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[D] Why the future of Pro-SC2 should be Tennis - Page 5

Forum Index > SC2 General
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FXOBoSs
Profile Joined August 2011
337 Posts
April 10 2012 11:03 GMT
#81
Team leagues are proven to be more interesting in Sc2 via viewership. But you can still run Tennis team leagues IMO. Good example I like it, very interesting read.
www.twitter.com/gosutrading
cerebralz
Profile Joined August 2009
United States443 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-04-10 11:16:51
April 10 2012 11:15 GMT
#82
I hear you on a lot of points. I don't think the team aspect should be thrown out though. I've long thought the NCAA wrestling analogy is a little better in terms of keeping the teams in place. In tournaments, advancing in a bracket gives your team points, as well as having superior victories extra points. At the end of the day you have the individual champion, but also a race for the team champion, which makes it very interesting and also makes some of the lower bracket matches mean more because more is on the line. A player knocked into the loser's bracket can still win points for his/her team by advancing, at the same time denying other teams points. You may have a individual champion from one team, but if another team can advance enough players deep enough they can take enough points to win. For this to work the points rating system also has to be in place because seeding would become extremely important.
Getting a 2-0 victory might be considered a superior victory for extra team points, putting emphasis on players to get those points for their team or deny them from another team.
This system also indroduces a type of bracketology for the fans.

The only drawback is that while wrestling has many different weight classes and thus more competitors, in SC you only have one "group" of players so each tournament would be in fact one weight class.

Another form could be the NASCAR race for the cup format where all the player's placements earn them overall points for an end of the season award. The drawback to that would probably be that you would still have to separate the GSL from the rest-of-us due to the more difficult nature of the GSL.
ImbaTosS
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
United Kingdom1685 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-04-10 11:17:31
April 10 2012 11:16 GMT
#83
Damn, after looking at those earnings figures I've never been more glad not to be a progamer. It's peanuts. How does anyone get into pro-sc2 and not worry seriously about their future...? That's probably one of the most damaging factors of pro-gaming, especially when you consider that young people are being required to give up so much for a chance.
EleGant[AoV]
Arceus
Profile Blog Joined February 2008
Vietnam8333 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-04-10 11:25:21
April 10 2012 11:24 GMT
#84
very bad analogies I would say

1. SC2 will definitely develop into that stage when teams are so iconic. Especially when KeSPA teams are coming

2. Leagues do matter. The Slams with hundreds years of prestige and million dollars of prize attract players & fans. I will still watch Wimbledon if Fed/Nad dont participate, I still watch OSL if TBLS fail in prelim. These tournaments are simplly historic and prestigious. I bet the serious and competent pros in Korea would commit to the GSL, the lesser ones who choose easy money oversea will disappear into oblivion sooner or later.

3. Only the Slams use bo5 (for men), all other ATP tourneys use bo3, all single elimination. At the same time there're shit tons of format in Sc2. You just dont compare a physical sport with electronic sport in that aspect

4. Sure Fed, Nad are better than those 40,41,42th players but Squirtle, sC can just annihilate like 25 players above them. The worldwide ranking you suggest just wont work cuz theres world of difference between Korea and the rest. No one takes International TLPD seriously

5. Tennis players can practice on their own with private coach. While Sc2 players can only become better in teamhouse environment. And thus the team needs to be recognized. Ever wonder why OSL has been struggling finding sponsors while Proleague never skips a beat? Those teamless or one-man-team players would go nowhere.

In overall your compare works better with street fighter imo. Making a thread on shoryuken or eventhubs may be more appreciated
chocopaw
Profile Blog Joined May 2011
2072 Posts
April 10 2012 11:28 GMT
#85
On April 10 2012 09:07 YMCApylons wrote:
4. Teams should be sports agencies, not teams. To some extent they already are. They handle money, media, sponsorships, branding, PR. Starcraft 2 players need practice partners, sure, but again, it's not a team sport. Did anyone really care when Huk went from Liquid to EG? Or MC from oGs to SK?


Not so sure about the latter, but Huk to EG? Erm, I remember people talking about the saddest day in years or that they haven't been so angry and disappointed in a long time.^^
God that was a good day...
http://twitter.com/lechocopaw
ki11z0ne
Profile Joined January 2011
United States427 Posts
April 10 2012 11:30 GMT
#86
why not like golf?
SC > halo
virpi
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
Germany3598 Posts
April 10 2012 11:32 GMT
#87
I'd really like to see something like a global ranking, which could be used for tournament seeding.
first we make expand, then we defense it.
PH
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
United States6173 Posts
April 10 2012 11:32 GMT
#88
I really want team leagues, though. Everything the OP says makes sense, but it just makes me sad.
Hello
Jakkerr
Profile Joined December 2010
Netherlands2549 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-04-10 11:33:36
April 10 2012 11:33 GMT
#89
On April 10 2012 20:03 FXOBoSs wrote:
Team leagues are proven to be more interesting in Sc2 via viewership. But you can still run Tennis team leagues IMO. Good example I like it, very interesting read.


