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WCS 2016: The Life and Death of the Foreigner Narrative -…

Forum Index > SC2 General
205 CommentsPost a Reply
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Diabolique
Profile Joined June 2015
Czech Republic5118 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-12-19 11:52:25
December 19 2015 11:50 GMT
#61
That is somehow similar to banning let us say New Zealand and Australia from international rugby competitions. Saying: "You are too good. We want to be as good as you and we can reach that only if you do not play against us and take all the prize money. Wait four years for the world cup, you can play there, but until then, you can just play friendly matches against each other. We do not want you!"
sOs | Rogue | Maru | Trap | Scarlett | Snute | MC
Diabolique
Profile Joined June 2015
Czech Republic5118 Posts
December 19 2015 11:55 GMT
#62
By the way, I did not see any reaction to this system from Korea yet. From Kespa, from players ... Yesterday, I saw some strange celebration with Michael Morhaime giving some cash money to CJ herO for winning the preliminary GSL tournament. I am sure, Blizzard has to negotiate heavily in Korea these days to stop all eventual negative reactions from Korean teams, eventually some negative actions ...
sOs | Rogue | Maru | Trap | Scarlett | Snute | MC
looken
Profile Joined September 2011
727 Posts
December 19 2015 11:59 GMT
#63
I don't really agree with your statement "foreigners don't get the chance to compete with the best anymore". Maybe I misunderstood, but doesn't it say foreigners CAN compete in the GSL if they want to? So if you actually WANT to be the best its is pretty easy to prove it. Just play in GSL. I doubt any foreigner will do so, but the chance is still there.
"Jingle Bells, Tasteless smells" Artosis 17.12.15
p4ch1n0
Profile Joined December 2012
Germany38 Posts
December 19 2015 12:02 GMT
#64
Maybe this system will make the foreigners practice harder? I think it was very demoralizing for foreigners to practice their heart out to maybe get to the ro8 but then be beaten by a korean anyway.
Swisslink
Profile Joined March 2011
2952 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-12-19 12:04:09
December 19 2015 12:02 GMT
#65
On December 19 2015 20:59 looken wrote:
I don't really agree with your statement "foreigners don't get the chance to compete with the best anymore". Maybe I misunderstood, but doesn't it say foreigners CAN compete in the GSL if they want to? So if you actually WANT to be the best its is pretty easy to prove it. Just play in GSL. I doubt any foreigner will do so, but the chance is still there.


Why should the play in GSL?
There's free money around the globe and an insanely high level competition in GSL/SSL. You'd have to be really stupid to play in GSL/SSL.

On December 19 2015 21:02 p4ch1n0 wrote:
Maybe this system will make the foreigners practice harder? I think it was very demoralizing for foreigners to practice their heart out to maybe get to the ro8 but then be beaten by a korean anyway.



Again: Why should they?
Why on earth should 'no competition' result in 'harder practice'?
The opposite is way more realistic.
munch
Profile Joined July 2014
Mute City2363 Posts
December 19 2015 12:04 GMT
#66
On December 19 2015 21:02 Swisslink wrote:
Show nested quote +
On December 19 2015 20:59 looken wrote:
I don't really agree with your statement "foreigners don't get the chance to compete with the best anymore". Maybe I misunderstood, but doesn't it say foreigners CAN compete in the GSL if they want to? So if you actually WANT to be the best its is pretty easy to prove it. Just play in GSL. I doubt any foreigner will do so, but the chance is still there.


Why should the play in GSL?
There's free money around the globe and an insanely high level competition in GSL/SSL. You'd have to be really stupid to play in GSL/SSL.


