SK-Gaming recruited a Starcraft team yesterday and before I had time to lambast them for making such a bone headed pick up the story got even better.
It turns out that five of the six Chinese players were under contract with a team named “Star Carior” and that the players themselves didn’t even know they had “joined” SK.
Besides this being fucking hilarious, it was enormously stupid. Why recruit a new division for an old game when its sequel is right around the corner? If SK had a Starcraft team all this time then it makes sense. It isn’t even certain that they will even be playing Starcraft in six months. Why make such a snap decision in such an uncertain space?
Plus, what monetary gain does SK get out of picking up a team in Starcraft’s twilight years? Sure the community is still going strong and is still fun as hell to watch and play … but where’s the beef?
Here’s a quote from SK’s article:
However, the deal which seem too good to be true, came back to haunt us as we unearthed earlier today, that in fact five of the six Chinese players – including WCG silver medalist Junchun ‘Pj’ Sha – were already under contract in a team called Star Carior, which was not widely documented. Furthermore, after contacting PJ we discovered that himself and his four colleagues actually had not been informed at all by their two managers that they had joined SK Gaming.
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andeh
8 months ago
The reason they wanted to pick up a starcraft team now is because they know those players will switch to starcraft2. It’s the exact same reason as to why moon was picked up by WeMadeFox for the insane sum of money (20000usd a month) for playing warcraft3, and in the future, starcraft2.
It makes sense, thats why anyone and everyone went for 1.6 pros for the cgs teams for source. (ignore the fact that it is source, but source is a game that has the same ideas and 1.6, just like how sc and sc2 will share similar ideals.
Thats the exact reason why organizations are now getting starcraft teams, in preparation for sc2.
jESUIT
8 months ago
I agree with preparing for SC2, but there is no clear indicator of which skills will transfer the best. Will the WC3 players emerge on top or will the SC players? Remember, a lot of these players had YEARS to study the game; they wont have that luxury with SC2.
I’m saying i’d avoid the crap shoot. SK has the clout and more than likely the funds to outbid any team in the market for SC2 talent. Why not survey the scene a little before jumping in? The Korean teams are already going to be on the prowl for new blood and western talent in particular. No contract is going to stop a badass Euro or American from going to the mecca of Starcraft, Seoul.
Plus, not to knock PJ but the only way you win a medal at WCG in SC is when the Koreans knock each other out before the final rounds.