• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 19:18
CEST 01:18
KST 08:18
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
[ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt2: News Flash8[ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt1: New Chaos0Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - Presented by Monster Energy12ByuL: The Forgotten Master of ZvT30Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book20
Community News
Weekly Cups (March 23-29): herO takes triple5Aligulac acquired by REPLAYMAN.com/Stego Research3Weekly Cups (March 16-22): herO doubles, Cure surprises3Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool49Weekly Cups (March 9-15): herO, Clem, ByuN win4
StarCraft 2
General
What mix of new & old maps do you want in the next ladder pool? (SC2) herO wins SC2 All-Star Invitational Weekly Cups (March 23-29): herO takes triple Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - Presented by Monster Energy Aligulac acquired by REPLAYMAN.com/Stego Research
Tourneys
Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament RSL Season 4 announced for March-April StarCraft Evolution League (SC Evo Biweekly) WardiTV Mondays World University TeamLeague (500$+) | Signups Open
Strategy
Custom Maps
[M] (2) Frigid Storage Publishing has been re-enabled! [Feb 24th 2026]
External Content
Mutation # 519 Inner Power The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 518 Radiation Zone Mutation # 517 Distant Threat
Brood War
General
BW General Discussion Build Order Practice Maps [ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt2: News Flash BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ Pros React To: SoulKey vs Ample
Tourneys
[ASL21] Ro24 Group E [Megathread] Daily Proleagues 🌍 Weekly Foreign Showmatches [ASL21] Ro24 Group D
Strategy
What's the deal with APM & what's its true value Fighting Spirit mining rates Simple Questions, Simple Answers
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Starcraft Tabletop Miniature Game Nintendo Switch Thread General RTS Discussion Thread Darkest Dungeon
Dota 2
The Story of Wings Gaming Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
G2 just beat GenG in First stand
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas TL Mafia Community Thread Five o'clock TL Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Canadian Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine The Games Industry And ATVI European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books Movie Discussion!
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion Cricket [SPORT] Tokyo Olympics 2021 Thread General nutrition recommendations
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
[G] How to Block Livestream Ads
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Funny Nicknames
LUCKY_NOOB
Money Laundering In Video Ga…
TrAiDoS
Iranian anarchists: organize…
XenOsky
FS++
Kraekkling
Shocked by a laser…
Spydermine0240
ASL S21 English Commentary…
namkraft
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1821 users

Upcoming Changes to WCS 2015 - Page 11

Forum Index > SC2 General
1282 CommentsPost a Reply
Prev 1 9 10 11 12 13 65 Next
WCS AM will continue to include LatAm, Oceania/SEA, CN, and TW/HK/Macau, you can all stop freaking out about it.
PhoenixVoid
Profile Blog Joined December 2011
Canada32746 Posts
September 05 2014 02:18 GMT
#201
On September 05 2014 11:13 Arceus wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 05 2014 11:05 Wroshe wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:02 stuchiu wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:00 Wroshe wrote:
What is to stop koreans from getting a residency visa for NA countries not being USA/Canada (think mexico/colombia but more likely, Taiwan/Singapore/Malaysia) and take NA spots that way?

Also WCS EU will still be incredibly stacked with MC, First, Yoda, Jjakji, Stardust, Patience, Golden, ForGG and HYUN all living in europe under visa's that would allow them to participate.


NA is hell to get a visa. I guess they can try to work around it and get a visa in China/Tw/Sea/Mx/Canada though and see if Blizzard lets them.

I very well realise that getting a visa for Canada or the USA is incredibly hard. I however very much doubt that it would be as hard to get a visa for countries like Peru, Belize or Jamaica.

Also there is currently a lucrative sounding loophole around which would involve getting a visa for Taiwan, play in all the local TeSL tournaments and take a spot in the Taiwanese qualifier for WCS NA.

