[Baldie]

The Australian Cyber League is proud to announce its second live event to be held in Sydney at the end of June!

Recently, ACL announced preliminary details for the second event of its 2015 season, to be held in Sydney on June 27-28. Just 20 minutes from the CBD, ACL Sydney is shaping up to be one of the most exciting LAN events of the year. We are pleased to announce the addition of Counter Strike: Global Offensive to our offering alongside our more traditional titles. As esports is starting to pick up globally, ACL is proud to be accommodating the most competitive and professional Australian live tournaments and streams. With a few new features, plans and surprises to raise the bar for our events, you don’t want to miss this one!

For full details please visit the official website announcement.

Please note: This event is a MA15+ event. For full details please visit our website.
~~~~~~~~~~

Held at Macquarie University and combining forces with MaqLAN, this event will run exactly the same as standalone ACL events, with designated zones, stages and live streams for each primary title. In and around our stage areas will be a separate BYOPC LAN run by our friends at MaqLAN.

Titles
The Australian Cyber League is proud to announce it will bringing live competitions for the following titles at ACL Sydney.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive - 5v5 - PC
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm - 1v1 - PC
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – 4v4 – Xbox One
Halo 2 Anniversary – 4v4 – Xbox One

Entry Fee
REGISTER HERE

For the 16 players who advance straight into the group stage a fee of $60 inc GST per player will occur. This must be paid online prior to the event.

For anybody who competes in the open bracket a fee of $30 inc GST per player will occur.*
For the 8 players who subsequently advance from the open bracket to group stage an addition fee of $30 must be paid at the time of advancement to match the group stage fee.

*Any player who fails to prepay will incur a $10 surcharge on the day for a total of $40 inc GST per open bracket player.

Equipment Requirements
Keyboard, Mouse, Mousepad (headset optional).

Prizes
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm [1v1] - $4000*
1st - $1,400
2nd - $850
3rd - $500
4th - $300
5th - $125
6th - $125
7th - $100
8th - $100

*Prizes based on 50+ players for SC2. Due to only 40 players competing, the prize pool was reduced to $3,500.

Structure

Preceding Online Tournaments
There will be two preceding Online Rounds which will act as seeding for ACL Sydney. Players are not required to play in these Online Rounds but the 16 highest points earners from both Online Rounds will automatically qualify for ACL Sydney’s group stage.

ACL Sydney Online Round #1
Register
Date: Sunday, 24th May
Format: Double Elimination / Best of 3
Talent: Casted by Zepph and Maynarde with Insano observing
Stream

ACL Sydney Online Round #2
Register
Date: Sunday, 7th June
Format: Double Elimination / Best of 3
Talent: Casted by Zepph and Maynarde with Insano observing
Stream

Top 16 Pro Confirmation

+ [Expand] +

Seed	Name	Race	Points	Status
1.	Frustration		464
2.	Law		440
3.	Probe		430
4.	KingKong		408
5.	Pox		390
6.	Crimson		366
7.	Azure		316
8.	Yours		307
9.	Kez		245
10.	EnDerr		240
11.	Namakaye		200
12.	Redemption		170
13.	NaMeK		164
14.	Wally		142
15.	DevianT		137
16.	DarK		131

Pro Groups

+ [Pool A] +

+ [Pool B] +

+ [Pool C] +

+ [Pool D] +

We hope to see you all at Sydney June 27-28!

[FLuX]

Originally Posted by Baldie

For the 16 players who advance straight into the group stage a fee of $60 inc GST per player will occur.

Originally Posted by Baldie

5th - $75
6th - $75
7th - $75
8th - $75

~_~ High returns for 5th-8th placers lol

Edit: Just number crunched based on Soul's post below. Assuming 50 sign-ups with entry fees all prepaid, there's $1980 of this $2500 prize pool paid for.. Seems like there's very little in the way of financial support for this ACL outside of these entry fees..

Quick Comments

Baldie:

We always want to ensure 1st place is at least $1,000 and so we are limited with prize distribution for 2nd -8th

[syfRize]

Originally Posted by Baldie

*Prizes based on 50+ players for SC2

If there were.. lets say.. like 30~ people signed up, would that severely deteriorate the prize pool shown here?