Props to State for dreaming the dream
WriterForm is temporary, MMA is permanent || http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/508630-article-archive
Diabolique
Profile Joined June 2015
Czech Republic5118 Posts
December 19 2015 12:06 GMT
#67
I really hope, IEM will invite sOs to the final ceremony of Korean SC2 abroad = Taipei invitational. Because that will be his last chance to compete abroad.
sOs | Rogue | Maru | Trap | Scarlett | Snute | MC
Penev
Profile Joined October 2012
28468 Posts
December 19 2015 12:07 GMT
#68
So Blizzard's partners in this, DH, IEM and RB should each organize a global event to make sure we have at least 4
Korea - world clashes. Maybe Afreeca and SpotTV can jump in..
I Protoss winner, could it be?
Penev
Profile Joined October 2012
28468 Posts
December 19 2015 12:13 GMT
#69
On December 19 2015 19:57 lichter wrote:
Show nested quote +
On December 19 2015 19:54 Diabolique wrote:
On December 19 2015 19:38 Negius wrote:
After reading it all and not liking the changes that much I'm still left wondering wether there will be tournament organizers (for example, BasetradeTV or even bigger names) that will choose to not hold a WCS event. That way they can still invite/qualify the Koreans to compete with foreigners, while not having to fullfill the requirements.

I sincerely hope so.

p.s. in all those Korean tournament lists, don't forget to include proleague. Not only gives it exposure to mid-tier Koreans, but those who're part of a team or organization will at least get a salary.


Luckily, Proleague is still there.


OR IS IT

just kidding of course there's gonna be proleague

I REALLY would want to hear something about it by now though. And if there's going to be an 8th team..
I Protoss winner, could it be?
looken
Profile Joined September 2011
727 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-12-19 12:19:10
December 19 2015 12:18 GMT
#70
On December 19 2015 21:02 Swisslink wrote:
Show nested quote +
On December 19 2015 20:59 looken wrote:
I don't really agree with your statement "foreigners don't get the chance to compete with the best anymore". Maybe I misunderstood, but doesn't it say foreigners CAN compete in the GSL if they want to? So if you actually WANT to be the best its is pretty easy to prove it. Just play in GSL. I doubt any foreigner will do so, but the chance is still there.


Why should the play in GSL?
There's free money around the globe and an insanely high level competition in GSL/SSL. You'd have to be really stupid to play in GSL/SSL.

Show nested quote +
On December 19 2015 21:02 p4ch1n0 wrote:
Maybe this system will make the foreigners practice harder? I think it was very demoralizing for foreigners to practice their heart out to maybe get to the ro8 but then be beaten by a korean anyway.



Again: Why should they?
Why on earth should 'no competition' result in 'harder practice'?
The opposite is way more realistic.

The authors argument is "there will never be a foreigner as great as the ones in the past because they don't have the chance to beat Koreans anymore". My point is that this statement is wrong. Yes it would be extremely difficult to compete in GSL, but it IS still POSSIBLE. So the argument "there will never be someone as great as Stephano because foreigners don't get the chance to play vs Koreans anymore" simply isn't true.
And the argument "well no foreigner in his right mind will play in GSL because it is too hard" is simply flawed. You cant say foreigners don't get the chance to be as great as past legends anymore just because it would be extremely hard to do so.

To your other question: "Why on earth should 'no competition' result in 'harder practice'?"
Competition is certainly the main driver in getting better and increasing your skill. But if competition is so hard that you cant realistically expect to make a living as pro gamer you wont do it. So if this system allows you to support yourself and therefore allows more players to actually TRY to be a pro i think that is beneficial. Imagine Stephano would never have played the game because he thought "oh i don't have a chance in winning anyway, the competition is too strong" do you think that would have been good for the scene? Maybe there are a lot more Stephanos out there just not willing to risk their livelihood right now because the current situation was just way too bleak for non Koreans.
"Jingle Bells, Tasteless smells" Artosis 17.12.15
Diabolique
Profile Joined June 2015
Czech Republic5118 Posts
December 19 2015 12:18 GMT
#71
If Blizzard wanted to really support the foreigner's attendance at BlizzCon, they should make it mandatory for Koreans in the RO16 group stage not to use keyboards. They should do all their actions using mouse only. Then, the matches could be reasonable and balanced and some foreigners could actually make it even to the RO8.
sOs | Rogue | Maru | Trap | Scarlett | Snute | MC
lestye
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States4149 Posts
December 19 2015 12:18 GMT
#72
On December 19 2015 21:13 Penev wrote:
Show nested quote +
On December 19 2015 19:57 lichter wrote:
On December 19 2015 19:54 Diabolique wrote:
On December 19 2015 19:38 Negius wrote:
After reading it all and not liking the changes that much I'm still left wondering wether there will be tournament organizers (for example, BasetradeTV or even bigger names) that will choose to not hold a WCS event. That way they can still invite/qualify the Koreans to compete with foreigners, while not having to fullfill the requirements.

