Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Dota 2 introduces 'Interactive Compendium' tournament companion]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/dota-2-introduces-interactive-compendium-tournament-companion/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/dota-2-introduces-interactive-compendium-tournament-companion/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/dota-2-introduces-interactive-compendium-tournament-companion/#commentsDota 2 introduces 'Interactive Compendium' tournament companion Valve has supplemented its upcoming "The International" Dota 2 tournament with a new virtual book, the "International 2013 Interactive Compendium." Available for $10 on the official Dota 2 shop, the Interactive Compendium will deliver news on the tournament and allow players to vote on tournament-related matters, such as post-tournament competitor awards.

The Interactive Compendium also unlocks "special virtual item drops throughout the tournament," according to Valve, in addition to matchmaking tournament-minded players and letting folks make predictions on tournament match outcomes. Once the August 7 event has come to a close, players will be able to read each other's Compendiums to see how accurate those predictions ended up being.

JoystiqDota 2 introduces 'Interactive Compendium' tournament companion originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 May 2013 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dota-2esportsInteractive-Compendiumpcthe-internationalthe-international-2013valveTue, 07 May 2013 22:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Twitch introduces ad-free Turbo subscription service]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/twitch-tv-introduces-ad-free-turbo-subscription-service/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/twitch-tv-introduces-ad-free-turbo-subscription-service/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/twitch-tv-introduces-ad-free-turbo-subscription-service/#comments Twitch Turbo has adfree viewing, Joystiq has a Twitch channelPopular video streaming site Twitch has announced a new service called Twitch Turbo. For $8.99 a month you can turn off all the ads on the site, get priority customer support, and unlock a special badge, chat colors, and custom emoticons that only Twitch Turbo subscribers can use. Twitch also streams lots of eSports events and other videos that would otherwise be interrupted by commercials.

If you subscribe to knock the ads off completely, eligible Twitch broadcasters will still be paid for their views. Twitch says this is "just the beginning of what we hope to offer through Twitch Turbo," and that more "benefits and enhancements" for both viewers and broadcasters (including the official Joystiq Twitch channel) are likely coming soon.

JoystiqTwitch introduces ad-free Turbo subscription service originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>broadcasterscustomemoticonsesportsjoystiqpcservicesubscriptiontwitchtwitch-turboTue, 05 Feb 2013 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PBS mini documentary covers eSports' many bases]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/02/pbs-mini-documentary-covers-esports-many-bases/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/02/pbs-mini-documentary-covers-esports-many-bases/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/02/pbs-mini-documentary-covers-esports-many-bases/#comments
Off Book, the PBS webseries that previously investigated what makes indie games so darn creative, has produced an eight minute documentary on the history of the eSports its four major facets: RTS, MOBA, FPS and fighting games, the latter of which are too cool for acronyms.

JoystiqPBS mini documentary covers eSports' many bases originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 02 Feb 2013 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>documentaryesportshistorymini-documenaryPBSpbs-off-bookSat, 02 Feb 2013 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Riot Games' plan to standardize eSports]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/30/riot-games-plan-to-standardize-esports/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/30/riot-games-plan-to-standardize-esports/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/30/riot-games-plan-to-standardize-esports/#comments Riot Games' plan to standardize eSportsAsk a couple of Riot Games' employees what goes into choosing players for League of Legends' annual World Championships, and they'll rattle off a strange series of acronyms and words that represent tournaments from around the world: Major League Gaming, the IGN Pro League, ESL's Intel Extreme Masters Series, OGN, IPL, Dreamhack, Tales of the Lane, and so many more.

The route from just playing for free online to the top of the World Championship ladders is so confusing and circuitous that most press outlets don't cover it, most players don't follow it, and even most eSports fans couldn't explain it all. There's a jargon to it (littered with player and team names full of weird capitalization and strange spellings) that's about as complicated to understand as the notoriously complex game itself.

Riot's Vice President of eSports Dustin Beck even says that a recent tournament he attended was a big mess on its own: "The tournament kept pausing, it never started on time, you didn't have a schedule to know when your favorite teams were playing. It wasn't a fun experience, for me."

Still, eSports is one of the biggest factors in League of Legends' overwhelming popularity, with thousands of people attending these tournaments, and millions (almost ten million, in fact) watching live online. So how does Riot plan to smooth out those wrinkles that keep an even larger audience out of the game? The company will take the game into Season 3 within the next few weeks, and with it begins Riot's eSports headliner, the League of Legends Championship Series.

Continue reading Riot Games' plan to standardize eSports

JoystiqRiot Games' plan to standardize eSports originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>championshipcompetitiondustin-beckesportslcsleague-championship-seriesleague-of-legendspcriot-gamesteamsWed, 30 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[League of Legends playoffs postponed due to 'frequent disconnects']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/07/league-of-legends-playoffs-postponed-due-to-frequent-disconnect/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/07/league-of-legends-playoffs-postponed-due-to-frequent-disconnect/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/07/league-of-legends-playoffs-postponed-due-to-frequent-disconnect/#comments Riot Games announced a delay in the League of Legends season 2 playoffs in a news update yesterday. The delay comes after a "series of connectivity issues" at the event's LA venue.

