StarCraft II Tournaments

Decides whether visitors are forced to sign in to use the site. A/B forces ~50% of visitors (cookie-bucketed) so you can compare behavior between gated and open audiences.

Who gets the new “Lanes”-style Friends & Inbox pop-outs on the classic header (the header Friends/Inbox icons). Everyone (public) is the default — this is decoupled from the New UI rollout, so it reaches all users without the full redesign. “Off” falls back to the legacy friends drawer / coaching inbox. Applies on the viewer’s next page load.

Who can reach the Leaderboard (Pro Ladder) tab. "Everyone" is the default (public); restrict to "Admins + mods" or "Admins only" if you want to lock it down. The nav button and the server endpoints both follow this setting.

Replaces the legacy chroma-keyed icons with the new top-down Terran/Zerg sprite atlas in the replay viewer. Admins (you) always see the new art for testing. Flip global on once you're happy and want every visitor to see it.

Web Audio engine that plays unit, ability, death, and music cues during replay playback. Admins and moderators always hear audio and can use the tuning panels. Flip global on once you're satisfied with mix levels and want every visitor to hear the replay's soundtrack.

The production animation suite for the replay viewer — chrono boost, spawn larva / queen cast, warp-in, blink, guardian shield, force fields, disruptor nova, psionic storm, fungal growth, corrosive bile, caustic spray, colossus thermal lance, cloak detection, SCV repair welds, transport passenger dots, building fire / death FX, and the production-bubble density ring. Admins and moderators always see these (and the Animations tuning panel). Flip global on once you're happy and want every visitor to see the new effects; flip it back off to instantly revert everyone to the pre-polish viewer.

Review verified-commentator applications. Approving grants the CASTER badge; the user can then sign up to commentate tournaments.