Watch on ESPN3 via WatchESPN.com, as well as on smartphones and tablets using the WatchESPN app. You can even stream the show on your television through Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
While ESPN requires a cable network subscription, in many cases, you may still have access based on your internet or broadband package, regardless of whether or not you have TV service. Be sure to check these lists of affiliated ISPs and other providers to see if you can tune in to ESPN3 on game day.
Additionally, players in Canada can catch all of Sunday’s live Heroic Four action via The Sports Network.
Match 1: Arizona State VS. Boston College: 2:30 p.m. Pacific / 5:30 p.m. Eastern Match 2: Illinois Urbana-Champaign VS. Cal Berkeley: 4:30 p.m. Pacific / 7:30 p.m. Eastern
They removed ESPN from european satellite tv a few years ago, as much as i like trying to get to tv as opposed to streams to reach a broader audience, there should be a stream as well.
On April 27 2015 06:34 GiveMeCake wrote: PM me if you have a restream because I don't know my service providers email and password since I never use it and don't feel like figuring it out.
This event is incredible, the first match was pretty good and this second one looks to be too,, and the excitement of the people is fantastic. And of course the quality is top notch, the interface let you focus on the moment, altough could be a little better, but I don't think its bad.
It is streamed on Twitch / IHOLDSHIFT. 4k viewers at the moment.
Wether it is legal or not, don't blame me. I just relay the information because I don't have access to ESPN and I have a great time watching Heroes for the first time.
if he would have gotten him, they would have been back into the game though. But yeah it was super risky and it looked like Falstad was like shit he has that much hp left after the barrel role?
Wow, that was really exciting. Constant action right from the start!
I was really impressed with the performances of both teams. Competing in anything at the national level can be extremely nerve-wracking and making decisions on-the-fly is not easy.
Nah, he's bad imo, and it seems like Day9 is going to be talking more now too . Guess I'll mute and watch a different stream for background noise.
Did they say whether Tastosis will be back for the final, or if they're done? I imagine they'll be back for the final, it'd be weird to fly them in for one semi-final and that's it :p.
On April 27 2015 08:59 [Phantom] wrote: Grubby definitely knows more the game.
But tasstosisis are better casters.
Depends entirely on what kind of style you like. Their lame jokes can wear a little thin in prolonged casting. I think it is great that there as a variety in the casters and so far they have all done an outstanding job.
On April 27 2015 09:05 Happygreek wrote: This is a slow beautifully executed suffocation of Illinois.
Yeah, they are running a clinic!
Illinois gave up too much in the early game. They really needed to remain equal or take the initiative moving into the mid-game, but they definitely were playing too timidly.
On April 27 2015 10:36 KingofdaHipHop wrote: holy shit i can't watch all of a sudden wtf
Reopen from ESPN site/ TL's sidebar. Mine turned off and I had to reopen it on a new tab to get it back up.
nah son ESPN says i'm not authorized which doesnt make a lot of sense considering we are paying Optimum custormers lol
Yeah mine just errored with that too wtf x.x It started replaying the Ro8 lol.
i think it's because of switching to ESPN 2. basically it's really dumb, but iholdshift's stream on twitch seems fine.
to be honest i think that blizzard pushed hard for this and to me, this seems like a huge success. Really fantastic event altogether, but the ESPN exclusivity is really frustrating and just inconvenient
On April 27 2015 10:36 KingofdaHipHop wrote: holy shit i can't watch all of a sudden wtf
Reopen from ESPN site/ TL's sidebar. Mine turned off and I had to reopen it on a new tab to get it back up.
nah son ESPN says i'm not authorized which doesnt make a lot of sense considering we are paying Optimum custormers lol
Yeah mine just errored with that too wtf x.x It started replaying the Ro8 lol.
i think it's because of switching to ESPN 2. basically it's really dumb, but iholdshift's stream on twitch seems fine.
to be honest i think that blizzard pushed hard for this and to me, this seems like a huge success. Really fantastic event altogether, but the ESPN exclusivity is really frustrating and just inconvenient
Good call, thanks
And yeah, I agree that this has definitely been a success!
On April 27 2015 10:36 KingofdaHipHop wrote: holy shit i can't watch all of a sudden wtf
Reopen from ESPN site/ TL's sidebar. Mine turned off and I had to reopen it on a new tab to get it back up.
nah son ESPN says i'm not authorized which doesnt make a lot of sense considering we are paying Optimum custormers lol
Yeah mine just errored with that too wtf x.x It started replaying the Ro8 lol.
i think it's because of switching to ESPN 2. basically it's really dumb, but iholdshift's stream on twitch seems fine.
to be honest i think that blizzard pushed hard for this and to me, this seems like a huge success. Really fantastic event altogether, but the ESPN exclusivity is really frustrating and just inconvenient
Yeah, that's the unfortunate reality of going mainstream. A few powerhouses strangling the broadcasts behind paywalls or other exclusive platforms. I'm optimistic that eventually the viewers will win and other sports will become more accessible [one day I'm going to be able to watch baseball online!], not the other way around... we just aren't quite there yet.
Alright, I totally get now why Blizzard wanted this on ESPN. There's thousands of people buzzing about this on twitter, and most of them have never heard of Heroes. Well played.
On April 27 2015 11:30 nikj wrote: Kind of surprised this didn't happen sooner. Wish there was another alternative for those of us without cable..
Yeah Im surprised about that too.
And yes, just go to tweeter and search for espn and watch hundreds of tweets aboout this tournament. There is no such thing as bad publicity, its a success.
On April 27 2015 11:30 nikj wrote: Kind of surprised this didn't happen sooner. Wish there was another alternative for those of us without cable..
Yeah Im surprised about that too.
And yes, just go to tweeter and search for espn and watch hundreds of tweets aboout this tournament. There is no such thing as bad publicity, its a success.
Yea I'm glad it's a success TBH but I hope in the future they can partner with Twitch or something for these tourneys. Let's not forget where this (esports) all began.
On April 27 2015 11:40 felizuno wrote: So I've been away from the community for awhile (sorry y'all) and was just flipping through the channels and heard Tasteless, Artosis, and Day[9]!!!
Can somebody give me a tl;dr on this game? SC mod DOTA or a competitor?
On April 27 2015 11:40 felizuno wrote: So I've been away from the community for awhile (sorry y'all) and was just flipping through the channels and heard Tasteless, Artosis, and Day[9]!!!
Can somebody give me a tl;dr on this game? SC mod DOTA or a competitor?