Get a visa then stay in Peru/Belize/Jamaica to practice starcraft? Relocate to another country is a huge huge move for anyone even if it's for studying/working. You consider it too lightly imo

Plus you have to consider the factors of the other countries not being big e-sport powerhouses and lacking the proper infrastructure to maintain ideal practice conditions. Do you really see an entire group of Koreans moving to Belize or Argentina to practice in the best places? Even NA at its worst had teamhouses and infrastructure to maintain a few players and a fairly solid player background even if it isn't the greatest.
I'm afraid of demented knife-wielding escaped lunatic libertarian zombie mutants
Circumstance
Profile Blog Joined March 2014
United States11403 Posts
September 05 2014 02:18 GMT
#202
On September 05 2014 11:11 Die4Ever wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 05 2014 11:06 Circumstance wrote:
It's better for Starcraft overall if a single country doesn't dominate the scene entirely. There are two schools of thought when it comes to how foreigners can reach the skill levels necessary so that this ceases to be the case. One is the way that was done these past 2 years - force them to play each other, and eventually, they'll have to either learn or disappear. The other school of thought is this new one - give them something to compete for themselves, and a foreign competitive circuit can develop to the point where they can actually dedicate themselves to full-time paying and a dedicated training regiment.

Which one is right? What makes things work better for Starcraft? If I knew the answer to that, I'd be looking at a bus schedule to Irvine right now to tell Blizzard myself. They tried one, they're going to try the other. Sadly, any transition to support the foreigners will inevitably come at the expense of the Koreans, in the short term at minimum. That's the reality of it.

except they tried that with WCS in 2012


One-off tournaments aren't a circuit. You don't sustain yourself on a single brief event. And WCS 2012 wasn't an effort to create a sustained scene, which we recognize is what's needed right now.

Besides which, it's not as if ESL and Dreamhack will just stop letting Koreans in. While it's nowhere near the same, there will still be consistent Korean-vs-foreign competition.
The world is better when every background has a chance.
stuchiu
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
Fiddler's Green42661 Posts
September 05 2014 02:18 GMT
#203
On September 05 2014 11:18 PhoenixVoid wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 05 2014 11:13 Arceus wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:05 Wroshe wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:02 stuchiu wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:00 Wroshe wrote:
What is to stop koreans from getting a residency visa for NA countries not being USA/Canada (think mexico/colombia but more likely, Taiwan/Singapore/Malaysia) and take NA spots that way?

Also WCS EU will still be incredibly stacked with MC, First, Yoda, Jjakji, Stardust, Patience, Golden, ForGG and HYUN all living in europe under visa's that would allow them to participate.


NA is hell to get a visa. I guess they can try to work around it and get a visa in China/Tw/Sea/Mx/Canada though and see if Blizzard lets them.

I very well realise that getting a visa for Canada or the USA is incredibly hard. I however very much doubt that it would be as hard to get a visa for countries like Peru, Belize or Jamaica.

Also there is currently a lucrative sounding loophole around which would involve getting a visa for Taiwan, play in all the local TeSL tournaments and take a spot in the Taiwanese qualifier for WCS NA.

Get a visa then stay in Peru/Belize/Jamaica to practice starcraft? Relocate to another country is a huge huge move for anyone even if it's for studying/working. You consider it too lightly imo

Plus you have to consider the factors of the other countries not being big e-sport powerhouses and lacking the proper infrastructure to maintain ideal practice conditions. Do you really see an entire group of Koreans moving to Belize or Argentina to practice in the best places? Even NA at its worst had teamhouses and infrastructure to maintain a few players and a fairly solid player background even if it isn't the greatest.


Taiwan is the answer. Leenock and San are still pretty good there.
Moderator
stuchiu
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
Fiddler's Green42661 Posts
September 05 2014 02:19 GMT
#204
On September 05 2014 11:18 Circumstance wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 05 2014 11:11 Die4Ever wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:06 Circumstance wrote:
It's better for Starcraft overall if a single country doesn't dominate the scene entirely. There are two schools of thought when it comes to how foreigners can reach the skill levels necessary so that this ceases to be the case. One is the way that was done these past 2 years - force them to play each other, and eventually, they'll have to either learn or disappear. The other school of thought is this new one - give them something to compete for themselves, and a foreign competitive circuit can develop to the point where they can actually dedicate themselves to full-time paying and a dedicated training regiment.

Which one is right? What makes things work better for Starcraft? If I knew the answer to that, I'd be looking at a bus schedule to Irvine right now to tell Blizzard myself. They tried one, they're going to try the other. Sadly, any transition to support the foreigners will inevitably come at the expense of the Koreans, in the short term at minimum. That's the reality of it.

except they tried that with WCS in 2012


One-off tournaments aren't a circuit. You don't sustain yourself on a single brief event. And WCS 2012 wasn't an effort to create a sustained scene, which we recognize is what's needed right now.

