[rezyn8]

Blizzard et al need in-game micro-transactions in order to do this. Its why LoL WoT and DOTA2 get large prize pools.

[s_todd]

So does this mean for me i pay $30 at the door
If you advance to pro bracket thats another $25
Does this mean i might have to pay $55 dollars if i do well? (or someone else was to do well in open brackets)

Quick Comments

Baldie:

55 is the full cost we make it cheaper for open bracket to make it more affordable (pay outstanding if make groups)

[Narse]

Originally Posted by s_todd

So does this mean for me i pay $30 at the door
If you advance to pro bracket thats another $25
Does this mean i might have to pay $55 dollars if i do well? (or someone else was to do well in open brackets)

Now that i read it over like that... it seems sort of cheese to double charge someone for doing well.

[ROOT`iaguz]

Originally Posted by rezyn8

Blizzard et al need in-game micro-transactions in order to do this. Its why LoL WoT and DOTA2 get large prize pools.

Starcraft really does not support that kind of thing. For a start it's a pay up front game whereas league and dota are F2P. Secondly, there's not a lot of things that can be microtransactable. There's unit skins but D Browder explained they aren't doing a lot of those because of potential graphical strains on lower end PC's. So what do you do?

I imagine blizzard has racked the shit out of their brain to try and microtransact Starcraft but I suspect they're trying to turn other games into cash cows and Starcraft into this far less profitable yet otherwise really cool thing they have and support.

Quick Comments

rezyn8:

Completely agree - SC2 was never intended for the F2P model - Titan will be F2P micro-trans

[Baldie]

Originally Posted by Narse

Now that i read it over like that... it seems sort of cheese to double charge someone for doing well.

It's not cheese we are actually making it cheaper for open bracket. We could charge everybody full price to compete but we choose to halve it to compete in open bracket and if you make it to group stages then you pay the remaining balance. The pros pay full price straight away.

[Dox]

They kinda already started down the road of microtransactions, with unique Transmog helms being purchasable in WoW.

D3 will probably receive similar treatment, and some day BlizzDotA will probably follow the same MOBA model as LoL.

[SLCN.Petrify]

Wow, Riot just keeps winning my respect over and over. It's getting frustrating watching Blizzard doing nothing for the Australian scene while LoL is getting all these benefits.

Quick Comments

Fenner:

I know right T_T

[ROOT`iaguz]

League deserves it as far as I can see. Ignoring whatever you think about the game, the australian fanbase for the game is ******* enormous and as far as I can see is well herded. They got Aus servers. You know what you gotta do to have aus servers? Have enough players in Australia to merit them.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. That's not a pleasant thought.

[fur]

ACL is without a doubt the high point of my gaming year.

$30 is an absolute steal for what a great time you will have.

Good for LoL, great to see eSports and ACL being further supported in the country.

[ToRDjvillian]

Originally Posted by fur

ACL is without a doubt the high point of my gaming year.

$30 is an absolute steal for what a great time you will have.

Good for LoL, great to see eSports and ACL being further supported in the country.

Same for me. I've been hanging out for melbournes announced dates since ACL Brisbane. Getting really excited for next week now.

What i have been saying over the past few days is play in the open bracket because then you satisfy the urge to play early in the event allowing you to spectate the rest of the games afterwards.

besides what is $25-55 for a good time and a chance at more money?

[Narse]

Originally Posted by Baldie

It's not cheese we are actually making it cheaper for open bracket. We could charge everybody full price to compete but we choose to halve it to compete in open bracket and if you make it to group stages then you pay the remaining balance. The pros pay full price straight away.

Thank you for clarifying this.. I understand where you are coming from now.
I apologize for my ignorance.

[Dox]

Originally Posted by SLCN.Petrify

It's getting frustrating watching Blizzard doing nothing for the Australian scene while LoL is getting all these benefits.

When the hell did we become so ungrateful? It's always, "more, more, more."

Quick Comments

	Snx.FigJig:	because it isn't enough when everyone else is doing 10x better
	RuineD:	yes but when riot is pouring all this money into the community of course we're going to compare.

[SLCN.Petrify]

Originally Posted by Dox

When the hell did we become so ungrateful? It's always, "more, more, more."

Well, Blizzard shafted us for WCS, whilst Riot decides to inject tonnes of money into the scene continually. It's hard not to be asking for more when every LAN event you go to that has SC2 and LoL these days is just full of people there to see one game.

