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Open Letter to Team Liquid on Overwatch - Page 2

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Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20321 Posts
April 11 2016 12:54 GMT
#21
Because its a concern with no basis in reality and as such deserves no sympathy.


Even if you believe that, it's a bit of a leap to attack people for your beliefs
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Baradrist
Profile Joined January 2011
Germany96 Posts
April 11 2016 14:52 GMT
#22
If I may add, Dota 2 has been played competitively while it was still in Beta! Even a million dollar tournament (TI1) was held while the game wasn't fully developed yet. I don't see any point why should it be bad to form teams in a beta-phase. If anything, it hypes the game for a larger player base later on after the release and more importantly, it gives the developers much needed data on how the game would look like under professional and competitive circumstances. This in turn will increase the overall quality a lot! And that's for ALL OF US who want to eventually play the game. Just watching random guys play for fun will result in different stats and possibly a worse balance within the game. So I really really welcome developments like Liquid Overwatch. I get hyped up for playing the game myself and it is just really entertaining watching pros play that game. A game which potentially will be better because these pros played it competitively (aka in a funded team) even before its release.

I appreciate your concerns, but I don't share them at all since I see much more pros than cons to this.
ZeaL.
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
United States5955 Posts
April 11 2016 15:21 GMT
#23
Difference being dota 2 was in "beta" for years and became open access pretty early on.
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20321 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-04-11 17:07:16
April 11 2016 17:06 GMT
#24
It's more about the "99% of people that want to compete can't play" than the "beta" tag. Dota 2 was not at all like that.
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Liquid`Nazgul
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
22427 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-04-11 17:28:15
April 11 2016 17:25 GMT
#25
On April 11 2016 14:25 Cyro wrote:
@Nazgul any comment on the picking up of teams when 99% of people including competitors can't play Overwatch yet?

I would love to, but you're just stating a fact. It appears you feel something is wrong with that, but don't explain what that is. I legitimately don't see the problem at the moment. Looking forward to hearing your concerns though, don't mind thinking about another perspective. For reference we picked up TLO and Jinro three months before official release, and I legitimately am confused why that would have been a bad thing. Just don't see it, sorry.
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Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20321 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-04-11 17:54:51
April 11 2016 17:44 GMT
#26
Picking up a team for a game like this sends a very different message, that you're committing to these players and nobody else for a significant period of time. Starcraft 2 is a group of individual players that you can pick out one at a time but an Overwatch team is a team, it's often all or nothing.

Given that the players in the beta are either exceptionally lucky (the closed beta seems to be hundreds to a few thousand out of what could be a 7 figure playerbase) or breaking rules under the table (such as the bannable account sharing + buying which is rampant in WoW & overwatch) it seems wrong to me.

I wasn't into sc2 pre-release so i'm not sure how the beta was handled. For the Legacy beta, TL and other organizations were given keys to use and hand out and for a long time before release everybody had the opportunity to preorder-buy into playing if they wanted to compete, so it was a completely different situation.
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Plansix
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
United States60190 Posts
April 11 2016 17:50 GMT
#27
The SC2 beta was close to the Overwatch beta, except it lacked the twitch streaming element. But there was nothing fair about it. I remember getting my key from pre-ordering SC2 and people had already been playing for months upon months. Some people were lucky and got early access.
I have the Honor to be your Obedient Servant, P.6
TL+ Member
Valiver
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
Caldeum1977 Posts
April 11 2016 18:18 GMT
#28
There's another part of this that people aren't considering: there's a lot of organizations who have already picked up teams for Overwatch and if TL didn't sign a team before the game actually came out most of the good players would already be signed. TL is still a business, and being the last one to get into the market is always bad. Just check the Liquipedia Portal here for a list of teams and look at all the big names who have also already signed teams. Whether or not you think it's too early/unfair to sign players in an exclusive beta it's already happened and that's how it's probably going to go with all would-be esports titles from now on.
Writer
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20321 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-04-11 18:49:43
April 11 2016 18:48 GMT
#29
most of the good players would already be signed


In a month the playerbase is going to increase dramatically, 20x - 100x or more. That includes more esport-tier players than the everyone that's in overwatch right now
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Plansix
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
United States60190 Posts
April 11 2016 18:53 GMT
#30
On April 12 2016 03:48 Cyro wrote:
Show nested quote +
most of the good players would already be signed


In a month the playerbase is going to increase dramatically, 20x - 100x or more. That includes more esport-tier players than the everyone that's in overwatch right now

Ok, why does TL care? They are signing a team now with people they can work with, as opposed to later when everyone has access. What are they supposed to do, wait until the game is out for 2 months so people cut their teeth and the cream can rise to the top? Or is it three months? What completely arbitrary date would you like to set before they can sign a team?
I have the Honor to be your Obedient Servant, P.6
TL+ Member
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20321 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-04-11 19:06:08
April 11 2016 19:03 GMT
#31
What are they supposed to do, wait until the game is out for 2 months so people cut their teeth and the cream can rise to the top? Or is it three months?


