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How do the "codes" work in GSL?

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Tournaments
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1 2 Next All
CageMonkey
Profile Joined November 2010
United States66 Posts
December 18 2011 07:27 GMT
#1
I've been trying to follow the GSL lately, however, I'm afraid I don't quite understand all the "codes"(a-z). If someone could please explain to me, on this thread or on skype, how the "codes" work, I would greatly appreciate it.

Please hit me up on skype at REFLEX_1986 sometime and give me a break from studying for my calculus and accounting finals. (I plan on recording these conversations for my and others' reference unless the people answering my questions do not want to be recorded.)
OR just post here and do your best to CLEARLY explain how it works.

For example: As far as I can tell, I've only ever heard of "Codes A and S." Why do we not hear about "Codes E or Q?"

REFLEX.500


PS- If there is already a post about this...please forgive me. I looked briefly and could not find a thread on this topic.(all of my threads have been closed due to there already being a thread on the topic....which I think is ridiculous...I'm still ignorant of the answers of the topis for which I had questions and have not been referred to another thread[EXCEPT for the threads which POKEBUNNY has referred me to]. I've only been told that I'm stupid for not looking hard enough. Thank you TL.NET, your MODS have provided NO help)
Hey, Watch this...!
pt
Profile Joined November 2010
United States813 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-12-18 07:31:10
December 18 2011 07:30 GMT
#2
S-Class, A-Class. That's all it means.
EG-TL!
hiyo_bye
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
United States737 Posts
December 18 2011 07:32 GMT
#3
http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft2/GOMTV_Global_Starcraft_II_League#Tournament_Format

This should help.
Random
LiamTheZerg
Profile Joined March 2011
United States523 Posts
December 18 2011 07:32 GMT
#4
Not sure if trolling and about to go to bed but here's an overview. From what i know, there's Code B, Code A, and Code S. Code A and Code S are the only codes that have tournaments, Code B doesn't really matters and might? be a way of classifying those that couldn't make it to Code S.

Code S are the best of the best, the cream of the crop. Code A are still amazing, just not as good as Code S or they're in a slump. Code S is where the big money is, Code A/GSTL is where you get recognized.
Jjakji | Sage | Seal | Shuttle | DongRaeGu | oGsTheSTC | Bomber | Curious | Oz
pt
Profile Joined November 2010
United States813 Posts
December 18 2011 07:33 GMT
#5
Code B is just a nickname for people who aren't in S/A. It means they aren't even playing in the GSL.
EG-TL!
johnnywup
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States3858 Posts
December 18 2011 07:33 GMT
#6
code "b" is out of gsl entirely.

you have to play in a qualifier to get into code a.

when you're in code a, you've got to either win all your matches or win all but one (or two, can't remember), and go to up and down matches in order to get into code s.

now before we see the connection between code s/code a lets look at code s for a moment.

in the code s tournament, if you don't get into the round of 8 (in which case you stay in code s), you're put down into code a. you also have to win all your matches or win all but one (or two) and go to up and down matches to get back into code s for the next season.

so code a is basically a losers bracket for code s that you must first qualify for,

that's basically the format. hope i helped.
Azzur
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
Australia6267 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-12-18 07:39:02
December 18 2011 07:36 GMT
#7
"Code S" and "Code A" are arbitrary names, they could've called them "Code Alpha" and "Code Beta". "Code B" is a term for "not in the GSL" but it has the connotation that the player is possibly GSL standard.

Have a look at this picture, it should explain the tournament format.

[image loading]
Noam
Profile Joined September 2010
Israel2209 Posts
December 18 2011 07:39 GMT
#8
The GSL is an elaborate tournament which is separated into two tiers:
the "Code S" players who are the top tier and are competing against each other to win the GSL,
the "Code A" players who are competing against each other to enter Code S. (I think in USA you call this feeder leagues?)
If you are losing in Code S you drop down to Code A next season. If you are winning in Code A you qualify for Code S next season

"Code B" is the class given to the players not participating in the GSL at all but are eligible to try and get in. These are normally the top ~200 players in Korea who are not already in GSL AND every non-Korean players. These "Code B" players compete against each other in a short 2-3 day tournament and the winners qualify for Code A.

There are no other codes because they are not required.
Liquipedia
VirgilSC2
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United States6151 Posts
December 18 2011 07:52 GMT
#9
On December 18 2011 16:30 pt wrote:
S-Class, A-Class. That's all it means.

