MLG Potential Prize Pool Increase - Page 34

On July 30 2011 20:58 Thrombozyt wrote:


I would rather by an HD pass for NASL or IPL, that restream their content at times that I can comfortably watch.

On July 30 2011 20:51 shinyA wrote:
I love how all the people in this thread are complaining about the prize pool when it literally doesn't affect them one little bit.

The players will still play MLG's and you will still get to watch. The prize pool, as long as it's somewhat worth playing for, is irrelevant to 99.99999% of TL. The tournament format however.....

On July 30 2011 21:12 Azz wrote:


This is about social responsibility to players.

MLG has the lowest prize pool to profit ratio I have ever seen.

The only thing MLG has going for players is the Code A and Code S spot(s).

You can say 'Oh the publicity' but at the end of the day the money is coming out of players/teams pockets and not the tournament.

MLG is making a killing atm, and the prize pool is very poor. This is the point that is being made.

On July 30 2011 21:12 Azz wrote:


This is about social responsibility to players.

MLG has the lowest prize pool to profit ratio I have ever seen.

The only thing MLG has going for players is the Code A and Code S spot(s).

You can say 'Oh the publicity' but at the end of the day the money is coming out of players/teams pockets and not the tournament.

MLG is making a killing atm, and the prize pool is very poor. This is the point that is being made.

On July 30 2011 21:07 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:
Props to Sundance here. I'm a fan of the honesty and straightforwardness. I like to know what needs to be done to take things a step further with MLG (and e-sports in general) too. I'm sold.

I'm generally a fan of iNcontroL as well, but I disagree with him on this one. Geoff, what did you expect? It's business; at least it's out in the open. This stuff can't be cheap. As someone who helped run NASL, surely you know that firsthand.

MLG is not profitable. The only reason they are even afloat is venture capital which are essentially loans.

On July 30 2011 17:43 Jibba wrote:



I don't see how you possibly think it's appropriate for you to criticize another business's advertising method, especially when that business has a proven track record.

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And you pleaded for NASL memberships before even having broadcasted a game, and throughout the entire season while you still continued to deliver a sub par product. And throughout all that time Sundance was supportive of you! You are the #1 snake oil salesman in the SC2 community, even more than Shokz.

MLG runs 3 (soon to be 4, possibly 5) different games, at 4+ events per year. For the current three games, their payout was close to $800,000. Sundance is trying to hype it to be more. Not only do more memberships (which aren't necessarily $30 - you become a member for free, you become a silver member for $10.) help them draw in sponsors, but it carries over to every other event in the next year. Sundance only mentioned the Grand Finals because that's the only one on this year's budget that's within a reasonable timeframe, and it's the most important one to hype in his 144 character limit.

Do you really think he's only talking about $25,000/$50,000 more for a single SC2 event? When they've got 4/5 games and multiple events throughout the year? In the grand scheme of MLG, where it came from and what it is, look how far SC2 has come from a year ago. They plan out these events and all the production that goes into them upwards to a year in advance, and we've only seen the beginning of what's in store for SC2.

You say it's underhanded to offer an incentive for giving money, but that's exactly what you did for NASL. The only difference is that Sundance was very specific about the numbers needed, and at least gave partial information about what the outcome would be. All you did was give a vague explanation about how it would help ESPORTS and how it could make NASL better in the future. And somehow that's better than what MLG did? Now Sundance has replied and clarified that he didn't just mean a single event, but that he means the entire SC2/MLG circuit can be revamped with such kind of support. Now this is where you say, "Oh, that sounds great, Sundance! Thanks for clarifying, I was wrong in my earlier remarks."

On July 30 2011 21:25 Zomodok wrote:
Hmm MLG Dallas is a complete failure, stream dies constantly and latency at the venue is downright horrible to the point where the game is near unplayable.

Sundance comes out and goes "We messed up and it's a disgrace, we are going to fix it" and proceeds to do Columbus which while it had it's hiccups, was an overall great event. Even allowing the HD stream to be previewed to everybody. Sundance then continues to work with the community and asks questions about what needs to be improved and how and has an overall positive attitude.

NASL becomes a running joke with "the audio" guy and the horrible commentating and just the amateur presentation and Incontrol cries like a baby going "If you don't support us you want Esports to fail" and continues to cry about growing pains and "learning" experiences, but never improves on any of the communities input or improves at all. The only good thing about the NASL was the Final match between MC/Puma and that sadly was it.

Hold on a second while I decide which person I want to support with my money to make "ESPORTS" grow.

On July 30 2011 21:35 Nayl wrote:
I don't see the problem everyone have with MLG's prize pool. MLG is doing the right thing, spending money to have perfect event rather than spending all its cash to boast the prize pool.

Sirscoot himself criticized Riot games for spending tons of money on prizes instead of actually making the game esports friendly. NASL has huge prize pool, but with subpar experience for the viewers.

MLG/Dreamhack ect on the otherhand focus on the event itself rather than just having huge prize pool to draw the audience. Which method do you think will be sustainable in the end?

On July 30 2011 21:38 Azz wrote:


The best tournament to date is probably the HDH 1.

If only they could have done the HDH2 with the new prize pool.

On July 30 2011 21:38 Azz wrote:


The best tournament to date is probably the HDH 1.

If only they could have done the HDH2 with the new prize pool.

On July 30 2011 02:41 SundanceMLG wrote:



Months ago you gave me shit about the prize pool and now I'm putting a simple and obtainable goal out there for the entire community and you give me shit again - and that's fine. I still respect you and appreciate what you've done and will continue to do for the scene. My question is this - if the number was 50,000 would you take an issue with my approach? How about 15,000? What if I didn't say a thing and just watched my spreadsheets populate with numbers and kept the community in the dark? Shouldn't the people who love this have some insight into what is needed for success?

You're either in or you're out. $30 a year from 100,000 people makes this company a real business and not just a passion project from a guy with a hippy name who refuses to quit. $30 a year from 10,000 people means that we're all wrong and there isn't enough fan support to sustain a business of scale.

Less than a dime a day from less than 10% of the people who visit our site over the course of an event weekend allows me to flip a switch and change next year to a structure that supports 24 live events & 28 meaningful ladders. 52 competitions with nearly 2 million dollars of prize money and stipends.

Again - I don't care if you think I'm an asshole or a money grubbing prick. I just want to find out if what we do is actually meaningful to enough of you to step up.

On July 30 2011 21:23 Azz wrote:


Sure it is, explain why its not profitable?