Jin Air Green Wings have announced the closure of their SC2 division.
'Jin Air Green Wings StarCraft II team are terminating Coach herb, sOs, Rogue, Trap, Creator, and Maru's contracts and will cease operations effective today. We'd like to wholeheartedly thank all those, who supported and cherished Jin Air Green Wings to the very end.
The last StarCraft II Proleague champions, The first gold medal at the Asian Esports Games, The only [player/team] with four GSL championships in a row,
All these moments were made possible thanks to your support for Jin Air Green Wings.
Although we are saddened to have to make this decision, we will never forget those who supported us throughout our journey. We extend our love and wish all our players and coaches a bright future.
Coach herb, sOs, Rogue, Trap, Creator, Maru - thank you. We hope [expect] you'll continue to excel.
Thank you for loving Jin Air Green Wings. '
I was asked to clarify my Korean needs work and the translation could be somewhat inaccurate.
On November 30 2020 18:21 Qikz wrote: With OGN closing as well it's really starting to not look good for esports in Korea at all. :/
LoL, BW, and OW are doing just fine, Koreans were never fans of SC2. OGN is closing down because Riot took the rights to LCK, and Jin Air is shutting down because there hasn't been Proleague for 4 years.
Man that realy sucks. Wasn t JAGW the last Team with a house in Korea? I could honestly see SOS and Creator go to the army, if they Don t find a Team fast, wich would also be realy sad... Makes the Kr scene even smaller. But After they close down LOL as well this was inevitable at one point. I just hoped it actually was like a year or more in the Future and not just mere weeks
I never was a Big JAGW fan, but everyone has to aknowledge what they have done over the years. Truely impressive legacy. They will leave a Big gap to full in the Korean scene. Lets hope the Chinese Teams can fill it somehow
So we're looking at probably sOs and Creator disbanding retiring, considering the last years Creator team searching was unsuccessful and sOs is "just" Code S RO24 player
On November 30 2020 18:21 Qikz wrote: With OGN closing as well it's really starting to not look good for esports in Korea at all. :/
LoL, BW, and OW are doing just fine, Koreans were never fans of SC2. OGN is closing down because Riot took the rights to LCK, and Jin Air is shutting down because there hasn't been Proleague for 4 years.
Isn’t it more because -> LoL team lost spot, covid makes the sponsor less financially healthy (Jin air is planes)?
Isn't this covid related? I would think with the huge reduction in travel and therefore revenue for Jinair, Jinair needs to conserve cash. Somebody mentioned Jinair also closed their LoL team as well.
On November 30 2020 19:13 deacon.frost wrote: So we're looking at probably sOs and Creator disbanding retiring, considering the last years Creator team searching was unsuccessful and sOs is "just" Code S RO24 player
This seems highly likely scenario. The disbandment also creates a huge inflation of talent for other teams to pick up. Curious to see which ones will take on the opportunity (in addition to DPG).
On November 30 2020 19:35 xelnaga_empire wrote: Isn't this covid related? I would think with the huge reduction in travel and therefore revenue for Jinair, Jinair needs to conserve cash. Somebody mentioned Jinair also closed their LoL team as well.
LoL team wasn't as successful as SC2 team, at the same time though the SC2 team was probably just a little sibling of the LoL team so the disband was inevitable.
On November 30 2020 19:35 xelnaga_empire wrote: Isn't this covid related? I would think with the huge reduction in travel and therefore revenue for Jinair, Jinair needs to conserve cash. Somebody mentioned Jinair also closed their LoL team as well.
LoL team wasn't as successful as SC2 team, at the same time though the SC2 team was probably just a little sibling of the LoL team so the disband was inevitable.
Yeah, from what I understand that pretty much sums it up. Throw in that covid isn t helping their major sponsor wich is an Airline after all and that s preety much it I gues.
Remarkable and sad. Adieu JAGW you were true heroes for keeping a teamhouse environment in these trying times.
I still think the JAGW teamhouse has been a big part of the success of many players in that team. Many have noted the importance of the love and support of a team and meal preparation that likely had significant benefits for players such as Maru in his 4 GSL wins.
In 2020 it has been even more beneficial to have close comfort with your team during the pandemic.
It makes sense that Jin Air, an airline company would be struggling in 2020 with all of the travel restrictions everywhere.
I hope that when COVID is finally a thing of the past and things go back to a relative normal that we'll see a return of the organization to SC2. They're one of the greatest SC2 teams of all time it's a shame to see them go.
Good god I just realized. Rogue joined Jinair in 2011 and now left in 2020. He was at that team for just over 10 years. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to have to adapt to a new environment after that...
