EPT(please excuse wrong grammar and wording, it is sunday and I just came back from DH)
2014 has been a good year for XMG in General in terms of eSports, certain parts better than others.
Before getting into SC2 specifically, I'd like to say that we have always been big fans of TeamLiquid and the unique atmosphere this community provides makes it a very special place, as certain aspects that are quite "annoying" in the industry do not apply here, which is why I always like to take the time to speak about our Starcraft II developments.
That being said, there will be some changes to our involvement into Starcraft in 2015 and I would like to explain what is going to happen and why.
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SC2 with XMG in 2014.
In the beginning of 2014 we did add two players to compensate for
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
XMG.XlorD and ![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.png)
XMG.monchi, as they both decided to study and we were already aware that XMG.SaltTheWound planned to do the same.After weeks of scouting we finally decided to add the german legend
Socke and the complete unknown Lilbow into our ranks, making us a full team :D - Ye I am playing too 
The year has been going quite good as far as I am concerned, we could have done some more coverage and fanbased events and features, but overall I think we did a good job, specially until september, when we had to cancel most of our Youtube activity due to pressing matters on other ends (we will reincept Youtube 2015) and the constant drop of views on Starcraft II videos on our channel.
Long story short, let me explain you what will change and why:
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things that stay:
XMG.ToD:![[image loading]](http://readyupgaming.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/XMG-ToD-twitter.jpg)
Some more fancy pics:
First pic we ever made - DH Bucharest 2013:
+ Show Spoiler +
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/ApbvYUI.jpg)
XlorD and monchi met their New mate for the First time:+ Show Spoiler +
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/21liEbf.jpg)
ToD having fun at HSC VII+ Show Spoiler +
![[image loading]](https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t31.0-8/1015337_10151517795208207_1475314944_o.jpg?efg=eyJvbGF0Ijo0MH0%3D)
Some fancy videos:
ToD and iNcontroL trolling HSC: ToD commentates a match against Stardust+ Show Spoiler +
Many more videos have been made, feel free to check them out here: Many more videos have been made, feel free to check them out here: XMG Youtube Channel
ToD has been a great backup throughout 2014 and he will continue to be exactly that. He will play Starcraft II and LotV under XMG in 2015 and I am grateful and honoured to call him part of our team since 2013 now. He has done a lot for our brand, be it playing, casting, visiting Meltdown Bars or even incepting his own tournaments, like the XMG Balance Test Map Tour. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MaddeLisK:![[image loading]](https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/p480x480/72844_590438374357726_656697672_n.jpg?oh=2b82c7e3815217ec1aca5e3e4046a700&oe=551437EE)
We have no plans of discontinuing our personal sponsorship with MaddeLisk right now and we hope for more chances to generate videocontent with her in 2015
Pics:
+ Show Spoiler +
![[image loading]](https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/1456738_566739556727608_695481627_n.jpg?efg=eyJvbGF0Ijo0MH0%3D&oh=820bf92c4324192c7454565e5790d254&oe=5503B254&__gda__=1426785877_1fe0319b8eafb2c5b1bd83c379940886)
![[image loading]](https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/1483101_575197082548522_1473519581_n.jpg?oh=b8d44ef1b725afe92964e0629070eb2b&oe=55182805&__gda__=1426500920_8dc3addf7c09a9daa8fc174b21060681)
Videos: (please check out her workout videos, they are just amazing - in spoiler)
+ Show Spoiler +
Annnouncement:
Workout with MaddeLisK:
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![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/Ricon_small.png)
Apollo:Videos:
Announcement:
Apollo is amazing. Keep Keep - but start them TUTORIAL VIDEOS AGAIN - PEOPLE LOVE IT!
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We will also be one of the biggest partners for the Meltdown Bars and also will continue to support mousesports.