Quick Comments

Baldie:

Most likely $1,750 like previous events where prize breakdown would be $1,000 , $500 , $250 but not 100% will confirm

[SLCN.NXZ]

In the past when the $2500 prize pool was used, correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't 5th and 6th place $100 and 7th and 8th $50. This makes more sense in my head then the current split as obviously it rewards the higher placing.

Although yes it would be nice for 7th and 8th to at least cover their entry fee so I guess I can get behind this as well.


In regard to flux's calculation. I think you made a mistake.

There will be 24 players by the end of the event who have paid the full $60 entry fee. In your calculation, you only included the 16 seeded players.

24*60 + 26*30 = $2220

Of course assuming a player pool of exactly 50 players.

[Baldie]

I'm open to look at a different breakdown for the lower values. I think the top 4 places need to be sizeable amounts I could do:

1st - $1,000
2nd - $600
3rd - $350
4th - $200
5th - $100
6th - $100
7th - $75
8th - $75

Thoughts?

While we do get support from sponsors you must all remember these events are not cheap by any means to operate so nearly all sponsor money goes into making the event look good, hiring equipment, transporting broadcasting equipment as well as supporting prize pools etc.

This isn't a small party. It's catering for the needs of hundreds of gamers.

[SLCN.NXZ]

Originally Posted by Baldie

I'm open to look at a different breakdown for the lower values. I think the top 4 places need to be sizeable amounts I could do 90, 90, 60, 60 for 5th through 8th probably makes more sense.

While we do get support from sponsors you must all remember these events are not cheap by any means to operate so nearly all sponsor money goes into making the event look good, hiring equipment, transporting broadcasting equipment etc.

This isn't a small party. It's catering for the needs of hundreds of gamers.

We're just spoilt from Sydney last year, I wouldn't worry about it. Prize is the same as it always has been.

I like the 90/90/60/60 split, I agree that 1st through 4th should remain as is and this probably strikes a good balance.

[Baldie]

Originally Posted by aLtNXZ

We're just spoilt from Sydney last year.

Yeah well having WCS prize budget to add to the event was always a big plus.

We still have one more ACL event on the calendar to be announced so who knows NXZ.. we might be able to bump the final event up.. will see how Sydney goes.

Quick Comments

	ThatGuyDoMo:	oooooooo
	SLCN.NXZ:	You're a tease Brad!
	syfRize:	:D hype
	ToRDjvillian:	#ACLAdelaide?

[syfChadMann]

fee increase is a bit steep.. :S

Still good to have something for SC2 ^_^

I hear this fee increase is funding increase spectator experience etc?.. care to elaborate? Or have those details not yet all been locked in?

Sadly I don't think I'll be able to attend. but GL HF to everyone!

Quick Comments

|Erasmus|:

pretty sure every event so far has been touted as increasing spectator experience... :/

[Fourby]

Originally Posted by fray`ChadMann

fee increase is a bit steep.. :S

Still good to have something for SC2 ^_^

I hear this fee increase is funding increase spectator experience etc?.. care to elaborate? Or have those details not yet all been locked in?

Sadly I don't think I'll be able to attend. but GL HF to everyone!

Player fee increase to fund a better spectator experience?
Or the $10 spectator fee to... increase spectator experience?

I can understand increasing player fee's to help fund a better experience for spectators. I mean damn 10 bucks to try lure some new nerds to the live scene.. NP

But doesn't it seem like your negating any kind of attractiveness to that same audience by docking them $10 and being like "trust us it'll be sweet", when they've never been to a live event before and are already iffy about it?

Just my oppinion IDK.

[Eddie]

Is the spectator fee an MQ LAN initiative or ACL, reading it i was thinking MQ. Any Sydney folk know if that is common for them?

And for spectators hopefully it's a weekend pass, rather than $10 each day!?

Quick Comments

	FaDePressureTest:	Even tho i live nearby, I honestly never knew MacLan was a thing. It could just be stuident body thing
	Zepph:	can confirm entry fee helps maqlan cover costs

[ACL VaNzR]

Hey guys, just wanted to poke my head in here and respond to a few concerns with some facts.It sucks to upset anyone, especially such a loyal (and now long running) community we've been serving since 2012. So we're sorry about that!

First up, the spectator price point. This is actually an initiative already in operation for MaqLAN, and something we were happy to abide by. I'll give my personal take on this: Australia is not yet 'up to par' with other continents in terms of esports events (particularly EU, NA, parts of Asia - KR). Not without publisher support. Not YET anyway. Similarly then, one wouldn't expect to pay to access an event or content that isn't up to a certain standard.

