[TABjornbrandr]

There's a whole slew of issues that arise when comparing sc2 and LoL, given that they're different games (one has a much higher drawing power due to the team aspect) and they're owned by different companies, one of which has a habit of throwing money out in an attempt to draw attention to it (which has evidently worked).
It's very hard for me to understand why people are expecting the same reaction from two different companies when one of them caters to smaller audience that doesn't have the same marketing appeal as the other game.

Whilst I can understand that it's frustrating being stuck in a "if blizz don't give us money we don't get attention so we have less players so blizz doesn't give us money ..." cycle, but in the scheme of things, Blizzard are company that have to prove they are doing the right thing for their share-holders and whilst it'd be fantastic at our level for ten grand to be thrown into every ACL, it's easy to understand why it isn't.

There's way too many people looking at this from one side of the argument. I know it sucks that Blizzard didn't give us WCS this year and I know it sucks that Riot is giving smaller tournaments financial support, but I can see why Blizzard might be acting the way they are.

If anyone here can find the spare money in Blizzard's budget, I'm sure Blizzard would love for you to tell them because chances are they want just that, too. If, however, you can't conjure up the cash, don't be surprised that they can't, either.

[CarbonTwelve]

Originally Posted by Dox

Melodramatic much? We miss out on 1 year of Blizzcon/WCS and suddenly Blizzard has abandoned us?

Not sure what the link from the ANZ CM is supposed to show...

It's great to see these companies growing their own games, but it's taking responsibility away from the community.

I don't see it as taking 'responsibility' away from the community. I see it as investing in the community. Besides, in case I haven't made it clear enough yet, I fully understand why Blizzard as a company would do what has been done. I just don't think the backlash against people who are wanting more or those who are making the comparison to LoL is fair. Yes, they're different games, and yes, the communities are different, and yes, the companies behind them are different, but they're still both eSports. You made the analogy to World Rally vs Formula 1, and I think that's a perfect example, and yes, people do make the comparison there: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130328/f1/130329801 (basically a short history of F1 rising vs NASCAR).

Some more (purely speculative) food for thought: Blizzards plans for WCS 2013 were locked in before the 2012 financial year had ended. Which meant budgets had been allocated and anyone who has worked in project management will tell you - that means any revisions to the plan get pushed over to next FY.

Yes, I'm sure that's true, but it still means that in 2012 Blizzard chose not to invest in Australia.

I think it's very likely that we'll see them take some very positive direction between now and 2015.

I hope you're right.

I guess all I'm saying is, don't expect immediate change. And don't be so bloody fickle.

And I guess what I'm saying is, don't be so negative towards people who are voicing their desire for more for the game they love.

Originally Posted by TABjornbrandr

I know it sucks that Riot is giving smaller tournaments financial support

Well, I'm not sure that anyone thinks it sucks that Riot is helping out smaller tournaments, just that they wish Blizzard could do the same (and again, I understand why they don't).

[Snx.FigJig]

Don't really understand how a reply to a tweet is meant to change peoples' minds on feeling abandoned

"It's great to see these companies growing their own games, but it's taking responsibility away from the community."
This sounds like a giant excuse to excuse Blizzard for falling behind. Valve and Riot are taking an extra step by getting more involved with their communities and Blizzard isn't, this is nothing new. Sports do it by supporting grassroots clubs all the time to promote their game, it's their job to nurture and grow future players otherwise they risk the chance of being taken over which is what's happening.

Regardless of how blindsided Blizzard have been if they don't react quick enough to fix things (1-2 years is far too long for a game) it's no ones fault but theirs. You can't tell people to just keep waiting and have faith in them because that isn't enough now with the prospects of other games out there to jump to, people here are concerned for legitimate reasons. Everyone here wants to stay around with SC2 but if Blizzard doesn't act fast and give them a reason to stay people will slowly drift off to other games.

Quick Comments

TAEdgE:

LoL doesn't need money from Riot to stay around, the fan base is just that good for it naturally.

[TABjornbrandr]

Originally Posted by CarbonTwelve

Well, I'm not sure that anyone thinks it sucks that Riot is helping out smaller tournaments, just that they wish Blizzard could do the same (and again, I understand why they don't).

That's exactly what I'm saying.

[TtSYF.tRoy]

You cant blame them for not putting thousands of dollars into our scene when we get no where near the amount of players or interest that other countries get.
If we somehow get a larger interest base ( EVERYONE TO ACL MELBOURNE) then we will start getting rewards, its not a topic of 'Blizzard don't like Australia'
Because thats not true, we had a dedicated HoTS launch and a WCS last season. The WCS didn't pull much so I'm not surprised we don't have another but the HoTS launch was massive according to reports.

