MLG goes FTW on USA TV [update 1]
[Update: Commenter Ben found a second part of the preview, which interviews pro gamer Walshy and shows some more in game action. Part 2 is now also embedded below Thanks Ben.]Months ago, when Major League Gaming and the USA cable network announced plans to air seven hour-long programs on the MLG national tour, we begged the powers-that-be at the network to "please keep the cheese factor low." It looks like somebody up there was listening, because a new five-minute trailer for the program is low on cheese and high on production values.
From the quick-paced jump cuts to the well-placed crowd shots and the respectful interviews with the gamers themselves, most everything in the trailer shows that this is a well thought-out, professional production and not some fly-by-night "Xtreme Gamerz" marketing stunt. The introduction strikes a good balance in being informative without being condescending, making the audience care about the players and the competition without forcing some manufactured personalities down our throats. Our only major concern is the announcers and commentators, some of whom still seem a little uncomfortable on camera, but this will likely improve as the season continues.
Despite the slick production, it still remains to be seen whether U.S. gamers will want to watch Halo 2 instead of playing it themselves. We'll find out when MLG on USA premieres at 10 a.m. (EST/PST) on Nov. 11.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
@ Nov 3rd 2006 1:09PM
Sure, it would be interesting to watch the top gamers play, but, im not sure if i would be willing to pay for it.
IslandLife @ Nov 3rd 2006 1:16PM
Well, I remember sending in a link for the Championship Gaming Series that's sponsored by and continously airs on DirecTV. That show was actually a lot more professional than I thought it would be and it seems as though there was quite a bit of money invested into it. If you have Directv you should check it out, as it usually comes on channel 101 a few times during the week.
Here's a preview:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MbsmR47rGEI
Intentless @ Nov 3rd 2006 1:19PM
If you already have an expanded basic cable package (most common cable package) then you'll get USA nothing extra to pay for..... It'll cool to watch but being on at 10am will make it difficult considering some people have normal hour jobs....
Iscariote @ Nov 3rd 2006 1:22PM
I think I'd rather play Halo 2 than watch people who only play very specific rule sets on certain maps show me their "skill".
Gerwurztraminer @ Nov 3rd 2006 1:24PM
VIDEO ARMAGEDDON!
Feanor @ Nov 3rd 2006 1:24PM
I wish the Mercenaries mini-game from RE 4 was used for pro-gaming. The videos the very best players can come up with (e.g. 330,00 plus on the Castle with Wesker) are fantastic to watch.
beaner @ Nov 3rd 2006 1:27PM
ill watch it... why isn't it on G4 tho? that dang channel is dying due to its lack of content... if it was on G4 it would be a prime time show... now i'll have to pray that it comes more times than just 10 am
ragtag @ Nov 3rd 2006 1:33PM
#7 because g4 is dying, of course. USA is so much bigger than g4, and in so many more homes.
#3 its on saturday mornings
Ling Ling @ Nov 3rd 2006 1:35PM
putting the program on G4 would almost instantly spell disaster.
kudos to mlg paving the road for pro gaming.
reguy @ Nov 3rd 2006 1:38PM
im sure some people will watch it.
plus i dont see how this is any more stupid than the rock paper scissors shows that were on espn
and it would be nice to see what im doing wrong, im only a 23
JodyAnthony @ Nov 3rd 2006 1:40PM
In my personal opinion, people getting paid to play video games that arent developers/beta testers/esrb board people is stupid. but if people have money to throw away, who am I to tell them otherwise
Ben @ Nov 3rd 2006 1:52PM
There is also a second part to the video shown on the site you can find it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WrlYsow1Ts
KilgoreTrout XL @ Nov 3rd 2006 2:00PM
Nice video. I'll check it out, definitely. There's nothing but garbage on on saturday mornings anyways.
FSK405K @ Nov 3rd 2006 2:20PM
Great, teams! So often had I watched the previous attempts to have this stuff on TV, and it was always deathmatch crap. Seeing teams in action brings it to a whole new level...not only far more complicated strategy, but better TV because you can show teammates communicating, miscommunicating, taunting, etc.
FSK405K @ Nov 3rd 2006 2:27PM
#11, how about football, baseball, basketball? Is the fact of people who don't develop (the rules for) those games get paid stupid, too?
VGM @ Nov 3rd 2006 2:29PM
MLG Sucks.
I went, and you have to come in top 4 or better in Halo 2. You play on MIDSHIP with a B.R...it's all about lucksacking, that's it.
Another guy flew a plane to get to it, and he didn't here his name called to play, and went to buy a t-shirt. He came back, and it turns out they called his name. Not only that, but someone else played for him and lost. He paid for a plane ticket there and back, just for a t-shirt.