Heroes of the storm started as a sc2 mod, but mid development they decided to make it a stand alone f2p game. The open beta starts may 19 and is going to be released on June. It is from the same genre as LoL and Dota, but plays very differently, think of it as Street Fighter and Super Smash Bros.
First big tourney for Heroes of the Storm and it's only available to watch on NA... oh and the UI is HORRIBLE and the producer/cameraman decision making is embarrassing, keep showing us the hall, the players and the crowd at the most intense moments. ggwp :\
OMG, I'm still worked up from that game. ASU made the call to go for a back-door finish and UC Berkeley held them off. Then ASU went for the back-door finish again with their Golem and are held off!!!!!
Man I'm just impressed, the games are great, the event is gaining a lot of attention, both good and bad, but dam, I never expected this to be so succesful dam, I feel so happy IDK why + Show Spoiler +
If Blizzard was looking for spectacular games to promote theirs, they got it. Wonderful casting and even better games to do it on. Even though ESPN may not have the best viewing platform for hardcore gamers, props to them for going out on a limb, so to say, and providing the broadcast.
On April 27 2015 13:08 stuchiu wrote: I don't watch sports so I actually have no clue how they're different from normal sports casters.
Tastosis is better. Sports and e-sports both have very knowledgeable casters and analysts, but our guys shout and hype a lot more. Except for maybe soccer.
On April 27 2015 13:08 stuchiu wrote: I don't watch sports so I actually have no clue how they're different from normal sports casters.
Tastosis is better. Sports and e-sports both have very knowledgeable casters and analysts, but our guys shout and hype a lot more. Except for maybe soccer.
On April 27 2015 13:22 kingjames01 wrote: I've heard that DotA and/or LoL is better.
I feel like LoL's LCS production is some of the best out there.
i watched an lcs thing a few weeks ago, the production is top notch, but i think hots as a game is more entertaining to watch.
I agree that was really fun to watch. And it seems like through all the hate, a lot of people who watched on ESPN who had no clue what it was enjoyed it as well.
All the casters were amazing, for all the shit some people on twitter were giving esports on TV, no one had anything but good things to say about them. Tasteless was a highlight of that of course.
I'm making a blog or something about all of this, it should be interesting.
About the games, as much as I like sc2, this was a better game to show on live TV I think.
Also probably better than LoL or Dota since matches aren't that long and so events are shorter.
On April 27 2015 13:35 [Phantom] wrote: All the casters were amazing, for all the shit some people on twitter were giving esports on TV, no one had anything but good things to say about them. Tasteless was a highlight of that of course.
I'm making a blog or something about all of this, it should be interesting.
About the games, as much as I like sc2, this was a better game to show on live TV I think.
Also probably better than LoL or Dota since matches aren't that long and so events are shorter.
On April 27 2015 13:22 kingjames01 wrote: I've heard that DotA and/or LoL is better.
I feel like LoL's LCS production is some of the best out there.
i watched an lcs thing a few weeks ago, the production is top notch, but i think hots as a game is more entertaining to watch.
The first time I watched a competitive MOBA game was one of the large tournaments for DotA2. I don't remember what it was called but I think it was the yearly tournament or something. The prize pool was really large is pretty much all I remember.
I have never watched a competitive LoL game, but since I started playing Heroes of the Storm, I got curious about LoL. I once tuned into Hafu playing it on her stream. I watched her stand beside a tower for about 10 minutes holding off an opponent, and then every now and then move down into the water to shoot someone and then run back. When I opened my eyes, the stream was over.
I've been watching eSports since I found Korean BW in 2006, and so I've witnessed a lot of big moments, highs and lows. Maybe I just don't understand LoL or DotA, but they're definitely not approachable for someone who just wants to tune in and doesn't know what's going on; someone like me.
Contrast that with watching a televised contest that I don't know anything about, for example darts or dogs running obstacle courses. At least when I stop for a moment to watch, I can intuitively guess what's going on. The competitors are obviously very skilled and their immediate objective is clear.
I don't know anything about rugby, but I've watched a few minutes here and there. The same thing can be applied. I know absolutely nothing about competition at the highest-level, or strategies that span the whole game, but I can at least work out that players are working hard to move the ball across a scoring line.
When I watch a player huddle next to a tower for 10 minutes at a time, I can only surmise that the tower needs to be defended for some reason. Maybe points? I don't know.
When I watch Heroes of the Storm, I don't know much about the game, but I can see people dying all the time. There seems to be a lot of action, and it's clear within a few minutes that the ultimate goal is the Core.
I know now that LoL has the same objective, but I couldn't tell just by tuning in for a few minutes.
Edit: This isn't to say that LoL or DotA do not deserve to be watched. My point is that for a total beginner like me, I couldn't join into the middle of a LoL or DotA broadcast and understand what I'm seeing. If that's the case, I'll probably change what I'm watching or like in the case I described above, fall asleep.
That was actually pretty enjoyable, definitely the most I've enjoyed watching an eSport tournament since pre-WCS GSL. Very entertaining games in the final, and Tasteless was awesome :D.
If they want to continue with the TV bullshit they really have to fix the lack of information on the UI and the availability outside of NA (while that's easy with streaming on Twitch, it probably won't be easy to convince ESPN to allow it).
The first time I watched a competitive MOBA game was one of the large tournaments for DotA2. I don't remember what it was called but I think it was the yearly tournament or something. The prize pool was really large is pretty much all I remember.
yeah my first time was watching The International. can't remember if it was 1 or 2. I loved it, it was incredible. but I never got into dota2 after that. but it was a heckuva tournament experience to watch it.
The other thing too: I actually attempted to learn about LoL as I watched it. I made an honest attempt, and did some quick google searches, as well as asking the chat.
However, the chat was really chaotic and the responses (understably) were not helpful, to say the least. The google searches came up with resources but they were obviously targetted at people who knew the basics.
The first time I watched a competitive MOBA game was one of the large tournaments for DotA2. I don't remember what it was called but I think it was the yearly tournament or something. The prize pool was really large is pretty much all I remember.
yeah my first time was watching The International. can't remember if it was 1 or 2. I loved it, it was incredible. but I never got into dota2 after that. but it was a heckuva tournament experience to watch it.
YES! The International! I actually enjoyed watching the tournament. I obviously didn't understand the significance of the bans and picks, but I could hear the crowd react whenever something important was happening.
Because of that tournament, I actually downloaded DotA2 from Steam, but I never ended up sticking to it. I didn't understand enough about the "standard" purchases or whatever they're called so the learning curve ended up being too steep for someone with very little time to invest.