It's 1 month for the game to go from a tiny random super closed-off playerbase to all esports players playing. Seems worth the wait to me if you're not going to sign any more players after the initial selection.

Ok, why does TL care?


Why would TL not care about who they're selecting?
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Jaaaaasper
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
United States10225 Posts
April 11 2016 19:10 GMT
#32
I'm fine with picking up a roster this early, but I have a much bigger with a proven match fixer on the roster
Hey do you want to hear a joke? Chinese production value. | I thought he had a aegis- Ayesee | When did 7ing mad last have a good game, 2012?
Plansix
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
United States60190 Posts
April 11 2016 19:12 GMT
#33
On April 12 2016 04:03 Cyro wrote:
Show nested quote +
What are they supposed to do, wait until the game is out for 2 months so people cut their teeth and the cream can rise to the top? Or is it three months?


It's 1 month for the game to go from a tiny niche random playerbase to all esports players being able to play. Seems worth the wait to me if you're not going to sign any more players after the initial selection.

Show nested quote +
Ok, why does TL care?


Why would they not care, in particular? You're wording that as if the default is nobody caring

The owner of TL has posted several times about their business decision and found none of these arguments compelling. Yet you continue to make them like they are new and original. There is no reason for them to wait to sign a team, since they can always update their roster. Your entire argument seems to be based on your personal metric for what is fair.
I have the Honor to be your Obedient Servant, P.6
TL+ Member
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20321 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-04-11 19:16:27
April 11 2016 19:14 GMT
#34
Bigger & better selection of players is more important than it being fair. A lot of people agree in the liquid overwatch thread

There is no reason for them to wait to sign a team, since they can always update their roster.


Messy to kick half a team, messier to kick a whole team
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Plansix
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
United States60190 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-04-11 19:16:58
April 11 2016 19:16 GMT
#35
On April 12 2016 04:14 Cyro wrote:
bigger & better selection of players is more important than it being fair

TL clearly feels differently, as they have stated above. So they do not agree with your assessment of the situation or opinion on when they should form a team. They can always let members go that are not working out and sign new talent if necessary, as with every single team sport on the planet.
I have the Honor to be your Obedient Servant, P.6
TL+ Member
nighcol
Profile Joined January 2012
298 Posts
April 12 2016 02:08 GMT
#36
On April 12 2016 03:48 Cyro wrote:
Show nested quote +
most of the good players would already be signed


In a month the playerbase is going to increase dramatically, 20x - 100x or more. That includes more esport-tier players than the everyone that's in overwatch right now


I'm fairly certain that those who are at the top right now will be there for some time after launch though. New stars from the wave of players will rise for sure but there will be a delay and many of these people will still stay relevant because they do also have track record that shows they have great potential in this title.
KeksX
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Germany3634 Posts
April 12 2016 15:42 GMT
#37
Wasn't SC2 post-launched mainly dominated by players who participated in beta?

I think that saying it doesn't matter if you don't get beta access is just wrong. You are up against players with months of practice already, and while you can still rise to the top, you'll still have to put in many more hours than anyone else to catch up.
No one is born a progamer for any game.

Gorsameth
Profile Joined April 2010
Netherlands21959 Posts
April 12 2016 15:48 GMT
#38
On April 13 2016 00:42 KeksX wrote:
Wasn't SC2 post-launched mainly dominated by players who participated in beta?

I think that saying it doesn't matter if you don't get beta access is just wrong. You are up against players with months of practice already, and while you can still rise to the top, you'll still have to put in many more hours than anyone else to catch up.
No one is born a progamer for any game.