I sincerely hope so.

p.s. in all those Korean tournament lists, don't forget to include proleague. Not only gives it exposure to mid-tier Koreans, but those who're part of a team or organization will at least get a salary.


Luckily, Proleague is still there.


OR IS IT

just kidding of course there's gonna be proleague

I REALLY would want to hear something about it by now though. And if there's going to be an 8th team..

I'm hoping IM comes back as the 8th team.
"You guys are just edgelords. Embrace your inner weeb desu" -Zergneedsfood
p4ch1n0
Profile Joined December 2012
Germany38 Posts
December 19 2015 12:20 GMT
#73
On December 19 2015 21:02 Swisslink wrote:
Again: Why should they?
Why on earth should 'no competition' result in 'harder practice'?
The opposite is way more realistic.


If you throw in a bronze player into GM they will lose 100 games in a row, see that they don't have a chance and quit the game. But if you let them play vs opponents who are around the same skill as them, they will practice and maybe get to GM level one day.
But I don't really know if this anology aplies to pro players.
Swisslink
Profile Joined March 2011
2952 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-12-19 12:46:38
December 19 2015 12:44 GMT
#74
On December 19 2015 21:20 p4ch1n0 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On December 19 2015 21:02 Swisslink wrote:
Again: Why should they?
Why on earth should 'no competition' result in 'harder practice'?
The opposite is way more realistic.


If you throw in a bronze player into GM they will lose 100 games in a row, see that they don't have a chance and quit the game. But if you let them play vs opponents who are around the same skill as them, they will practice and maybe get to GM level one day.
But I don't really know if this anology aplies to pro players.


Let's call it the 'Lilbow-effect'. Blizzcon is still going to be unwinnable for a foreigner, so why should they bother to prepare for the only tournament, where they face real competition? The rest of the year gives them more money than they can ever make at Blizzcon anyway, therefore it's not really worth the effort.

If you give a local tennis player the same amount of money for some low level tournaments as they'd get in the really big tournaments I doubt they'd care about the international tournaments that much.
looken
Profile Joined September 2011
727 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-12-19 13:01:29
December 19 2015 13:00 GMT
#75
Exactly, and that's probably the greatest advantage of that system. It gets easier for foreigners to win money. If you want a scene to grow you need to give ppl an incentive to actually wanna play and try. If lesser know players find it unlikely that they could ever win something and support themselves playing a game, they wont try. So increasing the chances for them to win is exactly what you want to do.
In the short run skill level might suffer, but in the long run this system might lead to more foreigners trying to become pro. A lager pool of players (and therefore possible "Stephanos") will lead to finding the next Stephano much faster then a smaller pool of players.

Besides just look at the facts. We had a system in which foreigners could compete with Koreans for pretty much all of Starcraft. It lead to the steady decline of the foreign scene. At some point Blizzard even saw the need to come up with some sort of region lock.
In theory i'd agree with your point that stronger competition leads to higher skill, but reality in SCII does not support that statement. It seems that competition has been so hard that most foreigners were discouraged to play the game in the first place.
"Jingle Bells, Tasteless smells" Artosis 17.12.15
maartendq
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Belgium3115 Posts
December 19 2015 13:12 GMT
#76
On December 19 2015 20:59 looken wrote:
I don't really agree with your statement "foreigners don't get the chance to compete with the best anymore". Maybe I misunderstood, but doesn't it say foreigners CAN compete in the GSL if they want to? So if you actually WANT to be the best its is pretty easy to prove it. Just play in GSL. I doubt any foreigner will do so, but the chance is still there.

