1. FXO is NOT 'replacing' any Korean team that meets the criteria for GSTL to begin with.
2. FXO will NOT be enlisting mercs such as Liquid Jinro or Huk. That defeats the purpose of their team going there.
3. This is paid out of pocket by the team manager. They are not taking the place of any other foreign team that would go to Korea otherwise. Do not whine about 'x other team should have gone instead.'
4. With the exception of Sheth, all FXO players who will be attending will also be trying out in the Code A qualifiers. (Sheth has other commitments during that time.)
Source Link: http://www.gomtv.net/2011super1/news/65436
Dear GOMTV.net users:
Hello.
We appreciate you for your positive remarks regarding the announcement of schedule for the second half year.
One of the biggest changes in the schedule for the latter half of the year is the expansion of GSTL.
Many of you might already know but the expansion of GSTL will be the opportunity for discovering new gamers and players who were eliminated from the individual league unfortunately will be able to demonstrate their skills to the world through GSTL.
One of the biggest obstacles to the decision for the expansion of GSTL was ‘what to do when foreign teams want to participate in the GSTL’.
After the expansion, GSTL will last for about 2 months and it is not easy for foreign teams to let more than 6 players stay in Korea.
However, we had a meeting with StarCraft II Conference and coaches and have decided to allow liaison between foreign players and Korean SC2 pro teams.
For example, currently we allow teams like oGs-TL to participate in the GSTL. Likewise if a great foreign player participates individually and not as a team, a good Korean SC2 pro team could scout that player and participate in the GSTL together. This will work as a catalyst for the active participation of foreign players and will work as a method to rapidly increase the awareness of Korean SC2 teams among viewers outside of Korea.
We have another great news. I couldn’t believe the news when I first heard it.
Many of you might know already but there has been a foreign team that had a lot of interest in Korea specifically.
Team FXO has decided to participate in the upcoming GSTL.
FXO has decided to bring all their team members to Korea instead of letting their players participate in the GSTL by partnering up with a Korean pro team.
We are very glad to hear this decision and are looking forward to the games between team FXO and Korean teams.
Foreign teams will have the opportunity to increase their skill levels by competing with Korean teams and by showcasing high level matches. We have already proved that individual league and team league are different with the World Championship team league.
We welcome the decision of team FXO and we will provide the GOM House to FXO in order to assist them with their stay.
We hope you show support for the grand journey of the new GSTL.
We are expecting to open the new season with 11 teams and will announce the detailed league schedule and group composition next week.
We will do our best to keep up with rapidly changing e-Sports fans and players.
Opportunities will be made. Seize them!
Thank you.
Mr. Chae Jeong Won & GOMTV.net
Hello.
We appreciate you for your positive remarks regarding the announcement of schedule for the second half year.
One of the biggest changes in the schedule for the latter half of the year is the expansion of GSTL.
Many of you might already know but the expansion of GSTL will be the opportunity for discovering new gamers and players who were eliminated from the individual league unfortunately will be able to demonstrate their skills to the world through GSTL.
One of the biggest obstacles to the decision for the expansion of GSTL was ‘what to do when foreign teams want to participate in the GSTL’.
After the expansion, GSTL will last for about 2 months and it is not easy for foreign teams to let more than 6 players stay in Korea.
However, we had a meeting with StarCraft II Conference and coaches and have decided to allow liaison between foreign players and Korean SC2 pro teams.
For example, currently we allow teams like oGs-TL to participate in the GSTL. Likewise if a great foreign player participates individually and not as a team, a good Korean SC2 pro team could scout that player and participate in the GSTL together. This will work as a catalyst for the active participation of foreign players and will work as a method to rapidly increase the awareness of Korean SC2 teams among viewers outside of Korea.
We have another great news. I couldn’t believe the news when I first heard it.
Many of you might know already but there has been a foreign team that had a lot of interest in Korea specifically.
Team FXO has decided to participate in the upcoming GSTL.
FXO has decided to bring all their team members to Korea instead of letting their players participate in the GSTL by partnering up with a Korean pro team.
We are very glad to hear this decision and are looking forward to the games between team FXO and Korean teams.
Foreign teams will have the opportunity to increase their skill levels by competing with Korean teams and by showcasing high level matches. We have already proved that individual league and team league are different with the World Championship team league.
We welcome the decision of team FXO and we will provide the GOM House to FXO in order to assist them with their stay.
We hope you show support for the grand journey of the new GSTL.
We are expecting to open the new season with 11 teams and will announce the detailed league schedule and group composition next week.
We will do our best to keep up with rapidly changing e-Sports fans and players.
Opportunities will be made. Seize them!
Thank you.
Mr. Chae Jeong Won & GOMTV.net
Dear Starcraft Community,
I am proud to announce that FXOpen e-Sports will be attending the new format GSTL in Seoul, South Korea starting June 23rd.
We found this opportunity to be very good for our team given the direction the team is going. Although the past has not seen some amazing results, over the last 2 months, FXO has bound together as a team and put in the hard yards to warrant an entire team attendance to Korea.
