I'd have easily put down $10 or even $15 to support MLG and EG. I love Team Evil Geniuses, I watch the streams that the team members do, etc. I'd be willing to part with $10 or $15 if it meant supporting the team I love. But due to being on a budget. It's one of those things, there is limited spending I can do and other things take priority.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they're doing it wrong by any means. Alex has a great view point and that should be respected as much as MLG saying "Hey, I think our content and the teams we're doing the referrals for are worth your cash and your time." I know many that love Starcraft 2 and the community and it's just something not everyone could drop cash in at the drop of a hat due to budgeting. Or at least in mine and my friends cases.

I, too, will let MLG know my stance and hope to see it fixed in the future, because I'd love to support eSports. I'd love to support EG. I'd love to support Team Liquid. Just it's impossible due to my low fixed income.

-eXeKryos

ch33psh33p

7650 Posts

February 14 2012 06:28 GMT

#23

Exactly how I feel. At 10 dollars, a quick poll of TL would certainly show more than twice the number of members currently willing to pay 20. Not only would they not alienate alot of their userbase, they'd make more money. I don't understand why they didn't choose this in the first place. If anything, they'd get some praise even, for not marking it too high.

Gorlin

United States2753 Posts

February 14 2012 06:28 GMT

#24

On February 14 2012 15:18 Proko wrote:
I think 2012 is the year where we see big SC2 cutbacks, growth and revenue are not keeping up with spending.

I would love to pay for MLG's arena, but 20$ is just too high.

"Esports is gunna have a withdrawal this year. I will respond by helping that happen."
I'm baffled. I agree with Alex that the price is probably too high, but for what they are doing (paying for every player's trip, good sized prize pool, probably amazing production), come on. If you want to see the scene to actually become something, put in some damn effort and actually invest in what you love. If you don't love it, then you don't deserve it anyway.

Vekalisk

Australia137 Posts

February 14 2012 06:28 GMT

#25

Really good read, I love the honesty here.

I'll be doing option A because I have the money to spend, but it's still a ridiculous price for a small amount of content in my opinion.

I'm pretty biased here because I do love EG and have bought every T-Shirt on offer just to support the players I love (and team liquid's shirts/posters for that matter) and I hope MLG can do something to make it more manageable for the spectators.

skatbone

United States1005 Posts

February 14 2012 06:28 GMT

#26

Great read. I always appreciate someone selling me something that they are critical of. Seriously. It's a far more persuasive technique.

Mycl

Australia1370 Posts

February 14 2012 06:28 GMT

#27

You touched on so many points to do with MLG and this PPV model but damn reading this thread has only left me with excitement to see what those EG plans are for down the line

Von

United States363 Posts

February 14 2012 06:29 GMT

#28

I would totally spring $10 or even $12 to watch MLG. I would go out of my way to make room for it and watch every game I could. The last one was awesome.

At $20 ... No.

Multiply that by hundreds or thousands of people, and they are shooting themselves in the foot.

Doesn't matter how they justify it. Price point is too high. So, customers go elsewhere.

Rassy

Netherlands2308 Posts

February 14 2012 06:29 GMT

#29

10$ would not realy make a difference i think, and mlg probably thought the same.
The biggest step is getting people to pay in the first place, (they need to be able to pay on the internet, something not everyone likes to do or can do) and once that first step is made they are basicly willing to pay annything as long as its "small"
10$ would not have made a significant difference, people would still be upset and oppose the idea to pay.

Starting high now, at 20$, to make 10$ for the next toruney look like a good deal
Meh i dont think this will work either,
Manny people on the forum here expressed the idea that they would have paid if it was only 10 but maybe because they dont want to be "dickheads" for beeing completely against anny form of payment.,
Personally i think people who dont want to pay 20 will be convinced by a lower price.
Its verry annoying and inconvenient to have to pull out monney every weekend to watch something,
Specially if you already bought something like a year pass (gold member)

D for me.
I wouldnt mind paying once a year for ALL sc related content but reality is that this is not possible and you will be charged aditionally on manny occasions wich is just annoying

TheFish7

United States2824 Posts

February 14 2012 06:30 GMT

#30

MLG May be taking a page out of the UFC's book - the UFC has been quite successful at growing revenue using the PPV model, but their viewership has stagnated. I'm afraid the same will happen to e-sports; a core group of fans will spend the dough in the short term, but in the longer run fewer new fans will be watching.

Hall0wed

United States8486 Posts

February 14 2012 06:30 GMT

#31

The sickest posts on TL right here. Always an interesting read.

Weaklink123

United States159 Posts

February 14 2012 06:31 GMT

#32

The overall idea and execution on this post was really amazing so thank you for that Alex. I will try to find a way to give option A personally. I know others may have a harder financial situation then I do but I would beg any future posts to consider what small thing they could give up this week in order to afford giving MLG $20.

aike

United States1629 Posts

February 14 2012 06:33 GMT

#33

What confuses me is they are paying $100,000 to fly out 32 players to their headquarters... wait... what? These are all sponsored players... I GUESS it's just to get the koreans to come, but can you imagine if the prize pool from this event was $50,000 higher? and they subsidized player travel with the other $50k? The same players would show up, the bigger prize pool draws more views. That coupled with a $15 weekend pass (maybe $10 for gold members? which would draw in more gold customers) would get them AMAZING viewership and I think a ton more revenue for the event. But who knows, we don't have their numbers and charts so maybe they are doing the right thing.

i will be going to a barcraft for this, if I wasn't i'd still pay the $20 and email asking for $10 next time. I love MLG and I want to support them in any way i can. I am a current gold member, and will renew my subscription (even if I never use it cuz of barcrafts

) just because I want to support them and I think gold membership is a great price.

Thrie

United States24 Posts

February 14 2012 06:33 GMT

#34

If nothing else, MLG showed courage for trying to vary their business model. For that courage, I think that they can have my $20 and a chance to knock my socks off with the production. However, with no sock knockage, I'll be hard pressed to repeat.

LambtrOn

United States671 Posts

February 14 2012 06:34 GMT

#35

I have a gold membership. I tweeted at sundance. hope he actually reads them.

pdd

Australia9933 Posts

February 14 2012 06:35 GMT

#36

Very well thought out response. It's interesting to see that MLG's move is in some ways gonna hurt teams and sponsors. I really hope they realize that it's too early/too expensive for them to suddenly turn to this PPV model, when it's pretty clear viewership will fall a LOT.

Nagano

United States1157 Posts

February 14 2012 06:35 GMT

#37

It's weird because I spend more on food per day than I would for a 2-day MLG pass. But for some reason that $20 still seems so expensive for what it is. I would understand paying for it if it were one of the final events, like a championship or something, with some buildup to it.

I will buy it because, well, I love esports and would love to see it grow. But I don't agree with the direction or the price point. Option A for me.

Sinensis

United States2513 Posts

February 14 2012 06:36 GMT

#38

I could see spending 20$ for a super premium package that came with some small, trivial, piece of merchandise/memorabilia I could keep to remember the event. Even if it was just a small personalized message from one of the pros/big wigs at MLG. Make me feel special and pretty. That's what I want. EDIT Maybe a badge or something? I don't know. People love that kind of stuff.

I would pay 10$ right now to be able to view MLG though.

EDIT Maybe for 30$ a package could come with a shirt signed by some random pro? Or by sundance? Or by EG's Alex?