On September 14 2012 02:06 MLG_Adam wrote: As a company we will definitely be focusing more and more on North America, not exclusively but this region will be a priority.
Thats fine, but then stop telling that MLG's goal is to provide the highest level competitive gaming in the world
On September 14 2012 02:06 MLG_Adam wrote: As a company we will definitely be focusing more and more on North America, not exclusively but this region will be a priority.
Thats fine, but then stop telling that MLG's goal is to provide the highest level competitive gaming in the world
yep its fine mlg using alot americans but then they really have to say that they want american vs XY and not "best players" because sorry, that isnt true then !
On September 14 2012 01:51 Resilient wrote: MLG is an American company, with American sponsors(at least the DIVISION responsible for that region before you bring up things like benQ/Xperia etc). It should seem obvious that this is their key demographic. 12 NA players is bullshit if you look at it purely from a SC2 perspective, there would be like a handful invites max. But that's not good for business at all.
As long as the 12 invites are used properly, i.e. inviting up-and-comers and people who stand a realistic chance, then it should be great. I just hope they don't invite "personalities" who will crash and burn instantly all for the sake of a cheap pop. That is not sustainable at all.
But I don't think NA fans are all that into NA players. You got your Idra, Huk, may be Sheth, but then it drops off really quickly. Of course there's the Incontrols, Destinys, and Nonys of the world, but they're nowhere near competitive enough to warrant an invite.
I am sure MLG has more detail numbers on viewers on stream when certain matches are being played. Not sure how you can just make the statement NA fans aren't that into NA players with any numbers to support you.
Viewership is definitely affected by the presence of EU and NA players. It is a fact that viewership goes DOWN after the last 'foreigner' (hate that term) is eliminated.
As a company we will definitely be focusing more and more on North America, not exclusively but this region will be a priority. North American players winning, gaining confidence, getting better, etc. is great for the scene as a whole. We need there to be aspiration to be the best in North America, and that should not REQUIRE you moving to Seoul to prove it/make a living (at least in our opinion).
In any case, for those speculating about the invites, here is the list of players we have formally invited. We did NOT include the Top 8 from Raleigh as they are already in Group Play: Korea/Taiwan DongRaeGu MarineKing Alicia MC Puma Mvp
Europe Naniwa Stephano Sase Sockeh Grubby Ret
North America Huk Idra Select Sheth Sasquatch Illusion KawaiiRice Hawk Caliber Scarlett Vibe Major ***THIS LIST IS INVITED PLAYERS, NOT CONFIRMED PLAYERS***
Also please remember that we still have online qualifiers for group play spots for KR, EU, and NA.
Edit: Top 8 from Raleigh that are already in Dallas Groups: Leenock First Taeja TheSTC Hero Violet Revival, Heart
Thanks for the list of invited players. I do have a question. How many online qualifiers are there? Can players playing in this tournament also compete in the online qualifiers. Considering that you wrote
The top eight will include four KeSPA players, two from North America, one from EU and one from Korea/Taiwan.
does that mean Stephano (if he confirms) will have to finish in the Top 8 of this to make it MLG Fall Championship or will he qualify if he is just the last player from EU remaining?
I'm curious how group stage will work at Dallas, there will be 8 players seeded from Raleigh Summer Championship, then 8 from the MvP tournament, and then 8x3 more from each regional online qualifier? 40 players? I guess that makes sense because I imagine they free up a lot of budget with no arena.
Invite list looks pretty good overall I spose, I think more weighting should have been given to players who did well at WCS, namely Ostijiy, State and Insur, but oh well.
On September 14 2012 02:06 MLG_Adam wrote: As a company we will definitely be focusing more and more on North America, not exclusively but this region will be a priority.
Thats fine, but then stop telling that MLG's goal is to provide the highest level competitive gaming in the world
Why? We have multiple avenues for global participation at our events. You're sensationalizing things as usual.
Now we have a team named MVP, a player named MVP, and an event named MVP. All we need now is for a sponsor named MVP to sponsor the MVP Invitational where MVP.DRG and IM.MVP face off in the finals and the world will explode.
On September 14 2012 01:51 Resilient wrote: MLG is an American company, with American sponsors(at least the DIVISION responsible for that region before you bring up things like benQ/Xperia etc). It should seem obvious that this is their key demographic. 12 NA players is bullshit if you look at it purely from a SC2 perspective, there would be like a handful invites max. But that's not good for business at all.
As long as the 12 invites are used properly, i.e. inviting up-and-comers and people who stand a realistic chance, then it should be great. I just hope they don't invite "personalities" who will crash and burn instantly all for the sake of a cheap pop. That is not sustainable at all.
But I don't think NA fans are all that into NA players. You got your Idra, Huk, may be Sheth, but then it drops off really quickly. Of course there's the Incontrols, Destinys, and Nonys of the world, but they're nowhere near competitive enough to warrant an invite.
