I wrote a piece for Wired.com about the switch to HotS in the professional scene, and what it means for players. Particularly lower level foreigners and Western teams.
-I am not saying Mvp and Symbol are suddenly going to be out of a job after HotS. It's more about the fringe-players who very well could lose their place if their play slips a tiny bit. As well as the Ro32 Code S/Top Code A players who might now be able to knock off more established WoL players.
-Lots of people saying "This is nonsense, 80% of the players will be the same." Yes, I know. This is about the other 20%.
-This is for a general interest publication, and Wired.com readers aren't going to know much about eSports or SC2. So if there's a little sensationalism in there, I apologize, but I think it's for the good of getting people hooked on eSports with a strong narrative.
EDIT: Apologies for not quoting the piece. And I've been told in the past that article links aren't classified as advertisements. It's just something I thought the community would be interested in.
Here's an excerpt:
For e-sports players, it can be something analogous to what Tiger Woods would have to deal with if the PGA suddenly decided that all the fairways on their golf courses were too long. Golfers who had gained an advantage in the past by having a long drive would lose that edge, and players with great putting and chipping skills would gain the upper hand.
That would likely never happen in golf, but for pro gamers it happens all the time. The courses they play on do change, and they’ll have to learn to use new types of clubs. Not everyone will be able to adapt.
“We make our money solely off of how successful we are and how much attention we get,” said Evil Geniuses captain Robinson. “If something challenges either, or both in this case, because of change or the need for adaptation then we are very afraid.”
“Players live on borrowed time and they know it,” said pro player and commentator Geoff Robinson, captain of the StarCraft division of Evil Geniuses, in an e-mail.
Yeh, some are trying to get an edge early at the game. But imo in like 6 months, those with worse mechanics will weed back out. And Koreans will dominate harder then ever before. We just need a Foreigner only league to sustain the foreign scene (like GSL or OSL) or even a proleague like format. Not that it needs to be implemented ASAP but around LOTV, else SC2 will get the same fate as BW.
Btw i see the same happening in LoL where you also can already see Koreans starting to dominate.
“Players live on borrowed time and they know it,” said pro player and commentator Geoff Robinson, captain of the StarCraft division of Evil Geniuses, in an e-mail.
Isn't that the definition of irony ?
Well, he did change his job description to that of a more supportive/background role. But the only he will be able to do that is if he maintains as high a level of skill as he can in order for his help/guidance to be effective. One doesn't need to win a GSL to know how to talk about the game--heck, winning an MLG (as of now) is a highly impressive feat for a non-Korean. Geoff is doing fine, I would consider him a successful pro-gamer.
I don't think HOTS will kill careers i think players kill careers. The New expansion injects new life in the game. For awhile people will log on to play, people will watch streams its new excitement. But eventually you get pushed out of the game weather you are sick of it, or realize you reached your peak and its time to do something else. Happens in all sports. Its not a big deal, its nothing to be sad about. As long as the community shows up players will play.
Hahaha, so Root domination inc guys, you heard it. Expect CatZ to and Minigun to dominate HotS with their innovative strategies.
It's as if IEM wasn't enough to show that all these beta heros who tried to get an edge by switching early and adapting are already being eclipsed by people with better fundamentals who have barely played HotS.
“Players live on borrowed time and they know it,” said pro player and commentator Geoff Robinson, captain of the StarCraft division of Evil Geniuses, in an e-mail.
I wouldn't really say they would be extinct, more eclipsed like always. Koreans will always have superior mechanics, decision-making and strategies, but that never put foreigners out of business, even those who never could take a series off a Korean. The way I see it, HotS will be a temporary equalizer for foreigners, but eventually, a good deal of Koreans will be able to defeat the best foreigners can field.
Top Foreigners like Stephano, Scarlett, Thorzain, Ret (in HotS), will still be around. But, Koreans will dominate harder than in WoL most likely. Especially with 7 Kespa teams in the pool now.
It's really nice that for now the gap between third rate players and top end gosus seem to have widened hugely. No more of this "Xlord 5-0 Code S Terrans" nonsense :D
EPT
