|
This is why I laughed at seeing players being offered Code A slots. Code S for the winner is fine, but why would anyone who posts good results in the NA/EU tourneys go to Korea to participate in a month long tourney with subpar prize money for the chance to get Code S is beyond me.
Too much sacrifice for the low probable gain. I guess you would get a boost in popularity, but not much more.
Not to mention all the issues Xeris pointed out in terms of practice/culture etc etc. Also the factors of getting acclimated to playing on stage, staying to in a differnet country for an extended period of time, especially when you dont know the language is tough enough without trying to perform in high pressure tourneys.
|
Living as a foreigner in a strange land is frightening and can do quite a number on your mental state. Learning the language, making sense of the new culture, transportation, etc. Hence I agree that advance notice is enormous, and I really hope GOMTV learns this lesson and even more importantly, this fact is stressed to the organizers. At the same time, part of me also feels that this is something which is straightforward, and maybe a bit inconsiderate of GOMTV.
Here's my comment on the Code S thing. Actually, I do feel that foreigners did indeed get a pass into Code S in previous GSL seasons. It's already happened, so I'm a little confused on "invite foreigners directly into Code S" comment.
At the same time, just slogging through to reach Code A, and fighting through Code A to reach Code S, is hell. So thinking along those lines...it's not hard to consider the thoughts of a native Korean, when he sees foreigners being placed directly into Code S. We need to spur as much international competition as possible to keep things lively, interesting, attract maximum viewers, but at the same time, be fair to everyone concerned.
In terms of seeking more practice partners, this is a complex problem. Maybe we need some form of team practice mergers or something like that. This is tough because there may be internal team strats that the players want to keep closer to their chest, or just within their own teams.
|
Good read, Thanks for the great input!
|
On May 18 2011 05:31 vnlegend wrote: The full schedule for gomtv's leagues was already released LAST YEAR. It detailed every league, every GSTL, super tournament, prizes, etc. You know well ahead of time when the events were happening.
The major problem with Korea is simply: Korean players are too competitive for foreign players to make good money. Idra stayed in Korea for several seasons, never reaching the semi-finals. Outside of Korea he can bank on winning multiple tournaments and events easily. Simply put, Koreans > foreigners. All the other factors outside of absolute skill and ability to win are barriers that can be overcome. Idra was able to overcome them, but he still couldn't win.
Just because they released a schedule many months ago is kinda irrelevant to working with foreigners on actually coming to Korea.
|
On May 18 2011 05:34 GhostFall wrote: It would be nice for foreign players if the prize pool for Code A was larger instead of a direct invite to Code S
Even more important I think, is there are not enough events in Korea.
In Korea, SC2, there is one major tournament, the GSL. For NA alone, we have NASL, IPL, MLG. And because NA is so large, there are a ton of online tournaments. In korea, most of the population is located in Seoul, so there are not as many online tournaments. Maybe because SC2 is so new, but SC1 generally has the proleague, OSL, MSL that is ongoing. There just needs to be more events. Yes, there are a lot of tourneys in NA. But the whole sum of all NA prizepool in a year isn't even half of GSL prizepool (which is like 2 millions $ a year).
|
You wrote once Stage of the game and once State of the game. The second term is correct.
I love the article and it's great to get a view from a prominent team manager.
|
>he could probably win a majority of the weekly cups on EU/NA
No, he couldn't. Look at his play. Look at Zerg statistics. It's 500 to 1000 players every time with a ton of BO1s. GL getting through that as as Zerg.
Maybe NesTea could win consistently as Zerg in those cups.
Others ... not so much
|
On May 18 2011 05:40 MrCon wrote:Show nested quote +On May 18 2011 05:34 GhostFall wrote: It would be nice for foreign players if the prize pool for Code A was larger instead of a direct invite to Code S
Even more important I think, is there are not enough events in Korea.
In Korea, SC2, there is one major tournament, the GSL. For NA alone, we have NASL, IPL, MLG. And because NA is so large, there are a ton of online tournaments. In korea, most of the population is located in Seoul, so there are not as many online tournaments. Maybe because SC2 is so new, but SC1 generally has the proleague, OSL, MSL that is ongoing. There just needs to be more events. Yes, there are a lot of tourneys in NA. But the whole sum of all NA prizepool in a year isn't even half of GSL prizepool (which is like 2 millions $ a year). You have to consider though that the way the GSL prize pool is distributed is very top-heavy. If you look outside the prize-winnings of FD, MC, MVP, Nestea, and MKP, the winnings of the rest of the Korean code S players are about even and often worse when compared to the winnings of the top ~30 foreigners.
Of course, this isn't taking salaries into account, which I have no idea about.
|
On May 18 2011 04:56 Xeris wrote:
2) Invite foreigners directly into Code S. A good exchange program would be to invite a first placed foreign player at MLG to Code S. This way there is a huge incentive now for a foreigner to actually go to Korea. In fact, as mentioned on State of the Game, a direct Code S invite does appeal a lot more to foreign pros than a Code A invite. This way, you actually get foreigners to Korea -- if they lose in Code S, they might be more tempted to stick around to play through Code A to qualify again for Code S. Getting them directly into Code S is sort of like a "foot in the door" method and might increase the chances of foreigner retention in Korea.
.
Oh btw xeris after columbus this is what they are doing. Alot of people obviously didnt read closely enough as tons of people have suggested this exact thing, and it is exactly what they are doing starting after columbus. Here is the quote from the announcement " At every 2011 Pro Circuit Live Competition after MLG Columbus, GSL placement will occur as follows: - Code S status will be awarded to the highest placing player, regardless of country of origin, who does not already have Code S status.