[Dox]

RE: Comments -

Originally Posted by Myth.PickleWeasel

because it isn't enough when everyone else is doing 10x better

Everyone? Are you under some deluded impression that the rest of Australian eSports is being showered in money as well? LoL is the exception, NOT THE RULE.

Originally Posted by Av.RuineD

yes but when riot is pouring all this money into the community of course we're going to compare.

Do you compare NBA prizes with PGA? Does anyone compare Grand Prix with World Rally Championships? Why does this community feel the need to compare everything between SC2 and LoL? And why is the view so narrow? If you're going to draw comparisons, why not include the entire spectrum? Compare with Call of Duty, Halo, Gears of War, DotA2, FIFA & the FGC.

Originally Posted by SLCN.Petrify

Well, Blizzard shafted us for WCS

We shafted ourselves for WCS... It's not their fault our scene is so small/isolated. Besides, they extended the olive branch last year, and look how quick we are to bite them? We're lucky we got what we did.

Originally Posted by SLCN.Petrify

whilst Riot decides to inject tonnes of money into the scene continually.

... Stop for a second and think about how much money Blizzard has injected into the scene over the past 10 years. Riot set up shop in AU a few months ago and suddenly that's overlooked?

Originally Posted by SLCN.Petrify

It's hard not to be asking for more when every LAN event you go to that has SC2 and LoL these days is just full of people there to see one game.

So when you say "every LAN event" you're referring to just AVCon right?

Quick Comments

TtSYF.tRoy:

Dox is on the money here

[ElectricAngel]

Originally Posted by fray`iaguz

League deserves it as far as I can see. Ignoring whatever you think about the game, the australian fanbase for the game is ******* enormous and as far as I can see is well herded. They got Aus servers. You know what you gotta do to have aus servers? Have enough players in Australia to merit them.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. That's not a pleasant thought.

Wise words... I don't think people understand that if they want something they need to support it .. not yell abuse at the party to get it.. pretty sure that's how LoL did it ^-^

[CarbonTwelve]

Originally Posted by ElectricAngel

Wise words... I don't think people understand that if they want something they need to support it .. not yell abuse at the party to get it.. pretty sure that's how LoL did it ^-^

The problem occurs when people are already supporting it as much as they can (by buying the game, playing it, watching tournaments, etc.), but there just aren't enough of them. I think the SC2 players complaining here are in exactly this position - they've done everything else they can towards encouraging Aussie/SEA support from Blizzard, but it still isn't happening, simply due to the lack of numbers. It's got nothing to do with not understanding that they need to support it.

I agree with what I think is Dox's sentiment (namely, that we shouldn't dump on Blizzard because they did do quite a bit despite the small scene), however that still doesn't change the fact that, regardless of the past, the SEA SC2 scene has all but been abandoned by Blizzard.

[ToR.Arnor]

Originally Posted by CarbonTwelve

The problem occurs when people are already supporting it as much as they can (by buying the game, playing it, watching tournaments, etc.), but there just aren't enough of them. I think the SC2 players complaining here are in exactly this position - they've done everything else they can towards encouraging Aussie/SEA support from Blizzard, but it still isn't happening, simply due to the lack of numbers. It's got nothing to do with not understanding that they need to support it.

I agree with what I think is Dox's sentiment (namely, that we shouldn't dump on Blizzard because they did do quite a bit despite the small scene), however that still doesn't change the fact that, regardless of the past, the SEA SC2 scene has all but been abandoned by Blizzard.

The SEA Scene hasnt Been abandoned, Over the last couple months Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines have all have national championships, next month theres going to a regional finals (top 2 from each event) to wrap it all up. The Oceania Scene however is an entirely different ball game.

The fact is true, our scene is small and for it to improve 1 of 2 things need to happen (well 3 if you include a combination of the 2 strategies). Either A) The community needs to continue to grow to the point where Blizzard has to support it and it becomes financially viable/sustainable to do so. On the other hand they can look into more ways to help grow the scene by investing more at the local level.

Quick Comments

TtSYF.tRoy:

^ VENGEANCE CUP!

[ElectricAngel]

Originally Posted by CarbonTwelve

The problem occurs when people are already supporting it as much as they can (by buying the game, playing it, watching tournaments, etc.), but there just aren't enough of them. I think the SC2 players complaining here are in exactly this position - they've done everything else they can towards encouraging Aussie/SEA support from Blizzard, but it still isn't happening, simply due to the lack of numbers. It's got nothing to do with not understanding that they need to support it.