"We'll be completing the last game of the CLG EU and Team WE quarterfinal match and finishing out the Semifinal Matches in the near future from a new location with a secure Internet connection," the announcement reads. The schedule for the remaining matches will be determined later this week and will still be streamed live, according to the League of Legends eSports Twitter account.

JoystiqLeague of Legends playoffs postponed due to 'frequent disconnects' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 07 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitionesportsleague-of-legendspcplayoffsriot-gamesseason-2world-championshipsSun, 07 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: League of Legends playoffs continue today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/06/psa-league-of-legends-playoffs-continue-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/06/psa-league-of-legends-playoffs-continue-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/06/psa-league-of-legends-playoffs-continue-today/#comments The second season of the League of Legends world championships is happening right now, with quarterfinal and semifinals matches scheduled for today. The world championship match is set for Saturday, October 13 at 7:00 p.m. PST. The winning team will take home half of the $2 million prize pool given out to contestants.

Here's the schedule for today's events, viewable on Twitch.tv and the Riot Games site:
  • 12:00 p.m PST - Quarterfinals: WE vs CLG.EU
  • 2:00 p.m. PST - Semifinals: M5 vs TPA
  • 4:00 p.m. PST - Semifinals: Azubu vs TBD

JoystiqPSA: League of Legends playoffs continue today originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 06 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitionesportsleague-of-legendsLiveStreampcriot-gamesstreamworld-championshipsSat, 06 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Play Halo 4 before the rest of the world at the MLG Fall Championship]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/play-halo-4-before-the-rest-of-the-world-at-the-mlg-fall-champio/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/play-halo-4-before-the-rest-of-the-world-at-the-mlg-fall-champio/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/play-halo-4-before-the-rest-of-the-world-at-the-mlg-fall-champio/#comments Play Halo 4 before the rest of the world at the MLG Fall ChampionshipHalo 4 is entering the Major League Gaming Pro Circuit four days before its launch in the wider, unprofessional world on November 6. Halo 4 will be part of the Fall Championship running November 2 - 4 in Dallas, Texas, MLG announced today.

MLG will announce details about the Halo 4 competition, including prize money, format, bracket size and schedule, in the coming weeks.

JoystiqPlay Halo 4 before the rest of the world at the MLG Fall Championship originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earlyesportshalo-4microsoftmlgmlg-fall-championshipmlg-pro-circuitxboxWed, 29 Aug 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[League of Legends Season 3 'Championship Series' is worth millions]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/06/league-of-legends-season-3-championship-series-is-worth-millio/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/06/league-of-legends-season-3-championship-series-is-worth-millio/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/06/league-of-legends-season-3-championship-series-is-worth-millio/#comments
With Season 2 of League of Legends still drawing to a close, developer Riot Games has announced details for the game's third season, which will include a brand new league known as the Championship Series. The series will see the best teams from North America, Europe and Asia face off to compete for millions of dollars in "salaries, prize pools and other compensation." That first one, lest you missed it: salaries.

Just how many millions are up for grabs hasn't been announced, though the Season 2 prize pool stands at $5 million, with the world championship and regional final pool totaling $3 million alone.

Continue reading League of Legends Season 3 'Championship Series' is worth millions

JoystiqLeague of Legends Season 3 'Championship Series' is worth millions originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>esportsfree-to-playleague-of-legendspcriot-gamesMon, 06 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dota 2 enhances support for competitive play]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/20/dota-2-enhances-support-for-competitive-play/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/20/dota-2-enhances-support-for-competitive-play/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/20/dota-2-enhances-support-for-competitive-play/#comments Dota 2 competitive play esports something somethingValve is adding new tournament-focused features to the DOTA 2 beta, intended to make the game more attractive and user-friendly for competitive players (and open up a new source of revenue from spectators).

In addition to improved support for teams, including additional stats, team matchmaking, and logos, the new update adds a "Tournament View" feature that allows fans to pay to watch current and past tournaments from within the game. "For the tournaments you've purchased," the Dota Team explains, "you'll find a complete breakdown of the tournament's matches, and be able to quickly jump in and watch them in your game client (whether it's a live match, or a replay)."

DOTA 2 is now officially the weirdest free-to-play game ever. It's free to play, but you can buy into the beta before launch, and you can now pay to watch other people play it.