The Davis Cup is one of the coolest tennis events every year .
There's a ton of similarities between Tennis and Starcraft indeed, except on 1 point.
In tennis teamhouses and teamcoaches don't exist, every player has a personal coach and that coach also doesn't teach multiple tennis players.
Korea has proven what teamhouses can do for a player.
I agree with every other point tho.
Velr
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
Switzerland10696 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-04-10 11:36:51
April 10 2012 11:34 GMT
#90
One common misconception is the following:

People seem to think that Proleague is important/interesting because it's team vs team.
It isn't, it's because it is VERY REGULAR, near daily... The performance of an entitiy, be it player or team, is measured over the whole year and people can follow their favorite player nearly non stop whiteout having to wait for this next big tournament.

Btw:
5. Tennis players can practice on their own with private coach. While Sc2 players can only become better in teamhouse environment. And thus the team needs to be recognized. Ever wonder why OSL has been struggling finding sponsors while Proleague never skips a beat? Those teamless or one-man-team players would go nowhere.


Wait what?
Tennis.. The Sport that is way more developed than SC2 will ever be can go with players practising kinda "alone" (which just means they search practise partners/trainers/place to train themselves) has a training model that is worse than SC2's?
Please tell me your not serious...
Korean style Teamhouses exist for only 1 true reason: It's cheap. It's cheap for the teams, it's cheap for the players...
THM
Profile Joined November 2010
Bulgaria1131 Posts
April 10 2012 11:35 GMT
#91
Great read, some very good points here.

I'd have to disagree with the team part too, they are essential, but other than that - you're on to something
Insurrectionist
Profile Joined February 2011
Norway141 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-04-10 11:36:37
April 10 2012 11:36 GMT
#92
On April 10 2012 19:51 Xiron wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 10 2012 19:43 Hider wrote:
Not a well throught out idea. In tennis every top player has the sponsor money to fly out to a shitton of tournaments. In sc2 there are a lot of top players who can't afford that. Hence we need qualifications/subjective seedings.


Internet.

and, oh btw, by every top player you mean like the top 30 of the world? yeah, you're right. Or do you mean everyone in the top 50 or top 100? Nope.

But the list from the OP with top 50 earners has number 50 earning more than 3$mil total from prize money alone. Looking at the wiki he's been playing internationally since ~2004 which means ~400k per year average, surely even disregarding sponsorship money he can afford to go to pretty much any tournament he wants.

Anyway, as has been mentioned teams are very important in SC since there isn't as much to be gained by playing by yourself than in tennis, and there is far less risk in practicing with your competitors in tennis since there's less actual information to be gained on competitors (mainly just gauging their form and what kind of balls they hit/whether they're playing defensively or offensively) compared to SC which is a game of imperfect information, and every practice match you risk giving something away which can help your practice partner if you meet in competition. Certainly there's an element of that in tennis as well, but it's small enough that it doesn't outweigh the drawbacks of forming teams, which I'd argue isn't the case in SC/2.
timwac
Profile Joined October 2010
Scotland93 Posts
April 10 2012 11:36 GMT
#93
I agree 100% with everything you said apart from the point below. Tennis and Starcraft are very similar in all the ways you mention.



5. SC2 Tournaments should be run like tennis tournaments. Revenue from sponsorships, ticket sales, and broadcast rights. I don't want to go into the Arena-PPV debate, but I'll simply observe that tennis as a pro-sport grows by allowing casual viewers to watch for free. Then, as they get more into it, they pay to attend tournaments. PPV is not part of the equation.



The thing is to watch Tennis you don't directly pay towards the tournament but for example when the BBC broadcasts Wimbledon you have already paid a TV license which makes up the "broadcast rights" as you stated. I know that you could argue that we also pay for the internet to watch SC2 but none of that revenue ends up in say MLG's hands(and lets be frank here the money pumped into the broadcast by the TV licence alone is a colossal amount. Note: no advertisements and a few non-intrusive sponsors).

Therefore a company like MLG must find a method of plugging this huge gap in revenue. Therefore PPV if probably the best method of doing this even if it is not a popular.

Disclaimer: I can only speak for the UK when I talk about TV licence. I know nothing of TV licencing in other countries
DeMusliM | NonY | ThorZaIN
Pantythief
Profile Joined February 2012
Denmark657 Posts
April 10 2012 11:39 GMT
#94
Future of Pro SC2 will be Pro SC2, not Tennis.
afkøaoilncpsdpdnaædc
Velr
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
Switzerland10696 Posts
April 10 2012 11:40 GMT
#95
On April 10 2012 20:36 timwac wrote:
I agree 100% with everything you said apart from the point below. Tennis and Starcraft are very similar in all the ways you mention.

Show nested quote +


5. SC2 Tournaments should be run like tennis tournaments. Revenue from sponsorships, ticket sales, and broadcast rights. I don't want to go into the Arena-PPV debate, but I'll simply observe that tennis as a pro-sport grows by allowing casual viewers to watch for free. Then, as they get more into it, they pay to attend tournaments. PPV is not part of the equation.