Nope. Code S =/= S Class.

Clarity Gaming #1 Fan | Avid MTG Grinder | @VirgilSC2
CheezDip
Profile Joined June 2010
126 Posts
December 18 2011 07:59 GMT
#10
While I understand the GSL format, I would restate one part of the OP's question which I don't believe was sufficiently answered: Why is it Code "S" and Code "A" rather than an alphabetical sequence A,B,C, or any other letters? Is the "S" used as an initial for Starcraft, or does it have origins in other league/tournament systems unrelated to Starcraft?
dekarp
Profile Joined December 2011
286 Posts
December 18 2011 08:03 GMT
#11
"S" is often used as the most superior ranking in a lot of games. "S" = super/superior.

One off the top of my head is the Monster Rancher (Monster Farm) franchise.
https://dotabuff.com/players/110773298 divinereps on reddit.
elt
Profile Joined July 2010
Thailand1092 Posts
December 18 2011 08:04 GMT
#12
On December 18 2011 16:59 CheezDip wrote:
While I understand the GSL format, I would restate one part of the OP's question which I don't believe was sufficiently answered: Why is it Code "S" and Code "A" rather than an alphabetical sequence A,B,C, or any other letters? Is the "S" used as an initial for Starcraft, or does it have origins in other league/tournament systems unrelated to Starcraft?


Not 100% sure, but I think it stems from BW which uses S-Class (TBLS + some others) and A-Class (majority of other A-teamers), and GOM wanted to emulate that. I'm not sure how it arose in BW though.
(Under Construction)
Puph
Profile Joined June 2011
Canada635 Posts
December 18 2011 08:07 GMT
#13
I believe the names of the letters originate from S-class and A-class categories, but the fact you can go from S to A and back again so often it lost it's value. My opinion anyway.

Also, Original Poster, I do not think you should be place off-topic blame into your thread. It is a little unprofessional. As for the Skype record requests, I am not down to be quoted on things I say
Intel Dual Core 4400 @ ~2.00GHz / 2046MB RAM / 256 MB ATI Radeon x1300PRO
CheezDip
Profile Joined June 2010
126 Posts
December 18 2011 08:33 GMT
#14
On December 18 2011 17:04 elt wrote:
Show nested quote +
On December 18 2011 16:59 CheezDip wrote:
While I understand the GSL format, I would restate one part of the OP's question which I don't believe was sufficiently answered: Why is it Code "S" and Code "A" rather than an alphabetical sequence A,B,C, or any other letters? Is the "S" used as an initial for Starcraft, or does it have origins in other league/tournament systems unrelated to Starcraft?


Not 100% sure, but I think it stems from BW which uses S-Class (TBLS + some others) and A-Class (majority of other A-teamers), and GOM wanted to emulate that. I'm not sure how it arose in BW though.


I googled S-Class and came up with a result for Mercedes-Benz S-Class, a series of cars, and Mercedes-Benz also has an A-Class series.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_S-Class


The name "S-Class" derives from the German word "Sonderklasse" of which "S-Class" is an abbreviation. Sonderklasse means "special class" (or rather: "In a class of its own"), and in automotive terms thus refers to "a specially outfitted car."


So... possibly based on Mercedes categories? Could anybody who was around when the system was first introduced to BW confirm the origin?
xxpack09
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
United States2160 Posts
December 18 2011 08:45 GMT
#15
On December 18 2011 17:33 CheezDip wrote:
Show nested quote +
On December 18 2011 17:04 elt wrote:
On December 18 2011 16:59 CheezDip wrote:
While I understand the GSL format, I would restate one part of the OP's question which I don't believe was sufficiently answered: Why is it Code "S" and Code "A" rather than an alphabetical sequence A,B,C, or any other letters? Is the "S" used as an initial for Starcraft, or does it have origins in other league/tournament systems unrelated to Starcraft?


Not 100% sure, but I think it stems from BW which uses S-Class (TBLS + some others) and A-Class (majority of other A-teamers), and GOM wanted to emulate that. I'm not sure how it arose in BW though.


I googled S-Class and came up with a result for Mercedes-Benz S-Class, a series of cars, and Mercedes-Benz also has an A-Class series.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_S-Class


Show nested quote +
The name "S-Class" derives from the German word "Sonderklasse" of which "S-Class" is an abbreviation. Sonderklasse means "special class" (or rather: "In a class of its own"), and in automotive terms thus refers to "a specially outfitted car."


