I interviewed all my players, TT1 Sen Fenix and Gretorp (still need to upload Gretorp's!) .
Check their thoughts on the games, on MLG, on practice, etc etc. Interesting notes:
* TT1, and also Fenix confirms that when you're playing you can hear the casters. According to TT1 it really impacts and limits play because it makes it harder to do unorthodox or cheesy strategies since there's a chance your opponent will be able to find out.
* SENTRY IMBA!
Here are the interviews:
Fenix
TT1
Sen
*Will upload Gretorp's interview tonight when I get home.
being able to hear the casters is extremely bad. Which means they could probly hear the audience too if they shouted loud enough? (Like if a player was a bout to scout a proxy gateway, audience would be yelling in anticipation). I think an issue like that came up in korea at some point, that really needs to get solved like now O_O
From my perspective playing in tournaments and such... even when I hear casters it's not like you pay attention to it. You're focusing so much on playing that oftentimes you just glaze over what the casters say. But, it is a potential problem because something substantial you'll hear ... "OMG PROXY GATES" is bleh.
Pro gamer booths on such a large scale event would be pretty difficult to handle, processing that many players in such a short timespan (all MLG events are 3 day-spans), very expensive. They'd need to change up the system to reduce the number of players at the actual live event (qualifiers) or find an alternative method of keeping the players from hearing the crowd and casters.
Great interviews, sen seems like the nicest person on the planet. I thought he was easy to understand. Couldn't really follow fenix at some places though ;(
Real shame about TT1 saying he was staying standard because he was afraid of builds."The casters saying 4 gate or starport and his opponent hearing it." Puts a lot into question...... Really hope this gets improved. Don't think its that hard or expensive to build 4 sound booths that are easy to assemble and disassemble. So you always have 2 games you can be casting at a time without fear of interference.
Why can't they just put them in another room in the building with a little backround starcraft music playing in the room and a camera?
On a final note, think there needs to be a little more money. These guys have to play full time to stay in shape, compete and earn money.
After MLG DC there was massive feedback to MLG that soundproof booths or headphones were necessary. MLG's response: nothing (Correction: MLG has stated they could not budget for soundproof headphones? See post next page.) This is a huge problem and would be so simple to solve with 2 pairs of soundproof cans.
what was the unit sen was talking about tt1 (i think) making a lot of? seemed like a word i didn't recognize, maybe a chinese name for some unit? sorry i can't be more specific, i watched the videos a few horus ago and am in the library so i can't re-watch. not sentries
On November 09 2010 10:41 Antoine wrote: what was the unit sen was talking about tt1 (i think) making a lot of? seemed like a word i didn't recognize, maybe a chinese name for some unit? sorry i can't be more specific, i watched the videos a few horus ago and am in the library so i can't re-watch. not sentries
i think he is saying tt1 is making dragoons (lol!) ??? after the two pylons at the ramp so he probably means stalkers
I didn't watch the replay though, so someone who did can probably confirm
Yea it is a really big problem. At IEM they made the players wear soundproof headphones, and I think MLG either needs to do this or invest in booths. Actually at UCSD's Winter Games Fest, we had the players in the final move to another room to play their match and it was cast on the big screen in the main room - that wold be another solution.
I still think there's room for improvement in terms of the spectator experience, give more benches/bleachers, they could have planned the floor space a lot better, it was in a huge room but half of it was almost totally unused.
More computers too!
However, I'm confident that the MLG staff will address a lot of these issues for next year, they seem to have been improving consistently between events and I have faith that they'll listen to the community.
<3 Payam and Sen and Fenix and Andre (too bad Kawaii couldn't make it out!)
I cannot believe MLG has done nothing to address the issue of players being able to hear the casters. Either seperate them far enough or get some quality headphones if booths are too expensive. With so much money on the line, players knowing what each other are doing is completely unacceptable. SORT IT OUT.
