Through the Looking Glass: Modern Korean eSports at a glance.
I've decided to begin a series of bite-sized articles tackling the multitude of interesting and unique facets of gaming culture here in Seoul. From guides to the venues, to interviews with the leaders of STX Soul's Korean fan club I'm preparing to cover a wider range of topics than ever before with the fresh aid of video footage and experience in the field to shed light upon the world beyond each televised event.
Behind the Scenes Part One: OnGameNet Studios.
Introduction:
~ Memories of past triumphs. ~
If you're a devotee of live streams or VOD lists then probably you've seen the booths a thousand times, watched countless names both big and small take the journey from behind team benches to the stage. Laughed (or cried) as Khan's infamous ceremony king Lee Sungeun (Firebathero.) launched in to one of his notorious dance routines or wondered what antics Bunkie could possibly get up to next.
During OSL you may also have witnessed the bland cream walls of the backstage areas at OnGameNet's eSports broadcast studios. However, how much do you really know about the venue itself?
Whenever newcomers attend their first live match at Yongsan, the same (often awestruck) declarations can be heard. 'I always thought it was bigger.' 'You're so close to the gamers.' and invariably, 'I'm hungry.' As many people are aware the gap between what you see upon a grainy stream from thousands of miles away often doesn't reflect the sensations or realities of watching eSports being played live at one of Seoul's two main regular venues.
This article hopes to bring you a more in depth view of the OGN studios, including a virtual (commentated.) tour around the interior and exterior of the studios themselves. It might appear as though it's positive propaganda and it whole-heartedly is. Read on to discover why OGN's Yongsan studios is the definitive regular eSports venue and why if you can, you should visit it in the future.
Where is OGN studios?
OGN studios is located in Central Western Seoul at Yongsan Subway Station. This is one of Seoul's largest stations which connects the capital to the second largest city in Southern Korea, Busan (where Proleague finals is held during certain years.) Yongsan Station is in the heart of a district known for electronics and the studio itself resides upon the top floor of the 'Living and Digital' section of the massive Yongsan 'I-Park' mall. The mall itself is equipped with 9 floors of electronic goods ranging from cellphones to used computer games. The eSports stadium has it's own section of a floor that is otherwise rented out by closed front businesses (aka. Online businesses without formal shop fronts.) There is a courtyard where fan meetings are held and the studio itself is divided into two separate areas.
Virtual Tour:
During this video you can see the journey from Yongsan Station's exit doors up to the studio itself. Once there the main studio, plus the backstage and outside areas detailed above are toured. The press room, photo shoot area and other points of interest can also be seen.
Part One:
Part Two:
PC Bang Area:
This is an area you are less liable to see during the regular season. It is only usually used during the preliminary offline rounds of competitions such as OSL or MSL. The layout resembles that of a large PC bang (PC room.) It is a functional and sparse room without any purpose during the regular seasons of eSports. It's also kept locked at all times except for when it's being used.
The Main Studios:
Unless you don't watch live streams you've undoubtedly been exposed to the interior of the main OGN studios. This is where all the action takes place over the course of each regular season. Other than Proleague and OSL several other eSports are recorded and also relayed live via the OGN channel during the week. Anything from SD Gundam league to Dungeon and Fighter Live can be found at the studios. However, the timetables are often very difficult to obtain without direct access to staff of the venue (if your Korean isn't fluent.) There is a time table posted on OGN's official website and outside the main studio, but it is often inaccurate or missing in action.
The studio itself consists of one main room where the matches are played with a main stage and three limited-mobility cameras. The stage area always holds the two StarCraft booths which are disguised during other events using the curtains. Banners can be switched out by lowering the complex lighting rig and all of the props such as the crates seen during Special Force and other FPS live events are stored behind the right-side player benches.
~ Essential pieces of pro-gaming kit that are a staple of the backstage rooms. ~
Behind the main stage there are two rooms for the players and coaching staff to prepare before matches. They are primarily used by the StarCraft players due to a lack of appropriate equipment for teams of FPS or DF league players to practice prior to matches. There is a single computer set up in each room for players to use as well as a television for checking out the action.
~ This is what you'd see more than once a week if you were a pro-gamer. ~
Behind the main video screen there is a narrow walkway which connects these two rooms and provides access to the main stage. This is also where the make up station is set up. It is run by a small team of female make up artists who have turned it into a partial shrine to the Korean boy band 2pm during the last couple of months.
~ Korean boy-band 2pm has their very own shrine back stage. ~
~ Where the gamers get their noses powdered. ~
In future articles we will focus upon the function and atmosphere created by these different elements of the two main studios.
What makes OGN the definitive location for eSports in Seoul?
After almost two years of living in OGN's back pocket this reporter feels as though she is more than qualified to assess the studio itself. In comparison to MBC's LOOX Hero Centre it is the senior venue and the practised ease with which the crew approaches their work makes for a good atmosphere.
The press room and backstage areas may be modest, but they are off-set by the spacious design of the studio which doesn't impede the fans view of their favorite players in any way. It is easy for those who have come from all over Seoul and beyond to feel a connection to the event and those gamers whom they're rooting for when they can see them sitting less than ten feet away in some cases.
