[SLCN.Petrify]

Anyone complaining about this should get better and just win the online qualifier. Realistically it was going to be KingKong + 1 other person, and that's going to probably stay the same now.

This is going to do WONDERS for ACL and supporting the scene. If you want the scene to grow it needs to have bigger and better LAN's. Creating more incentive at a LAN can never be a bad thing!

Thankyou Blizzard ANZ for being so goddamn awesome

[ACL VaNzR]

I think this is a fantastic announcement and I am very pleased to see Blizzard getting behind the scene here in such a big way. To me, as a gamer and also event organiser, I want to see and put on an entertaining show. I want to help create a memorable experience. It's a lot easier to identify an event and experience in a physical environment. Nothing compares to a real-life event, even when you're watching from home online.

ACL has made very clear our mandate for the Sydney event is to improve on spectator experience. We remain committed to ensuring this title and its loyal fans can enjoy a tournament they are proud to have been so close to. This is a great moment and opportunity for SEAtizens to make this a big event. Get behind it and come along.

Similarly, as we are now only two months away - we are ramping up our planning for ensuring this is indeed a great production and experience. I would love for anyone who is interested in helping shape this event, to get in touch with Baldie via Skype (bradley_baldwin).

Can't wait for this one! Vanz

[Another]

pet iaguz and mightykiwi just got screwed over so bad, this sucks.

Especially since Pet and Iaguz would surely be favorites to take the spots.

[ThatGuyDoMo]

Not sure if I agree or disagree with this idea yet.

TIME TO START WRITING UP ANOTHER BLOG POST GAIZ

[TtSYF.tRoy]

If Kingkong wins both Sydney and online seed, who takes second seed

Quick Comments

syfSoundwave:

I'd assume 2nd place at Sydney

[Baldie]

Originally Posted by TtSYF.tRoy

If Kingkong wins both Sydney and online seed, who takes second seed

If the winner of the WCS Online Round also wins ACL Sydney, 2nd place from ACL Sydney will take the seed.

EDIT: This is purely because the order of the tournaments. If it was the other way around then 2nd place from the Online Round would take it. The nature of the Tournament has nothing to do with it.

[mGGSouth]

So the 8 players invited to stage 2 of the online qualifier get automatic points for ACL?

Quick Comments

Baldie:

They are guarenteed top 16 points yes.

[ThatGuyDoMo]

Ok, I was bored and have a late start at uni tomorrow.

Here you go if you are interested. Decided to analyze the problems and solutions to this scenario.

Sorry for the length again hahaha

http://nostringshere.wordpress.com/2...-wcs-in-depth/

Quick Comments

	syfPhoenix:	<3
	|Erasmus|:	No mention of SEA people outside Australia... :/

[Eddie]

Originally Posted by ThatGuyDoMo

Ok, I was bored and have a late start at uni tomorrow.

Here you go if you are interested. Decided to analyze the problems and solutions to this scenario.

Sorry for the length again hahaha

http://nostringshere.wordpress.com/2...-wcs-in-depth/

Very well written again! However i don't really see many positives about this WCS, just identifying problems of overseas players, distance/location, and LAN format. So i still disagree that the positives outweigh the negatives.

As for OSC, while there is currently about 1/3 of Non SEA in top 32 OSC (which increases the difficulty, due to international events, and there are more points awarded to compensate), going through the rankings by Aussies alone (note not SEA), i think there will only be 13/50 or so Bris. But this isn't really relevant to WCS, so i digress.

And yeah, Sydney should have a bigger turnout, due to a variety of factors, but it still wont have a massive representation of our region, and will be missing a heap of our top tier (Petraeus, PiG, EnDerr, iaguz, Blysk, Lobo, MightyKiwi, mOOnGLaDe + others unable to make the trip). A WCS seed should be aimed at our elite, and make equally available.

I may be wrong, but i think most SC2 players are students, so even with a team (if they are some of the lucky ones), flights, accommodation, taxi's, food, and additional costs for travel would be a massive investment. That's just for Australians...

And just to be clear, don't think i'm hating on ACL. I can't wait for the Sydney lan, they always do an amazing job, i just don't think the lan should have a WCS seed.

Quick Comments

ThatGuyDoMo:

Much appreciated response. You raise a valid point regarding representation.