After visiting Korea myself in February with Moonglade, I decided that Korea is the place to at least visit for any foreign player, even if the restrictions are high and even if it is contrary to what the broader community would like to believe.
The atmosphere, the training environment, the practice teams, its all a very major part in making players great. This type of environment we do not see in the western e-sports scene YET. We feel that it is important for our players to not only experience this, but nurture it fully, altogether at once.
Now a few points to make about the GSTL. Firstly, you need 8 players to compete in the GSTL. Secondly, you need the plane tickets to get there (I think this is a lot of sponsors yearly budget depending on location, to send 1 manager + 8 team members to korea). You also need a food budget for players to eat. After budgeting this trip, we decided its in not only our companies best interests, but also our players in their development as professional gamers.
On top of this, we feel that our entire team has the potential to be GSL material, once inside the correct environment.
To keep the community informed I will give a few details here below:
Players to attend GSTL –
FXOSheth
FXOqxc
FXOMoONaN
FXOpTiKzErO
FXOSLoG
FXOtgun
FXOFilthy
FXOWolf
To clarify, mOOnGLaDe is currently going through some personal problems. He is on call per se, for this event, should he resolve his issues. We wish him the best in solving them and hope that he gets where he wants to go. At the same time, we can almost confirm a new player to our roster to add to the GSTL team. This I won’t announce until its 100% solid. This will put wolf as a substitute should any further issues arise.
FXOunstable will be attending as team manager, as well as myself, FXOBoSs for the first 2 weeks of the journey. We will be documenting it via video and text, and keeping the community well inform on exactly how the Korean environment is, as it is portrayed a little bit incorrectly online from my point of view.
Although there may be some disappointed people out there that their favourite team did not get to attend, I believe our team is one of the top teams in the world and is more of an up and comer (Who thought that MVP would make the finals of their first GSTL? Who had even heard of DRG?). It would be welcomed if people would encourage more than discourage and wish my players well on their endeavours as I know the entire foreign scene will be watching.
Finally, this is an opportunity to play with the best, we have a team that wants to be the best and in order to be the best you have to beat the best.
Kindest regards,
FXOBoSs
I am proud to announce that FXOpen e-Sports will be attending the new format GSTL in Seoul, South Korea starting June 23rd.
We found this opportunity to be very good for our team given the direction the team is going. Although the past has not seen some amazing results, over the last 2 months, FXO has bound together as a team and put in the hard yards to warrant an entire team attendance to Korea.
After visiting Korea myself in February with Moonglade, I decided that Korea is the place to at least visit for any foreign player, even if the restrictions are high and even if it is contrary to what the broader community would like to believe.
The atmosphere, the training environment, the practice teams, its all a very major part in making players great. This type of environment we do not see in the western e-sports scene YET. We feel that it is important for our players to not only experience this, but nurture it fully, altogether at once.
Now a few points to make about the GSTL. Firstly, you need 8 players to compete in the GSTL. Secondly, you need the plane tickets to get there (I think this is a lot of sponsors yearly budget depending on location, to send 1 manager + 8 team members to korea). You also need a food budget for players to eat. After budgeting this trip, we decided its in not only our companies best interests, but also our players in their development as professional gamers.
On top of this, we feel that our entire team has the potential to be GSL material, once inside the correct environment.
To keep the community informed I will give a few details here below:
Players to attend GSTL –
FXOSheth
FXOqxc
FXOMoONaN
FXOpTiKzErO
FXOSLoG
FXOtgun
FXOFilthy
FXOWolf
To clarify, mOOnGLaDe is currently going through some personal problems. He is on call per se, for this event, should he resolve his issues. We wish him the best in solving them and hope that he gets where he wants to go. At the same time, we can almost confirm a new player to our roster to add to the GSTL team. This I won’t announce until its 100% solid. This will put wolf as a substitute should any further issues arise.
FXOunstable will be attending as team manager, as well as myself, FXOBoSs for the first 2 weeks of the journey. We will be documenting it via video and text, and keeping the community well inform on exactly how the Korean environment is, as it is portrayed a little bit incorrectly online from my point of view.
Although there may be some disappointed people out there that their favourite team did not get to attend, I believe our team is one of the top teams in the world and is more of an up and comer (Who thought that MVP would make the finals of their first GSTL? Who had even heard of DRG?). It would be welcomed if people would encourage more than discourage and wish my players well on their endeavours as I know the entire foreign scene will be watching.
Finally, this is an opportunity to play with the best, we have a team that wants to be the best and in order to be the best you have to beat the best.
Kindest regards,
FXOBoSs
What do you guys think? My personal response:
I don't know why everyone is being so negative. Even in the worst case, hypothetical scenario that FXO gets all killed every game and loses every match, foreigners as a whole win out because:
1) FXO is creating a more solid foreigner presence in Korea. This in turn makes it easier for future teams to come over and acclimate faster.
2) They have pioneered being the first foreign team in GSTL. No matter how they do, future foreign teams can now join up when they're ready, paving the road to a more diverse and interesting GSTL.
3) As long as they put in the effort, the players will improve in the more competitive environment. This means they'll become better and stronger players.
This is nothing but good news for esports as a whole, folks. Stop being so negative and have some faith!