan

Canada1319 Posts

February 16 2011 08:56 GMT

#252

On February 16 2011 17:51 miDnight_SC wrote:
Smart move, he can rule the western tournament.
I only got one question
Will he move back to his parents house or he will get a place of his own?

EG team house would be the best assumption. They already have one anyways.

ThePhan2m

Norway2750 Posts

February 16 2011 08:57 GMT

#253

Definitely a smart move from Idra. Why do foreginers have to always follow Koreans in gaming, and move there to compete with the best? This will be a good beginning to start build of American e-sports. My only concern is that the Korean scene will grow faster than the rest of the world and gain an advantage that way. That is the only thing Idra will risk when leaving Korea.

whaty0uwant

New Zealand346 Posts

February 16 2011 08:58 GMT

#254

Bl to all the foreigners wanting to win mlg.

Mulletarian

Norway101 Posts

February 16 2011 08:58 GMT

#255

On February 16 2011 15:10 Cintiq wrote:

Show nested quote +

>move everybody in code s up a spot, and add the top code a player in.

Not too difficult.

"Players in Code S Group B who are scheduled to play Greg will get automatic wins."
http://www.gomtv.net/2011gstl1/news/60938

Geo.Rion

7377 Posts

February 16 2011 09:00 GMT

#256

so he forefits cod S i take, what's it gonna be, a wildcard tournament for the spot?

EDIT: nvm, it ahs just been posted

SlapMySalami

United States1060 Posts

February 16 2011 09:01 GMT

#257

On February 16 2011 17:58 Mulletarian wrote:

Show nested quote +

"Players in Code S Group B who are scheduled to play Greg will get automatic wins."
http://www.gomtv.net/2011gstl1/news/60938

IdrA has now set it up so Clide and Zenio will face MC/MVP trolololol

idonthinksobro

3138 Posts

February 16 2011 09:09 GMT

#258

he is gonna make a lot of western "pros" cry.

Tommylew

Wales2717 Posts

February 16 2011 09:09 GMT

#259

hes probably confident he can take America and Europe by storm and make enough money in the long run that he will earn more especially if these announcments from incontrol are big tourneys every few months or even an american solo league!!!

ed21x

United States103 Posts

February 16 2011 09:11 GMT

#260

Idra, along with Jinro represented 2 foreigners amongst what I consider the top 5 players in Korea. Sad to see such a marquee player leave, but I am defintiely all for the growth of esports in the west. As Huk being #1 in the Korea ladder, Boxer giving props to TLO, or Ret about to tear up Code S, it seems like the playing field is quite a bit more even than in years past, and will likely shift over to the west very soon.

Heck, a TLAF-EG team is enough to compete with the best of any team in Korea.