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Interview with Frodan about ESGN - Page 2

Forum Index > SC2 General
63 CommentsPost a Reply
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Mattes
Profile Joined July 2010
Germany1116 Posts
July 02 2014 17:57 GMT
#21
Anyone else got a Carnivalé'ish-vibe from his talks about "management"?

Like some nebulous shadowy figure looming beyond the curtain that just gives orders and demands things while busting out the euros.
"Eyo lesson' here, Bey. You're comin' at the king, you best not miss."
Waise
Profile Joined June 2013
3165 Posts
July 02 2014 18:00 GMT
#22
incredible interview, frodan's insights seem really smart and fair and kind of cast a different light on the situation. i don't think it's right to say he's drinking the koolaid given that he was pretty candid about the failures and misdeeds as well as the few positives. it is possible, after all, for well meaning people to get involved with something they really believe in and still screw up abysmally because of incompetence and/or idealism. maybe it's fair to say he knew what he was getting into, maybe it's fair to call the whole thing "shady," but i don't see any reason to doubt his version of events
Lambertus
Profile Joined February 2010
South Africa978 Posts
July 02 2014 18:01 GMT
#23
Like Hot_Bid said, it is important to make a distinction between sponsor and investor. Personally I know two start ups that work with investors and there it is clear (for the investors) that money will be spent. Its just that also Investors have limits, espcially if there is obvious mis management going on (and other things that you call red flags).
The only known Reverend on TL playing SC2 and BW (http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=409226)
asongdotnet
Profile Blog Joined March 2012
United States1060 Posts
July 02 2014 18:02 GMT
#24
at least frodan still has a sense of humor about it... i lol'ed at the shawshank reference
turdburgler
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
England6749 Posts
July 02 2014 18:30 GMT
#25
On July 03 2014 02:42 Master of DalK wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 03 2014 01:45 turdburgler wrote:
"we put out a TV quality production"

show me a TV station where they just cut to a clock every 15 minutes for a 3 minute break.

the kool aid is strong with this one.

They don't cut to a clock, they just cut to commercials, which is what ESGN was doing. You either fell into the 70% unfillable part of viewers or you had AdBlock on which caused you to not see them. TV stations have in-stream ads unlike most broadcasters in eSports.

Glad to know that Frodan will be okay. I'm worried about the other ESGN employees. German justice system pull through :c!


tv stations have to run and organize their own ad breaks. they will also often have a VO guy to talk about whats coming up next during this time. when you run your business on twitch all that goes away. needing to cut to a clock after every single game of hearthstone no matter how long it takes is retarded, especially when your content was pre recorded.

yes they probably showed ads during that time but thats not the core of the point. the point is you cant claim to be running a TV quality production when you are using 3 keys on a laptop to 'cut to a commercial'. the fact that they were aiming for "TV quality" but didnt want to advertise at first is beyond insanity.

i called it the kool aid because i just dont think that even now, the staff who worked that actually understand what real TV quality means. it doesnt just mean a nice camera so you can broadcast in HD. it means the seamless experience of produced shows with scheduled breaks and serious content.
[Phantom]
Profile Blog Joined August 2013
Mexico2170 Posts
July 02 2014 18:49 GMT
#26
I kind of feel bad for this people, they did want to create something great.

But I, purpousely, didn't watch any of their shows, and haven't watched any of the azubu streams, even when artosis and MC stream there, because i just cant support that kind of organization. It doesn't matter what great content they bring, their intentions aren't clear and i don't trust them and never will.
WriterTeamLiquid Staff writer since 2014 @Mortal_Phantom
Penev
Profile Joined October 2012
28522 Posts
July 02 2014 19:07 GMT
#27
What's really weird is that I'm getting ESGNTV Hearthstone Fight Night ads (on Youtube) still.. :-S Anyone else?
I Protoss winner, could it be?
ZeromuS
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
Canada13404 Posts
July 02 2014 19:09 GMT
#28
Great interview. Good work! Really interesting to read about it from this perspective.
StrategyRTS forever | @ZeromuS_plays | www.twitch.tv/Zeromus_
leafeator
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States34 Posts
July 02 2014 19:23 GMT
#29
Relieving to know that people are walking away from this composed, and the staff is actively supporting each other. Hearing ESGN troubles made my stomach drop when people you know pick up and move their lives over seas for eSports.
FiWiFaKi
Profile Blog Joined February 2009
Canada9859 Posts
July 02 2014 20:03 GMT
#30
I actually never watched ESGN, but I've read all about the fiasco.

