Interview with TSL Masterminds

I chat with Manifesto7 and Hot_Bid of TeamLiquid.net about the upcoming TSL and what they expect from this league as well as their perspective on the current StarCraft scene.

Could you tell us your name and just a little about yourself?

Manifesto7: I'm Trevor Allen, I live in Osaka where I teach English in a high school. In my spare time I play with my daughter, work on TL and study at university.

That seems like quite a handful, my hat's off to you. So, how long have you been working on this project now?

Manifesto7: On the TSL? Since the beginning basically. hot_bid came up with the idea and I've been helping him since that time. I guess that was the middle of February or so, unless you meant how long I have been working on TL.net which would be about 5 years.

Now we know TeamLiquid.net had worked on creating a ladder early last year. At around the same time Blizzard released their LDK (League Development Kit). WGTour.com picked that up and it didn't go too well for them when they tried to get it off the ground.
Was there any plans of reviving the TLTour Ladder or using the LDK, or was the partnership with iCCup one of the initial aspects of the ladder stage?

Manifesto7: Using anything other than iCCup would have been impractical. The idea was that we wanted to have a StarLeague anyone could qualify for, but it had to be manageable for the staff to run. iCCup had everything in place so it seemed logical to use them. The original TLT material is all garbage, and the LDK has been under supported by Blizzard so... this was our only hope.



What was the hardest part in putting the TSL together?

Manifesto7:hmmm...
1) agreeing on the maps
2) agreeing on the maps
3) agreeing on the maps

Hot_Bid: For me, it was coordinating all the staff members and getting the project to move at a fast pace. We decided to do it and had to launch the ladder in 3 weeks later. Usually TL.net projects move at a very slow pace, so this project was unique in its speed and efficiency.

Manifesto7: I'm more micro oriented I guess, HB is more macro.

Hot_Bid: Also, we had to agree on how much of the $100,000 we got for the tournament would be used for prize money. So Mani kept $44,999, I kept $45,001, and we left $10,000 for prizes.
I know the big question on your mind is "why did you get $2 more?"

Manifesto7: I still think that was complete bulls**t, but HB promised me a beer so I figure we are even.

Hot_Bid: Well I'm a lawyer so I'm gosu at negotiation.

Haha, well speaking of prizes, where is the majority of this large amount of money coming from? It has been a long while since anyone other than Blizzard or the WCG has offered such a large amount of prize money for a StarCraft Tournament.

Hot_Bid: We can't say just yet.

Manifesto7: Well we could tell you, but it would be a lie.

Hot_Bid: We sold Kennigit's body. For 1 hour at a time.

Manifesto7: Basically the sponsor will be announced closer to the actual StarLeague, but we can give you several amusing sources right now.


Okay, well with the release of StarCraft 2, how do you think that will change the StarCraft competitive scene outside of Korea and TSL?

Manifesto7: Outside Korea? I think it will completely replace StarCraft 1.

Hot_Bid: If Blizzard actually sticks to its date, that is. What is the date now? August?

Manifesto7: Obviously it will replace it at WCG. (although it would be nice to have both games at the same time at WCG for one year) TSL won't be affected, we will be done long before then. There is no date for SC2.

Are there any plans for a StarCraft 2 TSL?

Hot_Bid: Are there any plans for a StarCraft 2 Battle.net?

Manifesto7: Will Jesus rise again? Yeah probably. I think there will be a lot of options with SC2 to broadcast it much more easily than SC1 to be honest. I think things like the TSL will pop up all over the place. It will just require sites to offer the right motivation for players to play. Blizzard now sees all these projects that have come out despite of, rather than thanks to, the design of SC1. They would be foolish to ignore that reality.

It will take motivation from the players and the organizers themselves, so what motivated you guys to start the TSL?

Manifesto7: HB had no school in may, and I'm avoiding a massive amount of homework. Also, it was nice to make up for the past failure of the TLTour launch. TL has run massive tournaments in the past, TLT1 and TLT2. Nothing else is really happening right now.

Hot_Bid: We basically decided that we could blow people away if we ran our own tournament. Our staff are a bunch of passionate, talented guys that recognize a winning project when they see it. So once we presented it, everyone was on board and that was that. Took about 6 hours to convince everyone.



What are you expecting or are hoping will come out of this?

Manifesto7: I'm hoping people tune in to the actual broadcasts when we get to the top 16. People have watched Korean broadcasts for so long and we only get one or two foreign broadcasts a year, and usually giga fucks them up. So this is a good chance for people to see a StarLeague style tournament in English.

Hot_Bid: The activity was beyond what we expected, very refreshing. At least during the ladder period, I think it made StarCraft with your buddies relevant again. People are talking about how they did that day, training, learning strategy, etc. For the Qualifier and League portions of the tournament, I'll echo what Mani said and I hope people realize how important this tournament is and get everyone to tune in. Usually tournaments are run with bad administration because they are not organized by people who are immersed within the community. Just look at WCG's ridiculous format and maps. And no broadcasts, no knowledge of anything that players actually want. The TSL is a true community tournament run by people from the community. That's rare and I think it's worth supporting.

That is true, and the team behind TL.net has always pulled off very very well organized events. With that said, could either of you ever see the TL.net staff working one of the larger tournaments like the WCG or the WWI?
I have once suggested that you guys could be great compliment to the GOMTV staff behind it's international events like the GSI.

Manifesto7: Yeah, I think TL has a lot to offer those organizations if they chose to be better. I think you might see some TL people at those events. As for the GSI, I think GOM could GREATLY benefit from TLs presence, but they wont. Honestly, their promotion of the English element has been pretty weak. Looking at their forums make me want to weep. But for the moment, I am happy just doing what we are doing. working on our own allows us to do as much or as little as we want.

Hot_Bid: From a personal standpoint, and I can't speak for Manifesto, but I would love to drop everything and run an American OnGameNet for the rest of my life. Kennigit and I joke about it all the time. However, real life and safe employment opportunities are always still there, influencing the decisions you make. It was really the perfect storm for us in terms of this tournament--everyone was relatively available and willing to do this. Yes, I am incredibly happy to work with this staff. So many people play important, integral parts on the staff it's amazing we put it together.

How far from an American OnGameNet do you think the North American scene is? 5-10 years?

Manifesto7: That couldn't happen though HB. The only reason Korea is successful like that is because everyone lives within 10km from each other. People live too far away from each other.

Hot_Bid: I disagree actually, I think if they had LAN centers in different major cities, you could do it.

Manifesto7: I think there is too much overhead in that. The only way that happens is when the rest of the business community recognizes how much money is in competitive gaming. Because right now gaming gets a pitiful amount of money considering its popularity and demographics

Hot_Bid: I mean, obviously the odds would be stacked against you but it's not as impossible as it seems. I think the bigger problem is the stigma attached to computer gaming, but that is changing. There are now "manly" games like Madden and Halo

Manifesto7: Although admittedly, when you go to WCG and see those American 5v5 CS teams bear hugging each other, and then zoom into the quiet, manically fast Asian BW gamers... there is a certain stigma.

Haha well it's an interesting debate, but maybe i can get you guys to join me again for another feature I could do? I'd like to end the interview there. Thanks to both of you for answering my questions. Any last comments for the community?

Hot_Bid: Support your favorite gamers in the TSL!! The more hype and fan involvement, the better!

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