I have a legitimate question if anyone has the prowess to answer it... What were the viewership totals for the Grandfinals of the heroes of the dorm tournament on ESPN? Just interested to see how much interest the tournament actually generated as it was like Twitch (Where you can see how many people are watching at any given time). If anyone is able to figure this out say later tonight or tomorrow and would post back to to thread, please do so.
On April 27 2015 13:45 SetGuitarsToKill wrote: So how was it guys? Is this gonna be the final nail in the coffin for SC2? Seems like a lot of people enjoyed this much more, even tastosis
IMO it was good for all esports. CSGO has been on TV here and both are pretty easy to watch. SC2 is a different game and not going to die because another is easier for the masses (to watch).
On April 27 2015 13:45 SetGuitarsToKill wrote: So how was it guys? Is this gonna be the final nail in the coffin for SC2? Seems like a lot of people enjoyed this much more, even tastosis
IMO it was good for all esports. CSGO has been on TV here and both are pretty easy to watch. SC2 is a different game and not going to die because another is easier for the masses (to watch).
On April 27 2015 13:45 SetGuitarsToKill wrote: So how was it guys? Is this gonna be the final nail in the coffin for SC2? Seems like a lot of people enjoyed this much more, even tastosis
IMO it was good for all esports. CSGO has been on TV here and both are pretty easy to watch. SC2 is a different game and not going to die because another is easier for the masses (to watch).
I would entirely disagree, but okay
StarCraft is another game that is better for the initiated. I love StarCraft, and have been watching since even before the SC2GG guys started doing their duo/trio/quad casts! However, if I didn't have that previous knowledge to draw on, and I just randomly tuned into a StarCraft 2 game, it wouldn't be as exciting.
In those crucial few minutes where my attention has to be captivated, I'd be able to work out that it's a 1 on 1 contest where the competitors are building armies to attack each other, but that's about it.
I think that's where Korean BW has the advantage. Just at a casual glance, it's obvious that what is being displayed is extremely difficult, and there's constant action across a large field of play. The Korean announcers, although I do not understand a single word that they're saying, are so enthusiastic about what they're describing, that it helps me to stay for a few minutes longer.
StarCraft 2 is a little more tricky for a person with no prior knowledge. The main factors are the same as BW, so there are appealing qualities to it. However, there are large parts of the game where nothing seems to be happening. At the end of these phases of quiet calm, there's punctuated action, but it ends quite abruptly.
Now, of course, if you understand long-term strategies, such as build orders or unusual timings, then the excitement level goes up. You are watching to see if an opponent has successfully executed a strategy that is only familiar to expert viewers.
Honestly, I don't know enough about Heroes of the Storm to understand timings, talent choices, hero picks and counter picks. However, when I'm watching a stream or Heroes of the Dorm, I can put those issues aside and just watch for the action. I'm basically watching at the lowest level and AM STILL ENTERTAINED.
On April 27 2015 13:45 SetGuitarsToKill wrote: So how was it guys? Is this gonna be the final nail in the coffin for SC2? Seems like a lot of people enjoyed this much more, even tastosis
IMO it was good for all esports. CSGO has been on TV here and both are pretty easy to watch. SC2 is a different game and not going to die because another is easier for the masses (to watch).
I would entirely disagree, but okay
StarCraft is another game that is better for the initiated. I love StarCraft, and have been watching since even before the SC2GG guys started doing their duo/trio/quad casts! However, if I didn't have that previous knowledge to draw on, and I just randomly tuned into a StarCraft 2 game, it wouldn't be as exciting.
In those crucial few minutes where my attention has to be captivated, I'd be able to work out that it's a 1 on 1 contest where the competitors are building armies to attack each other, but that's about it.
I think that's where Korean BW has the advantage. Just at a casual glance, it's obvious that what is being displayed is extremely difficult, and there's constant action across a large field of play. The Korean announcers, although I do not understand a single word that they're saying, are so enthusiastic about what they're describing, that it helps me to stay for a few minutes longer.
StarCraft 2 is a little more tricky for a person with no prior knowledge. The main factors are the same as BW, so there are appealing qualities to it. However, there are large parts of the game where nothing seems to be happening. At the end of these phases of quiet calm, there's punctuated action, but it ends quite abruptly.
Now, of course, if you understand long-term strategies, such as build orders or unusual timings, then the excitement level goes up. You are watching to see if an opponent has successfully executed a strategy that is only familiar to expert viewers.
Honestly, I don't know enough about Heroes of the Storm to understand timings, talent choices, hero picks and counter picks. However, when I'm watching a stream or Heroes of the Dorm, I can put those issues aside and just watch for the action. I'm basically watching at the lowest level and AM STILL ENTERTAINED.
So how do we fix this issue in SC2? how can we keep the low level players interested and entertained. Because the way things are going right now it seems like there's almost no turning back from the way we're going. I don't want SC2 to die, but I don't see any way to have that not happen anymore. Like, for fuck's sake, we're so quickly losing to another game already, Heroes jsut came out and it seems like Blizzard is backing it way hard than they've ever backed SC2. WHAT THE FUCK IS SO WRONG WITH MY GAME?
I know this is off topic and I"m sorry, but I'm way more distressed about this stuff than I should be.
On April 27 2015 13:45 SetGuitarsToKill wrote: So how was it guys? Is this gonna be the final nail in the coffin for SC2? Seems like a lot of people enjoyed this much more, even tastosis
IMO it was good for all esports. CSGO has been on TV here and both are pretty easy to watch. SC2 is a different game and not going to die because another is easier for the masses (to watch).
I would entirely disagree, but okay
StarCraft is another game that is better for the initiated. I love StarCraft, and have been watching since even before the SC2GG guys started doing their duo/trio/quad casts! However, if I didn't have that previous knowledge to draw on, and I just randomly tuned into a StarCraft 2 game, it wouldn't be as exciting.
In those crucial few minutes where my attention has to be captivated, I'd be able to work out that it's a 1 on 1 contest where the competitors are building armies to attack each other, but that's about it.
I think that's where Korean BW has the advantage. Just at a casual glance, it's obvious that what is being displayed is extremely difficult, and there's constant action across a large field of play. The Korean announcers, although I do not understand a single word that they're saying, are so enthusiastic about what they're describing, that it helps me to stay for a few minutes longer.
StarCraft 2 is a little more tricky for a person with no prior knowledge. The main factors are the same as BW, so there are appealing qualities to it. However, there are large parts of the game where nothing seems to be happening. At the end of these phases of quiet calm, there's punctuated action, but it ends quite abruptly.