Besides which, it's not as if ESL and Dreamhack will just stop letting Koreans in. While it's nowhere near the same, there will still be consistent Korean-vs-foreign competition.


Separating them to raise skill doesn't work though. It didn't work for LoL, it won't work here.
Moderator
Xinzoe
Profile Joined January 2014
Korea (South)2373 Posts
September 05 2014 02:20 GMT
#205
I think there should be a poll in the OP.
Plansix
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
United States60190 Posts
September 05 2014 02:20 GMT
#206
On September 05 2014 11:12 stuchiu wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 05 2014 11:06 Circumstance wrote:
It's better for Starcraft overall if a single country doesn't dominate the scene entirely. There are two schools of thought when it comes to how foreigners can reach the skill levels necessary so that this ceases to be the case. One is the way that was done these past 2 years - force them to play each other, and eventually, they'll have to either learn or disappear. The other school of thought is this new one - give them something to compete for themselves, and a foreign competitive circuit can develop to the point where they can actually dedicate themselves to full-time paying and a dedicated training regiment.

Which one is right? What makes things work better for Starcraft? If I knew the answer to that, I'd be looking at a bus schedule to Irvine right now to tell Blizzard myself. They tried one, they're going to try the other. Sadly, any transition to support the foreigners will inevitably come at the expense of the Koreans, in the short term at minimum. That's the reality of it.


There is a third school of thought. Do what Riot does and forcibly split the regions from Korea so that the fans are dumb enough to believe each year that their teams can maybe beat the koreans before being utterly smashed. Rinse and repeat for years.

Works for every other sport in the world, why not SC2. I hear Japan has baseball and it's popular. I bet none of those teams would do well in the MLB. But Japan gives no fucks.
I have the Honor to be your Obedient Servant, P.6
TL+ Member
Clonester
Profile Joined August 2014
Germany2808 Posts
September 05 2014 02:20 GMT
#207
Acer got a Teamhouse near Munich, Germany. And MMA stayed there for longer time last year.
Getting MMA a valid visa wount be any form of problem.
Bomber, Attacker, DD, SOMEBODY, NiKo, Nex, Spidii
Silvana
Profile Blog Joined September 2013
3713 Posts
September 05 2014 02:20 GMT
#208
On September 05 2014 11:18 PhoenixVoid wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 05 2014 11:13 Arceus wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:05 Wroshe wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:02 stuchiu wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:00 Wroshe wrote:
What is to stop koreans from getting a residency visa for NA countries not being USA/Canada (think mexico/colombia but more likely, Taiwan/Singapore/Malaysia) and take NA spots that way?

Also WCS EU will still be incredibly stacked with MC, First, Yoda, Jjakji, Stardust, Patience, Golden, ForGG and HYUN all living in europe under visa's that would allow them to participate.


NA is hell to get a visa. I guess they can try to work around it and get a visa in China/Tw/Sea/Mx/Canada though and see if Blizzard lets them.

I very well realise that getting a visa for Canada or the USA is incredibly hard. I however very much doubt that it would be as hard to get a visa for countries like Peru, Belize or Jamaica.

Also there is currently a lucrative sounding loophole around which would involve getting a visa for Taiwan, play in all the local TeSL tournaments and take a spot in the Taiwanese qualifier for WCS NA.

Get a visa then stay in Peru/Belize/Jamaica to practice starcraft? Relocate to another country is a huge huge move for anyone even if it's for studying/working. You consider it too lightly imo

Plus you have to consider the factors of the other countries not being big e-sport powerhouses and lacking the proper infrastructure to maintain ideal practice conditions. Do you really see an entire group of Koreans moving to Belize or Argentina to practice in the best places? Even NA at its worst had teamhouses and infrastructure to maintain a few players and a fairly solid player background even if it isn't the greatest.


Hey time for me to start a progaming team maybe?
Nebuchad
Profile Blog Joined December 2012
Switzerland12422 Posts
September 05 2014 02:21 GMT
#209
On September 05 2014 11:18 stuchiu wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 05 2014 11:18 PhoenixVoid wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:13 Arceus wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:05 Wroshe wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:02 stuchiu wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:00 Wroshe wrote:
What is to stop koreans from getting a residency visa for NA countries not being USA/Canada (think mexico/colombia but more likely, Taiwan/Singapore/Malaysia) and take NA spots that way?