Frodan, you seem like an amazing person, I really hope you can find something amazing to do in the future, and also, best of luck to all the former employees as well! Thanks for this interview, lots of insight!
In life, the journey is more satisfying than the destination. || .::Entrepreneurship::. Living a few years of your life like most people won't, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can't || Mechanical Engineering & Economics Major
Circumstance
Profile Blog Joined March 2014
United States11403 Posts
July 02 2014 20:10 GMT
#31
Frodan already has some work for the time being - as of the last Dreamhack, he's the manager of prominent Hearthstone team Tempo Storm. They're working on some pretty interesting business models, so with luck, he's getting a decent amount while he presumably tries to find something a bit more concrete.
The world is better when every background has a chance.
OgerGolg
Profile Joined August 2011
Germany65 Posts
July 02 2014 20:52 GMT
#32
Interesting narrative and storytelling, but... sorry I am so sick of all this "no-contract" bullshit talk.

OERTW
Lonyo
Profile Blog Joined December 2009
United Kingdom3884 Posts
July 02 2014 20:55 GMT
#33
On July 03 2014 05:52 OgerGolg wrote:
Interesting narrative and storytelling, but... sorry I am so sick of all this "no-contract" bullshit talk.


Young and naive people who don't know better, unfortunately.
Not to say it's the fault of the people being exploited, but it's kind of a case where it's irresponsible of them to give up so much time without a contract. They are inviting themselves to get screwed over.

That doesn't make it right in any way, but people need to educate themselves really so that they don't let this happen to them.
HOLY CHECK!
Canucklehead
Profile Joined March 2011
Canada5074 Posts
July 02 2014 21:19 GMT
#34
Should have asked frodan, what happened to gom snowbird? The guy was a boss translator at gom taking over for john, then he left to pursue an opportunity in germany which turned out to be clauf and then disappeared off the face of the earth. Haven't heard or seen anything of him ever since he left gom.
Top 10 favourite pros: MKP, MVP, MC, Nestea, DRG, Jaedong, Flash, Life, Creator, Leenock
DivinO
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
United States4796 Posts
July 02 2014 21:27 GMT
#35
Lovely conversation. Sorry it all went down like that.
LiquipediaBrain in my filth.
Torte de Lini
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Germany38463 Posts
July 02 2014 21:50 GMT
#36
On July 03 2014 06:19 Canucklehead wrote:
Should have asked frodan, what happened to gom snowbird? The guy was a boss translator at gom taking over for john, then he left to pursue an opportunity in germany which turned out to be clauf and then disappeared off the face of the earth. Haven't heard or seen anything of him ever since he left gom.


He is doing just fine, he's a very reserved and calm kind of guy; so he doesn't post or speak much online.
https://twitter.com/#!/TorteDeLini (@TorteDeLini)
HeeroFX
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
United States2704 Posts
July 02 2014 21:56 GMT
#37
Moral of the story, don't just jump into things without a plan. Really seemed unorganized. Should have done research into what they actually needed to succeed.
Broodwurst
Profile Joined June 2011
Germany1586 Posts
July 02 2014 21:58 GMT
#38

TL: You said they were "opposed to hiring experienced people." What does that even mean? Would you say management exploited ESPORTS volunteers then?


Looks like a question that was supposed to go up on ESEX. "ESPORTS volunteers" ... seriously?

Decent mix between fluff and information in the answers, though.
Fanboys = (ウ╹◡╹)ウ /// I like smiley faces
Scarx
Profile Joined June 2013
Germany49 Posts
July 02 2014 22:08 GMT
#39
Great interview, had a lot of fun reading through all of it!
OgerGolg
Profile Joined August 2011
Germany65 Posts
July 02 2014 22:21 GMT
#40
On July 03 2014 05:55 Lonyo wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 03 2014 05:52 OgerGolg wrote:
Interesting narrative and storytelling, but... sorry I am so sick of all this "no-contract" bullshit talk.


Young and naive people who don't know better, unfortunately.
Not to say it's the fault of the people being exploited, but it's kind of a case where it's irresponsible of them to give up so much time without a contract. They are inviting themselves to get screwed over.

That doesn't make it right in any way, but people need to educate themselves really so that they don't let this happen to them.


Not quite the story, I referred to. But at least the real irresponsible people have often quite high pay-rolls^^

end of the story: socialist europe bails you out.
OERTW
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