I don't think we should raise pitchforks against SKT1 just yet ... Keep in mind, dropping from first to almost LAST in one swoop is a very very very huge blow for how much you're paying your main players!

EvilTeletubby

Baltimore, USA22253 Posts

November 14 2006 00:56 GMT

#42

On November 14 2006 09:18 KissBlade wrote:
I don't think we should raise pitchforks against SKT1 just yet ... Keep in mind, dropping from first to almost LAST in one swoop is a very very very huge blow for how much you're paying your main players!

Agreed; sometimes a shake-up, even if unrelated, does well to create motivation and drive... I'm personally going to reserve judgement until I see how this works out.

PoP

France15446 Posts

November 14 2006 01:18 GMT

#43

That sounds pretty lame, but I doubt they're gonna do this all the time. I don't think it's to find an excuse to their poor performance either. They've won 4 proleague finals while they weren't applying such a policy. I rather see this as a kind of punishment to the players. There's a possibility that they may have lost a bit of motivation towards proleague after winning those 4 finals in a row, and that kind of radical decision might actually have a good impact.

It won't change things all that much as well: T1 will have 2, maybe 3 (with In_Dove) players qualified for MSL, and more of them would most likely mean games between teammates.

Btw, there's an interview about it here I think:
http://www.fighterforum.com/news/news_read.asp?cat=INT&idx=15059

If any korean can help, <3.

BalloonFight

United States2007 Posts

November 14 2006 04:07 GMT

#44

I mean I can see where the coaches are coming from on this topic, but imo, only playing in one 'SL is wasting a chance to do well/get more practice with people outside your team. The players could really just focus on one of them, and still probably do pretty well in the other. Maybe not top 3 in the other 'SL, but Im sure oov could get in top 10-15 without practicing intensely for that specific one.

Really, all I see it is wasting an opportunity to get some good practice/a possible chance at winning.

SayGG

Germany676 Posts

November 14 2006 04:34 GMT

#45

As a fan, I want to see Oov, Kingdom and Midas & co in both individual leagues. If they are missing an individual league because they lost, I have to accept it. But I wont accept the fact hat they are missing a league because their team wants to punish them for losing one or two games per month in PL. (The didnt lose on purpose, for sure)

As a fan, the only possibilities I have are supporting them even more in their individual leagues, but stop supporting the team. This is the only way their sponsor SK Telecom will see that they are disapponiting the fans with their behavior and that fact of being a sponsor of such beloved players generates more popularity than winning every PL.

Of course this doenst apply to me, as I am non-kor. Only korean fans will have the power to be heard.

Raidern

Brazil3811 Posts

November 14 2006 19:59 GMT

#46

well, to me, after that, it's clear that progaming teams don't make any distinction (shit that's hard to spell) between these two leagues.

I don't like it very much tho, but I think to perform well at teams leagues is a MUST for them.

PePe QuiCoSE

Argentina1204 Posts

November 14 2006 21:21 GMT

#47

after reading this i tend to beleive this is a 'punishment' to the players rather than an excused (though it still can be seen like that). Basically, they are giving their players less chances to show their worth and putting more pressure on results on the leagues the players are focusing. In my ignorance of korean culture, it seems they will apply more discipline to each player's personal goals in which in turn he should show more eagerness to achieve it, which i think it is usually seen as a good thing.

but, IMO, i just don't like it...

Sadist

United States7219 Posts

November 14 2006 21:51 GMT

#48

the negativity on here is amazing.

Ive always wondered this in the past, people bitch about progamers not having enough time or whatever, yet you have them "practicing" for 10 different things. I mean I think they should try to play in the other leagues and then if they get far prepare more, but if they feel liek practicing for 1 league specifically will help well more power to them. Its obvious shit like that goes down in other teams, I mean when one person is going to play in a final and a semifinal of anotehr league, rarely do they win both of the games, they usually suck ass in the semi final or final of t he "less" important league and do alot better in the "important" one.