I am sure MLG has more detail numbers on viewers on stream when certain matches are being played. Not sure how you can just make the statement NA fans aren't that into NA players with any numbers to support you.
Viewership is definitely affected by the presence of EU and NA players. It is a fact that viewership goes DOWN after the last 'foreigner' (hate that term) is eliminated.
As a company we will definitely be focusing more and more on North America, not exclusively but this region will be a priority. North American players winning, gaining confidence, getting better, etc. is great for the scene as a whole. We need there to be aspiration to be the best in North America, and that should not REQUIRE you moving to Seoul to prove it/make a living (at least in our opinion).
In any case, for those speculating about the invites, here is the list of players we have formally invited. We did NOT include the Top 8 from Raleigh as they are already in Group Play:
North America Huk Idra Select Sheth Sasquatch Illusion KawaiiRice Hawk Caliber Scarlett Vibe Major ***THIS LIST IS INVITED PLAYERS, NOT CONFIRMED PLAYERS***
On September 14 2012 02:18 Adebisi wrote: I'm curious how group stage will work at Dallas, there will be 8 players seeded from Raleigh Summer Championship, then 8 from the MvP tournament, and then 8x3 more from each regional online qualifier? 40 players? I guess that makes sense because I imagine they free up a lot of budget with no arena.
Invite list looks pretty good overall I spose, I think more weighting should have been given to players who did well at WCS, namely Ostijiy, State and Insur, but oh well.
Have they said how many qualify from the online qualifiers? I assumed they would just cut that down to 8 going something like 4 NA 2 EU and 2 KR. This will give them 24 players in groups same as columbus with 8 more joining from open bracket and using the same tournament format.
The real way for the NA scene to catch up with the EU, and for both to catch up with the Korean teams, is a) Expose them to more competition with Koreans of higher quality than Code A regulars and a handful of Code S players who turn up when they feel like it, and; b) Get more of the Korean pro-gaming house mentality.
Right now a lot of the NA and EU gaming houses are nowhere near the level of intensity and seriousness that the Koreans have - EG spend more time putting together promotional videos for whatever big name European they've outpaid anyone else for than actually posting results these days, for example. A handful of players can compete consistently with Koreans without the rigour they go through: NaNiWa (until recently); Stephano when he's not doing weird-ass shit for no reason (assuming he EVER takes his Code S seed); but the majority cannot. You wouldn't expect someone who does a month of running a mile a day to compete at the London Marathon with the elites, but by handing over more tourney places to foreigners as a free shot, this is essentially what MLG is doing.
Good for their wallets? Probably. Good for the competitive scene? Almost certainly not.
As a company we will definitely be focusing more and more on North America, not exclusively but this region will be a priority. North American players winning, gaining confidence, getting better, etc. is great for the scene as a whole. We need there to be aspiration to be the best in North America, and that should not REQUIRE you moving to Seoul to prove it/make a living (at least in our opinion).
I completely agree with this in some ways, Korea is the heart of Starcraft just like Vatican City is the heart of Christianity - analogy being is that it will never ever change, it can be improved but it will always be more beneficial in Korea
On September 14 2012 02:06 MLG_Adam wrote: As a company we will definitely be focusing more and more on North America, not exclusively but this region will be a priority.
Thats fine, but then stop telling that MLG's goal is to provide the highest level competitive gaming in the world
Why? We have multiple avenues for global participation at our events. You're sensationalizing things as usual.
I wouldnt bother justifying it Adam, there will be whiners regardless of who you invite.
MLG tournaments are almost always the most competitive tournaments outside of GSL. Anyone who says otherwise is just flat out wrong. GIven the top 8 at raleigh, its more like 12 NA 6 Euro 14 Koreans.
Realistically virtually everyone on that list of Koreans are a top tier competitors. The NA picks with the exception of maybe Caliber is the best NA has to offer. So it should be a great tournament.
On September 14 2012 02:06 MLG_Adam wrote: As a company we will definitely be focusing more and more on North America, not exclusively but this region will be a priority.
Thats fine, but then stop telling that MLG's goal is to provide the highest level competitive gaming in the world
Why? We have multiple avenues for global participation at our events. You're sensationalizing things as usual.
I wouldnt bother justifying it Adam, there will be whiners regardless of who you invite.
MLG tournaments are almost always the most competitive tournaments outside of GSL. Anyone who says otherwise is just flat out wrong. GIven the top 8 at raleigh, its more like 12 NA 6 Euro 14 Koreans.
Realistically virtually everyone on that list of Koreans are a top tier competitors.
IPL4 was the most competitive foreigner tournament of all time IMO, either that or MLG Providence because every Korean came to try for the 50k first place prize.
On September 14 2012 02:06 MLG_Adam wrote: As a company we will definitely be focusing more and more on North America, not exclusively but this region will be a priority.
Thats fine, but then stop telling that MLG's goal is to provide the highest level competitive gaming in the world
They get the best players, they put on the best production, they improve the fastest.
Not sure what else you want bud. They're NA based, they serve primarily NA fans.