On November 09 2010 10:41 Antoine wrote: what was the unit sen was talking about tt1 (i think) making a lot of? seemed like a word i didn't recognize, maybe a chinese name for some unit? sorry i can't be more specific, i watched the videos a few horus ago and am in the library so i can't re-watch. not sentries
I believe he said something like Dragon which must've meant Stalker.
On November 09 2010 10:38 JWD wrote: After MLG DC there was massive feedback to MLG that soundproof booths or headphones were necessary. MLG's response: nothing. This is a huge problem and would be so simple to solve with 2 pairs of soundproof cans.
Thanks for the vids Xeris.
False. There was a bit of an impromptu response. They said that these events and their corresponding budgets are planned out far in advance. It was not within their ability to get soundproof booths for Dallas, apparently.
I dunno though, they better have something figured out for next year.
Also I've heard this problem exists at GSL too. I really wish the tournaments where a lot more professional in general, it's good for viewing in the long run to not rig brackets (GSL) , have decent rules, and not be able to hear casters (maphacks).
Blizzard Esports team really should step up and do somethign about this (standard rules, oversee bracket creations, and verify the legitness of tournaments.
Instead they will keep fucking up blizzcon. It's really disappointing in general how SC2 esports have been ran so far.
On November 09 2010 10:37 Reborn8u wrote: Why can't they just put them in another room in the building with a little backround starcraft music playing in the room and a camera?
LOL! Like MBCGame's "Magic Studio"? Maybe MLG should buy it from them. I'm sure MBCGame would LOVE to sell it.
Translation of what Sen said in Chinese in the interview to his fans, to the best of my ability:
" I'm sorry for unable to provide a good performance for you. I hope I provided some good games at least, but unfortunately losing to TT1 and a Germany protoss player. It's a shame I wasn't able to perform well. Before I used to say my best matchup is ZvP, now I am put into a difficult position! <SIGH>. Doh! "
sweet interviews. i finished watching that sen/sock marathon game and it was fucking intense, wish they casted that at mlg. also hopefully they get booths or something for the more important games.
On November 09 2010 10:38 JWD wrote: After MLG DC there was massive feedback to MLG that soundproof booths or headphones were necessary. MLG's response: nothing. This is a huge problem and would be so simple to solve with 2 pairs of soundproof cans.
Thanks for the vids Xeris.
False. There was a bit of an impromptu response. They said that these events and their corresponding budgets are planned out far in advance. It was not within their ability to get soundproof booths for Dallas, apparently.
Wow, Sen's english is better than I thought and seems to be a really nice and funny guy. I loved these videos that show the great personalities at Fnatic. Gretorp and Sen make me love the team more than others because of their humble and friendly attitude.
On November 09 2010 10:38 JWD wrote: After MLG DC there was massive feedback to MLG that soundproof booths or headphones were necessary. MLG's response: nothing (Correction: MLG has stated they could not budget for soundproof headphones? See post next page.) This is a huge problem and would be so simple to solve with 2 pairs of soundproof cans.
Thanks for the vids Xeris.
Something tells me that next year at MLG the budget for SC2 will be considerably higher since it is really growing each and every tournament.
On November 09 2010 09:38 Xeris wrote: * TT1, and also Fenix confirms that when you're playing you can hear the casters. According to TT1 it really impacts and limits play because it makes it harder to do unorthodox or cheesy strategies since there's a chance your opponent will be able to find out.
Are the people at MLG aware of this? This is a really big thing...
yea i hope they adress this problem in the future, either seperate the spectator area from the player area or have the players wear soundproof headsets
On November 10 2010 06:31 TT1 wrote: yea i hope they adress this problem in the future, either seperate the spectator area from the player area or have the players wear soundproof headsets
yo i'm your admin protoss homie and i thought they did a pretty good job of trying to lower the sound as low as possible. could you really still hear a lot?
im telling you guys, next year its going to be insane, dont worry
On November 09 2010 10:11 NrG.NeverExpo wrote: being able to hear the casters is extremely bad. Which means they could probly hear the audience too if they shouted loud enough? (Like if a player was a bout to scout a proxy gateway, audience would be yelling in anticipation). I think an issue like that came up in korea at some point, that really needs to get solved like now O_O
Yeah people with open-air headphones would get a huge advantage from this. I have the same headphones as Tyler (Sennheiser HD555) and I can easily everything people are saying around me unless my music is super loud or something. It would be interesting if one of the players like Tyler with open-air headphones could comment on this.
