Yet another huge cash league popping up - IGN has a temp site counting down to the announcement, 12 and a half days to go... http://www.ign.com/proleague
The only information at this stage is that the prize pool will be somewhere within the realm of $150k - $200k USD.
Edward of Root Gaming, now an IGN employee in the new e-sports division, posted a series of pictures two days ago to start the hype. The pictures showed off a high end production facility, an employee holding a copy of StarCraft 2 and a number of the most well known players in the North American StarCraft scene.
Among those spotted at IGN offices were iNcontroL, SeleCT, Axslav, Sheth, CatZ, Spades, Painuser, TT1, Evoli and, of course, Edward from Root Gaming himself.
There were other well known community members in attendance who were not caught on camera.
Evoli, the writer who helped break the story of the NASL by uncovering domain registration information, was invited to IGN’s offices to cover the event with the qualification that he had to play by their rules. He was and is not allowed to reveal the complete project but did reveal some information to us, information that we will review now.
On SixJaxGaming.com, Evoli wrote that the announcement was very much a venture of their own, backing up the signs pointing toward a new professional league in North America as opposed to anything to do with the NASL or another league. Evoli also noted that the venture was “big, very ******* big, and the plans they have for future projects are even bigger.” With hype like that, a league with a six figure prize pool (at least on par with the NASL) is to be expected.
Evoli also noted that the production facilities were “downright incredible.” Pictures showed major StarCraft 2 personalities being interviewed, perhaps echoing NASL’s wish to use interviews to build up the personalities in their league.
The exact format of the league is not known at this time. Signs are pointing to a team league because teams as opposed to individuals were contacted but this has not been confirmed by any sources. It is also been reported that there has been some friction between at least one member of Fnatic and at least one staffer at IGN but it was not possible to come by details or implications for the league.
EDIT3:
16 player invitational confirmed, each of the competitors have an "IPL" profile on the IGN site now:
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