Also WCS EU will still be incredibly stacked with MC, First, Yoda, Jjakji, Stardust, Patience, Golden, ForGG and HYUN all living in europe under visa's that would allow them to participate.


NA is hell to get a visa. I guess they can try to work around it and get a visa in China/Tw/Sea/Mx/Canada though and see if Blizzard lets them.

I very well realise that getting a visa for Canada or the USA is incredibly hard. I however very much doubt that it would be as hard to get a visa for countries like Peru, Belize or Jamaica.

Also there is currently a lucrative sounding loophole around which would involve getting a visa for Taiwan, play in all the local TeSL tournaments and take a spot in the Taiwanese qualifier for WCS NA.

Get a visa then stay in Peru/Belize/Jamaica to practice starcraft? Relocate to another country is a huge huge move for anyone even if it's for studying/working. You consider it too lightly imo

Plus you have to consider the factors of the other countries not being big e-sport powerhouses and lacking the proper infrastructure to maintain ideal practice conditions. Do you really see an entire group of Koreans moving to Belize or Argentina to practice in the best places? Even NA at its worst had teamhouses and infrastructure to maintain a few players and a fairly solid player background even if it isn't the greatest.


Taiwan is the answer. Leenock and San are still pretty good there.


Yeah I agree with you. I don't know that tesl will be fine with a massive korean arrival though, they might put some limits themselves.
No will to live, no wish to die
Dodgin
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
Canada39254 Posts
September 05 2014 02:21 GMT
#210
On September 05 2014 11:19 stuchiu wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 05 2014 11:18 Circumstance wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:11 Die4Ever wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:06 Circumstance wrote:
It's better for Starcraft overall if a single country doesn't dominate the scene entirely. There are two schools of thought when it comes to how foreigners can reach the skill levels necessary so that this ceases to be the case. One is the way that was done these past 2 years - force them to play each other, and eventually, they'll have to either learn or disappear. The other school of thought is this new one - give them something to compete for themselves, and a foreign competitive circuit can develop to the point where they can actually dedicate themselves to full-time paying and a dedicated training regiment.

Which one is right? What makes things work better for Starcraft? If I knew the answer to that, I'd be looking at a bus schedule to Irvine right now to tell Blizzard myself. They tried one, they're going to try the other. Sadly, any transition to support the foreigners will inevitably come at the expense of the Koreans, in the short term at minimum. That's the reality of it.

except they tried that with WCS in 2012


One-off tournaments aren't a circuit. You don't sustain yourself on a single brief event. And WCS 2012 wasn't an effort to create a sustained scene, which we recognize is what's needed right now.

Besides which, it's not as if ESL and Dreamhack will just stop letting Koreans in. While it's nowhere near the same, there will still be consistent Korean-vs-foreign competition.


Separating them to raise skill doesn't work though. It didn't work for LoL, it won't work here.


What we need for SC2 is one of those men-in-black things that erase your memory.

*Click* " NA and EU SC2 players are just as good as KR sc2 players, now go watch your regional WCS and build hope for Blizzcon only to have it crushed, repeat every year. "
ZigguratOfUr
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
Iraq16955 Posts
September 05 2014 02:21 GMT
#211
Fairly interesting change. I'm not sure how to feel about this. It has little impact on WCS Europe the region where WCS integration worked the best in its avowed goals of increasing the level of play in the region, but deeply affects the AM region. It really depends if Blizzards have further changes, possibly some strengthening the Korean tournament scene.
Starecat
Profile Joined August 2014
940 Posts
September 05 2014 02:22 GMT
#212
Fuck blizz... Really dude, WCS NA was good with good games and VODs without having to pay for everything like the GSL...

Now the tourney will be filled with people getting suply blocked losing to Scarlett, Polt and Violet...

