I'm not super surprised by this. They had dropped their entire sc2 line up, I think Dimaga was the last to go. Obviously that didn't necessarily mean it was dying because they had teams in other games but it didn't bode well.

Gruntt

United States175 Posts

January 28 2013 02:16 GMT

#124

A lot of esports teams are built on specific games. It's not like a sport that's going to last for lifetimes like basketball or something. This is one of the reasons I'm fairly negative towards the concept of esports, but I've been pleasantly proven wrong with the way the community has come together over newer games. My statement I feel still stands based on the idea that a specific video game gets old quickly: the idea that we are able to make long lasting teams doesn't really hold any ground, unless those teams are willing to manage multiple games and multiple players at the same time. Sure, we can try and come up with a concept of a career, but the popularity of a game is what determines its fanbase.

SC: BW and CS are godlike gems that were way way way waaaay ahead of their time. It's for this reason you see these insanely strong teams.... because they are built on these great gems that introduced themselves right when the internet exploded. When there's multiple games to be covered, it's far more difficult to manage a single team. Try to imagine a manager and a team who try to manage multiple teams in multiple sports, like owning and managing a football, basketball, and baseball team all at the same time. How do you allocate your resources? Also, those games ALSO have an approximate lifespan (can be argued, but I estimate maybe ~3-7 years?).

SC1 and SC2 are similar enough that those korean BW teams were able to transition themselves into SC2 (but they certainly took some losses... some players didn't like SC2 and what not, so they either just suck or quit). So basically, what happens when LoL gets old? DotA 2? SC2? CS? Where do these players now go to?

The answer is likely that they just stop and then begin their actual lives, for there is hardly anything to be considered a "career" when it comes to esports. Sure, you can be a manager/recruiter/whatever else, but being someone who's at the VERY TOP of MULTIPLE GAMES to be successful as a player?..... doubtful.

I strongly believe esports is more about a person basically fucking around (I understand it's hard work, but I'm sure most can pinpoint what I'm getting at) for a few years, and THEN actually getting on with their life. I don't feel there's a reason for any significant entity to invest a very large amount of money into this type of system due to the incredible turnover and lack of consistency. For this reason, I feel teams like mTw that have survived so long are truly those with ridiculous amounts of passion...... but not money.

Marou

Germany1371 Posts

January 28 2013 02:28 GMT

#125

really sad to see a household of esports closing its door.

DrVegetables

16 Posts

January 28 2013 03:11 GMT

#126

I agree with several of your points Gruntt!

But anyway do the MTW guys really told what they mean when saying that nowadays the standard model of esport clans don't work anymore?

Because what changed from 10 years back to now, for esports clans? I see some difference but I don't see the reasons it wouldn't work... - seems today we have not so many games (as it has always been); more globalization of players and tournaments; more prizes and money; the live streaming as a real income source; several big live tournaments while back then there were only just a few (wcg, dreamhack, cal league,.. not as many as today)...

I don't get it. x=

Nabes

Canada1800 Posts

January 28 2013 04:01 GMT

#127

I dont understand how esports was any more sustainable 15 years ago, if anything I would think its better now. but whatever floats their boat

Witten

United States2094 Posts

January 28 2013 04:29 GMT

#128

Will miss the DotA team a lot, have started to enjoy Synderen's play finally. This may mean that Synderen will cast more (which is good in a way since I enjoy his casting), but I hope he finds a team/reason to keep playing.

sylverfyre

United States8298 Posts

January 28 2013 04:58 GMT

#129

On January 28 2013 10:35 imallinson wrote:
I'm not super surprised by this. They had dropped their entire sc2 line up, I think Dimaga was the last to go. Obviously that didn't necessarily mean it was dying because they had teams in other games but it didn't bode well.

They were dropping their teams in other games, too. Their LoL teams (an NA one and an EU one) were dropped in late August and early September. (The NA one was picked up by another organization.)

I also don't entirely understand what was more sustainable about E-Sports in past years compared to now - maybe there's more competition for sponsors now? Is the higher globalization of tournaments costing team organizations more money in travel expenses? I would have thought that greater visibility for sponsors (thanks to streaming and increasing viewership)

It does surprise me that I still feel like I only see a few teams consistently thank and name their sponsors - seems like this is one of the more effective forms of marketing once a sponsor is in e-sports. I'm a lot more likely to go buy something from Steelseries if one of my favorite players says they like it. (even though I know in my head that they're saying it because of the sponsorship)

yrt123

Singapore1246 Posts

January 28 2013 05:19 GMT

#130

Sad to see them gone. One of the longest standing teams in esports.

Zenniv

United States545 Posts

January 28 2013 05:23 GMT

#131

Saw this on Joindota a few hours ago =( sad stuff

Krogan

Sweden375 Posts

January 28 2013 05:45 GMT

#132

Not surprising, it seems a lot of these older teams have failed to evolve with the scene and without the cs 1.6 money what did mTW really have? They never really built a strong sc2 team, they never promoted their players nor did they invest in either dota 2 or lol.

i)awn

United States189 Posts

January 28 2013 05:56 GMT

#133

Seems these people were from the very first who supported e-sports. It's sad to see them go after that much time. I'm not sure what their problem was given that e-sports is moving forward you'd expect pioneers to fare well.

Edit: Reading above comment gave me an answer :D

bretfart

114 Posts

January 28 2013 06:44 GMT

#134

mTw was among the biggest, well known and most successful clans in esports history (mostly because of counter-strike). Without teams like SK Gaming or mTw esports wouldnt have developed into what it is now. I played CS 14 years ago and knew many players from mTw. They always were among the best teams worldwide. It's sad to see that this esports legend has to close its doors

vanTuni

389 Posts

January 28 2013 07:08 GMT

#135

As I wrote in the initial threat in the dota forums, this is very sad news. One of the last dinosaurs to go extinct.

Reading this threat actually made me kind of sick with the TL community for the first time in months. The amount of disrespect thrown at an organization that lived and pushed esports for 15 years leaves a foul taste in my mouth. However much you liked their players or teams, at least recognize that here are people that pioneered this industry since you were probably in kindergarden, if even born. Everything we have today is built on shoulders like theirs.

So R.I.P. mortal Teamwork! You'll be remembered.

Zion9

Romania347 Posts

January 28 2013 07:15 GMT

#136

Finally the moment is here. Really sad to hear this

Rip mTw ad I hope you will be back again to business one day!

Sok4R

Germany124 Posts

January 28 2013 07:26 GMT

#137

Sad day. mTw was one of the last real old school clans, comming from the age of Quake and Counter-Strike 1.x

Kuckuck

Germany6 Posts

January 28 2013 07:33 GMT

#138

So few words a team such mtw, which formed the esport for 15 years in every competitive game.
But if EG buys the next player to ruin you have to read 30 pages of bullshit.

sad story

paddyz

Ireland628 Posts

January 28 2013 07:42 GMT

#139

Sad to see them stop. I would really like it if teams found it easier to keep going. They provide me with so much entertainment + joy and it seems they cant survive

skatblast

United States784 Posts

January 28 2013 07:43 GMT

#140

Ill miss there old CS teams. GG mTw