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http://www.gamespot.com/news/blizzard-denies-speculation-of-purchasing-the-ignproleague-6405307
Blizzard provided me with a statement today, and I have written the following story:
Over the last few weeks, Blizzard Entertainment's name has come up as one of the leading developer candidates interested in buying out the IGNProLeague. Sources tell GameSpot that the developer behind the widely popular competitive esport StarCraft are interested in acquiring the production talent from IGNProLeague, which includes general manager David Ting.
Blizzard has provided a statement to GameSpot indicating no such deal will be made, but that the company has extended offers to those who lost jobs during the recent IPL6 cancellation.
"We typically don't comment on rumors or speculation, but we want to make an exception here because it's important to dispel any misconceptions surrounding Blizzard and the IPL," a representative from Blizzard Entertainment told GameSpot. "While we were fans of the IPL and disappointed to learn that it was coming to an end, we have no plans to take over operation of the IPL business or operate third-party eSports leagues. Our focus is on making great games and supporting our players. When it comes to eSports events, we generally prefer to work with experienced partners on the operations side while we focus on ensuring quality in terms of how our content is incorporated."
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On March 14 2013 23:48 gazageiras wrote:
Thats pretty sad.
Why is it sad ..., I'm curious.
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East Gorteau22261 Posts
Hardly a surprise, but it would have been great to see Blizzard buying IPL.
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would have been dumb to buy IPL anyway. good move blizzard.
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As IGN said before, the esports scene isn't big enough to have so many tournaments running. In a sense it's like golf, but golf is a lot more organized, with a stronger and bigger player base.
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hopefully someone picks it up soon. i was really looking forward to IPL6 T_T
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China6330 Posts
Things have been changing faster than I think.
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On March 14 2013 23:46 Slasher wrote:http://www.gamespot.com/news/blizzard-denies-speculation-of-purchasing-the-ignproleague-6405307Blizzard provided me with a statement today, and I have written the following story: Show nested quote +Over the last few weeks, Blizzard Entertainment's name has come up as one of the leading developer candidates interested in buying out the IGNProLeague. Sources tell GameSpot that the developer behind the widely popular competitive esport StarCraft are interested in acquiring the production talent from IGNProLeague, which includes general manager David Ting.
Blizzard has provided a statement to GameSpot indicating no such deal will be made, but that the company has extended offers to those who lost jobs during the recent IPL6 cancellation.
"We typically don't comment on rumors or speculation, but we want to make an exception here because it's important to dispel any misconceptions surrounding Blizzard and the IPL," a representative from Blizzard Entertainment told GameSpot. "While we were fans of the IPL and disappointed to learn that it was coming to an end, we have no plans to take over operation of the IPL business or operate third-party eSports leagues. Our focus is on making great games and supporting our players. When it comes to eSports events, we generally prefer to work with experienced partners on the operations side while we focus on ensuring quality in terms of how our content is incorporated."
*EDIT* Ah it's in the article.
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What excactly do you buy? Just the name? I dont see why anyone would buy IPL6 instead of organizing their own event.
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Yeah, why would anyone buy IPL? Just for the rights to their past content? How much is that really worth?
For the brand? It's a brand that's now been marred by the cancellation of IPL6. What would someone gain by buying IPL, instead of organizing their own tournament?
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they are better off as a middleman for tournaments than buying up ipl anyway.
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I don't see any value whatsoever in IPL. I don't even know if they could give it away
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On March 15 2013 00:26 sitromit wrote:
Yeah, why would anyone buy IPL? Just for the rights to their past content? How much is that really worth?
For the brand? It's a brand that's now been marred by the cancellation of IPL6. What would someone gain by buying IPL, instead of organizing their own tournament?
Exactly. There is nothing to gain from buying IPL. Another organization could offer casters and other key personnel a job and set up their own tournament. The IPL name is forever linked to IGN and its brand has been reduced in value by the IPL6 cancellation. It's probably cheaper and easier to start your own tournament and hire the people from IPL than to buy the organization.
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On March 15 2013 00:26 sitromit wrote:
Yeah, why would anyone buy IPL? Just for the rights to their past content? How much is that really worth?
For the brand? It's a brand that's now been marred by the cancellation of IPL6. What would someone gain by buying IPL, instead of organizing their own tournament?
Technical know-how and staff. Depending on the price, it could be worth it, especially if someone planned to start a tournament anyways. Buying IPL would mean that they don't have to recruit people and set up the basics themselves.
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Blizzard gains nothing from buying IPL so I don't see why they would do it. They can host there own events just fine and get fairly massive views when they do.
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Switzerland6838 Posts
On March 15 2013 02:11 Adreme wrote:
Blizzard gains nothing from buying IPL so I don't see why they would do it. They can host there own events just fine and get fairly massive views when they do.
Speaking about it, did they reveal their plan for WCS this year ?
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Blizzard has had a more hands off approach to esports for years, basically running one event a year themselves and then just supporting the existing third party event makers. It would make little sense for blizzard to suddenly change this philosophy and buy out the IPL in the first place.
