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Hi, I don't normally make topics or blogs on this kind of issue but I felt like this time I wanted to make myself heard in a more, how should I say, visible manner. I'm going to cover why I think paying $20 for 80 hours of SC2 is well worth the money and put this money in to a little perspective.
I've read many posts I agree with and many I disagree with, however some posts are so completely ridiculous that I really wonder what the world is coming to these days. It seems many people feel entitled to having everything for free and never having to put in any work themselves. One of the most annoying arguments I've heard about why going PPV is a terrible idea is that younger viewers can't afford $20 to watch, so I'll speak to that first.
When I was a child, many years ago, I grew up in a time before the internet, it was around already but I had certainly never heard about it or dreamed that such a thing was even existed. When I wanted to talk to a friend I had two options, go to their house or call them from my phone, not my cell/mobile phone but my home phone. Back then we didn't get free evening or weekend calls and thus, most people couldn't stay on the phone for long on their parents money. Often we would just get on our bikes or walk to go see our friends.
This was a time when in the UK, TV consisted of only 4 channels and they weren't even 24 hour yet. Children's TV ran from 7.30-9am and 3.30-5pm, or thereabouts, and all 4 channels were free to view. When Kids TV finished, we would go out and play, often we wouldn't even wait that long. You might be thinking that this must have been decades ago, in fact it was the late 80's and early 90's. Unless you were quite wealthy or very tech hungry, cable and satellite TV weren't even concepts that were familiar to you.
I was brought up in an affluent family, I have never once gone without something I needed and could always get everything I wanted.... if I earned it. I wanted Snowboard lessons for my when I was about 12 and to get them I had to break my county High Jump record for the Under 13's age group, I worked my nuts off all summer and finally broke the record just before my birthday and got my reward. There was no reason why my parents made me earn the lessons other than the fact that they wanted to show me that if you want something, you have to earn it. This idea was reinforced throughout my childhood and I am better for it, I understand the value of money and hard work.
When I was a little older I started going out on weekends with my friends, I took up smoking and had this wonderful new Pentium and wanted new games to play. I got pocket money, allowance to everyone across the pond, of £5 a week and that simply wasn't enough to do everything I wanted to do. Therefore I did work around the house and garden and got a weekly paper route and saved up for whatever it was I wanted that month, never once did it occur to me that working for the things I wanted was unreasonable.
So finally I come to my first point, sorry for the meander through my childhood but it was necessary context. If you are too young to work a part-time or full-time job so that you can pay $20 to watch MLGs Winter Arena, there are other ways you can make money. If you want your parents to dish out for it, then offer them something in return, do extra chores, suggest that if you can improves you school grades you can get MLG as a reward, save up your pocket money, get a paper route, wash your neighbours cars. Making $20 should take you a day or two at the most if you work for it. Don't complain that it is unfair, everyone who has a job has pay for far more expensive and important things and we do it, for the most part, without complaint.
Next I want everyone who doesn't think this event will be worth $20 to just take a step back. Thousands of people, including no doubt some who will refuse to pay for MLG, pay $50 to watch a few hours of UFC or WWE, that's roughly $16 per hour. MLG wants $20 for 80 hours of content that's $0.25 an hour featuring some of the best SC2 players in the world fighting it out for $26,000. Even if they were showing it in 360p and in black & white, where I'm from that is most definitely value for money. If you split it with a friend it becomes even more stupidly great value for money, you will certainly never see any real sport giving away their product at such a low price, could you imagine paying $0.75 to watch an entire UFC or WWE PPV? Hell no. Stop the knee jerk reactions and grow up, for the love of Boxer.
MLG is paying out $100,000 to get all the players to the event, feed them and house them. That's $100,000 less that teams and sponsors have to pay out, that's another $100,000 worth flights and hotels that teams can use to get their players to other events, including future Pro Circuit events, Korea trips and much more. In total MLG are spending $126,000 without paying for staff, equipment etc. To make this $126,000 back MLG only has to sell 6300 HD passes and in reality less because of ad revenue, but MLG don't just need to make their money back, they are a business and businesses have to make money. If you want to see bigger prize pools and players travel being paid more often then they need to make a profit, hell if you want MLG to still be alive in 2 years, THEY NEED TO MAKE MONEY.
If 20,000 people buy the PPV that's $400,000 going MLG's way, quite a large sum of money I think you will agree. That would show MLGs board, investors and sponsors that this industry can sustain itself, it would also mean that next time they can drop the price and still know they will cover their costs at a minimum, it could mean an increased prize pool, it could mean more of these events. People need to start seeing the big picture, PPV is going to HAVE to happen at some point, we as fans have to make these brands viable as businesses. In this world nothing comes for free, someone has to pay and for the first time an SC2 organisation is saying that it's our turn.
I can completely understand why Gold members are pissed, as far as I'm concerned they should get a minimum 50% discount. I'm not a gold member, I'm one of the 60,000 Europeans who gamed the system last year but before that I had paid to watch every MLG since WoW Arena was introduced. Sundance and his company are asking us to step up and show that this industry is an actual industry, that fans are willing to pay for the privilege of seeing the world's best compete and if we won't because “It's not fair” or because “Its not worth $20” then we don't deserve an organisation like MLG because we are simply leeches.
We all expect too much for nothing these days, most people under the age of 21 really don't understand how expensive the world is. Your parents pay for the 6 billion TV channels and the super fast broadband (btw when I first got connected to the internet, streaming video would have meant watching in about 16p) and your cell phones and the roof over your head, you probably couldn't tell me how much that costs per month and might be surprised when you find out how much it is. In the grand scheme of things $20 is not bank breaking for 90% of people in the west, its a trip to the cinema or a pizza both of which are far less value for money than MLG. Did you know that a pizza costs a maximum of $4 to make? That a Big Mac costs about $0.15 to make? How about you forgo the trip to Maccy D's this week and buy the MLG PPV. For any stoners out there, how about only buying 1 bag this week instead of 2?
If you want better production, high prize pools and more events... at some point you have to be willing to spend some money to get what you want. You have do decide if your money is better spent on cigarettes that are killing you, fast food that is making you fat and killing you, drugs that are over priced (especially alcohol, god damn those taxes!) or on a full weekend of 1080p Starcraft 2. I know for sure where my money is going.
Gold members, I urge you to stump up the cash once more and then send an e-mail to Sundance saying that you won't do it again unless you get it free/50% off, show him that you are willing to pay because the product is worth it but that you, as a loyal MLG subscriber deserve better in the future.
Finally, whether or not you agree with me, please at least be mature enough to voice your opposition with respect. I understand that some people literally do not have $20 but the fact that you are on the internet and own SC2 means that the vast majority of you do have it or can get it.
Good Luck, Have Fun.
Emy
edit: sweet 1550th post... what luck!
 
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Dunno why but whenever someone tells me I should buy this and gives me a story about their childhood Im always sooo turned off to actually buy it. Your flawed arguments also are not helping the situation. Is mlg paying you to advertise their shit? No. So leave it to those they do pay.
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On February 18 2012 04:13 DaPyro wrote:
Dunno why but whenever someone tells me I should buy this and gives me a story about their childhood Im always sooo turned off to actually buy it. Your flawed arguments also are not helping the situation. Is mlg paying you to advertise their shit? No. So leave it to those they do pay.
And the first reply is disrespectful... who would have guessed? Show me where my argument is flawed, point out how paying $0.25 per hour of Starcraft isn't value for money and that helping a great company expand and become a viable business isn't a worthy goal...
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i subjectively feel like 20 dollars is too much just because. There's far too many sc2 events these days that are charging money to make people pay 20 for a weekend event. In isolation it might be okay, and if people are picking and choosing and you offer them the best shit ever to only choose your event then i guess it's okay. But yeah, too much just cause i feel like it's too much
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On February 18 2012 04:15 emythrel wrote:Show nested quote +On February 18 2012 04:13 DaPyro wrote:
Dunno why but whenever someone tells me I should buy this and gives me a story about their childhood Im always sooo turned off to actually buy it. Your flawed arguments also are not helping the situation. Is mlg paying you to advertise their shit? No. So leave it to those they do pay. And the first reply is disrespectful... who would have guessed? Show me where my argument is flawed, point out how paying $0.25 per hour of Starcraft isn't value for money and that helping a great company expand and become a viable business isn't a worthy goal...
Because there are plenty and i mean PLENTY of places to get star-craft at $0.00 an hour. UFC and WWE are also two different things which are completely different from each other as well. Why do we have to help companies expand and become viable business options? isn't that the reason the states are in a recession? giving companies which are not viable money to live on? Don't call me disrespectful because I have different views, I can call you disrespectful for trying to sell me something I don't want.
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On February 18 2012 04:19 Divinek wrote:
i subjectively feel like 20 dollars is too much just because. There's far too many sc2 events these days that are charging money to make people pay 20 for a weekend event. In isolation it might be okay, and if people are picking and choosing and you offer them the best shit ever to only choose your event then i guess it's okay. But yeah, too much just cause i feel like it's too much
I can see what you are saying, and totally agree that if every weekend you have to shell out $20 then its too much. But these MLG events are akin to a UFC PPV in the sense that they are relatively rare and frankly in comparison to many many forms of entertainment hours per dollar, its very cheap. However, if you genuinely feel its too much then I can't argue with that. Value for money is subjective, personally I feel its a fair price for an experiment and first foray in to such an event.
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So you agree the gold member situation was botched and we're not getting enough compensation, and then you ask us to hold our noses and pay anyway?
Nah, sorry.
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On February 18 2012 04:23 emythrel wrote:Show nested quote +On February 18 2012 04:19 Divinek wrote:
i subjectively feel like 20 dollars is too much just because. There's far too many sc2 events these days that are charging money to make people pay 20 for a weekend event. In isolation it might be okay, and if people are picking and choosing and you offer them the best shit ever to only choose your event then i guess it's okay. But yeah, too much just cause i feel like it's too much I can see what you are saying, and totally agree that if every weekend you have to shell out $20 then its too much. But these MLG events are akin to a UFC PPV in the sense that they are relatively rare and frankly in comparison to many many forms of entertainment hours per dollar, its very cheap. However, if you genuinely feel its too much then I can't argue with that. Value for money is subjective, personally I feel its a fair price for an experiment and first foray in to such an event.
If i want to watch GSP or A.Silva or Shogun fight I have to buy the ufc ppv... if i want to watch IdrA or Dimaga or Nestea or Stephano play I have to... do nothing
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On February 18 2012 04:20 DaPyro wrote:Show nested quote +On February 18 2012 04:15 emythrel wrote:On February 18 2012 04:13 DaPyro wrote:
Dunno why but whenever someone tells me I should buy this and gives me a story about their childhood Im always sooo turned off to actually buy it. Your flawed arguments also are not helping the situation. Is mlg paying you to advertise their shit? No. So leave it to those they do pay. And the first reply is disrespectful... who would have guessed? Show me where my argument is flawed, point out how paying $0.25 per hour of Starcraft isn't value for money and that helping a great company expand and become a viable business isn't a worthy goal... Because there are plenty and i mean PLENTY of places to get star-craft at $0.00 an hour. UFC and WWE are also two different things which are completely different from each other as well. Why do we have to help companies expand and become viable business options? isn't that the reason the states are in a recession? giving companies which are not viable money to live on? Don't call me disrespectful because I have different views, I can call you disrespectful for trying to sell me something I don't want.
If you don't think your tone was disrespectful, then try re reading your first post..... you MLG doesn't need to pay me for me to like their product and since you still haven't haven't pointed out the flaws in my logic.... I can watch sunday league football for free or i can pay to watch the premiership, the many of the best players will be at MLG... therefore why should I get it for free? Especially since they are paying for all the players to come, is Assembly? or ASUS ROG?
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On February 18 2012 04:24 bonifaceviii wrote:
So you agree the gold member situation was botched and we're not getting enough compensation, and then you ask us to hold our noses and pay anyway?
Nah, sorry.
It was botched because people thought they were going to get it for free and turns out they don't. If there had never been that misconception then I would think for this trial run making them pay $15 would have been perfectly fair. Like I say, this is why I think people should pay, I don't expect anyone to agree but if I can change a few minds then I have done my bit.
Thing is that if they were to give free access to all gold members for finals day or something similar, those who had already paid would feel a bit screwed over. At this point you can't change the price, you can however still support the orangisation while voicing dissent.
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Shit.
A well thought opinion, fairly well written and presented? OP's ideas explained in a mature way, with context and with a broad minded perspective?
This is a rare sight in TL nowadays. 5/5
I'm one of the people that probably won't buy the PPV pass. But I have my own reasons for that and have nothing to do with "being too damn expensive". I have many weekends where I can't be sitting at the computer only seeing SC2 without worries (I'm also a child from the 80's. I also have other things to worry nowadays ^^)
What upsets me most is in fact the large number of people that complaint about it with absurd arguments and with putting a single thought in what they say. And usually those people are the ones with least reason to complaint.
Despite not buying the pass I agree with the OP. The PPV is a somewhat risky play. But if we, viewers, embrace it, it will create a new platform in wich the service providers will be able to give us more and more each time (i.e. better and cheaper PPV passes, more tournaments, bigger prize pools, etc.). Please don't simply bash it for the sake of it. Try to understand it and only after form an opinion becuase that's the reason I avoid certain threads like the plague.
Again, great blog. 5/5
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How come when GSL offered no free stream for their Arena of Legends (and by the way, didn't all current GSL subscribers get access to that automatically? I don't remember since I didn't bother with it, personally), there was so much outcry about GSL 'ruining esports', yet when MLG does something far worse and much more overpriced, we get all this "ITS KEWL ITS JUST TWENTY BUCKS FFS DO YOU HATE ESPORTS?" bullshit?
There are so many examples of why this is overpriced and generally stupid I don't even know where to start; MLG obviously made some terrible decisions with this, so stop rallying around them just because they are American already.
Despite not buying the pass I agree with the OP. The PPV is a somewhat risky play. But if we, viewers, embrace it, it will create a new platform in wich the service providers will be able to give us more and more each time (i.e. better and cheaper PPV passes, more tournaments, bigger prize pools, etc.). Please don't simply bash it for the sake of it. Try to understand it and only after form an opinion becuase that's the reason I avoid certain threads like the plague.
This is precisely what we do NOT need. Just look at Korea's Broodwar scene - in a single country, they've managed to build up a massive amount of tournaments and special events with production values and infrastructure leaps and bounds ahead of anything MLG can ever dream of - without any of this PPV nonsense!! Considering the global audiences of SC2, I'm sure matching what OGN, MBC et all did shouldn't be impossible; at worst, let it be free low q with season-length vod / hq passes a'la GSL and NASL. Paying for a single weekend of content is an awful idea, especially when presented as badly as MLG did it.
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The comparison to UFC PPV is retarded for the following reasons.
1. The only way to watch UFC is via PPV. Nobody is filled with glee that they have to pay 40 bucks to watch a fight, they do it because they have to. There are, however, multiple ways to watch starcraft of equal to or even greater quality than MLG for free.
2. You watch a fight in a bar or with a group of friends at whoever's house has the biggest TV. It's a social event that lasts a couple of hours. Watching MLG is me sitting in a basement with MLG on monitor 2 while I play LoL or something. B-but barcraft! This event is an entire weekend, no? Even if there were a barcraft near me I'm not going to sit in a bar with a bunch of nerds for 3 consecutive days.
3. 4 streams is retarded. 2 is fine, because you can pick which game you want (provided they have a decent scheduling system, which, given MLGs history, they don't.) And there is no fucking way I'm ever going to get around to watching all the VODs (which are apparently going to be free a week later, anyway). There are no free UFC VODs. Eventually they rebroadcast the fights on cable, but that hardly meets the "on demand" portion of "VOD."
4. I'm not a fanboy who likes throwing money at companies to "support" them. People like you are the reason Bioware went from Baldur's Gate to shit in a decade.
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Doesnt matter what game it is(excluding BW) i'd never pay to watch any other game.
ever.
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Tell an azn parent that you want to use $20 you earned from hard work doing chores to watch other people play games online.
....
Your ass will not be a pretty sight.
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What MLG has to do now (especially since there is so much free content out there) is not to tell me "Buy this to help Esports".....they should be telling me.
"THIS is why you should pay 20$"
Dont tell me there are just 4 streams, hype everything! WWE for example, montages, build up, promos everywhere. MLG should do the same. Is there a heated rivalry between competitors? Hype that crap up. Grudges? Statistics? Streaks? Players on the rise/getting worse. Everyday they should give us 1 more reason to buy it.
I really want this to work, but MLG has got to bust a gut to promote it.
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EPT