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What might stay:
XMG.Socke:![[image loading]](http://ingame.ingame.de/pics-10xxxx/107172_250_375.jpg)
More awesome pics:
+ Show Spoiler +
![[image loading]](https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/p480x480/983649_738375719526797_5774390387198744506_n.jpg?oh=14310db7240c6d442c6c899ad735b4bb&oe=55191DB5)
![[image loading]](https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p480x480/10313847_740392382658464_3408229127472250032_n.jpg?oh=f1e0d57b8f64f2fe2b75dd3276ffb938&oe=551F789A&__gda__=1427133636_5674c8c946e311f88fe21a3ae65cf765)
![[image loading]](https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p480x480/10363116_823733040991064_2562480274457768365_n.jpg?oh=846bd1533e19da9570068a6443e110b8&oe=54D7CD1B&__gda__=1423268165_1cde4b1c7c52ed0592d04058dba3920e)
Videos:
+ Show Spoiler +
Announcement:
Socke Replayanalysis:Socke has been a most welcomed addition to our squad. He is a very cool and super, epic, sometimes tooooo calm guy, that never gets nervous or angry (def does not show it) He had some good results in 2014, with german EPS still pending (semifinals) and we had a wonderful year together. He is uncertain what his SC2 career in 2015 will be like, so we keep him options open, but he might leave our team in 2015. Nothing is decided yet though And he sure knows how to party.He sure was a bit lazy on content, which is hopefully will be changed in 2015, right Giaco?
We do not have plans, however, to keep him as a full time SC2 player for now.
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HomeStoryCup:
![[image loading]](http://www.homerj.de/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/HSC_X-750x400.jpg)
Well nothing really new here. HSC is one of our most successful events since 10 editions and we are hyped for every new tournament, as it always is something special for me and the whole of XMG. But as always, HomeStoryCup is up for discussion in our marketing and as for the 9 HSC events before, I can't guarantee anything right now
But even if XMG every drops from HSC, due to reason unknown, it will always stay the most enjoyable SC2 event in the scene, that I am sure of Pics: ( god I could post so many here)
+ Show Spoiler +
![[image loading]](http://www.gosugamers.net/files/images/StarCraft%202/July%202013/1715_IMG_1775.JPG)
![[image loading]](http://www.alwaysforkeyboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/home_story_cup1.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.homerj.de/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MMM_HSC_2-750x400.jpg)
That eyes!! aww @LiquidRet
![[image loading]](http://www.team-ldlc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/homestorycup6.jpg)
Videos (we made quite some
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things that do not stay:
XMG.Lilbow:![[image loading]](http://static.mnium.org/images/contenu/liste_news/big/sc2_vignette_lilbow.jpg)
Pics:
+ Show Spoiler +
![[image loading]](http://static.mnium.org/images/contenu/actus/sc2/DreamHack/DH_Sotckholm_2014/sc2_dh_MarineLorD_Lilbow_hd.jpg)
Lilbow has been wonderful, getting good results and being polite all the way. Always focussed on the game 100%, he had some very impressive online results, just lacking a bit offline experience, thus not performing on point at a few offline Events, but still impressed us all the way with adapting quick to the requirements we had and making it into the top ranks within europe.As we do not plan on having a multi player Line Up for 2015, we have to set
Lilbow free, but dont worry, he already found a new home and I am very confident he will perform even better in 2015.Statement:
+ Show Spoiler +
i've been in XMG for almost a year, i evolved a lot as a player and as a person during my time in the team but everything come to an end and i think it's time for me to growth even more, i'm very thankfull to XMG for supporting me and to all my ex-teammates : tod socke and saltthewound and to my manager. i hope you guys will keep cheering for me and you will get new informations about my new team very soon
Thx also to TaKe for inviting me to HSC, I will do better next time, if I get the chance All the best to our youngling David!!
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things that will come:
We will add another SC2 personality into our ranks with a sponsorship in 2015, as we followed and befriended this person for a while now, this character is more than welcome and capable of representing XMG in 2015.
We sadly wont have new players coming in 2015, as SC2 has got harder to justify within the company (for understandable reasons), but the passion still remains in a lot of ways and we will continue to support the game to the best of our abilities. However Dota2 and a few other engagement have proven really effective, so I have yet to find a smart way to implement SC2 in the same way
thx for reading and cu soon
Chris"Sisaan"Hesse
eSport // Gaming Manager XMG