The thing is to watch Tennis you don't directly pay towards the tournament but for example when the BBC broadcasts Wimbledon you have already paid a TV license which makes up the "broadcast rights" as you stated. I know that you could argue that we also pay for the internet to watch SC2 but none of that revenue ends up in say MLG's hands(and lets be frank here the money pumped into the broadcast by the TV licence alone is a colossal amount. Note: no advertisements and a few non-intrusive sponsors).

Therefore a company like MLG must find a method of plugging this huge gap in revenue. Therefore PPV if probably the best method of doing this even if it is not a popular.

Disclaimer: I can only speak for the UK when I talk about TV licence. I know nothing of TV licencing in other countries



Thats simple:
1. If a national TV station buys it --> You paid for it buy Taxes/Media Fee.. Whatever your country has.
2. If a private TV station buys it --> You "pay" for it buy watchign adds.
3. If a pay-per view TV station buys it --> You paid for it with your channel access fee or whatever that is called.

The question is... What is good for SC2? Number 2 or 3?
bLah.
Profile Joined July 2009
Croatia497 Posts
April 10 2012 11:44 GMT
#96
On April 10 2012 20:34 Velr wrote:
Korean style Teamhouses exist for only 1 true reason: It's cheap. It's cheap for the teams, it's cheap for the players...


Not really. Strategy is alot different in sc2 than in tennis. in sc2 terms tennis would be mostly mechanics, while in sc2 build orders and stuff like that are sooo important. That way in tennis you need to scout your opponent before a match even starts to see what you're dealing against and then in match you just play in a way you see fits. In sc2 things are different and that's why having alot of people around you helps, because everyone figures some tiny thing out and then everyone practices it.

also, important thing to note:
Pyramid money scheme - in individual sports like tennis only top3 players attract sponsors etc, they are most fun to watch like in sc2 but you still need to have newcomers and people who can make an upset. In sc2 there's alot less money than in tennis so worse players wouldn't be able to afford any costs. In team system people for example sponsor IM because of Nestea and MVP but of that sponsorships they can afford to fly 5 people somewhere.
timwac
Profile Joined October 2010
Scotland93 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-04-10 11:48:41
April 10 2012 11:48 GMT
#97
On April 10 2012 20:40 Velr wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 10 2012 20:36 timwac wrote:
I agree 100% with everything you said apart from the point below. Tennis and Starcraft are very similar in all the ways you mention.



5. SC2 Tournaments should be run like tennis tournaments. Revenue from sponsorships, ticket sales, and broadcast rights. I don't want to go into the Arena-PPV debate, but I'll simply observe that tennis as a pro-sport grows by allowing casual viewers to watch for free. Then, as they get more into it, they pay to attend tournaments. PPV is not part of the equation.



The thing is to watch Tennis you don't directly pay towards the tournament but for example when the BBC broadcasts Wimbledon you have already paid a TV license which makes up the "broadcast rights" as you stated. I know that you could argue that we also pay for the internet to watch SC2 but none of that revenue ends up in say MLG's hands(and lets be frank here the money pumped into the broadcast by the TV licence alone is a colossal amount. Note: no advertisements and a few non-intrusive sponsors).

Therefore a company like MLG must find a method of plugging this huge gap in revenue. Therefore PPV if probably the best method of doing this even if it is not a popular.

Disclaimer: I can only speak for the UK when I talk about TV licence. I know nothing of TV licencing in other countries



Thats simple:
1. If a national TV station buys it --> You paid for it buy Taxes/Media Fee.. Whatever your country has.
2. If a private TV station buys it --> You "pay" for it buy watchign adds.
3. If a pay-per view TV station buys it --> You paid for it with your channel access fee or whatever that is called.

The question is... What is good for SC2? Number 2 or 3?


I'm not arguing they the gap can't be paid I'm just saying that PPV is the best option for an internet broadcast.
Remember if starcraft goes to TV (most likely in amerca well before countries). Other countries will be immediately isolated if our countries are not quick on the uptake. Would the NA audience alone be able to sustain the viewer numbers? Not at starcraft 2's current popularity. Then we go back to the internet broadcast wherein PPV is the most sustainable business model.


DeMusliM | NonY | ThorZaIN
HaXXspetten
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
Sweden15718 Posts
April 10 2012 11:49 GMT
#98
That's a very creative way to look at it :o
Space Invader
Profile Joined September 2010
Australia291 Posts
April 10 2012 11:52 GMT
#99
Almost.. except starcraft IS a team sport. You know about team leagues, right?
I may be of thome athithtanthe if there ith a thudden crithith!
revy
Profile Joined September 2009
United States1524 Posts
April 10 2012 11:54 GMT
#100
You must not watch a lot of BW Proleague if you're saying that it feels like a square peg through a round hole. I put the finals of proleague up there with any individual league finals, they're just that good. You may say that it's silly to play a team-match format from what is ultimately a 1v1 game, but it just works. It's entertaining, provides a stable base allowing players to develop and still get paid (salary), and teams refine players into great players.
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