For those of you not in the know, James Harding is a former professional Quake 4 and World of Warcraft player turned commentator, community member and twitch.tv employee who also is the founder of The GD Studio, an eSports content production venture located in Stockholm, Sweden. With the rest of the studio, he hosts The GD Show, a self-described, ‘no fluff’ eSports talk show. He also had risen to prominence in the professional StarCraft 2 scene with his quirky style of commentary. About his contribution to DotA, as described in one of the trending threads of reddit, 2GD also is DotA 2 panel host who mediates a panel of DotA 2 experts in discussing the games that have happened/will happen soon as well as the teams who will be playing the games. Think soccer round-table host, talking about the soccer match before and after. He’s known for being unconventionally entertaining (with British banter, swearing etc.).
# James announces on his twitter handle about Valve letting him go for the Shanghai Majors.
# Following the developments, 2GD as promised on the 26th of February releases his statement (of sorts) regarding the whole matter, from his perspective. He goes in detail about his relationship with Valve, past events where probelms of similarity arised and his personal interactions with Gabe Newell which surprisingly were pretty vague and small if his words are to be believed, and also they have physically met only twice which can be considered shocking keeping in mind the confidence and style with which Gabe openly disgraces 2GD. James does go ahead to open up about many other particulars and problems experienced in his journey as a caster for many of Valve’s tournaments, but we shall not divulge into the many points raised by James, but stick to the one that is in accordance with the matter at hand.
First up, 2GD’s statement foremost screams of one argument in his favour. He was told to be himself, and not just by Valve but by Icefrog himself. And people aware and lovers of his style of commentary and analysis also would know just how well he lived up to his reputation. It is however, the longer version of the article and everything that needs to be hogging the limelight, or it is not everyday when people point out flaws on one of the world’s most widely popular publishers.
What do you take out of this whole controversy? Is Valve justifiable in firing one of the most beloved personalities in the circuit due to his undeniable nonprofessional attitude that he brings to his work? Or was it a nail in the a coffin to a much larger controversy raging behind the backdrops of the most played game on steam? Let us know your views in the comments section!
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