On November 09 2010 10:11 NrG.NeverExpo wrote: being able to hear the casters is extremely bad. Which means they could probly hear the audience too if they shouted loud enough? (Like if a player was a bout to scout a proxy gateway, audience would be yelling in anticipation). I think an issue like that came up in korea at some point, that really needs to get solved like now O_O
Yeah people with open-air headphones would get a huge advantage from this. I have the same headphones as Tyler (Sennheiser HD555) and I can easily everything people are saying around me unless my music is super loud or something. It would be interesting if one of the players like Tyler with open-air headphones could comment on this.
I never picked up a single word but lowering volume and focusing on the commentators' voices could go a long way with headphones like the Sennheiser HD555's. Personally I prefer earphones with a good seal but the ones I own are breaking down from wear and tear so I've had to go back to headphones.
For some more context, consider the fact that you can sit down on the floor and see the screen perfectly well but not be able to listen to the commentators well at all. The players are certainly playing in an area outside of where the speakers are projecting.
rectangle = player area red = projector screen green = speakers, hanging from the ceiling, facing down blue = place where people were sitting watching the screen, but couldn't really hear the commentary
On November 10 2010 06:31 TT1 wrote: yea i hope they adress this problem in the future, either seperate the spectator area from the player area or have the players wear soundproof headsets
yo i'm your admin protoss homie and i thought they did a pretty good job of trying to lower the sound as low as possible. could you really still hear a lot?
im telling you guys, next year its going to be insane, dont worry
the finals/the games vs machine were ok but vs painuser i could hear the casters saying i was going 4gate and i had all my settings on max volume
On November 10 2010 06:31 TT1 wrote: yea i hope they adress this problem in the future, either seperate the spectator area from the player area or have the players wear soundproof headsets
yo i'm your admin protoss homie and i thought they did a pretty good job of trying to lower the sound as low as possible. could you really still hear a lot?
im telling you guys, next year its going to be insane, dont worry
the finals/the games vs machine were ok but vs painuser i could hear the casters saying i was going 4gate and i had all my settings on max volume
afaik they were constantly adjusting the volume of the commentary and maybe they left it too loud for your series against painuser. they definitely gotta be careful about that or come up with some other solution
On November 10 2010 06:31 TT1 wrote: yea i hope they adress this problem in the future, either seperate the spectator area from the player area or have the players wear soundproof headsets
yo i'm your admin protoss homie and i thought they did a pretty good job of trying to lower the sound as low as possible. could you really still hear a lot?
im telling you guys, next year its going to be insane, dont worry
^ this is great, near instant feedback from MLG that isn't some PR bullshit
this kind of stuff really gives faith to the community and all of us who want SC2 to really grow and succeed as an esport...right on man
Can they approach one of those "gaming peripheral" companies to provide some "gaming" headphones (closed)? It'll be good advertisement to have them on every players noggin.
On November 09 2010 10:38 JWD wrote: After MLG DC there was massive feedback to MLG that soundproof booths or headphones were necessary. MLG's response: nothing. This is a huge problem and would be so simple to solve with 2 pairs of soundproof cans.
Thanks for the vids Xeris.
False. There was a bit of an impromptu response. They said that these events and their corresponding budgets are planned out far in advance. It was not within their ability to get soundproof booths for Dallas, apparently.
I dunno though, they better have something figured out for next year.
I doubt I can find the post but part of what he said was they didn't have the money for booths and they would never stand up to the travel since MLG was not in a permanent location.
I can see where transporting booths would be problematic but they have already implemented some sort of headphone solution by now. In the long run MLG is going to become a boring event if all the players only do standard play because of crowd noise.