Halo 2 team signs million-dollar deal
by Joystiq Staff 
{ Jun 21st 2006 at 10:30AM }
And mom said we'd never get anywhere with these games. Gamasutra is reporting that Major League Gaming has just signed the United States' top Halo 2 team -- Final Boss -- for 1 million dollars (cue Dr. Evil). The cash happy organization also signed MTV True Life stud Tsquared to an exclusive contract worth $250,000. According to one of the now filthy rich pro gamers: "It's a huge honor to be part of the first gaming team to get this kind of money," said David "Walshy" Walsh. "This kind of contract just shows how serious MLG is about building the League. Three years ago I never could have imagined that I'd be making more money than my parents playing video games!"This is actually pretty big news. It seems like it won't be much longer before we start to see competitive video gaming as a major TV event or big name players starting to be mentioned in the same breath as today's other sports stars. Our little video game baby seems to have all growns up.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
VaultedCeilings @ Jun 21st 2006 10:41AM
Honestly, I play video games at least 10 hours a week but nothing bores me faster than watching someone else play video games, and I don't know many people who actually prefer watching video games to other activities. So who the hell wants to watch people play video games, even if they are "professional"?
AJ @ Jun 21st 2006 10:43AM
I accidentally signed up for the World Series of Gaming tournaments with 3 of my friends. We play casually... which is not something you can do to play against these guys. Needless to say, we got rocked. I did get to see the Frag Dolls and PMS in person.
Please note: Frag Dolls are HOTTER than PMS.
Bob422 @ Jun 21st 2006 10:45AM
This part made me laugh.
"It seems like it won't be much longer before we start to see competitive video gaming as a major TV event or big name players starting to be mentioned in the same breath as today's other sports stars."
And the award for the most disillusioned comment of the month goes to...
dubz @ Jun 21st 2006 10:48AM
To #1 and #2
Why would anyonye ever want to watch a bunch of guys playing poker? I mean how dumb is that idea?
CG @ Jun 21st 2006 10:53AM
I have plenty of doubts as to whether video games will ever gain any type of popularity as a spectator sport, but as opposed to comment #1, I actually enjoy watching high-level gaming. I know next to nothing about FPS games, but I own hundreds of hours of top-level fighting game footage.
ac @ Jun 21st 2006 10:58AM
Wow Deja vu anways, wtf who wants to watch ppl play games when you can go play em?
congrats to the team.
Rootbeer @ Jun 21st 2006 10:59AM
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy gaming and I enjoy watching games be played. I download Tool-Assisted Speedrun movies from http://tasvideos.org/ over and over again. But I can't imagine there's possibly a viable market for competitive gaming programming on TV, not even on G4 or whatever the former ZDNetwork has devolved into these days.
Then again, my cable system has entire channels dedicated to Golf, Motorsports, and Off-Track Betting, so who can say.
HotShotX @ Jun 21st 2006 11:01AM
Wow, I've been playing video games for 15 years and I've never gone pro.
Maybe it's about time I start pwnzoring bitches to put food on the table.
~HotShotX
Chris @ Jun 21st 2006 11:05AM
that's the stupid thing, i really used to enjoy GamesMaster on tv , but that was cos it had features, cheats etc... and also perhaps cos i was a kid and couldnt afford half the games...
but watching people play halo? that's a rubbish idea, its like when your mate plays a 1 player game and youre just watching him waiting for him to hand over the controls....
The3rdNuisance @ Jun 21st 2006 11:09AM
I NEVER want to hear professional gaming named in the same breathe as a professional sports player. I really hope you were joking about that. I am also sitting here waiting for this whole MLG thing to bomb. As Vaulted said, "nothing bores me faster than watching someone else play video games," of course if its successful, it would be that Blues Clues kind of success, you just watch to get frustrated.
I really hope you do realize the only thing on ESPN that the MLG could be compared to is the World Poker Tournament, spelling bees, and who can forgot 2 days in a row were they relied on showing RERUNS of the 2005 dominoes tournaments.
IMO this is more of a "good for them," or insane dream post than anything else.
Osiris @ Jun 21st 2006 11:13AM
I'm sure there are plenty of people who can enjoy watching pros play.