So... possibly based on Mercedes categories? Could anybody who was around when the system was first introduced to BW confirm the origin?


It's an auto racing thing in general, not just categories of a certain type of car
Torpedo.Vegas
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
United States1890 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-12-18 08:55:02
December 18 2011 08:47 GMT
#16
  • Code S = The highest payout and supposed skill level in the GSL
  • Code A = The second highest and supposed skill level in the GSL.
  • "Code B" = The nickname given to players who have participated in the Qualifiers for the GSL or need to re-qualify after falling from Code A. Not an official Code.

The reason I typed "supposed" is players are not yet really consistent enough (except for made a select few) to honestly say they "belong" in that skill level. Players often trend between great showings and not so great showings, so it is difficult to classify them conclusively as truly "belonging" in their respective Code (for better or worse).

  • S-Class = The absolute highest caliber play from a skill and tournament performance stance. Not usually an official title, more so a delineation made by the fans.
  • A-Class = Mid to High caliber player from a skill and tournament performance stance.
  • B-Class = Low to Mid caliber player from a skill and tournament performance stance. Can also be called a "B-Teamer." These players tend to not stand out as much and possible don't even play in major tournaments per in-house ranking.


A lot of these terms being used with respect to Starcraft were developed in the Brood War era, so I am not entirely sure my definitions are wholly exact (especially for the Class ranking). I do not think people are even qualifying current SC2 players into the BW-style class structure yet because of the wild inconsistency the vast majority of the players show as of yet. Making a categorical determination is very difficult and depends on whose opinion is given. For example, an S-Class player in Brood War would be Flash because of his outstanding career record and exceptional skill displayed in-game.

The "S", "A" and "B" ranking system is a common system used across a broad array of competitive games, predominately made by eastern developers. You can see it used officially in games like Street Fighter or most score-based games. It is even used in anime and manga. Do not quote me on this, but I think the "S" may have to do with notion of "Superior" or "Special" while the subsequent A,B,C is the commonly used grading procedure known colloquially. I suspect "S" was introduced after the the "A,B,C.." was being used to identify individual scores or people who are exceptionally elite, beyond those who are already considered to be very good or great at whatever is being judged.
Yoshi Kirishima
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
United States10372 Posts
December 18 2011 08:48 GMT
#17
On December 18 2011 16:52 VirgilSC2 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On December 18 2011 16:30 pt wrote:
S-Class, A-Class. That's all it means.

Nope. Code S =/= S Class.



It has the same meaning.
Mid-master streaming MECH ONLY + commentary www.twitch.tv/yoshikirishima +++ "If all-in fails, all-in again."
Meteora.GB
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
Canada2479 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-12-18 09:05:25
December 18 2011 09:04 GMT
#18
On December 18 2011 17:48 Yoshi Kirishima wrote:
Show nested quote +
On December 18 2011 16:52 VirgilSC2 wrote:
On December 18 2011 16:30 pt wrote:
S-Class, A-Class. That's all it means.

Nope. Code S =/= S Class.



It has the same meaning.


Not quite.

S-Class in BW was described as the best of the best players, in other words: Flash, Jaedong, Stork and Bisu were considered as S-Class. This designation does not simply rotate easily in and out like Code S, where you can be in the finals and then drop out into Code A (see MVP, TOP and Inca). It is a designation by the fans/commentators.

Top tier A-class included people like EffOrt, Hydra and Fantasy. Does not translate well to SC2 terms. Either way, the Code thing has nothing to do with Class ratings.

Though you are free to believe whatever you want.
Enearde
Profile Joined February 2011
France265 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-12-18 09:06:30
December 18 2011 09:04 GMT
#19
Code B players are those who have (iirc) 600 points on the master league (KR server)*, Code A are players who got past the "Code B tournament" more often called code A qualifier and Code S are those who won the Code A tournament or won their matches in what is called the "up&down matches". Those matches determine who'll take a place in code S next season and the one who'll fall into Code A.

In other words: Code S > Code A > Code B.

*Every player who gets 600 points on KR server master League IS a code B player because he fullfils the requirement to be seeded in the Code B tournament.
Empyrean
Profile Blog Joined September 2004
17066 Posts
December 18 2011 09:25 GMT
#20
As an aside, if you have a problem with the moderation, please feel free to open a thread in the Website Feedback forum.
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