Btw people, this affects Dreamhacks and the other weekend tourneys?
:3
viasacra89
Profile Joined January 2012
United States134 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-09-05 02:24:03
September 05 2014 02:22 GMT
#213
Good news for Prime. Alot of talent will be back in Korea looking for a team. Not sure if foreign tournaments will be korean-less or completely packed with koreans though.
stuchiu
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
Fiddler's Green42661 Posts
September 05 2014 02:22 GMT
#214
On September 05 2014 11:20 Plansix wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 05 2014 11:12 stuchiu wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:06 Circumstance wrote:
It's better for Starcraft overall if a single country doesn't dominate the scene entirely. There are two schools of thought when it comes to how foreigners can reach the skill levels necessary so that this ceases to be the case. One is the way that was done these past 2 years - force them to play each other, and eventually, they'll have to either learn or disappear. The other school of thought is this new one - give them something to compete for themselves, and a foreign competitive circuit can develop to the point where they can actually dedicate themselves to full-time paying and a dedicated training regiment.

Which one is right? What makes things work better for Starcraft? If I knew the answer to that, I'd be looking at a bus schedule to Irvine right now to tell Blizzard myself. They tried one, they're going to try the other. Sadly, any transition to support the foreigners will inevitably come at the expense of the Koreans, in the short term at minimum. That's the reality of it.


There is a third school of thought. Do what Riot does and forcibly split the regions from Korea so that the fans are dumb enough to believe each year that their teams can maybe beat the koreans before being utterly smashed. Rinse and repeat for years.

Works for every other sport in the world, why not SC2. I hear Japan has baseball and it's popular. I bet none of those teams would do well in the MLB. But Japan gives no fucks.


It obviously works since LoL is the healthiest esport out there.
Moderator
Nebuchad
Profile Blog Joined December 2012
Switzerland12422 Posts
September 05 2014 02:24 GMT
#215
Blizzard can't really create a second WCS event in Korea to make the newly arrived still earn points. If they did, they would either have to limit it to non-gsl people (in which case some people would try and not qualify to gsl so they are eligible to it, that's not a good model), or the people winning it will be the people doing well in GSL, and that's a pointless repeat.
No will to live, no wish to die
Plansix
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
United States60190 Posts
September 05 2014 02:24 GMT
#216
On September 05 2014 11:22 stuchiu wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 05 2014 11:20 Plansix wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:12 stuchiu wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:06 Circumstance wrote:
It's better for Starcraft overall if a single country doesn't dominate the scene entirely. There are two schools of thought when it comes to how foreigners can reach the skill levels necessary so that this ceases to be the case. One is the way that was done these past 2 years - force them to play each other, and eventually, they'll have to either learn or disappear. The other school of thought is this new one - give them something to compete for themselves, and a foreign competitive circuit can develop to the point where they can actually dedicate themselves to full-time paying and a dedicated training regiment.

Which one is right? What makes things work better for Starcraft? If I knew the answer to that, I'd be looking at a bus schedule to Irvine right now to tell Blizzard myself. They tried one, they're going to try the other. Sadly, any transition to support the foreigners will inevitably come at the expense of the Koreans, in the short term at minimum. That's the reality of it.


There is a third school of thought. Do what Riot does and forcibly split the regions from Korea so that the fans are dumb enough to believe each year that their teams can maybe beat the koreans before being utterly smashed. Rinse and repeat for years.

Works for every other sport in the world, why not SC2. I hear Japan has baseball and it's popular. I bet none of those teams would do well in the MLB. But Japan gives no fucks.


It obviously works since LoL is the healthiest esport out there.

Exactly. I don't get the people who think it's going to be bad. If you want to watch Korean players, there's pro league and GSL
I have the Honor to be your Obedient Servant, P.6
TL+ Member
Circumstance
Profile Blog Joined March 2014
United States11403 Posts
September 05 2014 02:25 GMT
#217
On September 05 2014 11:19 stuchiu wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 05 2014 11:18 Circumstance wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:11 Die4Ever wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:06 Circumstance wrote:
It's better for Starcraft overall if a single country doesn't dominate the scene entirely. There are two schools of thought when it comes to how foreigners can reach the skill levels necessary so that this ceases to be the case. One is the way that was done these past 2 years - force them to play each other, and eventually, they'll have to either learn or disappear. The other school of thought is this new one - give them something to compete for themselves, and a foreign competitive circuit can develop to the point where they can actually dedicate themselves to full-time paying and a dedicated training regiment.

