Opinion Friday: MLG's Dota 2 strategy is a double-edged sword
This is an editorial opinion piece and the author's opinion does not necessarily represent the opinion of GosuGamers or the opinion of any affiliates.
With GameBattles and Prizefights, MLG is running a double-online strategy, leaving out on offline tournaments for the foreseeable future. We'll need more Potm Bottom stories to make the breakthrough in America.
GameBattles and Prizefight are the first step. MLG has started its Dota 2 branch with two formats these days. In GameBattles, they want to provide an online ladder for Dota 2 teams. To kick off the season, Major League Gaming has promised a prize money of $5,000 as a stimulus for the fall season running until the end of the year. So far, 123 teams have registered, but only 1 total game has been played in the ladder. GameBattles is for the masses of gamers.
MLG Prizefight #1
Na'Vi
vs.
compLexityIntro
Game 1
Game 2
Picks G3
Game 3
OutroIn the Prizefight, MLG is providing showmatches between top teams, attracting them with $1,000 for just a small best-of-three. The prizefights are streamed online, so this is to show the masses of gamers, what they could do in the GameBattles ladder. The opening prizefight was Na'Vi against compLexity, casted by Purge, ending with a 2-1 victory by the TI2 runner-ups.
Double-online and zero-offline strategy for now
Speaking about GameBattles and Prizefight, the entry into the Dota 2 scene is a double-online strategy. And this is not likely to be changed soon. According to Major League Gaming' Lee Chen in September, Dota 2 offline events under their banner cannot be expected for 2013, yet. But honestly, MLG's offline events are the essence of the company.
The so far not very impressive standings of GameBattles. However, 123 teams have registered.
GameBattle and Prizefights are another part of the New Yorkers to dampen the huge downfalls in attraction gained in between their offline events. With their very own casting schedule announced for the fall season in Starcraft 2 and League of Legends, the Dota 2 strategy is just a brick in the wall.
Online is their key to broaden the spectrum
A lot of it comes down to the media-heavy orientation. This is something they share with NASL and IPL in the United States. In order to increase the production value, these companies have made huge investments. Now they got to expand their product in order to make up for it. Slowly but steadily crawling towards the Dota 2 community makes sense. Just in case Dota 2 gets really big once it's completely open for everyone, MLG wants to be already there.
Don't get me wrong, it's good MLG is aware of Dota 2 and is preparing slowly to expand its efforts for this great game. It's good, because apart from The International, America is under-represented concerning tournaments and live shows. It's good to have an organisation fishing for the casual gamers in this important market and providing show matches at America-friendly times.
Photo Source: Forbes
We need more Potm Bottom stories
At the same time, you can smell MLG has something to lose at this point, and they adapt their strategy to this fact. They didn't know how big SC2 would get in the United States when they picked up SC2 for their offline events. They didn't know League of Legends would be a global phenomenon when they picked that up. Still, they were courageously entering both markets with their main product. And that is part of the story why SC2 and LoL got big in America.
With Dota 2, Major League Gaming hesitates. They want to be part of the success, when it happens, but they don't want to make the second step. They are not acting, they are reacting. MLG's strategy is kind of a yellow strategy. For now, maybe they are right to do so. We can't see the future. EG, coL, dignitas and Quantic are not enough yet to convince them. We'll probably need more Potm Bottom stories to make the breakthrough.
With GameBattles and Prizefights, MLG is running a double-online strategy, leaving out on offline tournaments for the foreseeable future. We'll need more Potm Bottom stories to make the breakthrough in America.
GameBattles and Prizefight are the first step. MLG has started its Dota 2 branch with two formats these days. In GameBattles, they want to provide an online ladder for Dota 2 teams. To kick off the season, Major League Gaming has promised a prize money of $5,000 as a stimulus for the fall season running until the end of the year. So far, 123 teams have registered, but only 1 total game has been played in the ladder. GameBattles is for the masses of gamers.
MLG Prizefight #1
Na'Vi
vs.
compLexityIntro
Game 1
Game 2
Picks G3
Game 3
OutroIn the Prizefight, MLG is providing showmatches between top teams, attracting them with $1,000 for just a small best-of-three. The prizefights are streamed online, so this is to show the masses of gamers, what they could do in the GameBattles ladder. The opening prizefight was Na'Vi against compLexity, casted by Purge, ending with a 2-1 victory by the TI2 runner-ups.
Double-online and zero-offline strategy for now
Speaking about GameBattles and Prizefight, the entry into the Dota 2 scene is a double-online strategy. And this is not likely to be changed soon. According to Major League Gaming' Lee Chen in September, Dota 2 offline events under their banner cannot be expected for 2013, yet. But honestly, MLG's offline events are the essence of the company.
The so far not very impressive standings of GameBattles. However, 123 teams have registered.
GameBattle and Prizefights are another part of the New Yorkers to dampen the huge downfalls in attraction gained in between their offline events. With their very own casting schedule announced for the fall season in Starcraft 2 and League of Legends, the Dota 2 strategy is just a brick in the wall.
Online is their key to broaden the spectrum
A lot of it comes down to the media-heavy orientation. This is something they share with NASL and IPL in the United States. In order to increase the production value, these companies have made huge investments. Now they got to expand their product in order to make up for it. Slowly but steadily crawling towards the Dota 2 community makes sense. Just in case Dota 2 gets really big once it's completely open for everyone, MLG wants to be already there.
Don't get me wrong, it's good MLG is aware of Dota 2 and is preparing slowly to expand its efforts for this great game. It's good, because apart from The International, America is under-represented concerning tournaments and live shows. It's good to have an organisation fishing for the casual gamers in this important market and providing show matches at America-friendly times.
Photo Source: Forbes
We need more Potm Bottom stories
At the same time, you can smell MLG has something to lose at this point, and they adapt their strategy to this fact. They didn't know how big SC2 would get in the United States when they picked up SC2 for their offline events. They didn't know League of Legends would be a global phenomenon when they picked that up. Still, they were courageously entering both markets with their main product. And that is part of the story why SC2 and LoL got big in America.
With Dota 2, Major League Gaming hesitates. They want to be part of the success, when it happens, but they don't want to make the second step. They are not acting, they are reacting. MLG's strategy is kind of a yellow strategy. For now, maybe they are right to do so. We can't see the future. EG, coL, dignitas and Quantic are not enough yet to convince them. We'll probably need more Potm Bottom stories to make the breakthrough.
