I'll be giving them another shot, not just because of the apology but also the transparency of the process and how forthright they have been in apologizing and admitting their fuck up. Also, the MLG circuit still has an amazing roster of players, and my real frustration going into MLG Columbus was that we MISSED so many great games that were, in fact, being played. I am going to trust they get the technical part sorted out, now I hope they also follow through on the production side and rethink the manner in which they cast games (ie, have the ability to stream more than just the computers on the main stage).

Thanks Sundance, come back on SOTG and give a pep talk if you can.

Endrew

Poland73 Posts

April 04 2011 21:23 GMT

#42

Hope they do better next event. Unfortunately it wasn't just stream issues...

Also don't like the fact he didn't mention eagles at all

a176

Canada6688 Posts

April 04 2011 21:25 GMT

#43

The effort the community put into trying to convince blizzard to simply add chat channels was monumental. The major difference between that and adding LAN is that, in the end, it only effects tournaments. I'm sure we all would love to see LAN implemented but without a greater outcry, it will never happen. And I don't believe that outcry will ever come.

Cocacooh

Norway1510 Posts

April 04 2011 21:26 GMT

#44

On April 05 2011 06:18 Jibba wrote:
I hope Sundance reads this thread because as I've stressed all weekend, only two of the problems were related to Battle.net and MLG's onsite connection. There were numerous other problems that I hope they can fix.

Some of those problems is so easy to fix , going to be really disappointed if they don't get fixed at the next event. Example only a set of computers on the stage.

Bobster

Germany3075 Posts

April 04 2011 21:27 GMT

#45

They don't need better tech people fixing shit on-site, they need better consultants setting the expected visitor numbers.

Any system built with a specific maximum load in mind will get crushed under the load of twice that. The problem lies with setting the maximum load at half the eventual, actual load. Whoever underestimated SC2 demand (surely in an effort to keep online infrastructure costs low) is at fault. They clearly tried to cut corners on the wrong... corner.

For Columbus, expect some big, big numbers so we get a proper stream, please. Dallas + 30%, somewhere around there.

On April 05 2011 05:32 Gentleman7 wrote:
What were the numbers? Did we break 100k?

They won't say.

edit: and yes, as with the other feedback thread, this is only about the technical issues. Format/scheduling issues are completely separate and also something they need to look at. So that people actually have a reason to tune into Columbus when you've made sure they actually can do so.

raf3776

United States1904 Posts

April 04 2011 21:27 GMT

#46

I actually think this will result in a good thing. Shows that sc2 is the real deal and can stand by itself and mlg is professional and I expect them to not underestimate it next time. They'll hopefully do a fantastic job n show

CursedFeanor

Canada539 Posts

April 04 2011 21:36 GMT

#47

nice PR... now lets see if they deliver in june! with a smooth stream, MLG could be quite nice.

DivinO

United States4796 Posts

April 04 2011 21:37 GMT

#48

Thanks Sundance. :D

Beautifully done.

1Eris1

United States5797 Posts

April 04 2011 21:38 GMT

#49

Glad to see they are taking full responsibility and working to make Columbus much better

zaii

Guam2611 Posts

April 04 2011 21:39 GMT

#50

On April 05 2011 05:32 Gentleman7 wrote:
What were the numbers? Did we break 100k?

think more.

AT&T had an article last year on MLG having around 600k viewers for events, also it was Sundance and MLG Lee who twitted this article.

I'll edit my post with the link once I find that article.

Coolwhip

927 Posts

April 04 2011 21:40 GMT

#51

It's good to hear he isn't ignoring the problems. There is a lot of work for them ahead. Aside from technical issues, the whole SC2 was badly organised as well. There were a lot of moments where there was nothing going on and we missed a lot of very interesting games. There were barely any interactions with the audience on the spot, barely any player interaction, an award ceremony that was noexistant. And apparantly no reason for the live audience to even be there.

I could go on and on. Let's see if they can do a complete turnaround for next event.

Klive5ive

United Kingdom6056 Posts

April 04 2011 21:40 GMT

#52

Amazing.
Shit happens I guess, we'll move on.

P.S. remove extended series and all will be forgiven :p

Ringil

Canada9 Posts

April 04 2011 21:40 GMT

#53

On April 05 2011 06:00 Systemkaos wrote:
Maybe i should submit my resume, i mean i know how to install windows 7 and configure my WRTG router. That should be good enough.