Which one is right? What makes things work better for Starcraft? If I knew the answer to that, I'd be looking at a bus schedule to Irvine right now to tell Blizzard myself. They tried one, they're going to try the other. Sadly, any transition to support the foreigners will inevitably come at the expense of the Koreans, in the short term at minimum. That's the reality of it.

except they tried that with WCS in 2012


One-off tournaments aren't a circuit. You don't sustain yourself on a single brief event. And WCS 2012 wasn't an effort to create a sustained scene, which we recognize is what's needed right now.

Besides which, it's not as if ESL and Dreamhack will just stop letting Koreans in. While it's nowhere near the same, there will still be consistent Korean-vs-foreign competition.


Separating them to raise skill doesn't work though. It didn't work for LoL, it won't work here.


Seems to work decently in Dota. Half of the TI champs have been Chinese, the other half Europeans, and EG made Top 3 this year.

Really, team games aren't a good analogy. Practicing an individual game is so different, and when you get down to it, it's about getting top-level practice environments across the globe.
The world is better when every background has a chance.
Dodgin
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
Canada39254 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-09-05 02:28:04
September 05 2014 02:27 GMT
#218
On September 05 2014 11:24 Plansix wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 05 2014 11:22 stuchiu wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:20 Plansix wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:12 stuchiu wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:06 Circumstance wrote:
It's better for Starcraft overall if a single country doesn't dominate the scene entirely. There are two schools of thought when it comes to how foreigners can reach the skill levels necessary so that this ceases to be the case. One is the way that was done these past 2 years - force them to play each other, and eventually, they'll have to either learn or disappear. The other school of thought is this new one - give them something to compete for themselves, and a foreign competitive circuit can develop to the point where they can actually dedicate themselves to full-time paying and a dedicated training regiment.

Which one is right? What makes things work better for Starcraft? If I knew the answer to that, I'd be looking at a bus schedule to Irvine right now to tell Blizzard myself. They tried one, they're going to try the other. Sadly, any transition to support the foreigners will inevitably come at the expense of the Koreans, in the short term at minimum. That's the reality of it.


There is a third school of thought. Do what Riot does and forcibly split the regions from Korea so that the fans are dumb enough to believe each year that their teams can maybe beat the koreans before being utterly smashed. Rinse and repeat for years.

Works for every other sport in the world, why not SC2. I hear Japan has baseball and it's popular. I bet none of those teams would do well in the MLB. But Japan gives no fucks.


It obviously works since LoL is the healthiest esport out there.

Exactly. I don't get the people who think it's going to be bad. If you want to watch Korean players, there's pro league and GSL


It's going to be bad for KR players that will have difficulty competing in GSL because they're not in a top Kespa team or extremely talented. For the KR region overall it probably doesn't change much since their focus is not on WCS, but on PL.
Plansix
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
United States60190 Posts
September 05 2014 02:28 GMT
#219
On September 05 2014 11:25 Circumstance wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 05 2014 11:19 stuchiu wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:18 Circumstance wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:11 Die4Ever wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:06 Circumstance wrote:
It's better for Starcraft overall if a single country doesn't dominate the scene entirely. There are two schools of thought when it comes to how foreigners can reach the skill levels necessary so that this ceases to be the case. One is the way that was done these past 2 years - force them to play each other, and eventually, they'll have to either learn or disappear. The other school of thought is this new one - give them something to compete for themselves, and a foreign competitive circuit can develop to the point where they can actually dedicate themselves to full-time paying and a dedicated training regiment.

Which one is right? What makes things work better for Starcraft? If I knew the answer to that, I'd be looking at a bus schedule to Irvine right now to tell Blizzard myself. They tried one, they're going to try the other. Sadly, any transition to support the foreigners will inevitably come at the expense of the Koreans, in the short term at minimum. That's the reality of it.

except they tried that with WCS in 2012


One-off tournaments aren't a circuit. You don't sustain yourself on a single brief event. And WCS 2012 wasn't an effort to create a sustained scene, which we recognize is what's needed right now.

Besides which, it's not as if ESL and Dreamhack will just stop letting Koreans in. While it's nowhere near the same, there will still be consistent Korean-vs-foreign competition.


Separating them to raise skill doesn't work though. It didn't work for LoL, it won't work here.


Seems to work decently in Dota. Half of the TI champs have been Chinese, the other half Europeans, and EG made Top 3 this year.

Really, team games aren't a good analogy. Practicing an individual game is so different, and when you get down to it, it's about getting top-level practice environments across the globe.