If 'sources' were stating it could happen, it sounds like it's time to get better sources. Common sense alone would of nixed any idea that blizzard would purchase and run the IPL. It makes tons more sense that if employees with skills blizzard could use were out of the job that they'd of contacted people about potential job offers.
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On March 15 2013 02:22 Nerski wrote:
Blizzard has had a more hands off approach to esports for years, basically running one event a year themselves and then just supporting the existing third party event makers. It would make little sense for blizzard to suddenly change this philosophy and buy out the IPL in the first place.
If 'sources' were stating it could happen, it sounds like it's time to get better sources. Common sense alone would of nixed any idea that blizzard would purchase and run the IPL. It makes tons more sense that if employees with skills blizzard could use were out of the job that they'd of contacted people about potential job offers.
Nerski hit it right on the button, they'll support the shit out of anyone running an event, but will very rarely actually involve themselves in a third party event.
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My gut tells me that although they won't purchase IPL, David Ting and some other high level IPL employees will soon be at Blizzard
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Please blizzard buy ipl please do this, for the first time in your history really do the right thing and step up to the big boys table in eSports.
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On March 15 2013 09:49 TheGiftedApe wrote:
Please blizzard buy ipl please do this, for the first time in your history really do the right thing and step up to the big boys table in eSports.
blizzard has WCS which in my opinion is a WAY more interesting league than IPL. If blizzard buys ipl, then they are going to be biased against the other leagues, which can in turn hurt sc2 esports in general.
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Odds are they could poor money in it but not get money out of it. The wcs worked out fine and they seem to be happy with it. China kinda ruined the wcs for me though
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On March 15 2013 00:31 blackone wrote:Show nested quote +On March 15 2013 00:26 sitromit wrote:
Yeah, why would anyone buy IPL? Just for the rights to their past content? How much is that really worth?
For the brand? It's a brand that's now been marred by the cancellation of IPL6. What would someone gain by buying IPL, instead of organizing their own tournament? Technical know-how and staff. Depending on the price, it could be worth it, especially if someone planned to start a tournament anyways. Buying IPL would mean that they don't have to recruit people and set up the basics themselves.
Then you set up a deal to hire the staff, not buy IPL. Cheaper and more effective.
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On March 15 2013 12:05 IcedBacon wrote:Show nested quote +On March 15 2013 00:31 blackone wrote:On March 15 2013 00:26 sitromit wrote:
Yeah, why would anyone buy IPL? Just for the rights to their past content? How much is that really worth?
For the brand? It's a brand that's now been marred by the cancellation of IPL6. What would someone gain by buying IPL, instead of organizing their own tournament? Technical know-how and staff. Depending on the price, it could be worth it, especially if someone planned to start a tournament anyways. Buying IPL would mean that they don't have to recruit people and set up the basics themselves. Then you set up a deal to hire the staff, not buy IPL. Cheaper and more effective.
It's sort of like when TBS hired Conan to do a version of his show on their network.
Could they have purchased the rights to the show from NBC along with all the characters and IP rights, yes of course they could have.
Was it way cheaper to create new characters and IP and just wait for his contract with NBC to run out, yes of course it was.
Same goes for IPL, if no buyer is found when the staffs contracts with IGN are up they are free agents. Using their skills to bolster your own product would be way cheaper and more effective then buying IPL away from IGN. I can almost gurantee the price tag on the IPL won't be cheap enough for blizzard to justify the cost.
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On March 15 2013 12:05 IcedBacon wrote:Show nested quote +On March 15 2013 00:31 blackone wrote:On March 15 2013 00:26 sitromit wrote:
Yeah, why would anyone buy IPL? Just for the rights to their past content? How much is that really worth?
For the brand? It's a brand that's now been marred by the cancellation of IPL6. What would someone gain by buying IPL, instead of organizing their own tournament? Technical know-how and staff. Depending on the price, it could be worth it, especially if someone planned to start a tournament anyways. Buying IPL would mean that they don't have to recruit people and set up the basics themselves. Then you set up a deal to hire the staff, not buy IPL. Cheaper and more effective.
This is what is happening.
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I didn't even realize there was speculation about this.
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bump
Rod Breslau @Slasher 1m
Blizzard has purchased the IGNProLeague technology and assets, story coming shortly.
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Ha. Well that's definitely news worthy. Good bump.
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lol ^ good to hear they still have jobs (or most of them).
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United Kingdom14103 Posts
I didn't even see this thread the first time!
Ha blizz.
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Worth noting that their statement is still 100% true, even with current developments. They're buying the tech and the staff, not the tournaments and content.
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Canada13405 Posts
On April 09 2013 04:56 WolfintheSheep wrote:
Worth noting that their statement is still 100% true, even with current developments. They're buying the tech and the staff, not the tournaments and content.
Yeah, IPL had really good production. Perhaps they are hiring some of their content developers for highlights and the such and to create standardized production assets for use in the WCS in NA or EU
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On April 09 2013 04:56 WolfintheSheep wrote:
Worth noting that their statement is still 100% true, even with current developments. They're buying the tech and the staff, not the tournaments and content.
Makes sense, why would you buy a tournament associated with a different company anyways? I always figured if anyone was going to jump on the purchasing, they'd just grab the staff.
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EPT
