NASL: Koreans? Top Koreans? - Page 62

On March 16 2011 21:22 Morphs wrote:
Koreans should be able to join in of course.

But that's not the point. The point is that at the moment there will be no NASL. Or at least no video streaming. Blizzard did not give permission to the NASL to stream their matches. Looks like their deal with gom.tv prevents them from other stuff that may be even more lucrative..

I heard this two days ago on a livestream. The story is actually quite wicked (how the NASL started and where the money comes from). But I'll spare these details.

On March 16 2011 22:40 maahes wrote:
I don't know how I truly feel about this, but my gut instinct is to agree with Pokebunny.

I do so for cultural reasons, primarily. The Korean culture of progaming is much more refined when it comes to perfecting one's ability, I think. Gaming houses are like dojos or barracks - the majority of progamers have no obligation other than to get really fucking good at Starcraft, and their entire lifestyle is centered around that. They had an architecture to use thanks to years of BW and there hasn't been a use of that model in the west yet, has there? I mean, yes, EG has a 'house' in AZ, but isn't there some creepy guy that watches porn on his huge flatscreen TV there as a room mate? @_@

That's not to say that western gamers aren't SC2 focused - but to be immersed in something, to live with all your team mates and completely gel into the competitive world is a lot different than hanging out with your friends on Skype while customing in important ways.

So... My hope, and I think the best thing for competitive SC2, is for e-sports in the west to grow and become a lifestyle like it is in Korea. The tournaments are there for the winning, but the teams are displaced and it's more like a hobby than a way of life for most of those breaking their backs to get good. The only difference between the two cultures in terms of skill is methods of practice according to those much knowledgeable than myself - I don't think that the west will ever close that gap if a bunch of dudes from Seoul are going about wrecking it up in every hemisphere. Once ROOT, Mouz and their contemporaries have their strongest players bunking together and trying to find the One True Style on the meal ticket of their sponsors, then yes, yes, yes, globalize the shit out of NASL, but until then, this should be our baby, or we're going to be eternal underdogs.

That's just my gut reaction, at least.

On March 16 2011 22:40 maahes wrote:
That's not to say that western gamers aren't SC2 focused - but to be immersed in something, to live with all your team mates and completely gel into the competitive world is a lot different than hanging out with your friends on Skype while customing in important ways.

That's just my gut reaction, at least.

On March 16 2011 21:22 Morphs wrote:
Koreans should be able to join in of course.

But that's not the point. The point is that at the moment there will be no NASL. Or at least no video streaming. Blizzard did not give permission to the NASL to stream their matches. Looks like their deal with gom.tv prevents them from other stuff that may be even more lucrative..

I heard this two days ago on a livestream. The story is actually quite wicked (how the NASL started and where the money comes from). But I'll spare these details.

On March 16 2011 23:02 Almin wrote:
Guys guys guys, there's a easy way to get out of this....Invite all the Koreans, but lets do what GSL does, pit teammates and in this case, Koreans against each other, and give them their worst MU and maps for their race to play on.


+ Show Spoiler +

On March 16 2011 23:14 Bijan wrote:


I don't think its possible that most western pros (especially North Americans) play as much as Koreans. Actually, many western "pros" shouldn't even be calling themselves that since they have day-jobs. There may be a few exceptions, but theres no way that theres enough money in western tournaments to support as extensive of a pro scene as there is in Korea. Almost every pro Korean player is in a team house, playing long hours and discussing SC with their mates.

I do agree though, our teams are starting to move in the right direction. I think its a matter of sponsorships that will decide when team houses start becoming common. The NASL will hopefully have a huge hand in expanding this. Once we get real team houses we will see the skill gap quickly shrink. And although there may still be more quality players in Korea with their established esports culture, we may actually see foreign players being considered among the best of Koreans, even perhaps surpassing them.

On March 16 2011 23:14 Bijan wrote:


I don't think its possible that most western pros (especially North Americans) play as much as Koreans. Actually, many western "pros" shouldn't even be calling themselves that since they have day-jobs. There may be a few exceptions, but theres no way that theres enough money in western tournaments to support as extensive of a pro scene as there is in Korea. Almost every pro Korean player is in a team house, playing long hours and discussing SC with their mates.

I do agree though, our teams are starting to move in the right direction. I think its a matter of sponsorships that will decide when team houses start becoming common. The NASL will hopefully have a huge hand in expanding this. Once we get real team houses we will see the skill gap quickly shrink. And although there may still be more quality players in Korea with their established esports culture, we may actually see foreign players being considered among the best of Koreans, even perhaps surpassing them.

On March 16 2011 23:26 rO_Or wrote:


Yea, I completely agree and anyone who says the otherwise is delusional ;\. Alot of the top foreign players are still in university, a commitment much more demanding than SC2 and doesn't leave time to play/discuss SC2 12+ hours a day. But if NA/EU pros are actually interested in improving their skills and achieving the same skill level as top Koreans than they should welcome the opportunity to play in the same league as these guys (something that would have never happened in BW). It really boggles my mind that some of these guys are adamantly arguing against the Korean pros. Who cares if they can't speak english well, they aren't going to learn unless we give them an opportunity in the states. There are tons of Korean Americans, I'm sure itd be easy for NASL to find its own John(Translator).