JoystiqDota 2 enhances support for competitive play originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dota-2esportspctournamentsvalveWed, 20 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[League of Legends second season esporting $5M prize pool]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/league-of-legends-second-season-esporting-5m-prize-pool/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/league-of-legends-second-season-esporting-5m-prize-pool/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/league-of-legends-second-season-esporting-5m-prize-pool/#comments The second competitive season of League of Legends begins this fall, with a five million dollar prize pool on the line, reportedly the largest in eSports history. "Players will certainly step up their game in season two - so it's only fair that we step up ours," says Brandon Beck, CEO of Riot Games.

The League of Legends season one championship drew in 1.69 million online viewers, with 210,000 unique viewers for the finale. The game itself now has over 15 million registered players, with over 3.6 million monthly active users (over 1.4 million playing daily). Riot Games will also add the new League of Legends mode, Dominion, sometimes after PAX.

Continue reading League of Legends second season esporting $5M prize pool

JoystiqLeague of Legends second season esporting $5M prize pool originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>esportsleague-of-legendspcriot-gamesMon, 15 Aug 2011 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[BlizzCon 2011 will host two StarCraft 2 global tournaments and more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/blizzcon-2011-will-host-two-starcraft-2-global-tournaments-and-m/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/blizzcon-2011-will-host-two-starcraft-2-global-tournaments-and-m/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/blizzcon-2011-will-host-two-starcraft-2-global-tournaments-and-m/#comments Blizzard has shared the plan for two big e-sports events at BlizzCon in Anaheim, CA, and it looks like there's going to be a full plate of noobs, ownage and ggs yet again this year. Not only will the Global Battle.net Invitational showcase some of the best StarCraft 2 players from Blizzard's online multiplayer service, but the 2011 Global StarCraft League Final matches will be held at the same event, pitting the best of the best at the game against each other.

Those are just the two StarCraft 2 events -- Blizzard traditionally also holds contests and tournaments for World of Warcraft arena matches and the World of Warcraft TCG at BlizzCon, and though we haven't seen an official announcement yet, it's possible we'll see some Warcraft 3 or even Diablo 3 e-sports play as well. Outside of competitive play, Blizzard usually also offers new content for attendees to play through, so Diablo 3 specifically, plus any other unannounced games, may be playable too.

Tickets for the October 21-22 event are sold out, but the tournament play will likely be streamed online through "virtual tickets" later on this year.

Continue reading BlizzCon 2011 will host two StarCraft 2 global tournaments and more

JoystiqBlizzCon 2011 will host two StarCraft 2 global tournaments and more originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-netblizzardblizzconblizzcon-2011competitione-sportsesportsfinalsglobal-starcraft-leaguepcstarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmtournamentWed, 13 Jul 2011 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BlizzCon 2010: Diablo 3 Q&A panel highlights]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/24/blizzcon-2010-diablo-3-qanda-panel-highlights/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/24/blizzcon-2010-diablo-3-qanda-panel-highlights/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/24/blizzcon-2010-diablo-3-qanda-panel-highlights/#comments On the second day of the BlizzCon, a handful of members of the Diablo 3 development team, lead by game director Jay Wilson, sat down to answer questions from BlizzCon attendees. There were a lot of questions asked, and a few nuggets of useful and intriguing information gleaned. Let's take a look at some of the highlights.

Continue reading BlizzCon 2010: Diablo 3 Q&A panel highlights

JoystiqBlizzCon 2010: Diablo 3 Q&A panel highlights originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzcon-2010cow-leveldiablodiablo-3economyendgameesportsjay-wilsonpcpvepvpq-and-aSun, 24 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubisoft acquires TrackMania dev to build online cred]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/06/ubisoft-acquires-trackmania-dev-to-build-online-cred/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/06/ubisoft-acquires-trackmania-dev-to-build-online-cred/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/06/ubisoft-acquires-trackmania-dev-to-build-online-cred/#comments Ubisoft must have found TrackMania creator Nadeo to really be speaking its language, as the French publisher has acquired the, uh, French developer in a bid to drift into the online gaming sector. "Through Nadeo, Ubisoft will gain an expert team, one of the best online technologies around as well as a flagship multiplayer game that enjoys an unrivaled reputation among a loyal and committed community," Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot observed.

The acquisition of Nadeo comes just weeks after the developer announced a true TrackMania sequel, TrackMania 2, at the Paris Games Festival.

JoystiqUbisoft acquires TrackMania dev to build online cred originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionacquisitionsesportesportsfrancemultiplayernadeoonlineparisracingtackmaniatrackmania-2ubisoftTue, 06 Oct 2009 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Game champion commits suicide over gambling debts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/08/game-champion-commits-suicide-over-gambling-debts/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/08/game-champion-commits-suicide-over-gambling-debts/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/08/game-champion-commits-suicide-over-gambling-debts/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Christian Sellergren, a professional gamer who led Team Eyeballers to the 2004 CPL Counter-Strike championship, apparently took his own life last November over massive debts accrued from online gambling. The news trickled down to us through a rough translation of a recent story about the death in Swedish paper Aftonbladet.