We here at ACL are very headstrong in terms of our vision for the future though. We believe firmly that we're not as far off as you think from being a more self-sustainable 'branch' of the global esports ecosystem. I am personally spending most of my time working on late 2015/2016 initiatives. There's a lot that can (and maybe won't) happen in that time, but we are working to put on some massive events that will be more in line with global efforts that will require charged spectator entry. Of course, this won't be breaking the bank for price point, but for this reason we think it's vital to 'ready' the community for this kind of activity.

Understanding it's still a sore point, we DO want to improve the experience for everyone. By and large that would come in the form of improved breaks/less downtime and more broadcast interviews etc. As much as we can do with limited resources.The intention in the future of course is to totally overhaul our model to make the experience unquestionably worthwhile.

We'll keep pushing to try and make the scene better in whichever way we can!

Accidentally ended up writing a wall of text, so I'll let Baldie explain price hikes. Pretty much just comes down to being able to organise the bracket efficiently and run a smoother tournament, we want everyone to sign up online, not pay us more money

[x5_dot]

See you nerds there!

Has anyone been to a MAQLAN before? What's it normally like?

Quick Comments

Zepph:

It's ok. I helped run it one year...not my scene but they have a generally decent turn out. the ACL portion will be good

[SLCN.Wally]

Honestly I think acl did a good job with the spectator stuff last Sydney and even if I wasn't playing I would have gladly paid $10 for it. I know it's not at the same place as last time but I think we can give ACL some credit for last year and hope that they have the same sort of experience as last time.

[ToRRedemption]

dayum right in the middle of exams!

[nGenLight]

Any likeable/good-looking/high potential Protoss besides Fourby worth a trip to spectate?

Quick Comments

	FLuX:	I hear Light is playing so we'll all be there eagerly spectating his games
	Zepph:	come play! top 8 ez get $$$$$$$$$
	sR_Osiris:	Soul is worth watching

[Frustration]

Originally Posted by iM Light

Any likeable/good-looking/high potential Protoss besides Fourby worth a trip to spectate?

I heard Frustralia is pretty good now days and might be attending.

[syfRize]

Originally Posted by iM Light

high potential

Originally Posted by iM Light

good-looking

Originally Posted by iM Light

likeable

Frustration, you know he did list 3 things you aren't.



....

[Frustration]

Originally Posted by fray`SouL

Frustration, you know he did list 3 things you aren't.



....

Ahahahaha ill let u get away with this 1

Quick Comments

	syfRize:	omg phew, thx
	x5.JevyN:	lmao

[Baldie]

Originally Posted by ACL VaNzR

Accidentally ended up writing a wall of text, so I'll let Baldie explain price hikes.

The additional $10 charge on the day is to try to deter people from registering/paying on the event day. It's extremely difficult to plan a tournament and try make an enjoyable experience if I get an influx of people sign up on the day. If people have issues paying or want a special exception they need to speak with me directly.

The 10% price increase across the board is to cover GST costs which we must pay which weren't factored into previous year budgets. So effectively we were not receiving as much income as we had budgeted for which if you think about the total amount of people paying over all titles it actually has a massive impact - so have rectified that now. This occurred for all titles not just StarCraft II.

[Baldie]

Thanks to the unfathomably generous support from Maynarde and Zepph who have donated $1,500 to the ACL Sydney prize pool, the total now stands at $4,000 and will have the following split:

1st - $1,500
2nd - $1,000
3rd - $600
4th - $350
5th - $150
6th - $150
7th - $125
8th - $125

While we don't expect nor advertise donations for events, any donations will go towards the prize pool. Should you wish to contribute to ACL Sydney or the remaining ACL event still to be announced please paypal accounts@vimme.com.au and put in the notes it's for the StarCraft II prize pool.

Make sure you send some love to Zepphnarde.

Quick Comments

	syfChadMann:	HOLLLLLLY SHIT YES!
	Fourby:	:O :O :O :O :O :O :O <3 <3 <3
	Pox:	WEOW
	rezyn8:	Literal gods
	asdfSchnitzel:	OMG YAY
	x5_dot:	Wow, ballers!