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Robert Ohlen talks on DH, says "I was f*cked"

Forum Index > General Games
141 CommentsPost a Reply
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next All
Heyoka
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
Katowice25012 Posts
October 29 2014 17:41 GMT
#1
Richard Lewis spoke to Robert Ohlen this week about his recent departure from DreamHack and and the organization's restructuring.

Robert Ohlén is one of the most recognizable businessmen in esports. Outspoken, gregarious and with an acute understanding of gaming culture, he was the charismatic face of one of esports true success stories: DreamHack.

In 2006, he took a gamble and purchased the gaming event from its two young founders. Under his stewardship, DreamHack continued to grow and break records year upon year. Its events have made it the biggest LAN in the world—records set to be smashed again when it hosts its 20th anniversary event next month. Ohlén, however, won’t be playing any part in those celebrations. After nearly a decade building the company, he's out, “relieved of his duties” on Oct. 24. The move represents a major power shift at the top of one of the most important and influential esports organizations in Europe—and on a more personal level, Ohlén's likely departure from the esports industry as a whole.

When we speak on Monday, he cuts a pretty dejected figure. It’s easy to see even across a pixelated Skype call that there are bags under his eyes. He's shaved off his trademark beard, but he looks older somehow. Ohlén and I have known each other for five years, and I've worked at DreamHack events as a coverage journalist. We've become firm friends. Which is part of why I was the only journalist he was willing to speak to.

We exchange some small talk. When a natural pause occurs, I put on my interviewer's voice and he sparks a cigarette. Then with a hoarse, strained voice he tells where all the drama started. It began in 2009, he says, when his then partner in the company David Garpenståhl, tried to "oust" him.

"That came out of the blue and I had to conclude he was, as you Brits might put it, a bit of a nutter." For what Ohlén calls "tactical, legal reasons," he gave away all his shares—50 percent of DreamHack—to his father. "I did this with the tacit understanding that the shares would be returned to me as soon as the difficulties subsided. Those troubles ended two years ago.”

Ohlén had weathered the storm, giving him his first harsh lesson about the business – “trust nobody.” Unfortunately, what he didn't realize was that this same lesson would soon extend to his immediate family.


He discusses the lengthy legal battle he's had with his own family regarding shares of the company and the internal struggles that go on from within. His side of the story is that his stepping down from CEO was planned but something happened to the process and he was completely ousted without support, and kicked from the entity entirely. He also expresses regret for the tone his tweets took, denouncing the company as a whole.

You can read the full interview here.
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@RealHeyoka | ESL / DreamHack StarCraft Lead
kappadevin
Profile Joined February 2011
United States284 Posts
October 29 2014 16:07 GMT
#2
Who knows really though? Maybe Dreamhack will actually get better now that he's been removed from the picture. Obviously Dreamhack had their reasons to get rid of him, and even if he felt that it was done unfairly, he still got five years to run the show at one of the biggest esports companies on the planet.
Little Tortilla Boy
Plansix
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
United States60190 Posts
October 29 2014 16:11 GMT
#3
That is pretty sad, but I am sure his father had his own reasons for what he did. Removing people from their job is hard, especially in the era of twitter. I'm sure the man will be fine, but not a way I would want to go out.
I have the Honor to be your Obedient Servant, P.6
TL+ Member
Count9
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
China10928 Posts
October 29 2014 16:14 GMT
#4
he gave away all his shares—50 percent of DreamHack


:|
Liquid`Nazgul
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
22427 Posts
October 29 2014 16:17 GMT
#5
This is pretty sad to read. It's hard to really know what is going on. There are two sides to every story and from reading this it feels like more than ever the other side probably isn't going to see things the same way.
Administrator
Oakenshield
Profile Joined January 2013
United States347 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-10-29 16:23:21
October 29 2014 16:21 GMT
#6
The guy built Dreamhack, was one of the best guests on The GD Studio, and his father is not a person that deserves the title of father anymore. Good luck to him, I hope he can find another job that gives him the confidence and position to embarrass the people who robbed him.

edit

I agree maybe other employees of Dreamhack probably have some legitimate claims too, but anyone who says his father had good reasons for robbing his own son needs to sober up.
Epoxide
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
Magic Woods9326 Posts
October 29 2014 16:28 GMT
#7
I have no inside knowledge at all so it's hard to say what's actually going on here. In this article they mention:
It began in 2009, he says, when his then partner in the company David Garpenståhl, tried to "oust" him.

It sounds like David was the one at fault.

In another article I read on fragbite paints the whole story in a whole different perspective. In that article the Ohlén family seemed to be the bad guys.

I have a hard time sympathizing with anyone in this situation. Robert's dad is the only one to have been constantly accused though.
LiquipediaSouma: EU MM is just Russian Roulette. Literally.
ahswtini
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Northern Ireland22208 Posts
October 29 2014 16:51 GMT
#8
So what was his father thinking...
"As I've said, balance isn't about strategies or counters, it's about probability and statistics." - paralleluniverse
Plansix
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
United States60190 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-10-29 16:58:29
October 29 2014 16:57 GMT
#9
On October 30 2014 01:51 ahswtini wrote:
So what was his father thinking...

I have literally no idea, unless his father was somehow involved with the business as well. I get the feeling that we are only getting a very small part of that story. I don't excuse the behavior, but there may be a part of Robert that we don't know and maybe his father felt some loyalty to the employees.

I have literally zero idea why people think transferring massive amounts of money to family members is a good idea. There are literally 20 different ways to protect your interests that don't involve putting your trust in a single person. Family member or not, its a terrible idea. Money ruins families.
I have the Honor to be your Obedient Servant, P.6
TL+ Member
YourGoodFriend
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
United States2197 Posts
October 29 2014 17:21 GMT
#10
Man the whole situation just sucks, I always really liked Robert and how they did Dreamhack so its really sad to see him go the worst thing though is being betrayed by his father, I mean that just makes it hard to have faith in people when your own dad screws you over.
anonymous is the most famous author that anyone can be
crms
Profile Joined February 2010
United States11933 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-10-29 17:26:18
October 29 2014 17:25 GMT
#11
Pretty sure his father is independently wealthy through Real Estate. Perhaps he became 'greedy' and wanted to keep the shares Robert handed over but I have a feeling there are other reasons. Perhaps the Father lost confidence in his son's abilities to have 50% stake. In the public eye, I've always adored Robert and all around this situation feels extremely shitty for everyone involved but I wish we could get the Father's side.
http://i.imgur.com/fAUOr2c.png | Fighting games are great
suddendeathTV
Profile Joined January 2012
Sweden388 Posts
October 29 2014 17:36 GMT
#12
Please link this to the sc2 forums as well. It is just as relevant there and this story needs a thread of its own and not an updated post that nobody pays attention to anymore.
Information is everything
PhoenixVoid
Profile Blog Joined December 2011
Canada32740 Posts
October 29 2014 17:44 GMT
#13
A sad story regardless of who is the bad guy. Being screwed over by your father sucks but let's be honest, giving over that much money to family is always risky and you never know what could happen. I hope Robert stays sane and stable and doesn't lose faith in everything, he's a great guy and it would be a shame to lose him in e-sports.
I'm afraid of demented knife-wielding escaped lunatic libertarian zombie mutants
Maasked
Profile Joined December 2011
United States567 Posts
October 29 2014 17:52 GMT
#14
On October 30 2014 01:17 Liquid`Nazgul wrote:
This is pretty sad to read. It's hard to really know what is going on. There are two sides to every story and from reading this it feels like more than ever the other side probably isn't going to see things the same way.

I like to think of it as 3 parts to every story: their side, your side, and the truth.

I am honestly a little shocked by all of this. Mostly by the part where Roberts father refused to return shares to his son. I just couldn't imagine not being able to trust my own family. That said I wish Mr. Ohlen the best and hope he decides to stay involved in eSports in some capacity, because he was incredible at running Dreamhack.
TwitchTV as Maaasked I stream hots (rarely)
Heyoka
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
Katowice25012 Posts
October 29 2014 17:58 GMT
#15
It's hard for me to make heads or tails of a lot of it, it sounds like some bad shit went down but we'll never be able to know how the company environment actually was and how things played out the way they did.

Will be interesting to see what Robert does in the future.
@RealHeyoka | ESL / DreamHack StarCraft Lead
pNRG
Profile Joined February 2012
United States333 Posts
October 29 2014 18:03 GMT
#16
If Robert's side of the story is true, especially re: his own dad... then just wow...
"He's like a Kakuna with Flamestrike." - Artosis 25.7.2014 \\ "Sometimes you gotta' be manly to get out of the group stage, Reynad." -Artosis 17.10.2014 \\ “There goes your dream of a frivolous lawsuit with a brewing company.” – Tasteless 26.8.2015
sharkie
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
Austria18443 Posts
October 29 2014 18:03 GMT
#17
My business teacher back in school told me: in money matters, dont trust anyone, not even the closest of your family

Seems like she was right
WindWolf
Profile Blog Joined July 2012
Sweden11767 Posts
October 29 2014 18:12 GMT
#18
With so many sides of this story, I don't know what to believe. I don't know if we'll ever know the complete truth.

DreamHack has created lots of good stuff throughout the years. For example, the Swedish E-Sports Championships (across all games) have gotten pretty good reception in Sweden. But if some of what was written was correct, then I'm starting to get worried.
EZ4ENCE
Torte de Lini
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Germany38463 Posts
October 29 2014 18:12 GMT
#19
On October 30 2014 03:03 sharkie wrote:
My business teacher back in school told me: in money matters, dont trust anyone, not even the closest of your family

Seems like she was right


I can personally attest to it.
https://twitter.com/#!/TorteDeLini (@TorteDeLini)
SC2Towelie
Profile Joined July 2014
United States561 Posts
October 29 2014 18:13 GMT
#20
Dreamhack done fucked up....
Don't forget to bring a towel! (Towelie.635)
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