On November 30 2020 20:14 Niravroh wrote: Good god I just realized. Rogue joined Jinair in 2011 and now left in 2020. He was at that team for just over 10 years. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to have to adapt to a new environment after that...
On November 30 2020 20:14 Niravroh wrote: Good god I just realized. Rogue joined Jinair in 2011 and now left in 2020. He was at that team for just over 10 years. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to have to adapt to a new environment after that...
Just under?
Unless he joined on december than nope, it was over 10 years.
On November 30 2020 20:14 Niravroh wrote: Good god I just realized. Rogue joined Jinair in 2011 and now left in 2020. He was at that team for just over 10 years. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to have to adapt to a new environment after that...
Just under?
Unless he joined on december than nope, it was over 10 years.
He joined in November 2011 and left in November 2020.
On November 30 2020 19:56 SC2_Near wrote: Maru and Creator were playing for teamNV anyways.
But good luck to all of them and thanks JAGW for all you have proportioned for us!
teamNV was a Clan Tag, it was not a team. The Koreans (and Chinese) players often played in Clans that have nothing to do with their professional Team, like for example XY fans. It s just a Meme mostly. They most likely played under that particular Clan tag, because the ingame clan sign of that is a anime girl.
There is a professional team called NV team, but they didn t play for that for sure. That Clan tag was for the joke.
On November 30 2020 20:14 Niravroh wrote: Good god I just realized. Rogue joined Jinair in 2011 and now left in 2020. He was at that team for just over 10 years. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to have to adapt to a new environment after that...
Just under?
Unless he joined on december than nope, it was over 10 years.
He joined in November 2011 and left in November 2020.
Expected but sad still. Feels like there is a lot of uncertainty about Korean SC2 at the moment. Hope this doesn't mean the end for GSL, Afreeca does have a multi-year contract with blizzard so it would presumably take a lot for that to happen before the contract runs out.
On November 30 2020 21:42 sneakyfox wrote: Expected but sad still. Feels like there is a lot of uncertainty about Korean SC2 at the moment. Hope this doesn't mean the end for GSL, Afreeca does have a multi-year contract with blizzard so it would presumably take a lot for that to happen before the contract runs out.
I would say there is relative certainty that Afreeca has 0 chance of extending their contract with Blizzard, at least in its current form.
On November 30 2020 21:42 sneakyfox wrote: Expected but sad still. Feels like there is a lot of uncertainty about Korean SC2 at the moment. Hope this doesn't mean the end for GSL, Afreeca does have a multi-year contract with blizzard so it would presumably take a lot for that to happen before the contract runs out.
In 2 years expect a very bad news before the Christmass.
On November 30 2020 19:56 SC2_Near wrote: Maru and Creator were playing for teamNV anyways.
But good luck to all of them and thanks JAGW for all you have proportioned for us!
teamNV was a Clan Tag, it was not a team. The Koreans (and Chinese) players often played in Clans that have nothing to do with their professional Team, like for example XY fans. It s just a Meme mostly. They most likely played under that particular Clan tag, because the ingame clan sign of that is a anime girl.
There is a professional team called NV team, but they didn t play for that for sure. That Clan tag was for the joke.
The only team with a 4-time GSL winner (Maru), multiple World Championship titles (Rogue, sOs), and the last PL champs, gonna miss this team. RIP KeSPA
On November 30 2020 20:14 Niravroh wrote: Good god I just realized. Rogue joined Jinair in 2011 and now left in 2020. He was at that team for just over 10 years. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to have to adapt to a new environment after that...
On November 30 2020 20:14 Niravroh wrote: Good god I just realized. Rogue joined Jinair in 2011 and now left in 2020. He was at that team for just over 10 years. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to have to adapt to a new environment after that...
Just under?
Unless he joined on december than nope, it was over 10 years.
I hate to be that guy but 2020 - 2011= 9, not 10. Basic maths man
On November 30 2020 19:56 SC2_Near wrote: Maru and Creator were playing for teamNV anyways.
But good luck to all of them and thanks JAGW for all you have proportioned for us!
teamNV was a Clan Tag, it was not a team. The Koreans (and Chinese) players often played in Clans that have nothing to do with their professional Team, like for example XY fans. It s just a Meme mostly. They most likely played under that particular Clan tag, because the ingame clan sign of that is a anime girl.
There is a professional team called NV team, but they didn t play for that for sure. That Clan tag was for the joke.
Well at least Maru played under the NV Clan tag like 2-3 month ago allready. So I highly doubt that had anything to do with this. Still great to see they got picked up so quickly.
