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If KeSPA hadn't died, would Foreigners win today? - Page 2

Forum Index > SC2 General
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Snakestyle11
Profile Joined December 2018
191 Posts
Last Edited: 2021-05-06 04:30:31
May 06 2021 04:29 GMT
#21
They would still win. With the way Starcraft 2 instant ladder queues work and matches you with similar MMR ppl, top EU ladder is almost as good practice as customs Korean team houses would do. It was always only a matter of time until foreign players caught up.

Lets be real, being korean doesnt make you better at sc2. Practicing does. If starcraft1 had a ladder like sc2 from day 1, i think more foreign players wouldve done good in broodwar.
Morbidius
Profile Joined November 2010
Brazil3449 Posts
May 06 2021 05:32 GMT
#22
Serral probably would still have good results, even if not as impressive. He is one those extremely talented players who would not need Kespa to be sucessful like Life and Taeja.
I don't see things like Reynor's katowice or elazer GSL finals happening with kespa around tho.
Has foreign StarCraft hit rock bottom?
vyzion
Profile Joined August 2016
308 Posts
May 06 2021 06:12 GMT
#23
I'm going to go with yes, no one stays at the top forever.
chickenandbeer1234
Profile Joined April 2021
5 Posts
May 06 2021 06:13 GMT
#24
Just see how 2013-2015 has gone when all former bw pros in Korea played sc2.

After that, 80% of former bw pros in Korea came back to bw. If they all continued to play sc2, it would be same as 2015.
Zergiica
Profile Joined October 2015
Croatia128 Posts
May 06 2021 06:26 GMT
#25
On May 06 2021 03:37 ZigguratOfUr wrote:
There is a lack of new SCII players from Korea, and even if KeSPA had lived that would still have been the case. So yes non-Koreans would still have won eventually even if the team-house scene hadn't declined after KeSPA left. Institutional support doesn't win out in the long term when there's a lack of up and coming talent.


well, with support, there would be new players. so... i don't think foreigners would have same results without going there and practice/live in pro houses.
Wintex
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
Norway16838 Posts
May 06 2021 07:10 GMT
#26
Not to the extent that they have won the past years.
The Bomber boy
SmoKim
Profile Joined March 2010
Denmark10305 Posts
May 06 2021 07:41 GMT
#27
On May 06 2021 03:26 [Phantom] wrote:
I think they would be like Stephano. Very good, winning some tournaments, giving us hope, but ultimately being defeated over time by the Koreans.


Glad you pointed this out. While Stephano definitely was the best foreigner at a time, he never was the GOAT that many claimed him to be.

Ironically i think it was his whole attitude that held him back from being truly great. If he had practised more - and more seriously - he might have reached Serral/Reynor/Clem level at some point. Alas he took it easy and had alot of fun instead, and still ended up having a very succesful career.
"LOL I have 202 supply right now (3 minutes later)..."LOL NOW I HAVE 220 SUPPLY SUP?!?!?" - Mondragon
Shuffleblade
Profile Joined February 2012
Sweden1903 Posts
Last Edited: 2021-05-06 07:49:31
May 06 2021 07:49 GMT
#28
If SC2 was big in korea and kespa didn't die, the europeans of today and the past years would still be as skilled as they are. The difference is that the koreans would be stronger, I don't understand how anyone can think it would be harder for Maru or Rogue to win but not harder for Serral or Reynor.

Either SC2 being a success in korea and kespa staying alive would heighten the level of korean sc2 making ot harder for everyone to win a tournament or the level stayed the same and got the same results as they have today. If ByuN wouldn't be able to do what he did in an alternative dimension with kespa I don't think Serral would be able to either.

Obbiously Serral might still have won one or two tournemants, he is still a god but would he be AS successful as he has been in a world with a declined korean scene.
Maru, Bomber, TY, Dear, Classic, DeParture and Rogue!
Harris1st
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Germany7162 Posts
May 06 2021 07:52 GMT
#29
On May 06 2021 16:41 SmoKim wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 06 2021 03:26 [Phantom] wrote:
I think they would be like Stephano. Very good, winning some tournaments, giving us hope, but ultimately being defeated over time by the Koreans.


Glad you pointed this out. While Stephano definitely was the best foreigner at a time, he never was the GOAT that many claimed him to be.

Ironically i think it was his whole attitude that held him back from being truly great. If he had practised more - and more seriously - he might have reached Serral/Reynor/Clem level at some point. Alas he took it easy and had alot of fun instead, and still ended up having a very succesful career.


So when Kespa wouldn't have died, there'd be a lot more money in SC2 and Stephano would have gone super serious full time mode and would have ruled the world and then Kespa would have died because Stephano too stronk!
Go Serral! GG EZ for Ence. Flashbang dance FTW
SmoKim
Profile Joined March 2010
Denmark10305 Posts
May 06 2021 07:57 GMT
#30
On May 06 2021 16:52 Harris1st wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 06 2021 16:41 SmoKim wrote:
On May 06 2021 03:26 [Phantom] wrote:
I think they would be like Stephano. Very good, winning some tournaments, giving us hope, but ultimately being defeated over time by the Koreans.