I sometimes watch videos of people play to learn new tactics etc, but also to see them show off their amazing skills..
Sounds geeky, but i'm sure im not the only one.
eksessiv @ Jun 21st 2006 11:13AM
A lot of people watch these games honestly. MLGpro.com has a service dedicated to people just for this purpose called VOD. You pay $25 a year, and you can download pretty much any game that goes on at the MLG events. If you're seriously trying to come in the serious gamer circuit then it helps to watch the better teams and how they set up. Congrats
ck @ Jun 21st 2006 11:19AM
Well, I say the same thing about baseball and football (not american football), I'd rather be playing the game than watching, yet there are millions of people who will watch those games on their tv. And we're talking about multiplayer battles, not some kid playing a single player game like Zelda, that would be extremely boring.
The only real problem right now for professional games leagues is how to present the matches. The ones I've seen on TV are not live and are edited to an extent you really don't know what's going on and the host has horrible commentary peppered by bad puns and cliches.
The MLG has to find a way to present the games LIVE and show them as intense battles. I really don't know how to do this, but there should be a way to figure it out. Survival matches instead of timed ones would be one way.
They also need to market their "stars" so that they're instantly recognizable. Start endorsing video game products, etc. So that when Johnny HaXorz gets killed by some no name, I can cheer (because we all like the underdog). The MLG has potential to be one of those niche sports on EXPN or Fox Sports, it won't ever be as popular as golf or baseball, but they have room to grow.
bv @ Jun 21st 2006 11:22AM
I saw that true life with T-squared. His girlfriend was unusually attractive (Really nice legs!) considering he was a professional gamer.
Robert Summa @ Jun 21st 2006 11:22AM
If anyone here has ever seen a WCIII pro match, you know how interesting pro gaming can be to watch. The only thing I ever really liked watching with FPS'ers was snipers.
But, man, watching some high level WCIII players is pretty damn cool. I'd love to see that up on TV.
T-Bone @ Jun 21st 2006 11:35AM
I love gaming just as much as the next dude, but watching it on tv....nope, sorry...not for me, I'd rather play 'em.
Stacey Donovan @ Jun 21st 2006 11:39AM
To #1
I don't know, people use love wathing me play Killer Instinct and Street Fighter Alpha back in the day.
When I was at SixFlags Arcade I had an audience of about 25 people watching me beat the crap out of anyone who thought they could bet me in KI
They could be on to something.
Jeramy Penney @ Jun 21st 2006 11:40AM
Dude.. seriously.. if i could be a "PRO" gamer... ..and acutally make money playin' games.... And be able to WOOP UP on some guys on t.v. I would defenitly do it....thats all ive been doing since i was like...5 yrs old. (im now 18)
jabbertrack @ Jun 21st 2006 11:51AM
We really need to bring back Wil Wheaton to commentate these events!
SOMEONE GET HIM ON THE HORN
martin @ Jun 21st 2006 11:57AM
Too bad I don't like sports and FPS games, or else I could join.
jl @ Jun 21st 2006 12:08PM
I too must admit that I saw the true life featuring Tsquared.
I hope that has grown up some since that taping because he came off like an idiot
but one a goodthing about watching it was , and this goes to bv, yes, his gf was easy on the eyes
dangt @ Jun 21st 2006 12:08PM
nice rip from Swingers...
"You're so money and you don't even know it!"
SuicideNinja @ Jun 21st 2006 12:11PM
"Wow Deja vu anways, wtf who wants to watch ppl play games when you can go play em?
congrats to the team."
The same could be said for Sports, but more people watch them than play them. Personally, screw watching baseball, football, or basketball. I'd much rather play them.
I'd only be interested in watching pro gamers to see how ridiculously good they are. And maybe take away some tactics/techniques that I was not aware of.
Fenris @ Jun 21st 2006 12:14PM
ck,
you are on the right track. I have watched a couple of PGR3 matches and they are pretty cool to watch. The issues for most of the popular games would be spectator prespective. If you could see the whole field of play and the players you would be able to see how the teams were moving and then you could focus on the "conflict" areas.