Now, of course, if you understand long-term strategies, such as build orders or unusual timings, then the excitement level goes up. You are watching to see if an opponent has successfully executed a strategy that is only familiar to expert viewers.
Honestly, I don't know enough about Heroes of the Storm to understand timings, talent choices, hero picks and counter picks. However, when I'm watching a stream or Heroes of the Dorm, I can put those issues aside and just watch for the action. I'm basically watching at the lowest level and AM STILL ENTERTAINED.
So how do we fix this issue in SC2? how can we keep the low level players interested and entertained. Because the way things are going right now it seems like there's almost no turning back from the way we're going. I don't want SC2 to die, but I don't see any way to have that not happen anymore
I know this is off topic and I"m sorry, but I'm way more distressed about this stuff than I should be.
I actually don't know, haha.
RTS games in general are better consumed by people who want to invest time to learn the nuances. So, if you want to keep viewers who have just tuned in, you have to pique their curiousity so they want to become invested.
FPS, Fighting or Heroes of the Storm are easier to consume since the action is constant and intuitive after a few minutes of watching.
The "meat" of StarCraft is not as intuitive in only a few minutes of watching.
On April 27 2015 13:45 SetGuitarsToKill wrote: So how was it guys? Is this gonna be the final nail in the coffin for SC2? Seems like a lot of people enjoyed this much more, even tastosis
IMO it was good for all esports. CSGO has been on TV here and both are pretty easy to watch. SC2 is a different game and not going to die because another is easier for the masses (to watch).
I would entirely disagree, but okay
StarCraft is another game that is better for the initiated. I love StarCraft, and have been watching since even before the SC2GG guys started doing their duo/trio/quad casts! However, if I didn't have that previous knowledge to draw on, and I just randomly tuned into a StarCraft 2 game, it wouldn't be as exciting.
In those crucial few minutes where my attention has to be captivated, I'd be able to work out that it's a 1 on 1 contest where the competitors are building armies to attack each other, but that's about it.
I think that's where Korean BW has the advantage. Just at a casual glance, it's obvious that what is being displayed is extremely difficult, and there's constant action across a large field of play. The Korean announcers, although I do not understand a single word that they're saying, are so enthusiastic about what they're describing, that it helps me to stay for a few minutes longer.
StarCraft 2 is a little more tricky for a person with no prior knowledge. The main factors are the same as BW, so there are appealing qualities to it. However, there are large parts of the game where nothing seems to be happening. At the end of these phases of quiet calm, there's punctuated action, but it ends quite abruptly.
Now, of course, if you understand long-term strategies, such as build orders or unusual timings, then the excitement level goes up. You are watching to see if an opponent has successfully executed a strategy that is only familiar to expert viewers.
Honestly, I don't know enough about Heroes of the Storm to understand timings, talent choices, hero picks and counter picks. However, when I'm watching a stream or Heroes of the Dorm, I can put those issues aside and just watch for the action. I'm basically watching at the lowest level and AM STILL ENTERTAINED.
So how do we fix this issue in SC2? how can we keep the low level players interested and entertained. Because the way things are going right now it seems like there's almost no turning back from the way we're going. I don't want SC2 to die, but I don't see any way to have that not happen anymore
I know this is off topic and I"m sorry, but I'm way more distressed about this stuff than I should be.
I actually don't know, haha.
RTS games in general are better consumed by people who want to invest time to learn the nuances. So, if you want to keep viewers who have just tuned in, you have to pique their curiousity so they want to become invested.
FPS, Fighting or Heroes of the Storm are easier to consume since the action is constant and intuitive after a few minutes of watching.
The "meat" of StarCraft is not as intuitive in only a few minutes of watching.
See, I honestly kind of disagree with that. The basic concept of SC isn't any more difficult to understand than any other game. Units killing the shit out of each other with explosions and laser beams and stuff is just as easy to get as the clusterfuck of spells and abilities you see in MOBAs.
Stop taking the success or failure of games you like so personal. Seriously, this is not the first time you have been so distraught about SC2 - it is really not good for you. Honestly, why do you care about how big the scene is? As long as you can find games when you log in that should really be enough. You play games for the fun of it - not because they are the most popular (if that was the case you really should be playing american football/actual football/golf/tennis).
On April 27 2015 14:30 Ghostcom wrote: Stop taking the success or failure of games you like so personal. Seriously, this is not the first time you have been so distraught about SC2 - it is really not good for you. Honestly, why do you care about how big the scene is? As long as you can find games when you log in that should really be enough. You play games for the fun of it - not because they are the most popular (if that was the case you really should be playing american football/actual football/golf/tennis).
I care about how big the scene is because I care about longevity. I care because I think SC2 is the most interesting, most challenging and most worthy game of the title of 'esports' there is. And yet nothing goes right for it. Its not about popularity so much as its about survival, and were not doing that right now
On April 27 2015 13:45 SetGuitarsToKill wrote: So how was it guys? Is this gonna be the final nail in the coffin for SC2? Seems like a lot of people enjoyed this much more, even tastosis
IMO it was good for all esports. CSGO has been on TV here and both are pretty easy to watch. SC2 is a different game and not going to die because another is easier for the masses (to watch).
I would entirely disagree, but okay
StarCraft is another game that is better for the initiated. I love StarCraft, and have been watching since even before the SC2GG guys started doing their duo/trio/quad casts! However, if I didn't have that previous knowledge to draw on, and I just randomly tuned into a StarCraft 2 game, it wouldn't be as exciting.
In those crucial few minutes where my attention has to be captivated, I'd be able to work out that it's a 1 on 1 contest where the competitors are building armies to attack each other, but that's about it.
I think that's where Korean BW has the advantage. Just at a casual glance, it's obvious that what is being displayed is extremely difficult, and there's constant action across a large field of play. The Korean announcers, although I do not understand a single word that they're saying, are so enthusiastic about what they're describing, that it helps me to stay for a few minutes longer.
StarCraft 2 is a little more tricky for a person with no prior knowledge. The main factors are the same as BW, so there are appealing qualities to it. However, there are large parts of the game where nothing seems to be happening. At the end of these phases of quiet calm, there's punctuated action, but it ends quite abruptly.
Now, of course, if you understand long-term strategies, such as build orders or unusual timings, then the excitement level goes up. You are watching to see if an opponent has successfully executed a strategy that is only familiar to expert viewers.
Honestly, I don't know enough about Heroes of the Storm to understand timings, talent choices, hero picks and counter picks. However, when I'm watching a stream or Heroes of the Dorm, I can put those issues aside and just watch for the action. I'm basically watching at the lowest level and AM STILL ENTERTAINED.
