Major League Gaming drops $1.75 million to sign more pros

The thing about pro Halo 2 players is that they'll only play a certain gametype. Anything else and they'll bitch about it and, if they even play it, most likely lose.

I have never understood how fans and eSports reporters do not question the MLG for sponsoring teams to its own league. The NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and every other major US sporting league is bared from owning its own teams and/or players. I praise MLG for trying to expose the USA masses to competitive gaming, and creating new rules and standards for eSports. I just don’t see how they will be able to make objective judgment calls between their MLG teams and other privately sponsored teams. Plus, if their teams get 1st,2nd and 3rd place. Why would any other teams want to pay to play to participate in MLG tournaments when the best teams, the judges, and the league are all owned by the same company?

Your wrong about other sports leagues. Who owned the Nationals when they left Montrel and the season following? MLB.

@ #1- MLG gametypes are more balanced than standard Halo2 deathmatches. You start with a BR, a more fair weapon than the AR. This keeps players from charging the power weapons, and gives them more strategic options. Regardless, most of these guys (and some girls) have incredible team communication and accuracy. They do some incredible things.

@ #2- I agree that it is odd that the sanctioning body sponsors these teams. However, there is still money to be made in amateur brackets, working your way up through pro, or in Free-For-Alls. Also, they may be adding more games next year. I don't think this will stop people from competing. It'll probably encourage them.

I think the pro sponsorship is key to them securing these players, preventing them from losing interest, joining other leagues, and encouraging them to do more press and PR.

They're the l337357!

It's just like playing your video games boys, but this time... IT'S FOR REALS

i really dont see MLG going anywhere on tv.

the shows are really lame. i loved watching vod, but watching Halo played on tv with commentators is cheesy.

the mlg tour and the organization are great though.

"The thing about pro Halo 2 players is that they'll only play a certain gametype. Anything else and they'll bitch about it and, if they even play it, most likely lose."

I watched a few episodes and there are a few game types. There is a free for all for singles and I believe the teams play 3 or 4 rounds which consist of Oddball, CTF and Team Slayer.

also, #1 youre an idiot. you know absolutely nothing about halo besides playing team slayer and team training matchmaking.

do some research and then we can talk. any top 64 team would destroy you and your friends at any gametype on any map even if they played a man down.

Disregard that, I suck cocks.

maybe its just me but i have no interest in playing halo2 and even less interest in watching other people on tv play halo2.

but its cool that these "major league gamers" suckered other people into paying them to do it. seriously. i'd love to get payed to play video games. who wouldn't i guess.

maybe i'll start in the minors and see if i can get on a farm team.

Would anyone else like to see a Ulitmate gamer contest instead a bunch of guy that play halo 2 to much?

Pick out a sports game, a shooter, a party game, a RPG (not sure that would be possible) maybe even have different games on different consoles. And have the people battle it out in a tournament like contest.

I think this would be awesome

The MLG works because they seem to work very hard at determining which games, maps, rules, etc. are balanced and best played in a competitive setting.

How would you/could you organize a tournament with hundreds of gamers playing dozens of different games? It would be ridiculously hard to practice for...as well as organize. I don't see NFL players being asked to work on their jump shot and I don't see PGA players practicing their fastball.

Anyone who has ever been to a recent MLG event can attest to the level of professionalism and organization that goes into something like this. Those that like it really like it. They make friends and may make money. Those that don't can choose to look away. I don't see what all the venom and hate is about..

The only games that I think I could actually do well in against the best players from around the world are San Fransisco Rush 2049 and NHL Hitz 2003. These 2 games are my bread and butter in multiplayer competition.

Personally, i think it's pretty badass that they're willing to pay their own athletes, even though it may become a conflict of interest.

It *almost* forces people to pay attention to it, and with the new show on broadcast, they have to keep the hype up.

It wouldn't be that hard to organize. You pick 5 games and 1-3 gametypes per game. Make the tournament a point system so if you took 2nd in all events most likely you would take first overall because you were the most balanced gamer.

Don't even compare practicing professional sports to professional gaming its not the same. Last time I checked it wasn't that hard to get off my ass and switch out a game.

wait.. who from str8 rippng?

i know a few of em from like 6 months ago, they boosted like crazy half the time, best level withut boosting on Str8 was some level 42 guy (gonja i think... something with a ja at the end), he was teh same level as me.


and you guys are right about the gametype thing, they did cheap shit alot of the time, only slayer for example.. and then other high level clans and players also did alot of cheap moves like flipping the xbox over when loading so they had to play a downloadable map (wouldnt load from cd...) to allow them to hack, and standbying was annoying too.

it sucks playing high levels anyway, you literally had to organize when to play and couldnt just "go on" because there were so few people you would never get a game (or at least wait 40 minutes for one)

as for mlg, its not that more even.. play a map like lockout first group to 10 kills usually wins because they have control of the map... and spawning with BR's makes it real easy to keep that when they die... and respawn is too short... and it took like 3 months for them to take the combo out too...

yeah, all in all... its not that much fun being a high level and playing on an MLG team

Halo 2 isn't a real multiplayer game. If you sat any of these guys down in front of a keyboard and mouse they wouldn't have a clue what to do. They'd get their asses kicked on UT2004. And, yes I have played Halo 2 multiplayer, and yes I did kick their butts. Also, the Xbox controller is a piece of crap. Just my two cents.

And here I thought video games were an interactive entertainment? ie, I like to play them not watch some waaaay overpaid teeny bopper twiddle his Joystick.

What does MLG get from these kids thats worth the $$$? They aren't photogenic, they don't have any appeal to really sell products, etc.. Heck they are playing a game thats years old on a console that isn't made anymore.. Who does that appeal too?

@ #17

I'm sorry, did you just refer to these guys as "athletes"?

Even bowlers need more physical skill, strength, endurance, and agility. Perhaps you were being sarcastic. I hope.

@ #20

Maybe he meant mental athletes? If such a thing exists, anyway.

Re: #13, NHL Hitz 2003, Oh yeah! My friends come over and we always end up playing this game even with my 360. It has old school gameplay appeal.

Still waiting for them to show a Smash Bros Tournament instead of Halo 2.