You run into a problem when you have someone else deciding what you are going to see. Games are a very personal thing to us and unlike your standard sports fan, most of us are not armchair quarterbacks, we like to play.
Per the PGR 3 reference that I mentioned earlier, I have control of who and what I want to see, this level of control is paramount to my enjoyment of the event.
There are some major hurdles to overcome, guess we will have to see how they address these issues.
Master X 24 @ Jun 21st 2006 12:18PM
2 bad i have a life and cant play games 24/7 or i could be in the MLG
Derbeste @ Jun 21st 2006 12:19PM
I just don't think there is any way of telling how big competitive gaming could get.
The track record of what people will watch is just so hit and miss.
On one hand, people surely watch stranger (and equally boring) competitive things:
Bowling
singing (American Idol)
Golf
Nascar
Chess
Hell...if you think about it, even the idea of "Jeopardy" is crazy. We WATCH people answer questions for money.
On the other hand, some things just don't get watched. You don't see competitive:
Reading
typing
painting
twister
board gaming
eating
Now, I'll admit these don't get watched because they are not very fast paced, but would you really call Golf an action packed bananza?
Still other skills are just NOW becoming competitive:
Poker/gambling
Comedy (last man standing)
Cooking (Hell's Kitchen, Iron Chef)
Business savvy (The Apprentice)
Dancing (So You Think You Can Dance?)
All of these have had varying degrees of success.
Every single activity I have mention are more fun to do than to watch. The only thing that matters is:
Are enough people interested in (and appreciate) the skill you are putting up on display?
At this point....no. I don't think hardcore gamers have enough of a fan base or an audience that truly can understand and appreciate what it takes to achieve the skill they have. At least with basketball, football, baseball, etc., most everyone is familiar enough with the sports to at least understand what it takes to do what they do. But these things have been around for several decades....if not centuries.
Only time can tell if gaming can reach the maturity levels of these other competitions. I will garantee you this however....if there is money to be made......someone will make it.
Casey @ Jun 21st 2006 12:19PM
The new Nascar???
Mitch @ Jun 21st 2006 12:21PM
The only way it could become a spectator sport is if it's interactive. The reason why watching so many people play in fighting games at an arcade became fun was because you could see all the action in front of you. If you are watching a Halo tournament you can really only pay attention to one person's point of view at a time.
So, for example, if you could get a CS tournament online and have spectators able to join in as ghosts or something that might make it possible because you can see things that are going on more macro (where everyone is going and what they're doing) rather than micro (single player and ONLY what they see).
If you're wondering something like, "Oh man, I wonder where this guy went and what he's doing," you can't do that in a static televised appearance because you're going to see what other people think you should see, not what you want to see.
Judd @ Jun 21st 2006 12:24PM
Swingers FTW!
Jay @ Jun 21st 2006 12:25PM
You Americans missed out on Games Master. oh well. your loss. TV gaming competitions whilst gaming was un-cool.
Dan @ Jun 21st 2006 12:35PM
Gaming will not be accepted as a true spectator sport until the technology is there to support true in-game spectating. No one wants to sit and watch the raptured faces of gamers getting their game on while someone comments on the action in the background. Watching a round of UT2K4 was almost interesting, but being there in-game and able to control what part of the action you are viewing would be the ultimate sports spectator experience.
mister.snuggles @ Jun 21st 2006 1:06PM
This is the most retarded thing I have ever heard.
MLG is going to fail, hard. Part of why many "boring" professional sports like poker and bowling have made it onto TV is that it is hard to do them at home by yourself. Most people don't have a bowling alley at home, and don't have easy access to enough friends to get a good poker game going.
But with all the online video game options available these days ANYBODY can pick up a controller and be in the middle of a game instantly, so why would anyone need to watch someone else do it? When more engrossing nerd shows like Battlebots fold due to lack of viewership why would something as stupid as this manage to make it?
MAYBE if there's a TON of back story on the individual players (like in Real World or something) and they manufacture rivalries between individuals, THEN it MIGHT be MILDLY interesting to watch someone get head-shotted and then go home and cry about it, but other than that this all sounds exceedingly moronic.
gh0st @ Jun 21st 2006 1:08PM
I have watched numerous matches on G4's failed show...can't remember it...about competative gaming.