So how do we fix this issue in SC2? how can we keep the low level players interested and entertained. Because the way things are going right now it seems like there's almost no turning back from the way we're going. I don't want SC2 to die, but I don't see any way to have that not happen anymore
I know this is off topic and I"m sorry, but I'm way more distressed about this stuff than I should be.
I actually don't know, haha.
RTS games in general are better consumed by people who want to invest time to learn the nuances. So, if you want to keep viewers who have just tuned in, you have to pique their curiousity so they want to become invested.
FPS, Fighting or Heroes of the Storm are easier to consume since the action is constant and intuitive after a few minutes of watching.
The "meat" of StarCraft is not as intuitive in only a few minutes of watching.
See, I honestly kind of disagree with that. The basic concept of SC isn't any more difficult to understand than any other game. Units killing the shit out of each other with explosions and laser beams and stuff is just as easy to get as the clusterfuck of spells and abilities you see in MOBAs.
Oh, I agree with you about armies clashing and spells and abilities being displayed. However, I'm specifically discussing what a viewer would see if they just tuned in for the first time. You only have a few minutes to capture their attention, or you'd lose them forever.
Now, if they tuned in during a major battle and the announcers were losing their minds, that might lead to a successful convert.
In a typical StarCraft 2 game, would a casual viewer who just randomly turned on the stream happen to catch that moment during the very small time window allotted?
I think both FPS and Fighting games have the advantage in that regard. I don't watch those genres typically, but sometimes I click on streams on the side of TL when I'm looking for something to watch. When I do, I stick around for a while. What happens if a person randomly clicks on StarCraft? How likely are they to stick around if you only have a few minutes to win them over?
On April 27 2015 14:30 Ghostcom wrote: Stop taking the success or failure of games you like so personal. Seriously, this is not the first time you have been so distraught about SC2 - it is really not good for you. Honestly, why do you care about how big the scene is? As long as you can find games when you log in that should really be enough. You play games for the fun of it - not because they are the most popular (if that was the case you really should be playing american football/actual football/golf/tennis).
and games to watch. there are lots of different sports that people play or watch. I coach American football in Finland ffs. It's never going to be the favorite sport here. So what, I'm still able to participate in something I'm passionate about. Same with SC2. I love the game and will play/watch/cast it as long as possible. Another reality is that games do get replaced, if we're lucky it'll be by wc4 or sc3. Dota and lol have co-existed within a genre, csgo is on a strong upward swing but until sc2 has direct competition I won't worry.
On April 27 2015 13:45 SetGuitarsToKill wrote: So how was it guys? Is this gonna be the final nail in the coffin for SC2? Seems like a lot of people enjoyed this much more, even tastosis
IMO it was good for all esports. CSGO has been on TV here and both are pretty easy to watch. SC2 is a different game and not going to die because another is easier for the masses (to watch).
I would entirely disagree, but okay
StarCraft is another game that is better for the initiated. I love StarCraft, and have been watching since even before the SC2GG guys started doing their duo/trio/quad casts! However, if I didn't have that previous knowledge to draw on, and I just randomly tuned into a StarCraft 2 game, it wouldn't be as exciting.
In those crucial few minutes where my attention has to be captivated, I'd be able to work out that it's a 1 on 1 contest where the competitors are building armies to attack each other, but that's about it.
I think that's where Korean BW has the advantage. Just at a casual glance, it's obvious that what is being displayed is extremely difficult, and there's constant action across a large field of play. The Korean announcers, although I do not understand a single word that they're saying, are so enthusiastic about what they're describing, that it helps me to stay for a few minutes longer.
StarCraft 2 is a little more tricky for a person with no prior knowledge. The main factors are the same as BW, so there are appealing qualities to it. However, there are large parts of the game where nothing seems to be happening. At the end of these phases of quiet calm, there's punctuated action, but it ends quite abruptly.
Now, of course, if you understand long-term strategies, such as build orders or unusual timings, then the excitement level goes up. You are watching to see if an opponent has successfully executed a strategy that is only familiar to expert viewers.
Honestly, I don't know enough about Heroes of the Storm to understand timings, talent choices, hero picks and counter picks. However, when I'm watching a stream or Heroes of the Dorm, I can put those issues aside and just watch for the action. I'm basically watching at the lowest level and AM STILL ENTERTAINED.
So how do we fix this issue in SC2? how can we keep the low level players interested and entertained. Because the way things are going right now it seems like there's almost no turning back from the way we're going. I don't want SC2 to die, but I don't see any way to have that not happen anymore
I know this is off topic and I"m sorry, but I'm way more distressed about this stuff than I should be.
I actually don't know, haha.
RTS games in general are better consumed by people who want to invest time to learn the nuances. So, if you want to keep viewers who have just tuned in, you have to pique their curiousity so they want to become invested.
FPS, Fighting or Heroes of the Storm are easier to consume since the action is constant and intuitive after a few minutes of watching.
The "meat" of StarCraft is not as intuitive in only a few minutes of watching.
See, I honestly kind of disagree with that. The basic concept of SC isn't any more difficult to understand than any other game. Units killing the shit out of each other with explosions and laser beams and stuff is just as easy to get as the clusterfuck of spells and abilities you see in MOBAs.
Oh, I agree with you about armies clashing and spells and abilities being displayed. However, I'm specifically discussing what a viewer would see if they just tuned in for the first time. You only have a few minutes to capture their attention, or you'd lose them forever.
Now, if they tuned in during a major battle and the announcers were losing their minds, that might lead to a successful convert.
In a typical StarCraft 2 game, would a casual viewer who just randomly turned on the stream happen to catch that moment during the very small time window allotted?
I think both FPS and Fighting games have the advantage in that regard. I don't watch those genres typically, but sometimes I click on streams on the side of TL when I'm looking for something to watch. When I do, I stick around for a while. What happens if a person randomly clicks on StarCraft? How likely are they to stick around if you only have a few minutes to win them over?
So we just have to accept that sc2 is gonna die because people have the attention span of a fruit fly? That feels like a really fucking shifty way for a beautiful game to go. Despite all of SC2s flaws, it's still great.
On April 27 2015 14:30 Ghostcom wrote: Stop taking the success or failure of games you like so personal. Seriously, this is not the first time you have been so distraught about SC2 - it is really not good for you. Honestly, why do you care about how big the scene is? As long as you can find games when you log in that should really be enough. You play games for the fun of it - not because they are the most popular (if that was the case you really should be playing american football/actual football/golf/tennis).