I agree with what I think is Dox's sentiment (namely, that we shouldn't dump on Blizzard because they did do quite a bit despite the small scene), however that still doesn't change the fact that, regardless of the past, the SEA SC2 scene has all but been abandoned by Blizzard.

I will leave the term "abandoned" alone.. cause I could go on all day on how ungreatfull people are to the service they receive from Blizzard.. I come from the COD community..

And I still see no reason to turn on a company that has done so much for the community.. If its support they need, then it's support they need! Again turning your back on a scene because you compare it to a totally different scene and are not getting the same result..makes no sense to me.. If people like companies who throw money at people screaming "love me!" go for it.. but personally I'll play a game I enjoy thank you.. made and supported by a team that DOES listen and support its community.. just not in a superficial, materialistic way..

My opinion take it or leave it..

[CarbonTwelve]

Originally Posted by ToR.Arnor

The SEA Scene hasnt Been abandoned, Over the last couple months Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines have all have national championships, next month theres going to a regional finals (top 2 from each event) to wrap it all up.

Apologies for my ignorance of these. Just looked this up and found the info, and looks like a good tournament, although I'd be interested to find out just how much was invested by Blizzard.

Originally Posted by ElectricAngel

I will leave the term "abandoned" alone.. cause I could go on all day on how ungreatfull people are to the service they receive from Blizzard.. I come from the COD community..

Well, I don't think it's about being ungrateful. I mean, some people are, but please understand that I'm not using the term "abandoned" to sensationalise it, it's just that the support that once was there (WCS Australia / Oceania) no longer is.

If its support they need, then it's support they need!

What more kind of "support" can the people here provide? I'd say at this stage nothing is going to lure back enough people to the SC2 scene here to suddenly change whether hosting large events like WCS Australia is a worthwhile venture.

personally I'll play a game I enjoy thank you..

Which is what a lot of people in this thread are also doing. Wishing & hoping it was more isn't a bad thing.

Incidentally, I don't think the comparison to LoL is unfair either. The comparison does need to be made while taking into account the playerbase, but it's still true that Riot is currently investing in Australian tournaments and Blizzard is not. Things don't improve by hiding from the facts.

[Dox]

Originally Posted by ToR.Arnor

The community needs to continue to grow to the point where Blizzard has to support it and it becomes financially viable/sustainable to do so.

There is no such thing as sustainability. They don't turn a profit from this.

Originally Posted by CarbonTwelve

regardless of the past, the SEA SC2 scene has all but been abandoned by Blizzard.

Melodramatic much? We miss out on 1 year of Blizzcon/WCS and suddenly Blizzard has abandoned us? I'm really uncomfortable with the pseudo-precedent that has been set by Riot/Valve. Suddenly the publishers are expected to grow the scenes while the rest of us just sit back disgruntled or spoonfed. It's great to see these companies growing their own games, but it's taking responsibility away from the community. And I know it's just going to get worse and worse as new generations of gamers enter the industry and take it for granted.



Some more (purely speculative) food for thought: Blizzards plans for WCS 2013 were locked in before the 2012 financial year had ended. Which meant budgets had been allocated and anyone who has worked in project management will tell you - that means any revisions to the plan get pushed over to next FY. With the recent addition & reshuffling of the Blizzard eSports team and a new financial year, I think it's very likely that we'll see them take some very positive direction between now and 2015. Something else to consider is that when WCS was conceived, they didn't really have an eSports team. What was merely an afterthought 12 months ago now has a dedicated team driving it. Those additional resources are gonna mean a world of difference.

I know it's easy to mindlessly kick up a tantrum and whinge about how nothing is changing, but you have to consider it from Blizzard's angle. The amount of money Riot is sinking into Australia would have blindsided them, and they can't just pull money from a non-existent budget and follow suit. It's not that simple. They have multiple franchises to support, and it's safe to say they currently have 6+ titles (Legacy of the Void, WoW XP, D3 XP, Titan, Hearthstone, Blizzard DotA) in development. I'd expect WCS to become a lot more generous, accommodating and competitive over the next two years.

In my line of work, we've been caught off guard by market competitors (technology, services, marketing) on numerous occasions. It was critical for us to keep up with our competitors, and we had the resources to match/exceed them. But our budget for the year had already been exhausted, so we had to wait until the new financial year before we could charge out the gate at full speed.

I guess all I'm saying is, don't expect immediate change. And don't be so bloody fickle.

Quick Comments

	Zepph:	BOOM SON!
	TABjornbrandr:	Oh hey look some common sense, what a novel idea.