The problem, as many have alluded to, is that video gaming is not designed to be watched.
The reason football is enjoyable for fans to watch is that they have spent the past 70+ years making it watchable. The create stadium seating, the put seats entirely around the field. For those at home, they have 389+ cameras, countless replays, etc.
If they tried to televise football the same way they have tried to televise Counter Strike (or SOCOM, or whatever) matches, they would put cameras on a couple guys helmets and then give you choppy, disconcerting and out-of-context glimpses from each of them at various points. I know some RABID football fans, and they both admit that it would completely lose its appeal.
You are also seeing action, movement, execution. From what I have seen of televised gaming, you see a guy kill another guy. Then, you see a guy jumping around avoiding fire, then you see a guy killing another guy...you don't see the setup, the execution, the action; you see blurbs and snapshots.
If they want to do this, they have to completely change the concept that they are working with. You can't use a gaming engine to make a TV show. They will have to start developing "spectacle engines". Instead of, "running on the Unreal 9x engine" you will see adverts, "televised with gameplay displayed with the UnrealTV 2.1 engine" or whatever.
Crap, I may have just thrown a million dollar idea out into the wild...
Lake @ Jun 21st 2006 1:12PM
To #17:
TSquared talked briefly about this at MLG, stating that the way MTV did the show, made him look a lot more like a fool than he actually is. They took stuff that wasn't recorded at any time period during, or ever near the date of the event that the show took place at.
To #21:
You don't have to play the game 24/7 to become a professional player. A lot of the top players don't dedicate most of their time to playing the game, with some just playing enough a week to keep their hands/fingers/reactions in a state where their muscles and reflexes can remember what to do while playing, which is not as much as you may think.
CoreyB @ Jun 21st 2006 1:17PM
If you guys have never seen good live footage of competitive gaming, there are a ton of sites out there. Just google for "competitive gaming" or "esports" and see what you get. Competitive gaming has been going on since about 6 years ago or so and there are cash filled tournaments going on everymonth or so(in fact im going to a quake 4 lan this weekend to try to win myself some cash. There has also been shoutcasts and live tv-like broadcasts with commentary to that simular to football and baseball games for almost as long.
one interesting thing that hasnt been posted on here yet is the fact that DirectTv has signed a deal with CPL (www.thecpl.com) to broadcast there winter tournament live in a very simular fashion to all the hype that is around the world cup right now with interviews and live commentary on matches.
And also there is the WSVG (world series of video games) where they just last weekend had a qualifer tournament with Counter-Strike, Quake 4 and Warcraft 3. All of which had a massive amount of coverage on a hand ful of esports sites.
Jarvi @ Jun 21st 2006 1:24PM
MLG has every possibility to become big- hell, it's equivalent is already huge in Korea, where there are entire TV stations dedicated to watching starcraft matches. The idea is that the people have to understand the skill that goes behind it.
on espn, I just watched the world tournament of rock, paper, and scissors, followed by Mahjong.
MAHJONG.
Video games, the MLG specifically, have the potential to be very big.
Paul @ Jun 21st 2006 1:38PM
The majority of you are ignoring facts here, or are just not aware of the facts. Major League Gaming recently signed a deal with USA Network to have their entire 2006 tournament season be aired on television this coming holiday season in 7 individual episodes; all 1 hour in length. Dismissing the fact that MLG is not going to be successful at all is stupid; because they already are. Some of the deals they have signed just this year include Boost Mobile, Scion, USA Network and several more.
Personally, I would much prefer to watch a gaming tournament on ESPN than watch a football game; it's just as exciting, if not more so. You watch and see, come 2007 things for MLG are going to explode, even bigger than they already are.
TeRm @ Jun 21st 2006 1:42PM
I used to play with Tsquared. Hes the bigest trash talking retard ive ever seen.
Jimmybones @ Feb 6th 2007 5:48AM
I'd like to punch that dude in the face.
Aux @ Jun 21st 2006 2:12PM
People can't even decide if games are too obscene, violent, etc. for kids. What makes anyone think that there isn't going to be public outcry from Jack and Co. if FPS games are broadcast en masse on TV with people killing other virtual people who are trying to kill them?