I care about how big the scene is because I care about longevity. I care because I think SC2 is the most interesting, most challenging and most worthy game of the title of 'esports' there is. And yet nothing goes right for it. Its not about popularity so much as its about survival, and were not doing that right now
What are you even talking about with "survival"? A games "survival" is dictated by whether or not people play it - not by how popular it is. There are still people who play AoE II, so as long as you log in and play a game every now and then SC II will also "survive".
EDIT: Stop being the kid in kindergarden who is upset that not everyone wants to play with you. Instead enjoy the fact that there are other kids who share you interests and wants to play with you.
EDIT2: And don't pull your usual "y'all disrespect SC2 and it get's me so flustered that I'm just going to call the quits on EVERYTHING and ask to be banned". Seriously, move on and stop trying to find validation for what you like in how many others like it.
As an example, someone posted a few weeks ago about a Street Fighter tournament. I don't remember the exact game, since I haven't played Street Fighter for over a decade and haven't kept up with it at all.
In the first few minutes, I worked out that each match is a 1 on 1 competition and there's a tournament structure and the competitors sit side-by-side.
Then I watched two avatars hopping around, blocking, attacking and I could see that it took a lot of practice and skill. The action was constant and although the announcers were discussing concepts and using terms that I didn't understand, I did understand that there was a deeper layer to the game than just button-mashing.
I stayed to watch characters get beat up over and over and I stayed until the end.
Would that happen if I knew nothing about StarCraft and tuned in because I saw a thread? That's a more difficult question to answer. Given only a few minutes to win or lose me as a fan, it's very much dependent on the stage of the game.
The interesting thing here, is that a proxy cheese is more likely to make me stay, because I can see something unusual is happening, and the announcers are always really excited about it. However, long-time fans might want games to progress to at least the mid-game.
On April 27 2015 14:30 Ghostcom wrote: Stop taking the success or failure of games you like so personal. Seriously, this is not the first time you have been so distraught about SC2 - it is really not good for you. Honestly, why do you care about how big the scene is? As long as you can find games when you log in that should really be enough. You play games for the fun of it - not because they are the most popular (if that was the case you really should be playing american football/actual football/golf/tennis).
I care about how big the scene is because I care about longevity. I care because I think SC2 is the most interesting, most challenging and most worthy game of the title of 'esports' there is. And yet nothing goes right for it. Its not about popularity so much as its about survival, and were not doing that right now
What are you even talking about with "survival"? A games "survival" is dictated by whether or not people play it - not by how popular it is. There are still people who play AoE II, so as long as you log in and play a game every now and then SC II will also "survive".
A pro scene and a few dedicated fans are a world apart. Sure, SC2 will always have players, but will have a pro scene in a few years? I seriously doubt it, and that's honestly what I'm more interested in.
On April 27 2015 13:45 SetGuitarsToKill wrote: So how was it guys? Is this gonna be the final nail in the coffin for SC2? Seems like a lot of people enjoyed this much more, even tastosis
IMO it was good for all esports. CSGO has been on TV here and both are pretty easy to watch. SC2 is a different game and not going to die because another is easier for the masses (to watch).
I would entirely disagree, but okay
StarCraft is another game that is better for the initiated. I love StarCraft, and have been watching since even before the SC2GG guys started doing their duo/trio/quad casts! However, if I didn't have that previous knowledge to draw on, and I just randomly tuned into a StarCraft 2 game, it wouldn't be as exciting.
In those crucial few minutes where my attention has to be captivated, I'd be able to work out that it's a 1 on 1 contest where the competitors are building armies to attack each other, but that's about it.
I think that's where Korean BW has the advantage. Just at a casual glance, it's obvious that what is being displayed is extremely difficult, and there's constant action across a large field of play. The Korean announcers, although I do not understand a single word that they're saying, are so enthusiastic about what they're describing, that it helps me to stay for a few minutes longer.
StarCraft 2 is a little more tricky for a person with no prior knowledge. The main factors are the same as BW, so there are appealing qualities to it. However, there are large parts of the game where nothing seems to be happening. At the end of these phases of quiet calm, there's punctuated action, but it ends quite abruptly.
Now, of course, if you understand long-term strategies, such as build orders or unusual timings, then the excitement level goes up. You are watching to see if an opponent has successfully executed a strategy that is only familiar to expert viewers.
Honestly, I don't know enough about Heroes of the Storm to understand timings, talent choices, hero picks and counter picks. However, when I'm watching a stream or Heroes of the Dorm, I can put those issues aside and just watch for the action. I'm basically watching at the lowest level and AM STILL ENTERTAINED.
So how do we fix this issue in SC2? how can we keep the low level players interested and entertained. Because the way things are going right now it seems like there's almost no turning back from the way we're going. I don't want SC2 to die, but I don't see any way to have that not happen anymore
I know this is off topic and I"m sorry, but I'm way more distressed about this stuff than I should be.
I actually don't know, haha.
RTS games in general are better consumed by people who want to invest time to learn the nuances. So, if you want to keep viewers who have just tuned in, you have to pique their curiousity so they want to become invested.
FPS, Fighting or Heroes of the Storm are easier to consume since the action is constant and intuitive after a few minutes of watching.
The "meat" of StarCraft is not as intuitive in only a few minutes of watching.
See, I honestly kind of disagree with that. The basic concept of SC isn't any more difficult to understand than any other game. Units killing the shit out of each other with explosions and laser beams and stuff is just as easy to get as the clusterfuck of spells and abilities you see in MOBAs.
Oh, I agree with you about armies clashing and spells and abilities being displayed. However, I'm specifically discussing what a viewer would see if they just tuned in for the first time. You only have a few minutes to capture their attention, or you'd lose them forever.
Now, if they tuned in during a major battle and the announcers were losing their minds, that might lead to a successful convert.
In a typical StarCraft 2 game, would a casual viewer who just randomly turned on the stream happen to catch that moment during the very small time window allotted?
I think both FPS and Fighting games have the advantage in that regard. I don't watch those genres typically, but sometimes I click on streams on the side of TL when I'm looking for something to watch. When I do, I stick around for a while. What happens if a person randomly clicks on StarCraft? How likely are they to stick around if you only have a few minutes to win them over?
So we just have to accept that sc2 is gonna die because people have the attention span of a fruit fly? That feels like a really fucking shifty way for a beautiful game to go. Despite all of SC2s flaws, it's still great.
I never said that SC2 is going to die, haha. I'm discussing what I feel is a major factor for attracting a new viewer.
As I said, RTS games are better consumed by the initiated. If you want a new viewer to stay, you have to hold their attention.
I don't know much more than that, since I've never really thought about the situation before. I just watch.
