SC2 & PAX

Crimith

First off let me apologize if similar topics to this have been posted already, I just registered and attempted to use the search forum function but was told that I didn't have the necessary privileges to access that function. Am I to assume this is a bug?

I am a long time PA reader, been reading for the last 6 or so years. I have never been to PAX. I come from the reddit SC2 community, and I just wanted to figure out what the overall attitude towards esports at PAX was. I hear that there was an SC2 tourny held, but that no streams were available. After some basic searching I'm fairly certain there are no VODs available of the games either. SC2 is leading the charge right now for the success of esports globally, with the GSL in S.Korea, the MLG and the exciting new NASL in N.America, Blizzcon's annual tournament, and various other sponsored tournaments across Europe, China, and America (probably more too, but those are where the big ones outside of Korea have been.) I know that esports are not everyones cup of tea, but it is gaining popularity and there are many people like myself that may not be able to compete at the top levels, but nonetheless thrive on watching pro-level competition and commentary.

So, why does PAX limit its viewers for these events? I've outlined some of the possible answers below.

1. PAX does not have the required clout or relationship with Blizzard with which to broker a large scale tournament. (This seems very unlikely to me, PA has incredible influence in the industry, and as far as I can tell has a healthy relationship with Blizzard.)

2. PAX is inexperienced at hosting esports style events. (PAX, though I haven't been to one, seems like a very balanced event, drawing in a broad base. Due to this generic approach [not saying its a bad approach] to a gaming expo, which helps it compete with events like comicons and E3, the organizers involved haven't had the necessary focus to throw a true esports style tournament.)

3. PAX feels it would sell less overall tickets if its tournament games were available on the internet.

4. PAX is wary of making these types of events too focused on a single game. (They could throw a gigantic, super-hyped SC2 tournament with many pro-level players, but they feel this would keep some of the less competitive gaming crowd away from the event as a whole. This is the most likely scenario in my head, and also gives me the most frustration as an esports enthusiast.)


So, chime in. What scenarios haven't I thought of yet? Which is the right one in your opinion? Will PAX ever host a true esports tournament, and does SC2 have a future there?

PolloDiablo

Search is broken.

And probably not. PAX is an attempt to be inclusive, and esports at their heart are exclusive.

Rehab

Are these high-level play tournaments really referred to by other people as "esports" commonly? I've never seen that before but found the term highly amusing, especially at the thought of the participants being called "athletes." I'm sure your intention wasn't to be humorous, but that was the single funniest thing I've read all day.

Also, welcome to the forums! Here is the Starcraft 2 thread as well:

http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=138704

Variable

esports are exclusive?

PolloDiablo

In that there's a barrier to entry.

Variable

not as a spectator sport there isn't

Kambing

I believe the sc2 tournaments were organized exactly like the other tournaments at PAX, so there was no special attention made to casting or streaming of the event.

Esports discussion aside, we have an active (albiet smaller, compared to, e.g., screddit) starcraft community here at PA. There's no reason why we couldn't get streaming and casting organized for PAX-related starcraft events (particularly Prime this fall) in the future.

eelektrik

Tournaments at PAX are pretty much casual affairs. Not to imply that you don't have good players involved, they just aren't major tournaments with outside sponsors and large prizes, and SC2 does not receive any special treatment in streaming or recording events despite its use in larger tournaments. PAX just doesn't really seem like the place for that sort of thing.

I haven't participated in a tournament at PAX since 2005 though, what is the prize structure these days? Are they still awarding tickets for a prize booth? I remember coming in 2nd at the Mario Kart Double Dash tournament the first year of PAX and the prize booth was so picked over I ended up with a 12 month Xbox Live card and a Lineage 2 strategy guide. Still was a blast though.

Guek

PAX isn't about esports. I'm an enormous fan of SC2 and I love the whole scene, but PAX has never made it a point to attract pro-gamers and it probably never will. The tournaments are there so amateurs and people who play in their spare time can have a chance at playing in a somewhat larger than normal setting. If idra showed up and just wrecked everybody then it might be kinda cool since a bunch of other people would still be able to play but if the SC2 PAX tourney or other tourneys attracted a large amount of high profile players, then the average everyman wouldn't have a chance and ultimately it'd turn into just another tournament with pros.

Streltsy

Isn't that what happened anyway though? I'm not sure because I wasn't there, but I heard Pokebunny won and he's a pro.
I don't see why you couldn't have a large open tournament with a couple of seeded pros at the top, or maybe even unseeded. Either way, most would get to play quite a bit before they got knocked out by a pro.

Find it pretty sad that PAX excludes such events. Or maybe it's just that no sponsored tournaments wanted to be at PAX yet, but I get the vibe that PAX doesn't want eSports there either.
I mean that's just the tone of this community, you even mention eSports and you'll get 10 geese like Rehab laughing it off and generally being derisive. It's sort of "casually elitist", sounds like an oxymoron but there's an actual word for it, I just avoid it because it sounds harsh.
You'll only find small corners of the community here and there in G&T where people enjoy and take competitive gaming seriously.

EvilBadman

Streltsy wrote: »

Isn't that what happened anyway though? I'm not sure because I wasn't there, but I heard Pokebunny won and he's a pro.
I don't see why you couldn't have a large open tournament with a couple of seeded pros at the top, or maybe even unseeded. Either way, most would get to play quite a bit before they got knocked out by a pro.

Find it pretty sad that PAX excludes such events. Or maybe it's just that no sponsored tournaments wanted to be at PAX yet, but I get the vibe that PAX doesn't want eSports there either.
I mean that's just the tone of this community, you even mention eSports and you'll get 10 geese like Rehab laughing it off and generally being derisive. It's sort of "casually elitist", sounds like an oxymoron but there's an actual word for it, I just avoid it because it sounds harsh.
You'll only find small corners of the community here and there in G&T where people enjoy and take competitive gaming seriously.

You've accidentally hit the nail on the wrong head with your last sentence. Why are they expected to set up serious tournaments aimed at an underwhelming percentage of their attendees? There are more than enough professionally aimed tournaments for Starcraft across the country and world.

And yes, a ringer can play in the PAX tournament, mop up and take an small assortment of Tchotchke home (I don't know what the prizes were this year but I doubt it was anything near a circuit tournament win). In all seriousness, people enter the PAX tournaments because there's less trepidation than jumping head first into MLG or the like. There's a greater air of friendliness than stoic competition, and that's the spirit of the Expo shining through.