So far gaming has been on G4, but really, who watches that? Even if they do show game competitions, who says that the demographic that will be watching it (males, aged 18 - 34) will be able to put down their controllers long enough to give a crap when they can be playing games themselves? If you take that demographic away, who's the next biggest group to watch tv? Baby Boomers, that's who.
They'd rather watch CSI: Kenosha, WI or the 80 different Law and Order clones on, and couldn't care less about some one playing a video game unless they bought one for their grandkid to keep them out of their hair.
I think you're giving the "unwashed masses" too much credit if you think they're going to get into professional gaming the way that they get into other professional sports, like football, basketball, baseball, etc. I mean look at the XFL, that was football. That was on the air during the summer, when the NFL didn't play, and were hoping that football fans would eat it up. The first week the rating were through the roof, and the next week they were in the basement, the players were back to their day jobs, and when you bring up the XFL, people just laugh.
the guy with an idea @ Jun 21st 2006 2:21PM
professional gaming is something that doesent make alot of sense. These so called pros can go online in halo 2, and get owned by a number of players, who for the most part, do not try out for MLG or even know about it for that matter.
I suppose to get a million dollar contract, you are wuite lucky, but unlike traditional sports, Im sure there are tons of people out there who can woop you. Sorta like poker, where the most amazing poker player ever just might not be interested in playing professionaly, or want to lose his money trying out in tournaments.
With sports, its a whole different ball game as if your really good at one, you most likely play in a local league, and have a chance of getting noticed by some1.
Its not like these MLG guys are observing the best of the best online matches to scout great talent. They are simply holding a competition, and are declaring the winners of those who enter, to be the best.
T-Bag @ Jun 21st 2006 2:41PM
Roflsauce!
Hacker makes big bucks showing off his un-detectable hacking skills in Halo 2. This story makes me want to feel sorry for the gaming industry in so many ways. Remember back in the day when Blizzard would give hats and t-shirts to hackers so that they'd stop hacking?
History replaying itself.
The New Revelation @ Jun 21st 2006 3:22PM
"or big name players starting to be mentioned in the same breath as today's other sports stars."
That's funny. Really funny. Are you retarded?
Tirno @ Jun 21st 2006 3:49PM
Most of people seem to be forgetting MLG's other main competitive game, SSBM. SSBM is easy to watch due to its 2D nature, unlike games such as Halo 2, which take place in a 3D environment. I, for one, really enjoy watching pro matches and have a veritable store of such videos.
Andrew @ Jun 21st 2006 4:21PM
MLG would be the perfect thing to launch ESPN8, "The Ocho" with. Forget dodgeball.
Angus @ Jun 21st 2006 4:35PM
I thought that hockey players getting paid big salaries to play sports was pretty stupid.
People playing video games and making more money than they're parents, that just pisses me off.
Rewards seldom go to the deserving.
the Brayn @ Jun 21st 2006 4:41PM
Remind me again when exactly playing video games became a sport. It would be more appropriate to call these people professional entertainers akin to comedians and "dancers". Just because something is featured in a competition doesn't automatically list it as a sport.
Lone Starr @ Jun 21st 2006 5:11PM
"and who can forgot 2 days in a row were they relied on showing RERUNS of the 2005 dominoes tournaments."
Hahahahahaha.
J-Tall @ Jun 22nd 2006 3:25AM
I hope they never make it to mainstream. Why? Because it will turn into same lame American Idol text-in-your-vote cell phone advertising waste of time on T.V. Once you get passed the shock of "wow, these guys have excellent motor skills," there isn't going to be much left to the show, so they're going to make a lame host fill the rest of the time with stupid jokes and bad puns.
Audhumla @ Jun 22nd 2006 3:45AM
I look forward to televised vidjia games, but I really hope the commentators are like the CPL ones and not the idiots on arena.
Most of you people seem as if you've never heard of pro gaming before. Though it will never be okay to be Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendell, he's sadly well known.
But a million dollar CONTRACT? No. Bad. Million dollar prize for a tournament maybe, like when CPL or someone has some big anniversary, but just a contract to play often? I admit I'm jealous, but it's bullshit