According to the report, the 21-year-old Sellergren, who went by "divino" online, turned his competitive instincts to online gambling after retiring from the eSports scene. Sellergren lost his job and accrued over $13,000 in debt to fuel his addiction, which he kept from parents and friends.

While stories about pro gamers with six figure salaries and major sponsorship deals may make you think the scene is all about glitz and glamor, this story shows that is not always the case. Our sympathies go out to all of Sellergren's friends and family. If you think someone you know may have a gambling problem, please don't wait until it's too late. Get help.

[Thanks Will]

JoystiqGame champion commits suicide over gambling debts originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Jan 2007 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CounterstrikeCPLdivinoesportsgamblingPCpro gamerprofessional gamingProfessionalGamingProGamersellergrenMon, 08 Jan 2007 15:55:00 EST<![CDATA[CPL cancellation "a step backwards"]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/26/cpl-cancellation-a-step-backwards/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/26/cpl-cancellation-a-step-backwards/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/26/cpl-cancellation-a-step-backwards/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The BBC reports on the disappearance of the CPL World Tour from an international perspective. With budding British pro gamers having pinned their hopes on the event -- one even giving up a tennis career -- the cancellation comes as quite a blow. Teams that have trained on specific games, maps and rulesets have work ahead to retrain for other events.

Philip Wride, manager of Intel-sponsored clan 4Kings, described the move as "a step backwards" for pro gaming. While there are still tournaments in Europe, the UK is left with just a few LAN tournaments that concentrate on fun rather than professional prize money. However, for gamers willing to travel, there is still a substantial amount of cash available to those who play well -- the World Series of Video Games, World Cyber Games and e-Sports World Cup all offer the chance to triumph.

JoystiqCPL cancellation "a step backwards" originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Apr 2006 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bbccompetitive gamingCompetitiveGamingcplesportshuman interestHumanInterestmlgpro gamingProGamingukWed, 26 Apr 2006 10:56:00 EST<![CDATA[MLG and USA Network to air game tourneys]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/17/mlg-and-usa-network-to-air-game-tourneys/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/17/mlg-and-usa-network-to-air-game-tourneys/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/17/mlg-and-usa-network-to-air-game-tourneys/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Major League Gaming and NBC subsidiary USA Network have signed a deal to air MLG tournaments on cable TV this year, The Wall Street Journal reported this morning.

The deal will result in a "a series of seven, hour-long shows" (to air on Saturday mornings this fall) featuring competitions between gamers in games ranging from Halo 2 to Super Smash Bros. Melee, the Journal reports.

This is great news for competitive gaming. If the show can bring in an audience, next year may bring even more televised competitions between gamers. On behalf of the emerging sport of professional video gaming, we beg the powers that be not to totally screw up the genre's big debut in front of a national audience. Please keep the cheese factor low.

JoystiqMLG and USA Network to air game tourneys originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Apr 2006 01:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitive video gamingesportsMacmlgPCPS3WiiXbox-360Mon, 17 Apr 2006 01:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Continents clash in transatlantic tournament]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/24/continents-clash-in-transatlantic-tournament/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/24/continents-clash-in-transatlantic-tournament/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/24/continents-clash-in-transatlantic-tournament/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A $100,000 gaming tournament is taking place from today until Sunday in New York, hosted by the Global Gaming League. The "AmeriCup vs EuroCup TransAtlantic Showdown" pits the winners from the European EuroCup tournament against the AmeriCup champions across three games: Counter-Strike 1.6, Quake 4 and Warcraft 3.

There is live streaming media from the GGL website, and it's entertaining to watch, especially if you're interested in competitive gaming. If you're not, the seriousness of the event and its commentators may surprise you, but there's big money at stake for the champions--no laughing matter.

JoystiqContinents clash in transatlantic tournament originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Mar 2006 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>esportsprizepro gamingProGamingquake 4Quake4tournamentwarcraft 3Warcraft3Fri, 24 Mar 2006 13:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Sponsorship of female gamers a "joke"?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/14/sponsorship-of-female-gamers-a-joke/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/14/sponsorship-of-female-gamers-a-joke/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/14/sponsorship-of-female-gamers-a-joke/#commentsFiled under: ,

There hasn't been a good rant about female gamers for a while, but this article by Kim Rom delivers quite nicely. Looking at female gaming teams who seek sponsorship and attention based on their gender and looks rather than their skill, Kim points out the disparity in marketing between some female teams and the male teams they compete alongside.

Continue reading Sponsorship of female gamers a "joke"?

JoystiqSponsorship of female gamers a "joke"? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Mar 2006 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>esportsfemale gamingFemaleGaminggirl gamersGirlGamerspro gamingProGamingTue, 14 Mar 2006 19:30:00 EST