EPTEdit: 500th post. <3
Article Content:
________________________________________________________________
![[image loading]](http://teamlegacy.net/uploads/e91a82aa419d56ff1aef9766fc40dbce.png)
It's no secret that while the members of this community are branching out and trying to make their name in GW2, their hearts and minds will always have a place for TeamLiquid.net. TeamLiquid.net is a premier site for Starcraft 1 and 2 news and harbors the forefront of everything that is competitive in E-Sports. Even today, TeamLiquid strives to make its name known for being one of the main sites that continue publicizing the competitive PC gaming scene to the masses beyond just the dedicated gamers themselves. The goal to make games such as SC2 a spectator sport is one shared by many, and could quite possibly with the current focus, change the way the world views PC Gaming and E-Sports as a whole in the future.
We took a moment to reach out to the staff that runs TeamLiquid.net and got a hold of one of the leading mods, GTR. GTR is well known for his in-depth coverage of the Starcraft: Brood War scene, and even today, continues to revitalize and keep alive the game that will be known many years from now as the game that started it all.
Freelancer:
What are your main jobs within the teamliquid.net community? How did you start with them?
GTR:
Currently, my official 'job' on staff is the Head of Fansubbing (formerly I was also leading the Translation team but recently stepped down to allow Waxangel to take over). In reality though, due to school season, our team is in its downtime, so I just do a bunch of odd jobs everywhere, too many to mention (TSL, BW-related stuff just to name a few).
I was hired onto Teamliquid staff initially as a Proleague/Minor League writer. While my writing skills were god awful, (I guess) the staff liked my enthusiasm and dedication. When we restarted the TLPD project, I moved onto that and worked with it for quite some time until its release. After that, I really never had a true role, just doing odd jobs around the forum for staff, mostly calendar/liquibet work. It was not until near the start of the SC2 beta where Plexa asked me to lead the Translation team (even though I didn't know much Korean, I was planning to go study it at university), so naturally, the role is somewhat of a fit for me, which I accepted. However, there were many difficulties during my tenure (which I won't go into), so I stepped down and allowed Waxangel (who is a staff veteran, and someone I highly respect) to take over.
Fansubbing is a tough job. I figured, the more people that work on projects, the easier it is to complete it (as many of the subtitling work I've seen were done solo). I decided to start up a team of people familiar with fansubbing outside of BW-related content, and opened it up with the goal of providing translated Korean videos to English viewers.
Freelancer:
Why do you think TL has become such a successful community? What advice would you give to other gaming communities in their quests to reach the level that teamliquid has achieved?
GTR:
I think it is a combination of dedicated and talented staff, and a strong community bonded together by passion for the game we enjoy. I know it might sound cliche, but I think that is it.
Before R1CH and HB moved into the TL HQ, no one on staff was being compensated for their work, it was all purely voluntary. We were all that dedicated to BW that we were able to turn the site into what it is today, and transition into SC2.
I won't also forget to mention the community behind the game. You will go into forums for games like WoW or CS, and most of the time, it is just idiots trolling. Here on Teamliquid, we've already established the iron fist of moderation, and users have heeded to it. On the brighter side of things, the quality of contributions that members make is what brings people back. A combination of these two is what makes the community so great.
My advice to any start-up gaming communities is to stick to your philosophy and take your user base for granted. Teamliquid was for the community, and we've stuck by it since its launch. Look how successful we've become. Whatever users you may get, treat them well. If they are clearly trolls, weed them out. It may take a long time, but if your website does the work, it will get out there.
Freelancer:
Your heavily involved with broodwar (streaming OSL/MSL/PL) despite the release of SC2, why is this so? Do you think you will ever transition to sc2 in the future?
GTR:
To be completely honest, I think SC2 just doesn't have that 'spectator pull' (don't really know how to term it) that Korean BW has. IMO, GOM has pretty shoddy production (compared to what the cable channels do), and sometimes at the point of cringe worthy. The quality of games aren't that spectacular either. The only reason I watch GOM is because of the humour Artosis and Tasteless provide during their casts. Most of the time, I could care less of the games. I watch foreign SC2 tournaments when there aren't any BW games on and I don't have anything else to do.
The bottom line is, BW has storylines, industry and production values which make me come back to it. SC2 doesn't have that (just yet).
I do play SC2, but these days I don't really have any motivation to play it for prolonged periods of time. Any 'transition' will be quite easy for me, whenever that may occur.
Freelancer:
Ten years ago, I don't think anyone would perceive TL to become what it is today. How do you see TL in another ten years time?
GTR:
It highly depends on how SC2 develops. If it goes big, like we all hope it would, I'd imagine we'd be the ESPN of ESPORTS. The 'go-to' of everything SC2. If the hype fades out, I guess we'd just go back to our roots and deliver the same, quality content that we've always provided. Either way, we will NOT sell out, and never will.
Freelancer:
If you could live the life of any progamer for one day. Who would you be?
GTR:
Hmm, probably Bisu. Lots of connections to famous people in Korea, which means connections to the idol girls . Adding to that, I have looks... although if I were Bisu, I'd have to get over my weird shyness that I've established onto myself.
- We know your "everything SC1" But do you follow any particular SC2 progamers these days?
I enjoy watching the old BW legends play (Boxer, Nada, July etc, but mostly Nada). Besides that, the only SC2 progamer I truly care about is Jinro, because we go way back. I think that's about it.
Freelancer:
What do you think of the way mods present the community through their warns/bans in teamliquid.net? Do you think the bar should be raised even more?
GTR:
It's fine. Each moderator has their own unique personality, and we shouldn't be bounded by arbitrary rules. At the moment, personally, I think the bar is lower than it should be. There are still some shockingly awful posts/posters in the SC2 forum that I think should be removed.
Freelancer:
Who in the TL Staff do you feel is the unsung hero of behind-the-scenes work and moderation?
Behind-the-scenes: R1CH
Moderation: Manifesto7
Starting with R1CH, I am for certain we would not be where we are today if it weren't for him. He has helped us SO MUCH with projects that require video streaming, like the TSL etc. Adding to this, he is the backbone of the site, fixing it when required. As we all say on staff, he is pretty much a wizard that can do anything (technical wise).
For Mani, he was the originator of the 'iron fist' style of moderation (which is why he has his icon). Also, he was the one who got me on staff, so I might be a bit biased here
Freelancer:
Is there any exciting new venues you guys might have been tossing around that TL might think about executing in the future as new expansions and other games come out?
GTR:
Can't really comment on that sorry, discussion of that stuff occurs in the Muffin Factory.
Freelancer:
A fun question to end things, If the world broke out in a zombie apocalypse, and you could choose one person in the teamliquid community to take charge of the remaining survivors of humanity, who would it be and why? Our lives depend on it GTR.
GTR:
R1CH, he's a fucking real-life wizard. That's why.
Freelancer:
Haha, Thanks for your time GTR, is there anyone you'd like to give a shoutout to?
GTR:
Just the 'KPF Crew', you know who you are.
__________________________________________________________________
We'd Like to thank GTR and TL for allowing us this fun interview for his fans. In a week or two we'll post our interview with Complexity's Ryan.Rushia Stay Tuned!
Thanks for reading. Our previous interview with qxc can be found here.
