I like having fewer, but lengthier GSLs and like the increase in Code A prize pool. I am not sure why they didn't at least slightly increase the Code S prize pool, too. (Perhaps GSTL will see an increase in prize pool?)

Nevertheless, with only 5 possible champions (6 if they have a Blizzard Cup) it'll be more prestigious than how 2011 had 7 GSLs (plus a World Championship, Super Tournament, and Blizzard Cup). It'll be more like BW that used to have 3 OSLs and 3 MSLs a year.

I do not care for the missing Super Tournament, will miss the novelty of a World Championship, and dislike not moving GSTL to be more like Proleague.

RoninShogun

United States315 Posts

December 10 2011 06:24 GMT

#23

Really big fan of the of the first set of changes, GSL November actually lasted like 2 months with up and downs still waiting to be played just do to the timings of WCG and other big tournaments, and I like the spaced out feeling better, which will also give time to watch all the extra games from BO5s. And at Onox, I really hope they keep winner's league in GSTL, I think it is more entertaining and provides teams better chances to snipe a completely dominant player, though I can see how you could argue it just keeps certain teams around being carried by one player for a long time...

Edit: Im also super excited that the GSTL format change will "allow more teams/foreign teams to participate"

Kanil

United States1713 Posts

December 10 2011 06:24 GMT

#24

Less GSLs is generally good, there was oversaturation before.

Moving GSTL away from Proleague is kinda bad though, because Proleague is totally badass and awesome. Plus it probably means no fantasy game, if there's no regular season. No reason to visit TL if I can't play fantasy StarCraft! :p

World Championship was a lot of fun, but it might be tough to schedule or something? I don't know. Still, it's unfortunate.

Arceus

Vietnam8333 Posts

December 10 2011 06:24 GMT

#25

oh no not winnerleague again

For once the GSTL changes disappoint me
btw no announcement about new maps ? In the occassion of an all new GSL, they should introduce at least 3 new maps imo

anrimayu

United States875 Posts

December 10 2011 06:25 GMT

#26

Next year is gonna be awesome. Looking forward to the top 16 nomination.

hunts

United States2113 Posts

December 10 2011 06:28 GMT

#27

I really like the changes. Only concern is, with code S prize money not changing and seasons being twice as long are they essentially giving code S half the money now?

Seeker

Where dat snitch at?37043 Posts

December 10 2011 06:29 GMT

#28

Interested to see how these changes will work out. Thank you for the thread!

Greggle

United States1131 Posts

December 10 2011 06:36 GMT

#29

The big Korea vs. the World event was one of my favorite GSL events ever, I'll be sad to see it go =(

Super Tournament was sick too. I really liked having code A mixed with code S, it was refreshing. We even got to see a code A player almost take the whole thing.

Spaceneil8

United States317 Posts

December 10 2011 06:40 GMT

#30

Shouldn't the prize money for code S double because the season is twice as long?

FrozenFrotie

Singapore156 Posts

December 10 2011 06:47 GMT

#31

On December 10 2011 15:17 RaiKageRyu wrote:
Aww no more World Tournament. I didn't mind super tournament going away but World Championship was fun.

Also, guys's, don't be FOOLED by Code A prize pool increasing x2. It does take twice as long now. I'm surprised GSL Code S didn't increase x2 as well. Now we got half the number of tournaments but also half the prize money? I hope Blizzard Cup makes a return next year at least.

Korean players will now really need to travel abroad for more chances at prize money.

Yea these were my initial thoughts as well. Seems like gomtv is scaling back on the overall prize payout for 2012. This may push even more Korean pros to join foreign tournaments, foreign teams or even stop progaming all together.

However it seems that this change in prize distribution only negatively affects top korean pros (code S players).