[ACL VaNzR]

Good read Domo. Very pragmatic and analytical.

I would just quickly point out that ACL staff have been running the WCS campaign all year for Blizzard. This isn't a brand new development or change from where 'WCS America' ran the events. I know you personally don't think this, but ACL isn't out for blood or world domination or anything sinister here :P

Quick Comments

ThatGuyDoMo:

Haha my bad, and I don't think ACL is out for blood at all. Keep doing what you are doing <3

[ThatGuyDoMo]

@Erasmus, very fair point. I agree this is a problem but I still hold that the positives outweigh the negatives. Let me think on this more and I'll get back to you.

Just to make it clear I am in favour of this idea. There are some problems that could be resolved but overall this is a good thing in my opinion.

[SLCN.NXZ]

Originally Posted by ThatGuyDoMo

@Erasmus, very fair point. I agree this is a problem but I still hold that the positives outweigh the negatives. Let me think on this more and I'll get back to you.

Just to make it clear I am in favour of this idea. There are some problems that could be resolved but overall this is a good thing in my opinion.

In the end, if past performances are to go by then there's been 3 relevant SEA players in the qualifiers, (namely, revenant, enderr and blysk). Revenant will be at ACL Sydney so I'll discount him. This leaves blysk and enderr. By adding the WCS money on to ACL Sydney this increases the prize pool by quite a significant amount, incentivising it for blysk and enderr to make the trip. Given the inability to make the event for the top Oceanic players, this makes the bracket markedly easier, again, quite worth it. I know Blysk is planning on making international trips this year so making room for an ACL where it could be very likely he could make challenger and make his money back (plus more) would make it a quite good choice for him.

If anything I'd argue this could be very helpful for those outside of Australia in the sense of the weaker field and prize pool. Obviously travelling to another country isn't easy but if you're playing in WCS, your end goal should be premier league and from there, travelling to America. I think this is a good thing, it adds prestige to the Sydney LAN, potentially bringing in more players from outside of Australia which would be something we haven't seen before.

Quick Comments

ThatGuyDoMo:

Excellent take. Thanks Ryan <3

[|Erasmus|]

Plus even if Ryan is right and some of them decide to come, Sydney seedings are apparently based on OR1 and OR2 which happened before people knew about this seed from ACL, and from results at ACL Brisbane, which means 2 interstate/international trips if they want to have a decent seeding and a better shot at winning...

Quick Comments

ThatGuyDoMo:

Wasn't aware of this. T_T

[Baldie]

Originally Posted by |Erasmus|

Plus even if Ryan is right and some of them decide to come, Sydney seedings are apparently based on OR1 and OR2 which happened before people knew about this seed from ACL, and from results at ACL Brisbane, which means 2 interstate/international trips if they want to have a decent seeding and a better shot at winning...

While I agree people didn't know about the WCS seed prior to OR1 and OR2, neither did we. This was something we couldn't announce definitively until there was sign off from Blizzard HQ.

EDIT: Erasmus I understand where you are coming from but the same argument can occur when we announce the prize pool. Are people disadvantaged because they weren't aware of how large or small scale an event it would be until that is announced? While I appreciate WCS is on a much larger scale, we aren't always in a position to be able to put everything out to the public when initially released. We don't live in a world where we have everything available to flick a switch and announce. All we can do is try to provide the fairest system when things develop.

Quick Comments

	|Erasmus|:	I know, but people didn't know that seeding would affect their ability to qualify for WCS
	ThatGuyDoMo:	Erasmus has a point. But we live in an imperfect world. Something like this is bound to happen. It's still manageable.

[Baldie]

The 8 invited players are now revealed in no particular order.

For the four ANZ seeds we have:
mOOnGLaDe
Iaguz
Petraeus
KingKong

For the four SEA seeds we have:
EnDerr
Revenant
Blysk
Heartz

GLHF!

[syfChadMann]

Originally Posted by Baldie

mOOnGLaDe
Iaguz
Petraeus
KingKong

you get mOOnGLaDe's difficult caps correct but capital Iaguz!?! iaguz.
Also its KingkOng.
</capshipster>

Good luck dudes, should be some good games

Also, how were these seeds generated? o_O

Quick Comments

syfSoundwave:

KingkOng is awful. NEVERRRRRRRR.