I'm just writing this short blog to give everyone some info on what has happened with fray. So there isn't all this Skype he-said-this chit chat going on.
TLDR, fray has had some serious issues with sponsorship, lack of management (I'm still in the process of having internet connected at my new house) and mis-understandings between members. I really need to get to Skype and sort this out, but my phone is barely able to load the program, I live in such a poor area for reception and have no internet (I'm writing this from work while neglecting my other duties).
At this stage, I'm not sure where fray sits, I'm hoping I can fix everything up and redevelop fray in the coming months. However, losing two of our primary players to ROOT and increasing lack of motivation by some other members of the team have brought the SC2 squad to stand-still. I still hope to work with the Academy team and develop the talent there (Academy guys, don't panic - I'm still here for you and will work with you soon to achieve the out-come you deserve - Note to teams, the Academy players are no under any contract nor do I have expectations on them, I'm hoping to develop their skill and promote their play so that they can find a team that suits them in the future, or bring them in to be part of the new fray roster in the coming months).
Fenner msg'd me earlier stating that he'd like to explore his options and move on in his own terms - something he's wanted to explore for some time (life as a one man operation) and I'm happy that he is ready to move forward in his eSports career and I wish him all the best. I'm sure he will write something or Vlog something soon outlining his plans and thoughts behind this decision, but I can assure you it was an amicable departure from fray.
There have been a few people discussing another project and even projects to do with fray, I hope they can hold on a bit longer while I sort out my internet and I am really excited to move on in the future. I'm not sure if that will be as a driving member of fray or if I step down some-what. I'd like to be involved in eSports and will take my time to work out exactly what I can and want to do in the coming months. Members of the fray team will tell you I've considered quitting for awhile, the stresses of dealing with LoL and other teams in fray along with a majority of its management has taken a lot of my time and energy, I work a full time job, have a 5 year old Daughter and many other commitments. So I am living quite time-poor. But gaming and eSports are what I enjoy and I will always have some involvement in the scene.
I very proud of the team we developed together over the last year and believe that I have made some very close connections to the members of the team. Much love to the guys, from all the way back to the Carnage eSports days through the good times in fray and now to the tough times. I'll do my best to sort out fray in the coming months and to-some-what relaunch a new team soon.
I wrote this pretty quickly, I'm sure I've missed heaps and there are probably a bunch of errors but whatever...
Any questions feel free to ask or PM me if they are private in nature.
There needs to be competition between teams for the sponsors to have more value in sponsoring them. If one team wins everything and stifles growth in the region and takes all the sponsorship then they have no one to vs, and shit gets boring really quickly. And Sponsorship is all about directing marketing budget to gather exposure, fray isn't having these issues because Pet and iaguz left. That is a small piece to it all, but its not the reason.
anyway, please don't turn my blog into a debate on juggernaut teams in SEA. They won't work, move on. Any questions, please post.
What dox said is spot on. Why get the top 4 players in the country and pay them to go internationally when you could have SC2, LoL, CoD and probably even DOTA2 divisions for the same money. Sponsors want exposure, if you have ticked the "top 3 SC2 player" box there is really no need to get more top 3 players.
Either way sorry to hear about your problems chad, I can definitely empathise with your situation.
It's great that you go around to sharing the situation with fray, I'm sure many of us have been wondering. It's hard for a team to accept the loss of two vital players on the squad... However SEA has always had this trend. It's really the inevitable. Once players get that good, it is very hard for any organization to offer them what they need to further their development.
Hope everything turns out okay for fray and for you Chadman!
Was the academy made aware of these issues when they applied?
At the time you announced applications you featured Ninja, Petraeus and Iaguz in the picture saying they would be coaching when all 3 had left the team at this point, this seems to be misleading for those who joined with this promise.
#OffTopic - Dox is spot on. We've both made mistakes with Nv, Gamecom and Archaic / the concept of a super team. I decided to drop all Archaic teams and focus on helping events/grass roots for the games I love. In retrospect - it was "selfish" to hoard funding from my sponsors and only give it to the players that I liked/recruited. If I had it all over again, I would have spent at least $40k of it in much, much different ways.
#OnTopic - It was always going to be a bit of an uphill battle with Fray; I know the difficulties of (be diplomatic, be diplomatic) management above you giving spasmodic instructions and support at that organisation. Hope things get better in your personal life. Life before eSports. If you have to chose, make the right decisions mate.
Was the academy made aware of these issues when they applied?
At the time you announced applications you featured Ninja, Petraeus and Iaguz in the picture saying they would be coaching when all 3 had left the team at this point, this seems to be misleading for those who joined with this promise.
1) I didnt make the picture. It was just a picture
2) it was about finding the next talent in Sea to rise to the ranks of some of the others in the fray main team.
3) it wasnt final at the time I decided to make the fray academy that guz and pet were leaving.
The academy areny locked into the team they are free to come and go as they please. I dont think any of them feel con'd into joining the team, if they do they are free.yo explore other options.
#OffTopic - Dox is spot on. We've both made mistakes with Nv, Gamecom and Archaic / the concept of a super team. I decided to drop all Archaic teams and focus on helping events/grass roots for the games I love. In retrospect - it was "selfish" to hoard funding from my sponsors and only give it to the players that I liked/recruited. If I had it all over again, I would have spent at least $40k of it in much, much different ways.
#OnTopic - It was always going to be a bit of an uphill battle with Fray; I know the difficulties of (be diplomatic, be diplomatic) management above you giving spasmodic instructions and support at that organisation. Hope things get better in your personal life. Life before eSports. If you have to chose, make the right decisions mate.
Thanks mate. Much respect to everything you have achieved and are going to achieve. You are a driven and smart guy with a good focus on esports. Also, riddick has been taking a back seat in managing fray for abot a year. He is too busy. So it has nothing to do with him. He's been great.
Time moves forward, people get better, people change their interest, just gotta move on, review and adapt etc.
One monopoly giant team isn't going to work though perhaps Goose was referring to one to rep the entire SEA region vs all the international teams out there. But having sufficient teams to keep up with the competitive spirit is as important if not, more important.
All the best Chad
Get that net fixed... u still need to 'smash' some people for the SEA TL
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player in
"and we'll invest more on Bots, as our first Trial bot, the 'NemBotElie' was a huge success, organising tournaments and being part of the Council of mGG. But there are a few bugs in which the bot cannot go past the skill level of a Platinum Protoss." - PaRAnorMaL
I wasn't around in SC2SEA during the times of Carnage so I have no idea what was going on back then. But as a newer member in this forum, I can only say even if you might not be able to re-build fray (I know you have plans to, all the best to that!), fray has definitely "made history" in my eyes by grooming iaguz and Petraeus. No other teams for now can say that they have players who moved on to big teams in other countries and it's a good enough achievement even if fray is not gonna rebuild.
I wish you all the best in your internet, but more importantly your patience in building another team! Don't stop dreaming, keep believing.
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