Glad you pointed this out. While Stephano definitely was the best foreigner at a time, he never was the GOAT that many claimed him to be.

Ironically i think it was his whole attitude that held him back from being truly great. If he had practised more - and more seriously - he might have reached Serral/Reynor/Clem level at some point. Alas he took it easy and had alot of fun instead, and still ended up having a very succesful career.


So when Kespa wouldn't have died, there'd be a lot more money in SC2 and Stephano would have gone super serious full time mode and would have ruled the world and then Kespa would have died because Stephano too stronk!


Stephano stole Flash salary. It is known

"LOL I have 202 supply right now (3 minutes later)..."LOL NOW I HAVE 220 SUPPLY SUP?!?!?" - Mondragon
deacon.frost
Profile Joined February 2013
Czech Republic12129 Posts
Last Edited: 2021-05-06 08:01:22
May 06 2021 08:00 GMT
#31
One thing to note - currently the low influx of players is caused by an additional problem - to get money you have to win over the former teamhouse players. And it's not like you can get easily drafted by the foreign house and play in foreign events where the skill level is lower, because of region lock. Koreans are locked with what .... 30 very good Koreans? If you could have played in the NA ...

KeSPA would be able to actually nurture at least some talent, this environment kills the talent because Korea is still oversaturared

And to answer the question - foreigner wouldn't win as much if at all.
I imagine France should be able to take this unless Lilbow is busy practicing for Starcraft III. | KadaverBB is my fairy ban mother.
Harris1st
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Germany7162 Posts
May 06 2021 08:20 GMT
#32
On May 06 2021 17:00 deacon.frost wrote:
One thing to note - currently the low influx of players is caused by an additional problem - to get money you have to win over the former teamhouse players. And it's not like you can get easily drafted by the foreign house and play in foreign events where the skill level is lower, because of region lock. Koreans are locked with what .... 30 very good Koreans? If you could have played in the NA ...

KeSPA would be able to actually nurture at least some talent, this environment kills the talent because Korea is still oversaturared

And to answer the question - foreigner wouldn't win as much if at all.


There are numerous events where Koreans could take part but won't cause of server lags, sleep times, scheduling. As a young Korean pro you really would have to risk it all and move to NA long term
Go Serral! GG EZ for Ence. Flashbang dance FTW
MarianoSC2
Profile Joined June 2015
Slovakia1855 Posts
May 06 2021 09:09 GMT
#33
Well, Serral and Reynor for sure would not have WC titles, but they would still farm foreignland tournaments due to region lock
Top 11: Rogue, Maru, Inno, Zest, Life, sOs, Stats, Dark, soO, Mvp, Classic/Trap/MC/Rain
Charoisaur
Profile Joined August 2014
Germany16062 Posts
Last Edited: 2021-05-06 09:33:47
May 06 2021 09:32 GMT
#34
Serral, Reynor and Clem are incredibly skilled and just by looking at their play it's clear they would've been able to beat any player in the world.
However I think it's also undeniable that their results would on average be worse than they are now. It's just mathematics, right now there are maybe 4-5 koreans that can really challenge them (more than the occassional upset) but back in the day there were like 15 top koreans who could challenge any player in the world.
If there are more players who can beat you your results will on average be worse.
Many of the coolest moments in sc2 happen due to worker harassment
CMS_Flash
Profile Joined October 2013
Hong Kong47 Posts
May 06 2021 11:48 GMT
#35
On May 06 2021 04:34 Shuffleblade wrote:
Kespa died because SC2 declined in korea, if Kespa didn't die it would still have died. Pretty much what Ziggurat wrote above, no new talent, few incentives to actually give 100% to sc2.

A more interesting question in my opinion is what if SC2 had gotten a big following in korea, then Kespa wouldn't have died and we would have a big inflow of new young talent as well. In that universe foreigners would never have the success they have had, but thats just my opinion about a very theoretical situation.


Not really sure about that. Pro scene doesn't necessary flourish or decay at the same pace as the general player pool. Like in LOL/OW China/EU/NA have way more players but Koreans still dominate.

I remember Dark mentioning Proleague viewership was recovering in the last season and was really ruined by the match fixing. If that did not happen KeSPA, Proleague, and the Korean pro scene could hang on at around the same level for quite some time.
My life for Tarsonis.
deacon.frost
Profile Joined February 2013
Czech Republic12129 Posts
May 06 2021 11:53 GMT
#36
On May 06 2021 18:32 Charoisaur wrote:
Serral, Reynor and Clem are incredibly skilled and just by looking at their play it's clear they would've been able to beat any player in the world.
However I think it's also undeniable that their results would on average be worse than they are now. It's just mathematics, right now there are maybe 4-5 koreans that can really challenge them (more than the occassional upset) but back in the day there were like 15 top koreans who could challenge any player in the world.
If there are more players who can beat you your results will on average be worse.

