posted by Tezzeret,
One of the most important things to happen to the Malaysian eSports scene was the formation of Orange eSports, with Orange.DotA leading the helm.
Even though the Orange DotA team has been making headlines with their star-studded roster as well as their tournament wins, little is known about Orange eSports as an organization. joinDOTA catches up with Frank Ng, Managing Director of Orange eSports to learn more about the organization and what we can expect from them in the future.

[B]To many, Orange is just a DotA team, but I understand that it is not so. Can you tell us what Orange is about?[/B]

To create Malaysia’s (then South East Asia's) eSports powerhouse. We are sponsoring 5 teams and DotA is leading the pack.

[B]As a whole, what are the goals and aspirations for Orange eSports?[/B]

Malaysia has many talented players, but after all these years, we have yet to see truly professional gaming teams. What I mean is how the teams conduct themselves, communicate to their sponsors and fans, and ultimately their passion in the game. Orange eSports wants to address this problem. We want to be like FnaticRC, Na’Vi [or] SK-Gaming in South East Asia. Thus the team started in September 2011.

[B]One of the most exciting things to happen in the Malaysian eSports scene is Orange's foray into eSports. What made you decide to take a jump into this industry, when this industry is so volatile?[/B]

As a business, Orange started out as an Internet Café, then we gained some marketing funds. We started with running LAN tournaments, then we shifted the weight to sponsoring teams. [We] started with Counter-Strike and DotA, then we expanded it slowly and now we have five different teams. Of course we have to increase the funding allocation.

On a personal note, it's like national service for my country, Malaysia. I am not a gamer. The challenge and fun for me is building up a professional eSports organization never seen before in this region. And recognition for competitive gaming aka eSports.

[B]I understand that the mentioned marketing fund was RM200,000 set aside for Orange's foray into eSports, with half of it going into the DotA team. Can you elaborate on the scope of the sponsorship? Are the players given a salary?[/B]

You may get the sponsorship scope from our Facebook info section. But it covers travel and meal allowance, travelling cost and image consultancy and so on. The 2012 budget for Orange eSports DotA’s team is RM50,000.

For example, we paid the team RM300 allowance for the last GEST and for other local tournaments. For oversea tournaments, they get between RM1000 to RM2000 allowance depending on the needs of the team.

We even rented a room in an apartment for RM550 for our players to stay. So that they can train till late and not rush home early next morning, since not all of our players are based in Kuala Lumpur.

We are working on salary sponsorship for the team. We are currently talking to Asus, MSI and Gigabyte, but alas, all did not work out. Indeed, one of our main objectives in 2012 is to get salary sponsorship for the team. One of Orange eSports three-year objectives is to get government grant to pay the team a salary.

[B]While the organization's foray into the eSports scene was a very exciting one indeed, some questioned the legitimacy of the whole idea at the start. How did you feel when that happened and how did you handle it?[/B]

Managing an eSports team is just like managing a soccer team. There are ups and downs, player problems to resolve, supporters and haters. We just stay focused and move forward. With Orange Internet Café’s financial backing, we have very good chances to make it happen. We want to put a structure into Orange eSports regarding player conducts, communication channels and so on. We are having the very first team meeting this Friday. All five of our teams will sit in together in our office and have a discussion on what we expect from the teams.

[I]
Orange.DotA after winning the Dota 2 Malaysian Invitational
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[B]In a time when most organizations have dropped their support for DotA, why did you decide to put so much resources into DotA?[/B]

Orange Internet Café is in the gaming business. We are just using our computer suppliers marketing fund to make it happen. In the eSports world, DotA is still drawing the largest crowd. Orange Internet Café buys more than 600 PC's every year. Intel, Razer, broadband suppliers, Samsung, BenQ, motherboards, graphic cards, you name it. So it actually makes sense for us to build up Orange eSports and let the computer suppliers fund it! We do not foresee making any money out of it, but we hope to balance the equation such that the players will be supported and funded adequately. The players can train and perform well while the fans are happy. You can see it as a win-win-win-win situation for all parties.

[B]Orange's team across all game disciplines are all made up of Malaysians. Are there any plans of expanding elsewhere? Like maybe Singapore, Thailand or maybe even Europe and America?[/B]

For starters, no. We will be only sponsoring Malaysians and those we are able to see and manage them. We have gotten email from overseas teams, but we had to decline them. Players in this region still do not have the professional players' mindset yet and most eSports organizations are missing the proper structure and form. But Orange eSports will be opened to foreign teams, maybe after two or three years. Remember the Malaysian government grant I mentioned earlier; they would want a Malaysian team.

[B]As one of the pioneers in the Malaysian eSports scene, what do you have to say regarding the scene in the country and what do you think can change for the better?[/B]

eSports is here to stay. Its importance will grow with time for sure. The difference will be how we package and market it offline and online and deliver the results in major tournament. Orange eSports needs to deliver the "complete package" such that sponsors see the worth of sponsoring teams and tournaments in Malaysia. We want to get it done in 2012.

We are barely six months old. Please give us another six months we will double the results we have attained since inception. You will see new team studio photography by the end of March. We are planning on making team shirts and posters to sell to fund the team.


[B]Let's delve into something about yourself shall we? How did you become the Managing Director of Orange?[/B]

I was a Consulting Engineer for 10 years! I graduated from Monash University. I started an Internet Café with my brothers nine years ago. And now, Orange is the largest Internet Café in Malaysia, with more 26 branches.

But I am the operation and finance guy. I know nothing much about computer besides playing [the original] Warcraft when it was first launched. We were in the top ten for the Malaysian's business plan competition Venture 2001. Won RM5000 from Mahathir (the former Malaysian Prime Minister). We Asked for RM2 million to start CC chain and IPO within five years. But the dotcom boom went bust in 2001.

[B]Now lets talk about Orange.DotA. Although it's a very star-studded team, they have had their ups and downs throughout 2011. How important are results when it comes to the team?[/B]

We have been eyeing good results at SEA levels and beyond. Within Malaysia, there isn't much competition besides MYM/MUFC. That’s why we sent them to ESWC, WDC, G-League, TGX and ESTC in 2011. You can expect the team to participate in more international tournaments in 2012. Speaking of teams, we actually have an academy team who will be focused on competitions within Malaysia while grooming more talented players. For 2012, Orange eSports' DotA team's target is to win three regional titles. Nothing less.

We still believe the structure and form is more important than results. With the right eSports organization structure, we can stay on [for a] long way and attract the best players our way.

[B]The team went through its first roster change just before 2012. Do you have a say in the team's dynamics? Or is it all up to the players themselves?[/B]

We trust the captain in total; it used to be Mushi, but the mantle has now fallen onto Winter. I must say, I think we are in better shape compared to last year. We should be able to deliver better results. The team commitment is there and we are also putting a new Dota 2 home base for the team in Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur. The dedicated arena will be ready by the end March. With all this background work being done, we are ready for Dota 2’s launch. Orange eSports is ready!

[B]In recent days, a lot of players have started streaming their training games or public games. Are there any plans for Orange's DotA team, or any team for that matter, in following the trend?[/B]

Yes, we are looking for a partner to work on this. We are still short of staff. We will be launching Orange eSport’s website (www.orange-esports.com) very soon.. Streaming the training games will be part of it.

[B]Any final shoutouts?[/B]

Orange eSports will be the center of attention in South East Asia DotA gaming in 2012. We will come to you, challenge you and get to know you in all major DotA/Dota 2 Tournaments!

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