Just after a huge on the web outcry more than Blizzard’s removal of two shoutcasters and the year-lengthy ban of a skilled Hearthstone player who expressed his assistance for Hong Kong, President of Blizzard J. Allen Brack broke his silence.
The original punishment was a 12-month ban of the player in query, named Chung “Blitzchung” Ng Wai. Also, his prize cash was initially forfeited. Now, Brack says they will revise their choice by lessening Blitzchung’s ban to half a year and he will get his prize cash.
Brack expressed views more than how Blizzard handled the circumstance:
The six-month ban is citing the rules in location by Blizzard regarding tournament etiquette. Per Hearthstone Grandmasters Asia-Pacific guidelines, Section six.1 states:
The shoutcasters will get a comparable ban, lasting a further half year. Curiously, American University Hearthstone Group received no punishment more than their pro-Hong Kong statements, nor did Brack comment on this, in spite of falling beneath the exact same guidelines. This shows some inconsistencies of Blizzard guidelines from area to area. Neither did Brack comment on a further controversy regarding a Blizzard/Netease post on Chinese social media web-site Weibo. Netease, which runs Blizzard China, professed they would “respect and defend the pride” of China.
At the time of publishing, reports have also stated that the business has not addressed workers, who staged a walkout earlier this week and covered numerous components of the company’s values statement, due to believing the actions had been not in accordance with them. Also, Brian Kibler, who was initially scheduled to host the Hearthstone Grandmasters at Blizzcon, has not commented on Blizzard’s statement just after saying he would not host the occasion earlier this week.
Brack assures in his post that the company’s connection with China did not influence their ultimate choice, and closes that each and every player really should really feel “protected and welcome each competing in and playing” Blizzard games.
What are your thoughts on this punishment? Are they justified? Let us know in the comments beneath!