But its better than nothing I suppose. Seeing as they are bringing in a new team, makes me think it wasn't a primary routing issue TO the event. But the events internal crap was all kinds of wrong. I mean Dallas doesn't house some of the major ISPs their lines routing centers and data centers for nothing

Maybe you're trolling, I can't tell (if you are disregard what follows!) but WRTG home router isn't exactly what Sundance means when he says router.

He means: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/routers/index.html.

I think they are a Cisco shop because you can see 3750 and 2960 model switches in the last screenshot here: http://forums.majorleaguegaming.com/topic/221214-get-pumped-for-dallas/ .

The whole technical solution for their events is a huge project. One that almost needs to be completely redone every time they do an event:

1. Functional requirements of the network (How many connections do we need to support?)
2. Traffic analysis (Traffic type/load, and how much bandwidth do those connections need?)
3. Architecture and design[WAN links are here] (Drawings, excel spreadsheets etc)
4. Equipment procurement (presumably they own firewalls/routers/switches, but by the sounds of it they might need beefier equipment or they had failed components [Replaced a router and brought in new fiber])
5. Implement (put the pieces together and make it work)
6. Sign off on functional requirements (does it do what we said in 1? If not revisit 2 through 5)

These super high level points are pretty basic steps in any network infrastructure project (really any project at all, just replace key terms with whatever you are working with!).

I would guess that the Sundance's comment about misjudging the number of people tuning into the stream is a mistake at Step 1. Therefore everything after that is under designed: hence connectivity problems.

It is hard to predict numbers like that and the only way to overcome that uncertainty is to over design the crap out of the network, which of course costs much more money.

Good luck to the additional technical people coming onto the team. Hopefully next MLG they get it sorted out.

HEROwithNOlegacy

United States850 Posts

April 04 2011 21:42 GMT

#54

This is exactly what I needed to hear from MLG, I am glad the issues have been taken seriously and that the turn out was so good that it crashed their site and doubled their expectations of how many people they were expecting to tune into the stream.

I think the next MLG will be much more prepared and better taken care of and look forward to the event, if no giant stream issues hinder the next MLG in Columbus then I will definitely be consistently buying an HQ pass for every future MLG.

Thank you sundance for taking it serious and bringing in some great new tech experts, best of luck to MLG looking forward to the future events and competitions!

Heaton31

United States323 Posts

April 04 2011 21:43 GMT

#55

I find it hard to be confident in MLG when their stream has been sub par for the last few MLG's. The HQ has always been bad. I'm glad a 'new tech team' has been brought in, but they've shown little for anyone to expect anything better next event.

One stream per games is terrible when so many are going on. There should be multiple streams considering how much $$ they make from this. Give something back.

sjschmidt93

United States2518 Posts

April 04 2011 21:44 GMT

#56

This is nice, but I want VODs, not just a loop of the stream. I think we deserve that, right?

Still a lot of replays missing, too.

Heraklitus

United States553 Posts

April 04 2011 21:49 GMT

#57

I appreciate the statement from Sundance. He's no idiot, and I'm sure he knows full well how thin the ice is that he now steps on. He and his organization have every incentive to make Columbus FAR better than Dallas, and I look forward to seeing what they can pull off.

But they really are on thin ice.

susySquark

United States1692 Posts

April 04 2011 21:52 GMT

#58

I actually have to put a lot of the blame on the Dallas Convention center actually - maybe Sundance will think twice about going there again next season. I dont think they had a connection ready for the assault of gaming that went on that weekened.

Mithriel

Netherlands2969 Posts

April 04 2011 21:56 GMT

#59

I appreciate the clarification and I am willing to give mlg a second chance. However I don't think I will buy their stream again unless quality goes up and more games are shown.

I am just happy I got my money back for the hq pass, but more so disappointed I don't get to enjoy a weekend of sc2 which I hoped for.

PackofHighly

United States153 Posts

April 04 2011 21:57 GMT

#60

I'll never give up on MLG. They're people who are motivated by love of the game.

I appreciate the restream all week, but will the games eventually be edited down to VODs? The problem with the restream is it makes it hard to catch things beginning to end.