Of course they are allowed to participate in GSL, but let's be honest here, most of them wouldn't even be able to get out of Code B, let alone move from Code A to Code S.
drifterr
Profile Joined December 2015
23 Posts
December 19 2015 13:16 GMT
#77
On December 19 2015 21:02 p4ch1n0 wrote:
Maybe this system will make the foreigners practice harder? I think it was very demoralizing for foreigners to practice their heart out to maybe get to the ro8 but then be beaten by a korean anyway.


they wont practice harder or better or anything like that. things will remain the same for foreigners. people like tlo wont get better by these changes...
p4ch1n0
Profile Joined December 2012
Germany38 Posts
December 19 2015 13:17 GMT
#78
On December 19 2015 21:44 Swisslink wrote:
Show nested quote +
On December 19 2015 21:20 p4ch1n0 wrote:
On December 19 2015 21:02 Swisslink wrote:
Again: Why should they?
Why on earth should 'no competition' result in 'harder practice'?
The opposite is way more realistic.


If you throw in a bronze player into GM they will lose 100 games in a row, see that they don't have a chance and quit the game. But if you let them play vs opponents who are around the same skill as them, they will practice and maybe get to GM level one day.
But I don't really know if this anology aplies to pro players.


Let's call it the 'Lilbow-effect'. Blizzcon is still going to be unwinnable for a foreigner, so why should they bother to prepare for the only tournament, where they face real competition? The rest of the year gives them more money than they can ever make at Blizzcon anyway, therefore it's not really worth the effort.

If you give a local tennis player the same amount of money for some low level tournaments as they'd get in the really big tournaments I doubt they'd care about the international tournaments that much.


You just supported my point. Lilbow didn't practice because he knew he doesn't have a chance. If he would have had a decent chance he would have practiced and gotten better. Even if foreigners don't practice for the global competition there are enough circuit events to practice for. And since every pro foreigner has a chance to win and the pricepool is very high they will practice a lot.
achan1058
Profile Joined February 2012
1091 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-12-19 13:28:49
December 19 2015 13:17 GMT
#79
Pretty much agreed with everything the article says. There's no point watching IEM or Dreamhack now. Perhaps I will watch LoL out of spite.
On December 19 2015 22:17 p4ch1n0 wrote:You just supported my point. Lilbow didn't practice because he knew he doesn't have a chance. If he would have had a decent chance he would have practiced and gotten better. Even if foreigners don't practice for the global competition there are enough circuit events to practice for. And since every pro foreigner has a chance to win and the pricepool is very high they will practice a lot.
Since none of them will now have a chance at Blizzcon, they won't practice to be good enough for that level. They will only practice enough to beat other non-Koreans. In this way, the skill gap widens. Instead of seeing 1 Lilbow, we will see 8.
Ingvar
Profile Joined April 2015
Russian Federation421 Posts
December 19 2015 13:24 GMT
#80
On December 19 2015 19:21 [N3O]r3d33m3r wrote:
Show nested quote +
On December 19 2015 14:03 lestye wrote:
I think I'll overall have to disagree with the author. I don't think we were close to those epic stories in the last few years.

Ultimately it will have to depend on how many Global Tournaments there are.

I think the foreign region lock is needed, because it's so incredibly difficult to get exposure to be a pro foreign player. And I think that's been a problem for foreign players for quite some time now. I kinda get sad when I see the big esports orgs pick up players from much less established games, because they get so much value and exposure out of them, something they can't really do with Foreign SC2 players, (and buying up Korean ringers isn't useful either, there seems to be an expiration date on them where they'll inevitably get taken over)

I also disagree with the author that this will be worse for the scene.
I'm sorry, but if you want to watch the best, ther is plenty of opportunity to do so. but there are other players who want to have a bit of the cake too (money).
It is simply not worth it to be a sc2 pro if you can't get out of group stages in big tournaments. Slightly less tournaments in Korea is for the better, gives playerse more tim to prepare. We are actually oversaturated with tournaments.

You also cannot expect everybody to go to korea "if they want a chance to compete". There is always the top 10 percentil which you cannot reach.

Why should I care about Starcraft players who 1) Can't compete with the best 2) Don't want to compete with the best 3) Tell me about 1 and 2 with a straight face. I've seen enough "region locking" in Russian football and hockey to know that it doesn't increase player quality or entertainment.

And one thing I am certain in is that you can't reach top 10% if you don't try.
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