Primadog

United States4411 Posts

December 10 2011 06:47 GMT

#32

Okay, went through the GSTL part again (thanks for the translation Selith!):

The new GSTL has three stages, with following outline based on a league of 10 teams:

I. "Prelim" - Start with 10
- Top two teams (based on past GSTL, starting with MvP and Prime) skips this stage (2 advances)
- Teams are paired up randomly to play a single set against each other
- Winner advances to next stage (4 advances)
- Losers play against each other for advancement (2 advance, 2 eliminated)

Sets played
Seeded: 0
Winner: 1
Loser: 2

II. "Group Stage" - Start with 8
- The group stage consists of two groups
- Each group consists of one seeded team (1), two winners from Stage I (2), and one team that does not get eliminated (1)
- Played in "Dual Tournament" format, similar to the GSL group stage currently (ie: winner play winner, loser play loser, winner play loser)
- Bottom two eliminated; top 2 of each group stage advance (4 advance total)

Sets played
rank 1: 2
rank 2: 3
rank 3: 3
rank 4: 2

III. "Finals" - Start with 4
- single elimination, rank #1 plays rank #2

Sets played
Champion: 2
Runner-up: 2
3rd & 4th: 1

The translation did not go into how the stages are adjusted for more than 10 teams, but the overall structure is fairly flexible for a league of any size. The I. Prelim provides for the possibility of cutting more than two teams to leave the group stage for a rounded number (a power-of-2).

The changes made sense in context of avoiding excessive time-commitment for foreign teams. The minimum number of sets a team play is 2, which depends on scheduling is 1 or 2 weeks, much less than the 5 expected from the first GSTL. Dual tournament was probably adopted because it has the advantage over the standard round-robin by never requiring for a tie-breaker, or require messy point systems. Of course, this also means that certain desirable matchups will never be played, simply because of the way bracket unfolds.

Overall, the GSTL changes have sound reasoning. The only critic I have for it is that it may be confusing to introduce another new format (the previous one only had one run), and that multiple stages does not provide for bracket-theorycrafting (something invaluable for engaging hardcore fans).

Clank

United States548 Posts

December 10 2011 06:53 GMT

#33

pretty much agree with everyone else, all awesome changes except for the GSTL. I was hoping it'd be similar to the league format last year, but I guess not. Still my favorite tournament though

Hazuc

Canada471 Posts

December 10 2011 06:55 GMT

#34

I'm fine with less GSL but longer ones!

Fionn

United States23455 Posts

December 10 2011 07:00 GMT

#35

I like, but I wish they kept the $100,000 Super Tournament as a yearly Super Bowl for GOM.

nufcrulz

Singapore934 Posts

December 10 2011 07:01 GMT

#36

why is it though there're less tournaments, the prize pool for code S stays the same? looks like GOM overestimated the amount of revenue they would make per year. (the increased length of seasons is basically equivalent to cutting the prize money by half. dunno, it seems to me like they're trying to announce a downsizing of GSL without actually announcing it)

Really disappointed with the GSTL changes as well

motumbo

United States130 Posts

December 10 2011 07:06 GMT

#37

Wait what? If a player falls from Code S to Code A and then wins they win the same amount as if they were to win Code S? So isn't there a chance that people purposefully drop out of Code S in the later rounds if they don't think they can win Code S so that they have a chance at more money in Code A then they would receive if they would get like RO4 or RO8? I don't know if this is probable but if it is possible then it is kind of worrying.

EDIT: left something out

Clefairy

1570 Posts

December 10 2011 07:08 GMT

#38

The group selections at Ro16 might help get better finals... If MC doesn't muck it all up.

Waxangel

United States33479 Posts

December 10 2011 07:09 GMT

#39

Oh hey, their prize pool just got cut by 50%.

CARMAC, I HEAR YOUR GLOATING FROM ACROSS THE ATLANTIC

dcemuser

United States3248 Posts

December 10 2011 07:09 GMT

#40

On December 10 2011 15:21 Primadog wrote:
The GSL changes are a step to the right direction.

Theoretically, bo3 should avoid the old habit of better players eliminated early that plagued GSL in 2011.
Group selection introduced an element of sniping against top players in 2011, so using an RNG instead was a good choice.
Losing ST and WC are a big blow. These tournaments are a fun diversion and have their own flairs, from what I can tell, only BlizzCup, GSL, and GSTL are left.
The longer season is a nice change. After the mid-year changes, GSLs come and go so often that winning one has become meaningless. Winning GSL is suppose to mean you're the best player, but that doesn't happen when your successor comes in five weeks.

I was not able to visualize the GSTL changes. It seems overly complex for a tournament of a comparatively small field (dozen of team instead of 128 in GSL).

Agreed completely.

However, you have to understand that with the longer GSL seasons came the removal of ST and WC - I mean if you're doubling the length of the GSL essentially that time has to come from somewhere.