[ToRDjvillian]

Would you like to know what I think about blizzard and contributing to sea? Well here it is:
Blizzard purposely scheduled the other season 2 finals (kr/Na) for the same weekend as acl so that they can announce as a surprise that the winner and runner up of acl actually end up being the 2 sea qualifiers for WCS season 2 BAM!.
And here you are all nay saying.

[ToR.Arnor]

Originally Posted by ToRDjvillian

Would you like to know what I think about blizzard and contributing to sea? Well here it is:
Blizzard purposely scheduled the other season 2 finals (kr/Na) for the same weekend as acl so that they can announce as a surprise that the winner and runner up of acl actually end up being the 2 sea qualifiers for WCS season 2 BAM!.
And here you are all nay saying.

This would be amazing

[mGGJuggerGOOSE]

Next year Ima go to ALLLLL DA ACLs!!! I love LoL, and DotA 2, But SC2 is my game and I will always try my best to support it. Everyone should make the effort to do so as well.

[fur]

Meh, the sc2 scene are a pack of whiners.

There is round the clock, non-stop starcraft of a ridiculously high standard, HotS addressed a huge number of the issues with WoL, there are more top-level tourneys and progamers than you can poke a stick at, but because some new kid on the block has shiner toys suddenly Blizz are a pack of incompetent bastards.

Get down to ACL and enjoy it guys

Quick Comments

	asdfSchnitzel:	fur #1
	syfChadMann:	This. Don't be Jelly of LoL players - they have to play LoL.
	Maynarde:	+9999
	Snx.FigJig:	They've always been incompetent, it isn't sudden.

[Ice714]

So wish I had the money !

Quick Comments

ToRDjvillian:

Find the money, could possibly fit you in the car if you wanted to car pool with us.

[Maynarde]

Flights and accom booked, see you there friends!

Quick Comments

	Plottel:	Woo! Sexy dreadlocks +1
	Fenner:	See you there babe

[SLCN.Petrify]

So daybreak is definitely in the map pool?

[Baldie]

Originally Posted by SLCN.Petrify

So daybreak is definitely in the map pool?

Good pickup! I'll find an amicable replacement and update you.

I guess the three most likely options would be Red City, Korhal Sky Island or Derelict Watcher.

[SLCN.Petrify]

I don't know anyone elses opinion, but Sky Island is just a crappy ladder map... the other two both are pretty relevant!

[SLCN.Kez]

Put in derelict watcher, its the map most tournaments are using atm

Quick Comments

	x5.Stormz:	^^
	Plottel:	+1
	ROOTPetraeus:	**** no
	syfChadMann:	Put in Debris Fields.
	ToRGreenArchon:	Steppes of War pls

[Eddie]

Is there going to be an official after party like Brisbane?

Quick Comments

	ToRSpartaz:	Oooooh party at Mile's :D
	ToRDjvillian:	I'm interested.

[Lokth]

can you pay for open bracket entry on the day or is it best to prepay?

Quick Comments

ToRDjvillian:

I truely wonder how much of the OP you read.

[NvRossi]

Originally Posted by Eddie

Is there going to be an official after party like Brisbane?

not sure if there will be but we were able to get majority of the peeps into the after party at Brisbane LAN, but everyone left due to the need to eat. So that needs to be taken into consideration. Avcon after party was awesome as it was at a thai restaurant, everyone paid $20 for food and they just kept bringing it out and people paid for their own drinks... not sure how viable that would be in melbourne but its a good example nonetheless

[sR.Kumo]

Damnit I wish lived in Australia so I could come to at least some of these tournaments T_T

[syfSoundwave]

One thing I'd like to address is a bit of confusion around main stage. Back at ACL Melbourne, ZenAku vs Rossi and Rossi vs Pezz were the first two games on the main stage and they were streamed. Afterwards, Azz and Xormentor set up on the main stage, but they weren't streamed. I understand that deth vs NXZ was a much, much more exciting series, but if they started at the same time (which they did) why not have deth and NXZ on the main stage if they're going to be streamed?

Over the rest of Day 1 the streamed match was usually not on stage, but rather on the small things on the side of the stage. I just find this decision puzzling. If there's a sick open bracket match you want to cast, why not just say "Hey dudes hold up, we'll put you on main stage."

Quick Comments

Baldie:

TL;DR Bracket scheduling and time management constraints