On November 30 2020 19:56 SC2_Near wrote: Maru and Creator were playing for teamNV anyways.
But good luck to all of them and thanks JAGW for all you have proportioned for us!
teamNV was a Clan Tag, it was not a team. The Koreans (and Chinese) players often played in Clans that have nothing to do with their professional Team, like for example XY fans. It s just a Meme mostly. They most likely played under that particular Clan tag, because the ingame clan sign of that is a anime girl.
There is a professional team called NV team, but they didn t play for that for sure. That Clan tag was for the joke.
On November 30 2020 19:56 SC2_Near wrote: Maru and Creator were playing for teamNV anyways.
But good luck to all of them and thanks JAGW for all you have proportioned for us!
teamNV was a Clan Tag, it was not a team. The Koreans (and Chinese) players often played in Clans that have nothing to do with their professional Team, like for example XY fans. It s just a Meme mostly. They most likely played under that particular Clan tag, because the ingame clan sign of that is a anime girl.
There is a professional team called NV team, but they didn t play for that for sure. That Clan tag was for the joke.
Earlier this year they had a team meeting and made two demands: First they told sOs, win a game with a proxy nexus or we close up shop. Then they told Maru, this team means nothing if you don't win a G5L.
On November 30 2020 19:56 SC2_Near wrote: Maru and Creator were playing for teamNV anyways.
But good luck to all of them and thanks JAGW for all you have proportioned for us!
teamNV was a Clan Tag, it was not a team. The Koreans (and Chinese) players often played in Clans that have nothing to do with their professional Team, like for example XY fans. It s just a Meme mostly. They most likely played under that particular Clan tag, because the ingame clan sign of that is a anime girl.
There is a professional team called NV team, but they didn t play for that for sure. That Clan tag was for the joke.
so that leaves Freecs as the only team in KR. But then Stats has left AFSC2 and then DRG renaming his handle to only DRG from AfreecaDRG. That means something for Freecs
Shoutout to Jin Air. Far and away my favorite team in Proleague, but also some really nice people. Back in 2016 I messaged their fb page asking if sOs and Maru could sign my 2013 wcs cards. I mailed them the cards and they mailed me back the cards (free of charge), plus autographs from everyone on the team and one of the banners they gave crowd members to hold up during proleague matches.
Shocked they even lasted this long with SC2 being pretty much non existent in Korea and of course COVID wreaking obvious havoc on Jin Airs revenue.
Something tells me that it's just, like others have said, the end of an era. I still think the current SC2 scene is extremely good though, we've had some killer tournaments this year and the game quality is pretty damn good. I mean, Parting still get's like 1.5K on his stream, not too bad I'd say for such an old game.
On December 01 2020 14:13 Beelzebub1 wrote: I still think the current SC2 scene is extremely good though, we've had some killer tournaments this year and the game quality is pretty damn good.
I've not been around here too much lately but is there anyone else concerned that protoss haven't been winning in ages? For me it's not good quality game when one race seems doomed even before people start playing.
It's strange Trap has no new team yet as he is performing very well this year. Also, it will be strange to see now Maru, Rouge and Trap playing one versus other defending different teams.
On December 01 2020 19:39 gotqn wrote: It's strange Trap has no new team yet as he is performing very well this year. Also, it will be strange to see now Maru, Rouge and Trap playing one versus other defending different teams.
This is it. This is the end of Starcraft 2. It might last another year or two (however long it's contractually obligated to), but after that it's over.
This was inevitable after the end of active development announcement by Blizzard. I would have loved to see it last one more year. I really want someone to win a G5L trophy before the game is gone for good.
On December 02 2020 04:54 Monochromatic wrote: This is it. This is the end of Starcraft 2. It might last another year or two (however long it's contractually obligated to), but after that it's over.
This was inevitable after the end of active development announcement by Blizzard. I would have loved to see it last one more year. I really want someone to win a G5L trophy before the game is gone for good.
If this is connected to the end of the development of SC2 I will eat NoRegret
On December 02 2020 04:54 Monochromatic wrote: This is it. This is the end of Starcraft 2. It might last another year or two (however long it's contractually obligated to), but after that it's over.
This was inevitable after the end of active development announcement by Blizzard. I would have loved to see it last one more year. I really want someone to win a G5L trophy before the game is gone for good.
If this is connected to the end of the development of SC2 I will eat NoRegret
On December 02 2020 04:54 Monochromatic wrote: This is it. This is the end of Starcraft 2. It might last another year or two (however long it's contractually obligated to), but after that it's over.
This was inevitable after the end of active development announcement by Blizzard. I would have loved to see it last one more year. I really want someone to win a G5L trophy before the game is gone for good.