Fuck, Im gonna just stop talking about it because all I do is bring negativity and shit into threads like this. Enjoy your game, I hope one day I will find enjoyment in MOBAs becasue that's all the future appears to be.
On April 27 2015 14:30 Ghostcom wrote: Stop taking the success or failure of games you like so personal. Seriously, this is not the first time you have been so distraught about SC2 - it is really not good for you. Honestly, why do you care about how big the scene is? As long as you can find games when you log in that should really be enough. You play games for the fun of it - not because they are the most popular (if that was the case you really should be playing american football/actual football/golf/tennis).
I care about how big the scene is because I care about longevity. I care because I think SC2 is the most interesting, most challenging and most worthy game of the title of 'esports' there is. And yet nothing goes right for it. Its not about popularity so much as its about survival, and were not doing that right now
What are you even talking about with "survival"? A games "survival" is dictated by whether or not people play it - not by how popular it is. There are still people who play AoE II, so as long as you log in and play a game every now and then SC II will also "survive".
A pro scene and a few dedicated fans are a world apart. Sure, SC2 will always have players, but will have a pro scene in a few years? I seriously doubt it, and that's honestly what I'm more interested in.
Then you are not talking about the survival of SC2 - then we are back to you whining that not everyone likes SC2 as much as you do.
On April 27 2015 14:30 Ghostcom wrote: Stop taking the success or failure of games you like so personal. Seriously, this is not the first time you have been so distraught about SC2 - it is really not good for you. Honestly, why do you care about how big the scene is? As long as you can find games when you log in that should really be enough. You play games for the fun of it - not because they are the most popular (if that was the case you really should be playing american football/actual football/golf/tennis).
I care about how big the scene is because I care about longevity. I care because I think SC2 is the most interesting, most challenging and most worthy game of the title of 'esports' there is. And yet nothing goes right for it. Its not about popularity so much as its about survival, and were not doing that right now
What are you even talking about with "survival"? A games "survival" is dictated by whether or not people play it - not by how popular it is. There are still people who play AoE II, so as long as you log in and play a game every now and then SC II will also "survive".
A pro scene and a few dedicated fans are a world apart. Sure, SC2 will always have players, but will have a pro scene in a few years? I seriously doubt it, and that's honestly what I'm more interested in.
The honest truth about a pro-scene:
If you want a pro-scene, then there has to be money. If there is no money, then there will be no top-tier competitors.
If you want money, then you need viewers.
If you want viewers, then you have to have high retention or alternatively a large base of curious people to draw from.
On April 27 2015 14:30 Ghostcom wrote: Stop taking the success or failure of games you like so personal. Seriously, this is not the first time you have been so distraught about SC2 - it is really not good for you. Honestly, why do you care about how big the scene is? As long as you can find games when you log in that should really be enough. You play games for the fun of it - not because they are the most popular (if that was the case you really should be playing american football/actual football/golf/tennis).
I care about how big the scene is because I care about longevity. I care because I think SC2 is the most interesting, most challenging and most worthy game of the title of 'esports' there is. And yet nothing goes right for it. Its not about popularity so much as its about survival, and were not doing that right now
What are you even talking about with "survival"? A games "survival" is dictated by whether or not people play it - not by how popular it is. There are still people who play AoE II, so as long as you log in and play a game every now and then SC II will also "survive".
A pro scene and a few dedicated fans are a world apart. Sure, SC2 will always have players, but will have a pro scene in a few years? I seriously doubt it, and that's honestly what I'm more interested in.
The honest truth about a pro-scene:
If you want a pro-scene, then there has to be money. If there is no money, then there will be no top-tier competitors.
If you want money, then you need viewers.
If you want viewers, then you have to have high retention or alternatively a large base of curious people to draw from.
that's exactly what I'm saying though. we need this, and we dont' have it so we'll be ded before dinner. the future of the sc2 proscene is very limited.
On April 27 2015 14:30 Ghostcom wrote: Stop taking the success or failure of games you like so personal. Seriously, this is not the first time you have been so distraught about SC2 - it is really not good for you. Honestly, why do you care about how big the scene is? As long as you can find games when you log in that should really be enough. You play games for the fun of it - not because they are the most popular (if that was the case you really should be playing american football/actual football/golf/tennis).
I care about how big the scene is because I care about longevity. I care because I think SC2 is the most interesting, most challenging and most worthy game of the title of 'esports' there is. And yet nothing goes right for it. Its not about popularity so much as its about survival, and were not doing that right now
What are you even talking about with "survival"? A games "survival" is dictated by whether or not people play it - not by how popular it is. There are still people who play AoE II, so as long as you log in and play a game every now and then SC II will also "survive".
A pro scene and a few dedicated fans are a world apart. Sure, SC2 will always have players, but will have a pro scene in a few years? I seriously doubt it, and that's honestly what I'm more interested in.
The honest truth about a pro-scene:
If you want a pro-scene, then there has to be money. If there is no money, then there will be no top-tier competitors.
If you want money, then you need viewers.
If you want viewers, then you have to have high retention or alternatively a large base of curious people to draw from.
that's exactly what I'm saying though. we need this, and we dont' have it so we'll be ded before dinner. the future of the sc2 proscene is very limited.
So now that this event is over, do you guys think Blizzard should keep investing in this collegiate stuff? I am still not sure how I feel about this event when it was first announced because Blizzard was putting money into the collegiate/casualer scene, and not "pros". I'm thinking this is because they dont want to give out actual money ( as opposed to scholarships) when the game isnt even out yet, like how Hearthstone & Hots debut at Blizzcon has no prize money, and it would be unfair I guess?
It's already May, and Blizzcon is in 6 months, Between release and Blizzcon is 5, so I wonder if we're going to see some sort of tournament announced since they seem to want to push this hard.
On April 27 2015 14:30 Ghostcom wrote: Stop taking the success or failure of games you like so personal. Seriously, this is not the first time you have been so distraught about SC2 - it is really not good for you. Honestly, why do you care about how big the scene is? As long as you can find games when you log in that should really be enough. You play games for the fun of it - not because they are the most popular (if that was the case you really should be playing american football/actual football/golf/tennis).
I care about how big the scene is because I care about longevity. I care because I think SC2 is the most interesting, most challenging and most worthy game of the title of 'esports' there is. And yet nothing goes right for it. Its not about popularity so much as its about survival, and were not doing that right now
What are you even talking about with "survival"? A games "survival" is dictated by whether or not people play it - not by how popular it is. There are still people who play AoE II, so as long as you log in and play a game every now and then SC II will also "survive".
