On July 14 2010 19:59 n0ise wrote:First of all - great topic.
There's lots of faces to this problem, but ideally a compromise, a middle solution, should be found.
Show nested quote +On July 14 2010 02:26 Paramore wrote:
Its really not about WHO is in it as much as HOW GOOD the people are
This is really wishful thinking - the hardcore viewers might tune in to watch lesser known players, but the mass will only come when there's big names playing. That it 'should' or 'might' be otherwise isn't really a hypothesis worth discussing.
Secondly, there's this idea that seems to be flying throughout the thread
Show nested quote +On July 14 2010 02:38 Uncertain wrote:
unknowns that may be as good or better than the big names that we viewers love to watch play
Some may not like it, but there's a strong connection between 'talent' (or acquired skill) and 'recognition'. Going around saying otherwise is simply untrue (I am talking about the highest tier of players, of course), and won't bring this discussion anywhere.
Now, for me, the problem is -
what about that 2nd tier of players? The ones that in every Go4sc2, in every ZOTAC and CraftCup cause a few upsets, they reach the top four, but rarely or never the finals, even though they show amazingly good games?
For
them, the most obvious/easiest solution would be to keep playing these 'low-stakes' tournies until they get a certain recognition (This might be a problem, since it appears that even your casual 'Friday Night SCII $15 and a Hug' now comes off as an invitational; but I digress).
However,
the organisers of big events could throw in a hand as well (note that I do understand the work involved in managing a big event with sponsors, streamers, angry players and so on) by simply reserving 4 of those, say, 16 spots to players who
earn them through qualifiers. This is such common practice in every other eSport (especially CS huge LAN tournies, I guess) that it seems weird that no one did it yet - basically, you make sure you get your viewer base happy by getting 12 of the best 12 possible, but you also give a chance to that 2nd tier player (which I could name SO many of, at least here in EU) who could put up a good fight or even take out a 'well-known-player'.
Anyway, /rant ended. Hope someone who matters thinks about this, and tries making everyone happy in those up-coming-big-ass invitationals.