If this is connected to the end of the development of SC2 I will eat NoRegret
Dont act like that wouldnt be a delicious treat
He may have eaten a shoe, with such eating habits I'm not gonna be exactly thrilled :D
On December 01 2020 19:39 gotqn wrote: It's strange Trap has no new team yet as he is performing very well this year. Also, it will be strange to see now Maru, Rouge and Trap playing one versus other defending different teams.
On December 01 2020 19:39 gotqn wrote: It's strange Trap has no new team yet as he is performing very well this year. Also, it will be strange to see now Maru, Rouge and Trap playing one versus other defending different teams.
On November 30 2020 18:58 Ziggy wrote: [...]Jin Air Green Wings StarCraft II team [...] will cease operations effective today. [...]
I wonder why in e-sports everything has to be "effective immediately"... I hope at least the team was informed months or at least weeks for it disbanded. Otherwise, it is so terrible!
On November 30 2020 18:58 Ziggy wrote: [...]Jin Air Green Wings StarCraft II team [...] will cease operations effective today. [...]
I wonder why in e-sports everything has to be "effective immediately"... I hope at least the team was informed months or at least weeks for it disbanded. Otherwise, it is so terrible!
Given 4/6 of them were immediately on new teams, they presumably had advanced notice.
On December 01 2020 19:39 gotqn wrote: It's strange Trap has no new team yet as he is performing very well this year. Also, it will be strange to see now Maru, Rouge and Trap playing one versus other defending different teams.
One word - Protoss.
What does that have to do with anything
Besides the fact that the race has been killed by the balance team?
On December 01 2020 19:39 gotqn wrote: It's strange Trap has no new team yet as he is performing very well this year. Also, it will be strange to see now Maru, Rouge and Trap playing one versus other defending different teams.
One word - Protoss.
What does that have to do with anything
Besides the fact that the race has been killed by the balance team?
Yes. A team manager has to weigh financials - competition winnings, media exposure and other potential financial streams.
Let's be conservative and assume a S-tier Protoss has the bargaining power of an A-tier Terran/Zerg. Based on last 2-3 year trends, the latter has a higher ROI. Slam-duck decision.
(This is to pre-empt anyone from going "Oh, but [insert name of B/C-tier Protoss] got into a team!". Apples and oranges. Parting is quite an outlier as he has other potential financial streams - including his, yes, streaming activity.)
On December 01 2020 19:39 gotqn wrote: It's strange Trap has no new team yet as he is performing very well this year. Also, it will be strange to see now Maru, Rouge and Trap playing one versus other defending different teams.
One word - Protoss.
What does that have to do with anything
He's actually stuck in a balance hellhole 1) He's a top tier player, no doubt about that 2) He doesn't win things and champs get much more exposure than runner ups 3) He doesn't stream/isn't a part time streamer
So we have a very good player, who has the right to ask for much monies, who doesn't win trophies and who isn't medially usable as a streamer. He's no MC or Parting, that's for sure. He's not exactly in a great negotiating spot. I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to undersell himself and I bet people would love to get him as cheap as possible.
On December 02 2020 19:02 egrimm wrote: dammit, everybody knew it will happen someday but still it is disappointing The state of sc2 in Korea is truly worsening it seems...
And they thought the SC2 in Korea hit the rock bottom...
On December 01 2020 19:39 gotqn wrote: It's strange Trap has no new team yet as he is performing very well this year. Also, it will be strange to see now Maru, Rouge and Trap playing one versus other defending different teams.
One word - Protoss.
What does that have to do with anything
He's actually stuck in a balance hellhole 1) He's a top tier player, no doubt about that 2) He doesn't win things and champs get much more exposure than runner ups 3) He doesn't stream/isn't a part time streamer
So we have a very good player, who has the right to ask for much monies, who doesn't win trophies and who isn't medially usable as a streamer. He's no MC or Parting, that's for sure. He's not exactly in a great negotiating spot. I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to undersell himself and I bet people would love to get him as cheap as possible.
Exactly, being stuck as a Kong is an awkward place to be. Coincidental or not, it's mostly Protoss occupying this niche - Trap, Stats, and even Zest. Whilst even 'slumping' top Terrans and Zergs (S to A tier) can pull out a surprise win or two (Inno, Byun, soO, Rogue).
I was pretty shocked to be honest. I noticed it only today, when I saw in Super Tournament that Trap has no team. I thought it's a mistake until I looked it up in Liquipedia. Maybe it was inevitable, but I did not really that coming and I'm pretty worried about the Korean sc2 scene.
EPT
well, nothing lasts forever... good luck to my favorite players.
