Well, here is, say-so, an exclusive info about the "progamers' paradise", as many see Korea. Almost all the information comes at first hand aka (orky)Asmodey, special thatks to him for this.
We start, as usual, from the beginning. As many know, Asma was the only one from outside Korea to get to the offline finals of the Korean pro-BW league Coca-Cola OngameNet (btw, the onloni qualifiers themselves were organized rather meanly for the rest of the world, but let's leave the past alone). This is one of the biggest Korean tourneys with the purse about 40 000 $ (don't remember exactly), all the games are broadcasted live on Korean TV + hundreds (thousands?) of spectators for each game.
As our progamer spent his time in Korea, many unpleasant details came out. But about all - in order. The first and the most annoying thing was the fact that it's not that good with sponsors in Korea. Many think that some Korean players are paid about 15 000 - 20 000 $ monthly. It came out that the best paid player in Korea - Guillaume Patry, more known as Grrr gets... 3800 $ monthly, and the rest he earns on trifles - interviews and so on. And in general, average wages of the best Korean players are 1500 - 2500 $, and even not all the Ongamenet finalists are sponsored (Boxer and Yellow have no sponsors at all). All that Asmodey was offered - 800 $ per month, taking into account that the habitation here costs about 700 $. This changes a lot game motivtation, as many had thought before that it was enought to reach good places at big tourneys like WCG and Ongamenet, and transcendental earnings are guaranteed. It's not true at all. Here's what Asma said on the forum when he told that he wasn't going to play with Boxer:
"...no sense... when there's no sense - I can't play... this league beat me with the fact of no sense... one variant of 800 $ per month. LOL? :) Only the living here costs about 700 $..."
The second. It turns out that they have troubles even organizing such events. Just another quote from the same thread:
"... the organizers gave a flat and made me a burden to a man who spent on me 300 $ during all that time, the rest of money I spent myself - about 600 $. So to foil their show was a good response to their treatment of me..."
It's a real shame, isn't it?
And concerning the games themselves. In his first group consisted of Asmodey, Yellow, Sm.slon and [NC], Asma played with Marine with no defeat (by the way, Yellow isone of the semi-finalists today). In the second group (where he was a bit unlucky - Boxer, Garimto, St.eagle) he lost all his 3 games. More detailed about this.
First game: Asma vs Garimto PvP on crimson islands
Well, what can I say, all was honest here ^^. Garimto went by a very non-typical for Koreans strategy (2 zeal + goon drop invented by Dilvish a long time ago). Asma chose fast expansion. Nevertheless Asma defended himself rather easily, but with the second drop of rivers Garimto killed enough probes for free, after that Asma was, probaby, confused and lost at the end.
Second game: Asma vs St.eagle PvT on incubus
Here, probably, the Korean karma worked. Because the rarest BW bug happened there. Only one eagle vulture made its way to Asmodey's base where 1 goon was waiting for it. The bug was in fact that the goon, having made one shot, refused to move!!! The vulture didn't lose the time and killed a dozen of probes. A bug like this I saw only once in my life. A very rare thing. Nevertheless, Koreans decided not to announce the rematch at once, as they should, but waited till the last game result (which Asma finally decided to play).
Asmodey vs Boxer PvT on Silent Vortex
A great map for toss, but the chance interfered in here again. All's simple: Asma was sick. By many inquiries (he doesn't like to nib) we found out that he played with Boxer with the temperature about 40. Well...
As the result our Asma gets to the Top 8 of the champ much better than WCG BW, receives his 800 $ of prize and goes celebrating New Year at home. Another tourney's minus (imho) - its durability. Don't know about Asma, but I'd feel uncomfortable living in a foreign country for about 3 months on such conditions.
P.S.: After reading this column many may think that Korea sucks and Koreans are bastards. Believ me, it's not what I mean. Evereything's not that bad, and with all its minuses Korea remains a country with the most developed cybersport an does for its development more that all the other countries. So let's hope the better.
And finally Asma's latest forum post:
"Well, it doesn't matter anyway... 2 orky team: who wants to live a year in Korea? All serious =).Will discuss it when I'm back. Not so much time left, you got to answer now =)"
No comments ^^.
(c) Translated by Shane Tracey |