The lighting of the studio provides a functional and reliable environment for eSports journalists and amateur fan reporters as well. The interior of the studio is always immaculate and its location means finding food or diversions between events is never a problem. The exterior is also a great asset to the studio because it provides a space within which large numbers of fans can comfortably gather to meet their heroes after the games have concluded. This is especially apparent during the Summer season when meetings are always held outside. During the less clement weather fan meets are often held inside on the ninth floor. This is not a well lit area, but it is as comfortable as the courtyard setting for the average fan.
The concluding part of this article will discuss MBC's LOOX Hero Centre and the trials of creating a new space for professional eSports in Seoul.
A call to arms ~ How to have your say:
Is there a topic you're burning to learn more about? Perhaps you'd like to hear from the people behind the cameras at OGN? Or get the scoop on what the Hwasin fan girls *really* think about Bisu.
Comment with your ideas and I will do my best to choose the most intriguing ones to be made in to full articles over the coming season.
gawd i want one of those keyboard bags grats on FOMOS btw!
edit: suggestion for an article, this'd be difficult but interesting
after the TL OSL party at blizzcon this year, i think it was effort who said that he was impressed how into the mechanics of Pro play we foreigners were, but that we didnt pay much attention to style, or not as much as they do in korea
so idunno, something along the lines of Styles of starcraft in the Pro scene would be awesome
Thanks for the great article! I'm actually impressed at how small the place is. You generally except the studio to be much, much larger- but I suppose that is how it is for the most behind-the-scene places.
Way cool! Thanks a lot NeverGG. I'm struck by the immense contrast between the OGN studio and, say, Dodger Stadium.
I'd be interested in things like what keyboards and mice can be used, how each player's settings are saved so that they can all play on relatively short notice with no trouble, et cetera, but I'm sure there's a better way I can learn about that than making you write about it, and it doesn't really lend itself to photography.
A virtual tour of one of the team houses (preferably CJ, T1, or KT, in my immensely biased opinion) would be incredibly baller, but I don't know how practical it is. I'd also be interested in how exposed to progaming Koreans tend to be (I seem to remember you telling me in IRC sometime that a bunch of your students were pretty familiar with it; is that typical? does most of the country ignore it? or is it more like baseball in the United States, where you get a full spectrum from obsessed fans to people who couldn't even name more than one or two teams, weighted towards the latter end?). The fan club head interview you mentioned sounds like it could give at least some information in that regard. I'd also LOVE to read (or watch) an interview with a map designer or two. Preferably not the one responsible for Battle Royale.
Great videos, can't wait for more. Is courtyard area open or is there some sort of glass ceiling? I couldn't really tell, but it looked like you were outside from the lighting.
Is there a topic you're burning to learn more about? Perhaps you'd like to hear from the people behind the cameras at OGN? Or get the scoop on what the Hwasin fan girls *really* think about Bisu.
Comment with your ideas and I will do my best to choose the most intriguing ones to be made in to full articles over the coming season.
I'm not much for American paparazzi, but the pro-gaming stuff kind of interests me.
I've listened to you talk about your disdain for Tossgirl and her attitude -- that being she puts up a huge front for the camera and is well... snooty when off-camera.
I'd like to know more about other pro-gamers behind-the-scenes.
iloveoov and Boxer are the leaders of the SKT1 team. How do they lead their team? How do they act when their team loses (IE, are they stoic? Do they give morale-boosting speeches?)
When firebathero is in the back after a win, is he still as celebratory as he was when he was on-stage?
How about before an event starts? How is everyone acting? Who's freaking out over their on-stage game they are about to play? Who is arrogant? Who looks like they're calm but is actually about to break down in to tears?
I think the on-stage drama is somewhat for-show, but it's the behind-the-scene stuff that is raw and much more enlightening.
On October 23 2009 23:55 Zona wrote: Nice video tour, I enjoyed it - and you have a lovely accent.
Share with us the things you think we'll find interesting - that we wouldn't find out from anyone else.
Aww, how come no one says * I * have a lovely accent? Americans get no love. Kudos to you, Kerr, for taking the time to do this - anyone who's been to Yongsan can tell you what a pain it is to find the e-sports arena.
On October 23 2009 21:41 Tyxiquale wrote: awesome work!
Although I can't seem to pinpoint your accent.
It seems part american, part british and part australian. Please explain?
I'm honestly not sure myself. I've been living away from home for a long time and I do think teaching has influenced my accent, but I've never been to America or Australia even for a holiday. So it's kind of inexplicable
This really felt like being able to go there myself and check it out. I feel more connected to the players and the scene just from having seen all of this - I'm sure the knowledge of what the surrounding building is like will be with me everytime I watch streams of games at OGN
On October 25 2009 03:13 Synwave wrote: Thank you for the virtual tour and the article, very interesting to someone that will likely never find themselves in Korea.
Accent: Has to be kiwi!
Hahaha I'm British, but I don't mind being called a Kiwi.
I get that here but more because I grew up all over so I don't carry much of any particular regional accent. The British one I am most familiar with is my closest friend who happens to be from Weymouth (weh-muff)
you'r doing amazing job nevergg! its no nice to se how its on set on korea. for future work i would love to "meet" with the fans of the big names. who are they, do they play them selfs etc.
EPT![[image loading]](/staff/NeverGG/coverimage.jpg)
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