Also i think more people than you would think would jump at the chance to try out korea for a month with an all expenses paid trip. Im suprised at the amount of people that make this into a negative thing. All expenses paid trip to korea is at the very worst a very very nice all expenses paid vacation where you could gain a huge amount of practice, regardless of practice partners like you said. Incontrol has said that his 2-3 weeks in korea granted him a far more fulfilling practice then 6 months in NA (or something like that) so although it may not be as ideal as being in an actual pro house it is something the players can defenetly benifit from.
Although i agree that the system is not ideal, i think many of you negative nancy's might be suprised at the amount of players that wouldnt mind trying korea out for a month especially if it is all expenses paid. Why not take a shot at code s, its not like they have to stay if they fail to get in. Its not burden on the player or the team, its just a really great opportunity.
Also just because 2 players on SOTG said they wouldnt go doesnt mean that is the general consensus, you pointed out "as stated on SOTG". By 2 players 1 who has been to korea and is done there for now, and tyler who is married and it wouldnt make sense for him. So i hardly view that as a valid point.
|
On May 18 2011 05:22 ZasZ. wrote: but it just doesn't make sense logistically or economically for anybody that doesn't feel they have a sure shot at Code S (IdrA) to go through with it.
edit: i fail at reading comp
|
10387 Posts
Not really a "Korea" problem per se, but a "GOM" problem. Since KeSPA and Blizzard have made up now, OGN and MBCGame will probably be offering much better organized tournaments sometime down the road
|
Making code A online is terrible idea. What makes the GSL unique is the studio atmosphere, if you take that away it's no different than most other tournaments out there. I'm all for making it more accessible, but the online solution is simply not valid. Make it shorter, have more big foreign tournaments grant seeds, anything but making it online.
So what if the top finishers at MLG might refuse to go to Korea? There are plenty of great players in MLG that could compete in code A and code S, I'm not worried in the slightest if Idra or Incontrol are too busy in the US to go to Korea.
|
Nice article, I didn't know KR team houses really were that full :/
Just waiting for IM to recruit a rockstar foreigner and then put him on 10 hour practice with the likes of mvp and nestea.
|
On May 18 2011 05:20 Yaotzin wrote:Show nested quote +On May 18 2011 05:13 StarStruck wrote: Yes, only the winners will be sent to Code S. Xeris, I thought everything you said was blatantly obvious yet GOM doesn't seem to understand this. We know their intentions are good, but there are many reasons why many of the top foreigners will continue to pass on GOM's opportunities. They don't necessarily not understand, it's just not a simple problem to solve. Making Code A prize money better would help a lot, but money doesn't grow on trees. I'm not sure there's enough money there to do it, while maintaining the Code S prestige. Stuff like online Code A has pretty huge problems too...not least that lag to Korea is so bad that frankly no one would really qualify anyway.
I said it in another thread, but I'll say it again: Code A is the equivalent of MSL Survivor. Nothing more than a qualifier. I don't like their format or qualification process like the next guy, but it still stands.
Got to appreciate how every Korean tournament format is different (with regards to the MSL, OSL and GSL), but they all have something in common: outrageously long and complex to the naked eye.
|
I agree with some points and disagree with others.
I think it is in the best interest of GOM to have foreigners in their tournament. I think this is pretty clear from the VOD numbers and what not. Having said that, GOM is putting a lot of effort to make accommodations for the foreigners... they just seem to be the wrong things. How are they supposed to know that though if teams don't say anything. They have only operated in Korea, where all the players are pretty much at their finger tips. They don't have the perspective that you are providing in your OP.
I think the first step is for teams and team managers to speak up about the problems (like you are doing here) and getting their attention. Letting them know "Hey I can bring 4-5 players over if you just give us enough time" will go a long way, instead of just hoping they give you more time.
I think what you are doing (raising awareness) is the first step to this process. I think something needs to be done about Code A-B mechanic, as it feels really clunky so to speak. No incentive to be there for anyone really.
|
I agree with most of the stuff you say but...
The rest of the world has all these online tournament daily/weekly. Code A should not change.
The draw of GomTV is that they play in a live event. If Code A was play online, what's the difference is it from tournament such as FXOpen or the TSL or any other on teamliquid.
The reason i pay GomTV is for the live game + vods. I sure won't be paying GomTV if it was online.
There could be other fixes but moving Code A to online should not be.
|
do you really pay to watch the code a matches though, I only ever watch vods of code s unless it's mvp vs bomber.
|
Korea just needs more competitions to fuel their players, foreigners going there alone won't help the sc2 scene in korea. They can make GSL like an exclusive kind of thing where u get the best players to compete only few times a year.
GSL alone won't help the sc2 scene thrive in korea because there is an immense fanbase there too just banking on 1 competition. Look at the foreign scene, we thrived because we have lots of competitions!
|
Code A definitely does need some sort of rework but it's tough to say. If you make it online a lot of the marketability goes away from GSL. Code A is so insanely competitive right now so they really do want the ability to broadcast it. But if you look at it financially it's just so much better to stay in NA/EU and play in all the constant $1-2k tournaments going on everywhere than it is to basically go all-in on one tournament in the GSL.
|
I think when the FXO tournament in malaysia gets going that will slightly help with that issues since that would potentially give another tournament for those players going over there to play in, but that's still pretty limiting.
I do think it's pretty uneven, I don't know if it's "fair" skill-wise to give out multiple code-S spots at MLG and I'm not positive that would help, but definitely seeding 4 players into a tournament with a $5k first prize as one of the top 20 players who are all roughly treated equally is a much bigger prize than getting housing in Korea to play a month-long tournament even in code S. It might be viable if there was some "bonus prize" which was if 2 players from the same team made it then they would provide this treatment for up to 5 players from that team or something, but it still might get mostly passed on.
|
|
|
|