9/20/2023 0 Comments Hearthstone grandmasters![]() ![]() With regard to the casters, remember their purpose is to keep the event focused on the tournament. There is a consequence for taking the conversation away from the purpose of the event and disrupting or derailing the broadcast. When we think about the suspension, six months for blitzchung is more appropriate, after which time he can compete in the Hearthstone pro circuit again if he so chooses. That is not our intention.īut playing fair also includes appropriate pre-and post-match conduct, especially when a player accepts recognition for winning in a broadcast. We understand that for some this is not about the prize, and perhaps for others it is disrespectful to even discuss it. We now believe he should receive his prizing. In the tournament itself blitzchung *played* fair. All of this is in service of another important Blizzard value-Play Nice Play Fair. We want to ensure that we maintain a safe and inclusive environment for all our players, and that our rules and processes are clear. In hindsight, our process wasn’t adequate, and we reacted too quickly. We’ve had a chance to pause, to listen to our community, and to reflect on what we could have done better. Over the past few days, many players, casters, esports fans, and employees have expressed concerns about how we determined the penalties. OK, what could Blizzard have done better, and where do we go from here? ![]() If this had been the opposing viewpoint delivered in the same divisive and deliberate way, we would have felt and acted the same. We have these rules to keep the focus on the game and on the tournament to the benefit of a global audience, and that was the only consideration in the actions we took. I want to be clear: our relationships in China had no influence on our decision. The specific views expressed by blitzchung were NOT a factor in the decision we made. Our goal is to help players connect in areas of commonality, like their passion for our games, and create a sense of shared community. Part of Thinking Globally, Leading Responsibly, and Every Voice Matters is recognizing that we have players and fans in almost every country in the world. Third, were our actions based on the content of the message? They elevate the watchability and help the esports viewing experience stay focused on the tournament and our amazing players. We hire shoutcasters to amplify the excitement of the game. Second, what is the role of shoutcasters for these broadcasts? In support of that, we want to keep the official channels focused on the game. However, the official broadcast needs to be about the tournament and to be a place where all are welcome. Over the weekend, blitzchung used his segment to make a statement about the situation in Hong Kong-in violation of rules he acknowledged and understood, and this is why we took action.Įvery Voice Matters, and we strongly encourage everyone in our community to share their viewpoints in the many places available to express themselves. Hearing their excitement is a powerful way to bring us together. We want to experience that moment with them. We interview competitors who are at the top of their craft to share how they feel. It is extremely important to us to protect these channels and the purpose they serve: to bring the world together through epic entertainment, celebrate our players, and build diverse and inclusive communities.Īs to how those values apply in this case:įirst, our official esports tournament broadcast was used as a platform for a winner of this event to share his views with the world. Esports exist to create opportunities for players from around the world, from different cultures, and from different backgrounds, to come together to compete and share their passion for gaming. ![]() Our esports programs are an expression of our vision and our values. The actions that we took over the weekend are causing people to question if we are still committed to these values. On Monday, we made the decision to take action against a player named blitzchung and two shoutcasters after the player shared his views on what’s happening in Hong Kong on our official broadcast channel.Īt Blizzard, our vision is “to bring the world together through epic entertainment.” And we have core values that apply here: Think Globally Lead Responsibly and importantly, Every Voice Matters, encouraging everybody to share their point of view. I want to take a few minutes to talk to all of you about the Hearthstone Grandmasters tournament this past weekend.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |