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good post and sick run homie.
I think also one thing that MLG needs to get on is actually releasing the replays from the tournament. There were sooooo many amazing games played (like both scarlett vs hero and jookto vs grubby g3s) that people missed out on. And unfortunately, people may never get to see those games.
I am not a fan of everyone in the scene pitch forking and huddling together to get what they want, but I think for something like this then it could be beneficial. There's already a massive reddit thread on it, and hopefully MLG pays attention. Apparently they promised to release replays a few weeks after every MLG tournament, but haven't even bothered to release the replays of the past 2 MLGs.
If we can't get better exposure in the player pit, then at least let us be able to download and see all the games after the tournament is over. I feel like their excuses of "we have to remove certain information from every replay" is just an excuse. IEM and Dreamhack release the replays within either hours or days of the tournament, and nothing is wrong with them. Why can't MLG?
Also, I just wanna steal everything from Rain 
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It looked like MLG was cutting back.
Anyway:
I think it would be a great idea for MLG to get one guy to be sort of an "open bracket reporter." This guy's job will be to follow the open bracket results, ask players if there were any awesome/exciting games, and to take notes on everything that's going on. He can be the perfect filler for the downtime on stream as he can come on and basically tell some of the important results that occurred. In addition, he can go through the replays of the good games (think Scarlett's 3 spine crawler or goswser's proxy hatch win) and have a short clip created for each interesting game, and this he can show on stream while waiting for the next match. I think this is a much better and detailed way to present tournament results compared to having viewers rely on Twitter MLGSC2Scores or Liquipedia. Instead of simply going to Liquipedia, seeing a notable player dropdown or be eliminated and being left wondering why or how that happened, we can get a short overview of what happened, maybe with a short clip or two of the games, and a nice filler that reduces the amount of down time in between main stage matches.
To this day I don't know why they haven't done something like this.
Sure, they have Wheatie/Sean/etc. sometimes commenting on the brackets or if a big upset takes place.
They don't need anymore silly segments either. Heck, they could even do a side-scroller if they wanted as long as there was a tab to turn it on and off.
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I'm sure these ideas have been floated in MLG's planning:
* In addition to the live streams, add a centralized sportscaster style desk that reports on open bracket games and also gives status updates on *all* games. It's time to start fighting about which game is best and realize that esports fans like esports. Like the sportscenter desks on Sundays covering all the NFL games -- and you can add in some "roving reporter" interviews with players and fans on site. This would be way better than looking at the chairs...
* I have no idea why there aren't screens with the brackets all over the room at MLG. It seems ridiculous with all the technology required to run the games, the bracket is updated on a hand-written whiteboard that the players cluster around. Or that everybody is trying to look up liquipedia on their phones on-site to see where the next games are (observed this at MLG Columbus this year and nothing seems to have changed).
* Both the brackets and at least one stream should be played out by where the concessions/food are. Everybody needs to eat and you lose total touch with the tourney when you step out of the room.
I realize the budget is a constraint, but MLG is honestly not charging enough. Lollapalooza is a $300 weekend ticket, where MLG is $30. Charge more and make the event more of an experience for the fans. This is the *only* chance most of us ever get to see the players in person.
If you are coming from out of town, you'll pay $150 for a weekend pass -- especially if MLG throws in some cheap extras (t-shirt, pro player interaction opportunities). If you are worried about crowding out the local high-school-aged/broke crowd, bring in a bunch of volunteers to do things like run around and tell players when their games are and let them in cheap/free. I'm sure you could have had plenty of fanboys more than happy to go chase down Daisy Sunday morning and avoided having to DQ his game.
MLG could be the premier gaming festival in the US. If they want it to be.
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Binski also had a pretty awesome tournament, taking down a lot of strong NA ladderers in SniXSniPe and PulseKitty, and then went on to face four EG members consecutively before finally falling in the LR8 right before championship bracket.
lol Suppy, you so humble and classy, not even mentioning who he lost to <3
Good blog, and nice run at MLG.
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tbf for this MLG, their team was hit hard by Sandy and were working with a smaller group than they were planning on.
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You bring up some great ideas Conan! I know i've been hoping MLG would promote the open bracket/up and coming players/teams forever T_T There were so many epic games that were messed during 2012. I like a few lucky people who were at the event were able to watch some of these games first hang but most people never got a chance to.
MLG please improve your open bracket coverage for 2013!!!! The future of Starcraft rests on the shoulders of the up and comers!
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I contacted Puckett on twitter about MLG's plan to increase coverage for 2013 and here is his response.
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On November 06 2012 15:41 Clutch8 wrote:
This issue and these points have already been discussed with MLG for about a year. I know because I was the one presenting similar ideas and solutions, along with others. It all comes down to budgets.
While I'm sure the budget thing is an issue, I would, and could, do a lot of this stuff for free. MLG could host a couple contests, or calls for filler that can be used between SC2 sets and all they would need to give would be free passes to a local MLG (wouldn't even need to fly anyone anywhere). Hell I'd probably go out of my way to try and do something just for the exposure.
But I think a big issue is that we would want that exposure. I love MLG, I've offered to volunteer, and they've even almost accepted that offer, but if it comes down to using an expensive skill that I earned through hours of college I want to know that it would at least be looked at. Creating a random commentary piece on the foreigners in an event that may or may not be seen by anyone that you want to see it isn't everyone's idea of fun.
I think they simply need to be a bit more transparent about what they're thinking about, or what they feel they need, and to provide open calls for that stuff, and that alone would fix a lot of the stream issues at least.
Give us what you need, how much time it should take, any restrictions (can't use licensed music, can't use ___ can't use ___ please have it use ___) and just have someone go through it all. Bam, stream filler issue fixed until next time.
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I don't know about you guys but I would pay 20 dollars to watch raw POV of the main stage computers with sound.
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I would volunteer to report on the state of the open bracket. VOLUNTEER. I go to all these things already anyway, and I love watching the open bracket.
MLG ... I'll do it for free!!!
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What they need to do isn't adding streams (they could tho but not my point), it's finding a way to be more flexible and be able to jump from one game to another. Technically it should be possible, for instance have some random chat channels for every open brackets where games are announced and the obsing computers can just join a game easily.
I mean, 2 hours downtime when we know big matchups are being played is really a waste of potential good content, I'm sure it's just a question of being better organized.
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Completely agree that there should be a lot more coverage of the exciting storylines not already featured with the most recognized players.
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Good stuff. Wonder who got the MLG Breakout Player Award this time.
Also, it must have been really fun for you to have your family along for them to see what such an event is about. Your parents being surprised and proud about you signing autographs and all that jazz was a fun anecdote in one of your interviews. 
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On November 07 2012 01:34 Drlemur wrote:
I'm sure these ideas have been floated in MLG's planning:
* In addition to the live streams, add a centralized sportscaster style desk that reports on open bracket games and also gives status updates on *all* games. It's time to start fighting about which game is best and realize that esports fans like esports. Like the sportscenter desks on Sundays covering all the NFL games -- and you can add in some "roving reporter" interviews with players and fans on site. This would be way better than looking at the chairs...
* I have no idea why there aren't screens with the brackets all over the room at MLG. It seems ridiculous with all the technology required to run the games, the bracket is updated on a hand-written whiteboard that the players cluster around. Or that everybody is trying to look up liquipedia on their phones on-site to see where the next games are (observed this at MLG Columbus this year and nothing seems to have changed).
* Both the brackets and at least one stream should be played out by where the concessions/food are. Everybody needs to eat and you lose total touch with the tourney when you step out of the room.
I realize the budget is a constraint, but MLG is honestly not charging enough. Lollapalooza is a $300 weekend ticket, where MLG is $30. Charge more and make the event more of an experience for the fans. This is the *only* chance most of us ever get to see the players in person.
If you are coming from out of town, you'll pay $150 for a weekend pass -- especially if MLG throws in some cheap extras (t-shirt, pro player interaction opportunities). If you are worried about crowding out the local high-school-aged/broke crowd, bring in a bunch of volunteers to do things like run around and tell players when their games are and let them in cheap/free. I'm sure you could have had plenty of fanboys more than happy to go chase down Daisy Sunday morning and avoided having to DQ his game.
MLG could be the premier gaming festival in the US. If they want it to be.
what i love about e-sports is that unlike regular sports where people go "hater on" and act like idiots, you get refreshing content and people are generally positive. fans pack into the stands waiting to see the content, and when the casters start it's a real thrill. the audience cheers on the casters, and the casters interact with the audience. if you carefully watch the day[9] dance you'll see what i mean. it's like the audience and the caster are in sync.
i totally disagree, though. like where the best game is concerned, it's just not a productive argument. there are plenty of great games out there; i personally love LoL and Starcraft, and I'd hate to see one take a backseat to the other. Though I guess if I had to pick, I know where my allegiances lie.
BTW, why do you suggest that the fans should have to pay more to enjoy the services provided? $300 is a pretty radical price change. Where investments are concerned it's always a give or take and nothing sucks more than losing participants. Live games need to be really packed, IMO. Personally I think we should try to bring more female fans into the Western esports, something like what goes on in South Asia.
anyway, there's no lack of content. i love what i see when i get a chance to tune into the games. my work keeps me away from gaming for the most part, just because the nature of what i do involves others in a lot of shifty maneuvers. not to say underhanded, but just that time is of the essence, it's a lot like i'm on call. sad to say with the time i've invested in gaming, i've got little to no return. but time isn't the only factor that causes me grief. there are all sorts of disparities in my job and my games, i guess probably the most tangible is the least obvious. and that's the fun factor. i hate to say this, but i think i enjoy the machinations of my burgeoning corporate empire more than the politics of say x17. i never thought the end would arrive, but here it is.
anyway, about the concessions: food with the games could get really messy. i wouldn't want my seat bottom sticky, and i hate gum in theaters. there's nothing worse than sticky shoes, not only because of the sheer inconvenience (you cursing the idiocy), but most of all because of the damned noise. that sickening sound of suction when the heel leaves the asphalt.
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On November 07 2012 18:35 Proseat wrote:
Good stuff. Wonder who got the MLG Breakout Player Award this time.
Winner is YaTa from It's Gosu. Saw them taking photos of him in the isle in between games Sunday - it was rather awkward for him since people were constantly walking in front of the camera. I wish they would have announced that on stage with a Clutch interview!
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On November 07 2012 01:12 StarStruck wrote:
It looked like MLG was cutting back.
No, apparently over half of their tech team and setup crews were stranded in NY due to the airport closures from Hurricane Sandy.
MLG headquarters are in New York City.
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MLG seems to get these criticisms a lot. I realize that they have quite a bit of stuff to work on, but at some point they should really attend to this x.x
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On November 08 2012 00:31 Zaranth wrote:Show nested quote +On November 07 2012 18:35 Proseat wrote:
Good stuff. Wonder who got the MLG Breakout Player Award this time.
Winner is YaTa from It's Gosu. Saw them taking photos of him in the isle in between games Sunday - it was rather awkward for him since people were constantly walking in front of the camera. I wish they would have announced that on stage with a Clutch interview!
No haha YaTa isn't even playing right now. He won it in Winter Championships though. But winner was HwangSin xD
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On November 08 2012 00:51 dcemuser wrote:Show nested quote +On November 07 2012 01:12 StarStruck wrote:
It looked like MLG was cutting back. No, apparently over half of their tech team and setup crews were stranded in NY due to the airport closures from Hurricane Sandy. MLG headquarters are in New York City.
I am well aware of where their headquarters are. A plan, B plan, C plan. You get the idea. In either case I wouldn't be surprised of scaling certain things back. You need to run a well-oiled machine.
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thanks to EGSuppy for pointing the idea of an "open bracket reporter". i was wondering why there are so many talents at mlg dallas yet i felt there's something missing, and it is because of the lack of exposure for other players. i would love to see a reporter going around and just shooting player to player interactions or player-fan interactions. i also like to see more fan activities to keep everyone engaged.
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EPT