A pro scene and a few dedicated fans are a world apart. Sure, SC2 will always have players, but will have a pro scene in a few years? I seriously doubt it, and that's honestly what I'm more interested in.
I think it will. The biggest problem isn't if SC2 will have a pro scene, will it have a pro foreign scene? The foreign scene seems so weak .
On April 27 2015 14:30 Ghostcom wrote: Stop taking the success or failure of games you like so personal. Seriously, this is not the first time you have been so distraught about SC2 - it is really not good for you. Honestly, why do you care about how big the scene is? As long as you can find games when you log in that should really be enough. You play games for the fun of it - not because they are the most popular (if that was the case you really should be playing american football/actual football/golf/tennis).
I care about how big the scene is because I care about longevity. I care because I think SC2 is the most interesting, most challenging and most worthy game of the title of 'esports' there is. And yet nothing goes right for it. Its not about popularity so much as its about survival, and were not doing that right now
What are you even talking about with "survival"? A games "survival" is dictated by whether or not people play it - not by how popular it is. There are still people who play AoE II, so as long as you log in and play a game every now and then SC II will also "survive".
A pro scene and a few dedicated fans are a world apart. Sure, SC2 will always have players, but will have a pro scene in a few years? I seriously doubt it, and that's honestly what I'm more interested in.
The honest truth about a pro-scene:
If you want a pro-scene, then there has to be money. If there is no money, then there will be no top-tier competitors.
If you want money, then you need viewers.
If you want viewers, then you have to have high retention or alternatively a large base of curious people to draw from.
that's exactly what I'm saying though. we need this, and we dont' have it so we'll be ded before dinner. the future of the sc2 proscene is very limited.
broodwar still has a pro-scene. As long as there are people who care, a game can't really die. It might not always be at the level you want, or as popular as you want, but don't be fatalistic. SC2 is not going to die. Take the passion, and channel it into more passion. If there are only 20 other fans, then so be it! There are fighting game lans where the participation caps out at 8 people and all of 30 viewers show up. Is their game dead? No! People remain passionate! A game dies, truly dies, when no one plays it again. That's not going to happen to SC2. The rise of heroes is not the demise of starcraft, they're not "stealing" fans, and in the end, the fans are *all* that matters.
On April 27 2015 16:52 lestye wrote: So now that this event is over, do you guys think Blizzard should keep investing in this collegiate stuff? I am still not sure how I feel about this event when it was first announced because Blizzard was putting money into the collegiate/casualer scene, and not "pros". I'm thinking this is because they dont want to give out actual money ( as opposed to scholarships) when the game isnt even out yet, like how Hearthstone & Hots debut at Blizzcon has no prize money, and it would be unfair I guess?
It's already May, and Blizzcon is in 6 months, Between release and Blizzcon is 5, so I wonder if we're going to see some sort of tournament announced since they seem to want to push this hard.
On April 27 2015 14:30 Ghostcom wrote: Stop taking the success or failure of games you like so personal. Seriously, this is not the first time you have been so distraught about SC2 - it is really not good for you. Honestly, why do you care about how big the scene is? As long as you can find games when you log in that should really be enough. You play games for the fun of it - not because they are the most popular (if that was the case you really should be playing american football/actual football/golf/tennis).
I care about how big the scene is because I care about longevity. I care because I think SC2 is the most interesting, most challenging and most worthy game of the title of 'esports' there is. And yet nothing goes right for it. Its not about popularity so much as its about survival, and were not doing that right now
What are you even talking about with "survival"? A games "survival" is dictated by whether or not people play it - not by how popular it is. There are still people who play AoE II, so as long as you log in and play a game every now and then SC II will also "survive".
A pro scene and a few dedicated fans are a world apart. Sure, SC2 will always have players, but will have a pro scene in a few years? I seriously doubt it, and that's honestly what I'm more interested in.
I think it will. The biggest problem isn't if SC2 will have a pro scene, will it have a pro foreign scene? The foreign scene seems so weak .
Collegiate teams dominate the scene for several games, so I don't think it's a problem at all.
Kids winning tuition was pretty fucking awesome.
That said, I have no doubt that HotS will kick off and some pro teams will start playing it. I don't think it has to be either-or. I also think HotS has a lot of potential. I just randomly saw it when I was flipping through channels, and I was pleasantly surprised. Looks really fun and I've installed the game to try and play it now.
Uhh, there are already pro-teams playing it. NaVi, Teamliquid, ESC, Gamers2 (I really feel like I'm omitting some important ones - no insult intended, my brain is just jello these days).
On April 27 2015 21:51 Ghostcom wrote: Uhh, there are already pro-teams playing it. NaVi, Teamliquid, ESC, Gamers2 (I really feel like I'm omitting some important ones - no insult intended, my brain is just jello these days).
The ESV team has been sponsored? picked up? by Jesse Cox and is now Stellar Lotus.
There are 2 Cloud 9 teams, and a Tempo Storm team. I remember the Fnatic team as well.
On April 27 2015 21:51 Ghostcom wrote: Uhh, there are already pro-teams playing it. NaVi, Teamliquid, ESC, Gamers2 (I really feel like I'm omitting some important ones - no insult intended, my brain is just jello these days).
The ESV team has been sponsored? picked up? by Jesse Cox and is now Stellar Lotus.
There are 2 Cloud 9 teams, and a Tempo Storm team. I remember the Fnatic team as well.
SK Gaming, Dignitas, Acer, and a few high profile Chinese orgs like Newbee and Edward Gaming.
I had a great time making a trip back to my alma mater and checking things out. I only attended it live just in time for grand finals, but I was still blown away by it! It was a great venue, and I finally got my Hearthstone Fireside gatherings card back, haha! Games were amazing and nail-bitingly close! Couldn't believe my eyes what I saw there!
Hm. I suppose Blizzard got Day[9], Artosis, and Tasteless to cast because of their past with SC2. However the casting line up in practice ends up rather odd because all three are essentially colour casters.
EDIT: Random cuts to the crowds aren't timed well. T_T
More than 11k viewers right now, which is the most of Anny heroes tournament since Blizzcon, and it is a re-broadcast meaning a lot of people already watched it
On April 29 2015 05:57 y0su wrote: haven't seen it listed elsewhere yet... 96k viewers.
There was another one saying it had 120k viewers, but both of us are estimates though, and even then it doesn't tell the whole story, a lot people talked about it for sure .
EPT
ESPN3 / WatchESPN | 
TSN ![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/shiroiusagi/herosofthestorm/drom/lr/bostoncollege.png)
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