Waxangel

United States33345 Posts

November 15 2006 01:08 GMT

#49

SKT1 has more devious motives, according to what I gather from the Korean pro-gaming community.

SK Telecom holds a powerful position in the E-sports committee, and has always wanted to expand the Pro League and reduce the importance of singles tournaments. MBCGame has stated that they view the claim that SKT1 wishes to fix their horrid pro league record as a convenient excuse to target and weaken the MBCGame survivor league by withdrawing their star players. MBCGame considers the survivor league to be an important part of a healthy singles competition, as the required 'second division' compared to the MSL 'first division.'

DTDominion

United States2148 Posts

November 15 2006 02:32 GMT

#50

And thus Wax has spoken O_o

akamufu

Korea (South)321 Posts

November 15 2006 03:32 GMT

#51

whats the difference between the two tournaments?

Aphelion

United States2720 Posts

November 15 2006 06:15 GMT

#52

On November 15 2006 10:08 Waxangel wrote:
SKT1 has more devious motives, according to what I gather from the Korean pro-gaming community.

SK Telecom holds a powerful position in the E-sports committee, and has always wanted to expand the Pro League and reduce the importance of singles tournaments. MBCGame has stated that they view the claim that SKT1 wishes to fix their horrid pro league record as a convenient excuse to target and weaken the MBCGame survivor league by withdrawing their star players. MBCGame considers the survivor league to be an important part of a healthy singles competition, as the required 'second division' compared to the MSL 'first division.'

Thats gay. Starcraft is inherently a 1v1 sport; its not a team sport like baseball or basketball and they can't make it as such. Plus all the legends of the past and the best moments in SC have been built from the individual Starleagues. I really hope they don't succeed with what they are trying to do.

lawl mart v2.0

United States108 Posts

November 15 2006 06:58 GMT

#53

On November 15 2006 12:32 akamufu wrote:
whats the difference between the two tournaments?

well each tournament has different maps and such, so players would only have to work on the timing and strats of one set of maps, improving thier chances of winning on them

sweatpants

United States940 Posts

November 15 2006 07:25 GMT

#54

So the progaming scene continues evolving. Very interesting news. Much thanks, HonestTea.

evanthebouncy!

United States12796 Posts

November 15 2006 15:47 GMT

#55

Ah fuckin... this is getting dirty...

5HITCOMBO

Japan2239 Posts

November 15 2006 16:18 GMT

#56

I think that if you think about this move, it's actually decently smart. Time spent "practicing" as a pro isn't just mass gaming - it's mass gaming against a specific matchup on a specific map, because you know who you'll be playing in advance. This allows you to study their replays, see their mistakes, and develop a gameplan. It's why you see these amazing timing rushes and unorthodox builds that decimate an opponent's style. Giving more time to prepare for one matchup isn't the worst decision they've made.

DTDominion

United States2148 Posts

November 15 2006 19:37 GMT

#57

Ultimately a move towards more team based pro StarCraft will decrease the importance of the draw individual players have an kill the sport.

oneofthem

Cayman Islands24199 Posts

November 16 2006 15:49 GMT

#58

well maybe individual players can get sponsorships for themselves? it has to do with how pro gaming developed initially, but if they can get decent sponsorships without teams, and maybe break the team based monopoly on leagues, the players could do something. With the current system it looks like some sort of pre-labor deal baseball arrangement with no player powers.

5HITCOMBO

Japan2239 Posts

November 16 2006 17:09 GMT

#59

On November 16 2006 04:37 DTDominion wrote:
Ultimately a move towards more team based pro StarCraft will decrease the importance of the draw individual players have an kill the sport.

How did you come up with this theory? Hasn't the move towards team based SC like... made sponsorships, created TV channels, increased awareness, increased skill levels, and basically made SC into Korea's national sport?

oneofthem

Cayman Islands24199 Posts

November 16 2006 18:58 GMT

#60

That's the initial development, but as SC becomes bigger the players, maybe the big name players first, can have more leverage, and gain some independence from teams. Since it is an individual sport i dont think molding everything into team play is doing fans any service