EPTI’ve been working at events at the DCC (Dallas Convention Center) for a few years now. Part of my job sometimes includes helping event set-up and take-down during conventions, conferences, concerts, media events, etc. I was pretty excited for the chance to get to work during this MLG since it would give me a chance to see behind the scenes as well as have “VIP” access all weekend. Well, I don’t want you guys to worry too much, but there have been some big problems already that have the MLG staff running around like blue-assed flies trying to have everything sorted before kick-off. I don’t think I’m “supposed” to talk about this, but meh. I’m not sure how they’re going to fix most of this stuff in time. Some of the things I’ve found out so far:
1) There aren’t enough chairs. The center offered to rent chairs for the event, but MLG declined and said they had their own solutions. Well, they’ve only brought these wooden benches, and ½ of the benches were never sent apparently. They did bring some chairs, but those chairs are ONLY for the section for new game demos and for eating. They actually have the benches set up for player areas too (think church pews). They look really uncomfortable to play on.
2) Something is going on about Octoshape, and how MLG doesn’t have a license, so they have to completely re-configure how the stream is going to run, and if they can’t work around it in time there will only be a LQ stream (which will have to be paid for) and no free stream.
3) SC2 is still in somewhat of a “corner”, they have just renamed that corner as a “main stage”. Also, the way that section of the center is laid out, there are a number of structural support beams that will obscure the viewing of the large screen for a decent part of the audience. It’s in the worst imaginable place and I can’t get an answer as to why they have laid it out so poorly, it makes no sense. All the vendors and demo areas get really prime “real estate”, and SC2 is in a really bad area, totally confusing considering how SC2 was supposed to be getting a high billing at MLG from now on. The good news is the SC2 section can probably accommodate about 100 people (with seating for maybe 50, max).
4) At the last MLG I was at, the vendors were great. Hot Pockets, Doritos, Dr Pepper, Gum, etc. The ones at this MLG look kind of lame, tbh. Instead of Dr Pepper, it’s some soda called “Sun Drop” that tastes like someone farted in a can of backwash. They have Doritos, but the flavors they’re advertising are so weird. Late Night Pepperoni Pizza Doritos?? Late Night Kabob Doritos? There’s another funky one that I’ve seen signs for, but I can’t remember it. Even the hot pockets are lame. Last time they had those “side-shots”, but this time it seems to be just regular hot pockets like “Turkey Burger” and “Lasagna”. Will not eat. The “Hot Pockets Girls” are also clearly the B-Squad.
5) I was really surprised at the low quality of computers. I don’t know if it was different before, but some of these machines are P4’s. WTF. They’re almost bare, so they work alright, but I don’t know how they can be comfortable about SC2 not crashing on such old machines.
6) They have some cool new things set up, like this huge poster thing with a marine and a medic where you can stick 2 people’s faces through and take a picture, but they want like $15 for a “professional” picture, and you can’t use your own camera (except I did). Also, they’re going to have a roped-off section where the pro gamers can sit and sign these small MLG posters that look sort of like headshots. They’re charging for that too, but I don’t know how much. There’s also a ton more MLG merchandise this time around. Hoodies, shirts, bobble-heads, mugs, Frisbees, mlg socks, beanies, fingerless gloves, tons of gaming peripherals. Oh! That reminds me:
7) Apparently, there’s a new rule in place that gamers aren’t allowed to let other players borrow equipment. If you forgot a piece of equipment, you’re supposed to buy a replacement at the merch area, and anyone caught loaning keyboards, mice, etc to someone else can be disqualified.
8) Both of the judges I’ve talked to that are reffing SC2 are actually Halo judges. They hired too many Halo judges and not enough SC2 judges, so instead of correcting it, they’re just going to shove square pegs into round holes and have judges from other games cover it. When I asked why they wouldn’t recruit refs from the attendees, someone told me that, “we need people we can be sure will understand how to act professionally while representing MLG.”
9) They have this crazy trap set up where they’re going to be selling food and drinks outside the main convention hall at kiosks and booths, but they don’t let you take it into the gaming area. You can eat in the gaming area, but only food provided by the sponsors. Any food bought outside the doors will be confiscated when you try to enter, but there are no signs or anything telling you this until you actually get up to the door and they will make you throw away the food you just bought from them. Even more hilariously, vendors will be giving out snacks and stuff outside too, and you’re not allowed to bring that in either. So, you can get a “Sun Drop” from someone outside the main room and have to throw it away so that you can walk 10 steps inside and get another free “Sun Drop”.
10) All games will be broadcast from replays. They said this was to avoid any problems at the live event being evident on the stream, and because they can’t set up sound-proof booths so they’re worried that the casting may be audible. The players will play all games online, then someone will come around, put the replays on a flash drive, and deliver the replays to the event supervisor, who will choose what games and series will be broadcast based on game length, quality, players, etc. Seems inane for a live tournament, but what do I know?
All in all, I was really looking forward to this weekend, so I hope all these issues don’t mean a bad time. I’m sure the players will put on a great show, so I guess I can’t be too worried! See you all there, I’ll be the guy in the MLG hoodie, beanie and socks.
