From TJ Elmore, DCE/DCG Organizer

In the spirit of fairness, I am posting a comment from TJ Elmore, a DCE/DCG Organizer. He wrote it in response to my article regarding professional gaming in Davao City originally posted in my other blog.

First of all, thank you for posting your thoughts. It’s a big help for us the organizers to get outside perspective of the event.

It’s true that there were some hurdles, changes, and other inconsistencies along the way, and it does seem chaotic. But before you conclude publicly and raise “unprofessional” flags on the event organizers or event itself, why not talk to us the organizers to understand why things happened that way?

I say this because such blatant one sided comments presented in a “well made” article such as this, does a lot of damage to the credibility we are trying to impose.

As one of the caretakers of DCE/DCG and visionaries of a healthy well supported gaming culture in davao, I have to say something about this.

For one, you questioned why the author of the constitution was a member of a team participating in the event.

- obviously, we needed a very well experienced DOTA player to write the rules, one that will put a lot of time into it, and one that can easily be reached, etc.. Rioren was one of the best candidates for this and willing to spend time and effort on it.

- now why not someone who is NOT part of a team? Ma’am dont you think most of the BEST players in dota who are candidates for this task will most likely be participating in this huge event? And even if we find one that is not participating now, would he/she accept the fact that if he/she authored the core constitution, he/she can never participate in any DCG-DOTA competition????

- lastly, the constitution is not 100% written by him, it comes from different rule sets and concepts such as the WCG, and other popular tournament systems, which has become widely accepted. Further more, we the game marshals, as well as the organizers made revisions and added our own elements as we see fitting.

- i can list so much more.. but the real question is, WHY NOT JUST ASK US why things are and then write a TWO-SIDED article. .. instead of smudging the “professionalism” and “credibility” of the DCG? Because it’s cleverly written and publicized irresponsible comments like these from people, writers,or the press that sends a bad impression of the event to the general public, and YOU ma’m Ria are one who we least expected would tarnish the reputation we have established and de-value all the hard work and sleepless nights we’ve gone through.

Another example? You’re sighting unprofessional inconsistencies in the eliminations, where others had 3 rounds while others had 1 round only.

- again, there are so many things that took place that you dont even know about. We as “professionals” adjusted to them appropriately, and i don’t see anything wrong with our course of actions, which were fruits from long discussions of several parties.

- there are so many reasons why there were round differences in the different elimination grounds, from time constraints, technical problems, and even FUNDING. You have no idea how much we have already financially sacrificed for this event.

About professionalism in general… there are more to PROFESSIONALISM than what is in the dictionary. I believe road bumps that has transpired can not be avoided, if it it were, there are some other things that will go wrong. But if you judge professionalism by perfection, there is no such a thing. I see professionalism as being professional in the face of imperfections. And that’s what we all exercised IMO.

There are so much more i wish to sight for everyone here in defense of my fellow hard working organizers, and marshals, but i will stop here.

While you have pointed out some very good facts for us to reflect on, there are just some stuffs in here that I PERSONALLY can not swallow, specially from you ma’am Ria, whom i thought, of all people, would understand.

If you need to ask questions, before you write your articles, please, ring us, ring any of the marshals. If you do, perhaps, just maybe, you will be enlightened, and your readers can be as well.

Than you

TJ Elmore
DCE/DCG Organizer
DCE/DCG IT Specialist