It helped them yes and you can certainly argue that for example Fruitdealer won the first GSL because of this headstart but this disappears in a few months, which is also why TL signed a team now, because if they wait for the new "real" stars to rise they miss out on the first few months of tournaments and at the end of the day the pro-gaming side of TL is a business.
It ignores such insignificant forces as time, entropy, and death
eScapegoat100
Profile Joined March 2011
Canada71 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-04-12 20:39:04
April 12 2016 20:36 GMT
#39
On April 10 2016 12:51 SirPinky wrote:
Gamers like to believe that they, either one person or many, can rise to the top of the ladder (or any ranking system) with hard work, skill and perseverance. In my opinion, making a team before the game is even released adds a certain futility to the hope gamers can someday be part of a well-respected team, like Team Liquid. It narrows the ability for future, better, gamers to work their way to the top echelon of gameplay.


On April 12 2016 02:25 Liquid`Nazgul wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 11 2016 14:25 Cyro wrote:
@Nazgul any comment on the picking up of teams when 99% of people including competitors can't play Overwatch yet?

I would love to, but you're just stating a fact. It appears you feel something is wrong with that, but don't explain what that is. I legitimately don't see the problem at the moment. Looking forward to hearing your concerns though, don't mind thinking about another perspective. For reference we picked up TLO and Jinro three months before official release, and I legitimately am confused why that would have been a bad thing. Just don't see it, sorry.


If I may. I think I can parse the concern / complaint of the OP and explain why he thinks this is a "bad thing."

Going into the release of Overwatch there was an illusion among some gamers of an "even playing field". They believed that if they picked up the game on release and played a lot - and played well, that they could rise to the top of the field and become pro. While this belief isn't entirely crushed by the formation of a pro team prior to release it certainly puts to lie the "even playing field" myth.

Comparisons to the release of Starcraft 2 (Jinro TLO etc...) are not very applicable to this situation. There were no myths of an equal starting point there. SC2 was an obvious successor to SC Broodwar and WC3 so it was equally obvious that progamers from those former titles would have a leg up on the common gamers. Gamers that saw SC2 release, knowing that they would never be good enough to turn pro, looked forwards to the next Blizzard title for their "big break."

Another difference between Overwatch and SC2 is that an SC2 team can always pick up another player if they are outstanding on the ladder. Roster size is unlimited. Not so much in Overwatch. SC2 is all about individual success - whereas success in Overwatch will rely greatly upon team chemistry and cohesion. All of this means that in Overwatch - it appears less hopeful for solo queue stars to be added to a pro team.

There is no reason that someone who has never played at a pro-level in another esport can't become pro in Overwatch through practice and determination - but having already named the Team Liquid roster puts into perspective the uphill battle that they face to achieve that success. This can be disheartening.

<p align=center><a target=_blank href=http://www.nodiatis.com/personality.htm><img border=0 src=http://www.nodiatis.com/pub/5.jpg></a></p>
Liquid`Nazgul
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
22427 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-04-13 01:40:50
April 13 2016 01:32 GMT
#40
I can see why it may be disheartening to an aspiring pro without a beta key, but I am not sure what you would want me to do about it or why it is relevant to us picking up a team. I don't see anyone bothering to show why the two are connected when it comes to Liquid picking up a team. It is probably disheartening to an aspiring pro that there are no replays in LoL, but that is no reason for teams not to pick up players. I'm also imagining 99% of the planet not having money to pursue car racing. It sucks and the sport has to deal with that when it comes to fans. It is however no reason for a car racing team not to pick up talent if they are in the business of running a sport team. Overwatch as a sport has to figure out how to popularize it and have as much fan appeal as possible.

Just to be perfectly clear when the game is out officially the group that has pro potential, but does not have beta access, isn't going to be good from day one of public release at all. They're going to need time to catch up with the players who already had access. One month into full release they will be nowhere close to guys playing for half a year. Two months they will be nowhere close, either. So you are asking us to wait.. how long exactly? Sounds like we would have to wait one or two years after public release just to give the entire player base a chance. And then after that young kids will come along who will have started three years post release. It just doesn't make any sense to me. I'm not saying we must get in this early, but these arguments that we shouldn't because not everyone has access are nonsensical. If there's a good team to pickup that we believe in then we should do so, beta or no beta.

I also think this whole discussion does not give nearly the appropriate amount of credit to the players that get early access. Most players that have a reputation for hard work and skill in similar games will be able to get access. They have put years into developing those skillsets, similar to how that was the case for SC1/SC2. Your new talent from Overwatch that plays itself to the top throughout the years will be able to do the same if they ever decide to transition into something else. There's a reason why these ex-TF2 players are all monsters at OW, and I can tell you it is not because they had early access.
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