Blizzard has worked with a wide range of players, teams, and partners to provide the following World Championship Series Player Handbook. This document provides the rules, rights, and responsibilities for players of WCS America, WCS Europe, and the Global StarCraft II League (GSL).
The WCS Player Handbook is a living document and will be updated as needed from further feedback from the players, teams, and partners.
2014 WCS Player Handbook – Version 1 – December 19, 2013
Please visit StarCraft2.com/WCS for all World Championship Series updates.
Thus far from briefly reading over it I found this part to be the most interesting:
General Release As a condition to being allowed to participate in the Tournament, participants are required to agree to release and hold harmless Blizzard, the North American Star League LLC, Turtle Entertainment GmbH, Gretech Corporation, OnGame Network Co., Ltd.,(...)
Given that OGN is no longer a partner for WCS Korea next year I find this to be very interesting. Though given that they broadcasted Blizzcon and WCG Korea I feel like they aren't as done with SC2 as many believe anyways.
Awesome move by Blizzard! This way it will be alot less common for player/teams being confused regarding all WCS-related stuff. Also now we can all read it ourselves (and maybe give feedback?)
Also what Lorch pointed out: Maybe (just maybe) there still is a chance for another OSL (that gives WCS points), one can only hope!
"Opinions – Players have the right to express their opinions in a professional and sportsmanlike manner. Depending on the severity, false statements and other forms of defamation may cause a warning, penalty or removal from the league. "
Everything looks good. Though I feel they are a bit restrictive on sponsors in a few areas. I dont really understand the opposition to alcohol, gambling and such... Especially when the main character of single player is a drunken alcoholic that obsesses over making subtle poker puns, but hey atleast he has a card to play. On a more serious note, Alcohol is a big industry that is already ingrained partially in SC2's culture with barcrafts and not to mention with mainstream sports a major major sponsor. Just dont feel its good for growth in esports to just lock them out entirely. While it may not happen soon, but it could be a crippling blow in the future when it could.
On December 20 2013 22:41 Liman wrote: it took them only.......a year.
Well it took that long to get all the feed back from the players, teams, folks running events and community. I'm glad they took their time and wrote a good rule book, rather than spam something else.
Didn't they have a Handbook in 2013 though, they just decided not to release it to the general public at the time? I remember reading something to that effect.
On December 20 2013 23:33 Noonius wrote: I bet the lawyers who put it together were like "what is this nonsense that we are writing?"
Lawyers are pretty used to writing nonsense in general. Briefs are a special form of nonsense. I am sure Blizzards in house Esquire was thrilled to be writing a rule book to be used in several countries. Nothing like draftin something you know is going to be wrong somewhere.
On December 21 2013 00:20 itsjustatank wrote: The pausing rules seem a bit silly. As does restricting a shoutcaster's ability to state that a player is bad.
This plus that they have to "refrain from using vulgar language or swearwords" If they take this rule seriously, the casters can't even say: "what the fuck is he doing?" I mean...really? o_O
Everything seems pretty reasonable, I personally don't agree with the restrictions regarding the sponsors (gambling, alcohol...) but I can see where they are coming from
On December 21 2013 00:20 itsjustatank wrote: The pausing rules seem a bit silly. As does restricting a shoutcaster's ability to state that a player is bad.
This plus that they have to "refrain from using vulgar language or swearwords" If they take this rule seriously, the casters can't even say: "what the fuck is he doing?" I mean...really? o_O
Everything seems pretty reasonable, I personally don't agree with the restrictions regarding the sponsors (gambling, alcohol...) but I can see where they are coming from
I think it's pretty common sense for sports casters (physical or e-sport type alike) not to swear on air. The stating of badness thing though... we'll see how it goes. Also need to check that pausing thingy, don't want the secong coming of "the p incident" now, do we?
On December 21 2013 00:18 Salmacis wrote: This bugs me quite a bit:
2. Restricted Sponsor Categories –The following sponsor categories will not be allowed: [...] e) Gambling websites; or
Millenium is sponsored by Winamax, a poker website. So ForGG can't wear his team jersey in WCS events?
same with alcohol and tobacco, neither of those things are illegal and are 2 of the largest industries in the world, how do you justify limiting teams and streams income potential for an M rated game?
On December 21 2013 00:18 Salmacis wrote: This bugs me quite a bit:
2. Restricted Sponsor Categories –The following sponsor categories will not be allowed: [...] e) Gambling websites; or
Millenium is sponsored by Winamax, a poker website. So ForGG can't wear his team jersey in WCS events?
same with alcohol and tobacco, neither of those things are illegal and are 2 of the largest industries in the world, how do you justify limiting teams and streams income potential for an M rated game?
it is rated for 12 years in Germany (USK) and also has a PEGI rating of 12. So it does make sense to avoid bad press - it is silly in a way as football and other sports all have alcohol sponsors but I understand them being extra careful given how easy such sponsorships could be exploited to paint e-sports in a bad light.
I love how Korea gets their pricepool in Won, while Europe has to get it in $ and deal with the shitty exchange rate on top of prices being higher. The exchange rate risk of those ammounts for a company like Blizzard should be peanuts, and the pricepoll looks bigger in $ I guess.
On December 21 2013 00:18 Salmacis wrote: This bugs me quite a bit:
2. Restricted Sponsor Categories –The following sponsor categories will not be allowed: [...] e) Gambling websites; or
Millenium is sponsored by Winamax, a poker website. So ForGG can't wear his team jersey in WCS events?
AFAIK in some courts in U.S. poker was considered as a game of skill, not chance (hence not gambling). Some lucky countries (like mine) even treat it as a sport.
EDIT: apparently federal court decided that it doesn't matter if it's a game of skill, similar reasoning could be used for sc2 as well though, haven't read much U.S. pokers news since it was shut down there. Still given stracraft ties to poker, it should be excluded from that handbook, especially since it's in grey area in U.S.
During the game, players may not use chat except for a greeting, closing, and request for pause.
Meh. Why not add an option to remove ingame chat (like most games sensibly do) and let the players decide for themselves?
Video settings may only be adjusted under the supervision of the organizer.
Is there any reason why?
In Challenger and Premier League, players may not watch any replays in the middle of a match. If there are any games that remain in the match, players must rejoin the designated tournament administrator group within 1 minute.
I'm perplexed. In principle I don't mind, but I wonder how progamers feel about this?
Also, just for fun, a bit of casual nitpicking over silly things:
Players must provide their own USB keyboard.
Does that mean that if you want PS/2 for n-key rollover you're out of luck, or that you'd be entitled to have it provided by someone else?
Restricted Sponsor Categories a) Pornography (or extremely mature materials);
What are "extremely mature materials"?
The shoutcaster must cast with the utmost professionalism;
What does that even mean? They're barred from shoutcasting if they stream while lounging on a sofa?
EPT