MLG sucks, I don't like them. Their intentions are good, but they suck at setting it up.
Oh, and if you lose, you're out for good. No swiss match format.
Eaode @ Nov 3rd 2006 3:02PM
Why are people so obsessed about Halo 2? I'd really love it if they just did at least a little segment on Smash. It's pretty bug, but always unnecesarily overshadowed by Halo. Come, give us the variety at least.
JodyAnthony @ Nov 3rd 2006 4:33PM
#15, actually yes, I think people getting paid millions of dollars to play a kids game while people that risk their lives such as police officers or firefighters, people that teach our children, (the list goes on and on and on) get paid squat for you know, actually making a difference in the world.
JodyAnthony @ Nov 3rd 2006 4:37PM
(ending my last comment)
...is stupid.
kind of like me not finishing my thought properly, heh.
Volcan @ Nov 3rd 2006 4:43PM
@18
While it might be unfair, and it sure as hell is, it's how the world works. Athletes bring in money for ticket sales, sport cards, collectibles, overpriced snacks, television stations, commercials that air during the games, advertisments in the stadiums and alot more. For the income they bring in, you could argue that most athletes aren't getting their fair share of the profits.
Until people start paying to attend a brain surgery operations, or advertsie during house fires, they won't make that kind of money. They might be extremely important, but they don't bring in enough money to earn those kinds of salaries, even if they deserve them.
Tommy T. @ Nov 3rd 2006 7:46PM
MLG is crap compared to the Championship Gaming Invitational on DirecTV. I was at the MLG event and it was dreadful - just a bunch of dirty tables with black construction paper taped to it in a crappy hotel banquet room in New Jersey.
Velirno @ Nov 3rd 2006 8:11PM
Why did every single person sound the same while they were screaming? What the hell is so professional about them anyway? Back when I used to play pretty seriously I would just keep my mouth shut to keep the other person nervous and so that I'd have a steady concentration. May still be interesting though to watch though.
dirtyJ @ Nov 3rd 2006 8:48PM
You gotta love it when there's one dissenting idiot among the ranks. Ok, two this time, since they seem to think MLG is here for nothing but their money. The guy flew in, his name was called at least 3 times, and he just missed it. At only one event were the tshirts in an area where you wouldn't hear the name being called, Dallas. Please don't compare the CGI to MLG, since CGI not only used random rulesets for their games, they've got about 10 billion dollars backing them. MLG has 10 million. There's a big difference in what you can do when you're able to throw $20M at something. People yell and get excited just like any other sport. Show me one team in the NFL, NHL, MLB, or NBA that keeps quiet during a game. Like it or not MLG is here to stay and grow.
Judd @ Nov 4th 2006 12:22AM
1. This is the kind of stuff that G4 should be showing.
2. U.S. gamers are not up at 10 a.m. on a Saturday.
Bill C. @ Nov 4th 2006 1:55PM
#16: Its known you have to listen for your name. If a persons name is called, and he doesn't show up to the station, his name is called another time. Their name might even be called several more times. Only one event this year was the Merchandise Stand outside the venue room. So if we was at any other event then Orlando, he would have been able to hear his name while buying a shirt.
#21: MLG has thrown one event in the state of NJ. It was at the Meadowlands Expo Center. There has never been an MLG event in a crappy hotel banquet room in NJ. So I would like to stop spewing false information.
soapyshoes @ Nov 4th 2006 2:35PM
I seriously think that this is going to be a pretty sweet show.
Also, to the people who think pro sports players are overpaid, that's the way economics work. These people are exceptional at what they do, and they are few and far between. That's why they are paid so much. Sure, people who risk thier lives everyday may not get paid as much, but a lot of people can do their job, and that's why they get paid so little compared to athletes.
Gonzo @ Nov 8th 2006 5:08PM
I'm sure a few will be fascinated. Very few.
I don't understand how it could be interesting enough to watch for an hour long. Then again I could never understand the fascination of watching people play baseball or basketball (there's major injuries and more steroid mutants in football, so I can understand allot of Americans digging that) when you can so easily have the fun yourself. Televised competitive gaming seems completely absurd. With video games you don't even have to go anywhere or find others to play with you. I would get through about a minuet of the show before my ps2 would pop on.
x AmBitiOnZ x @ Nov 15th 2006 5:50PM
I wanted to see mlg so badly, but i was up til three in the morning the night before playing halo 2 (duhhh) if anyone tivo'd it and could send it to me it would be great. and don't be dissing MLG its the best thing to happen to halo. I have not personaly gone to a MlG but i plan on driving from washington state to southern California just to go to one. Mlg gametypes are the best, they dont involve smg start and there is less of a weapon whoring. random gametypes are lame, go play some team action sack Nub
x AmBitiOnZ x