Yeah, but the regions mix it up a lot more than both LOL and SC2. They play against everyone all the time forever.
I have the Honor to be your Obedient Servant, P.6
TL+ Member
KingofdaHipHop
Profile Blog Joined October 2013
United States25602 Posts
September 05 2014 02:28 GMT
#220
On September 05 2014 11:25 Circumstance wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 05 2014 11:19 stuchiu wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:18 Circumstance wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:11 Die4Ever wrote:
On September 05 2014 11:06 Circumstance wrote:
It's better for Starcraft overall if a single country doesn't dominate the scene entirely. There are two schools of thought when it comes to how foreigners can reach the skill levels necessary so that this ceases to be the case. One is the way that was done these past 2 years - force them to play each other, and eventually, they'll have to either learn or disappear. The other school of thought is this new one - give them something to compete for themselves, and a foreign competitive circuit can develop to the point where they can actually dedicate themselves to full-time paying and a dedicated training regiment.

Which one is right? What makes things work better for Starcraft? If I knew the answer to that, I'd be looking at a bus schedule to Irvine right now to tell Blizzard myself. They tried one, they're going to try the other. Sadly, any transition to support the foreigners will inevitably come at the expense of the Koreans, in the short term at minimum. That's the reality of it.

except they tried that with WCS in 2012


One-off tournaments aren't a circuit. You don't sustain yourself on a single brief event. And WCS 2012 wasn't an effort to create a sustained scene, which we recognize is what's needed right now.

Besides which, it's not as if ESL and Dreamhack will just stop letting Koreans in. While it's nowhere near the same, there will still be consistent Korean-vs-foreign competition.


Separating them to raise skill doesn't work though. It didn't work for LoL, it won't work here.


Seems to work decently in Dota. Half of the TI champs have been Chinese, the other half Europeans, and EG made Top 3 this year.

Really, team games aren't a good analogy. Practicing an individual game is so different, and when you get down to it, it's about getting top-level practice environments across the globe.

Not to mention that the large scale success of Dota and LoL correlates to the much larger player base of the game compared to Starcraft 2.
Rain | herO | sOs | Dear | Neeb | ByuN | INnoVation | Dream | ForGG | Maru | ByuL | Golden | Solar | Soulkey | Scarlett!!!
Prev 1 9 10 11 12 13 65 Next
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 43m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
PiGStarcraft257
SpeCial 141
JuggernautJason56
ForJumy 36
CosmosSc2 36
StarCraft: Brood War
GuemChi 1287
Artosis 579
Dota 2
monkeys_forever795
Counter-Strike
tarik_tv4026
Super Smash Bros
C9.Mang0127
PPMD31
Other Games
summit1g14131
Fnx 2007
Day[9].tv1675
shahzam514
Maynarde76
ViBE42
minikerr8
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick440
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 18 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• davetesta102
• musti20045 32
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• sooper7s
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• Migwel
• intothetv
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Hupsaiya 0
StarCraft: Brood War
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
• BSLYoutube
League of Legends
• Doublelift4780
Other Games
• Day9tv1675
• Scarra893
• imaqtpie782
• Shiphtur108
Upcoming Events
PiGosaur Cup
43m
Replay Cast
9h 43m
Afreeca Starleague
10h 43m
BeSt vs Leta
Queen vs Jaedong
Kung Fu Cup
11h 43m
Replay Cast
1d
The PondCast
1d 10h
OSC
2 days
RSL Revival
2 days
TriGGeR vs Cure
ByuN vs Rogue
Replay Cast
3 days
RSL Revival
3 days
Maru vs MaxPax
[ Show More ]
BSL
3 days
RSL Revival
4 days
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
4 days
BSL
4 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Acropolis #4 - TS6
WardiTV Winter 2026
NationLESS Cup

Ongoing

BSL Season 22
CSL Elite League 2026
CSL Season 20: Qualifier 1
ASL Season 21
Proleague 2026-03-31
RSL Revival: Season 4
Nations Cup 2026
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual

Upcoming

CSL Season 20: Qualifier 2
Escore Tournament S2: W1
CSL 2026 SPRING (S20)
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
BSL 22 Non-Korean Championship
CSLAN 4
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
StarCraft2 Community Team League 2026 Spring
IEM Cologne Major 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
CCT Season 3 Global Finals
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.