Also let's not pretend the training regime currently is the same as in the house
I imagine France should be able to take this unless Lilbow is busy practicing for Starcraft III. | KadaverBB is my fairy ban mother.
WombaT
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Northern Ireland26689 Posts
May 06 2021 17:57 GMT
#37
The Kespa system has/had it limits, it also doesn’t suit everyone. Byun being an example of someone who excelled through his own ways, and close enough to the Kespa disbandment for a comparison to not be entirely bogus.

It’ll build you to a point, I don’t think SC2 is as brutal as BW, especially mechanically. In the latter, yeah you almost require a good amount of time in a team house to be competitive, SC2 not so much.

There is also an incomparable amount of information available in the SC2 era with streaming and easy replay availability from big tournaments, as well as the brainstorming that occurs in various scenes.

If players like Serral and Reynor and Clem can hit the levels of many Kespa vets, I think they could it the system persisted too. The really top guys might have an extra percentage point or two added to their power, so that would be tough to overcome for sure, but the average proleague player from back in the day wouldn’t hold a candle to say peak Serral.

I think it would depend on how the tournament scene outside of Kespa existing would look or not. A Serral weighing up to go full time in an ecosystem where being the best European pays the bills, vs a tournament ecosystem where the 30+ best Kespa players are your gateway to making any money.

The Europeans especially collaborate a lot in a sense where the good theorycrafters who maybe lack in raw mechanical ability still contribute to raising the overall bar (see Reynor’s practice/coaching team for Katowice), so I think they could still produce good results even if Kespa had maintained.
'You'll always be the cuddly marsupial of my heart, despite the inherent flaws of your ancestry' - Squat
PurE)Rabbit-SF
Profile Blog Joined December 2006
United States685 Posts
Last Edited: 2021-05-06 18:56:55
May 06 2021 18:54 GMT
#38
Given how Asian cultural in general is............. let's just say there's not enough incentive to play SC2 as pro.

Social pressure, peer pressure, pressure from your parents and significant others etc etc.

Ok, even a much easier answer, if you go into a PC bang, everyone is playing like league of legends, valorant or w/e the hot new thing is................ Does being good in SC2 give you any bragging rights? :D

In general, I've seen the more "pure" approach from the west, if someone really like something, they'd go all out on it for that reason more.


Based off on the above observation, yeah......... Serral and others were just matter of time to beat the Koreans.


Not to mention how many little details Scan was giving Artosis on the stream, without those team houses and Kespa, and all the regimented training, Korean is not the same level they once were. Honestly I don't even feel like Serral beating Korean was that "amazing" in that term.
Mostly a troll, bi-polar by design, occasionally brain malfunction. Please forgive me. xD
raga4ka
Profile Joined February 2008
Bulgaria5679 Posts
Last Edited: 2021-05-06 21:16:58
May 06 2021 19:43 GMT
#39
Match-fixing and Blizzard shoving SC2 down Korean's throats killed Kespa's BW scene and SC2 not being as popular in Korea just finished Kespa off. So something that was unique only to Korea ended. To me Kespa's BW golden days was the pinnacle of e-sports and will probably never happen again. Unless a culture develops like it did for BW in Korea, but it's highly unlikely.

Where else can you get the kinds of yearly salaries Flash and other S-class progamers got playing a video game? Just looked at the Kespa era at it's peak and all the players it supported with 5 and 6 digit salaries, if someone can give me an other example, then I'll believe that Kespa wasn't the pinnacle of e-sports. Everything else is just treasure hunting...

I don't remember the details but didn't Flash sign a 3 year contract with 300,000$ yearly salary? Bisu, Jaedong also had similar salaries. Other S class progamers had around 100,000$ yearly salaries, while A Class progamers had respectable 5 digit salaries as well. B-teamers and practice partners was where the real struggle and competition was with so much talent. SC2 wasn't able to compete in post Kespa era.

I was a big fan of sAviOr back in the day, for dismantling terran with state of the art defiler usage, but he destroyed the whole BW scene after he was caught match-fixing.
showstealer1829
Profile Blog Joined May 2014
Australia3123 Posts
May 07 2021 04:35 GMT
#40
Kespa dying wasn't the problem. The Region Lock was. Even if Kespa had stayed on you wouldn't have got passed that.

The region lock killed Korea. You will NEVER convince me otherwise so don't even try.
There is no understanding. There is only Choya. Choya is the way. Choya is Love. Choya is Life. Has is the Light in the Protoss Dark and Nightmare is his chosen Acolyte
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