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Major League Gaming: Difference between revisions

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'''Major League Gaming''' (MLG) is a professional American gaming league founded in 2002, dedicated to competition in console gaming. Its headquarters are in New York City. [[Super Smash Brothers Melee]] was part of their major circuit from 2004-2006. MLG has recently taken [[SSBM]] out of their tournament circuit for the duration of the '07 pro tour. A spokesman for the company has stated that MLG still wishes to stay involved in the smash tournament scene. In order to do this, the company intends to sponsor "grassroots" tournaments, which will be funded entirely out of the company's pockets.
{{ArticleIcons|ssbm=y|ssbb=y|ssb4-u=y|competitive=y}}
[[File:MajorLeagueGamingLogo.svg|thumb|The current logo for Major League Gaming]]
{{art-wikipedia}}
'''Major League Gaming''', often abbreviated as '''MLG''', is a professional American gaming league founded in 2002, dedicated to competition in console gaming. Headquartered in New York City, the league has had some interaction with the ''{{b|Super Smash Bros.|series}}'' series, with ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' and {{forwiiu}} having appeared on their brackets. In addition to giving more recognition to the games, some smashers from the MLG scene later became celebrities in their own right; {{Sm|Ken Hoang}}, for instance, credits the league with helping him pay for college, and he has since appeared in other television shows. In January 2016, video game publisher Activision Blizzard acquired the Major League Gaming brand, with intentions to restructure the company and spin it off into an esports television network, though this has yet to materialize. [[Microsoft]] later acquired Activision Blizzard and all its subsidiaries, including Major League Gaming, on October 13, 2023.


More information is available [http://smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=96486 here]
==Involvement with ''Super Smash Bros.''==
''Melee'' was added to the circuits of MLG in 2004; it was retired in 2007 due to declining interest in ''Melee'' with the development of ''Brawl'' underway, as well as an increasing focus in the MLG to seventh generation consoles. Adding to this, an increased independent tournament scene began developing, which sometimes undermined the MLG's own tournaments.


==Business Strategy==
In 2007, MLG bought [[Smash World Forums]] from {{Sm|Gideon}} for an undisclosed sum, though it was reportedly enough to cover Gideon's medical school expenses. While MLG was able to move SmashBoards to more stable servers, preventing site crashes that had previously plagued the formers, a large number of posts made prior to 2007 were deleted and numerous threads about old tournaments were lost; furthermore, Gideon's various fansites that were linked to Smash World Forums.  
MLG was founded by current CEO, Michael Sepso and his business partner and current CMO Sundance DiGiovanni in 2002. Unlike other electronic sports leagues, the league specifically targets console gaming. The league also signs individual players and teams, as opposed to the custom in e-Sports, where players are usually signed to independent clubs. This practice provides players with management and a salary, but sometimes leads to conflicts with other competitions.


The company feels that by raising video game competition to the level of professional sport, it is creating a sports media business that provides players, developers, publishers, media partners, and advertisers a unique connection to the video game lifestyle enjoyed by 168 million Americans.
In 2010, ''Brawl'' was added to MLG circuits, as a replacement to ''Melee''; this inclusion, while not as popular as the ''Melee'' scene, did lead to ''Brawl'' experiencing a similar surge in popularity. While popular as an "alternate" fighting game, MLG later removed ''Brawl'' for the 2011 Pro Circuit. The reason for ''Brawl's'' removal have not been disclosed, though common theories include dwindling attendance at events (the MLG Raleigh tournament, for instance, only attracted 148 singles entrants); growing interest in grassroots tournaments; a lack of sponsors (most notably Nintendo's refusal to let MLG livestream ''Brawl'' events); and that two of the most well-known ''Brawl'' players, {{Sm|Mew2King}} and {{Sm|ADHD}}, were found guilty of [[bracket manipulation]] at [[MLG DC 2010]] in October.


MLG operates a pro tour that makes stops in several cities. Through MLG Management, it develops the careers of a roster of professional gamers that it feels are the best in the world. MLG produces a variety of online and broadcast-quality programming that showcases these gamers.
Neither ''Melee'' nor ''Brawl'' returned for MLG events in 2012 or 2013. Furthermore, on 27 November 2012, MLG sold SmashBoards to {{Sm|AlphaZealot}} through his company Xyelot LLC,<ref>http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=330262</ref> in what was viewed as an attempt to further the separation between ''Smash'' and MLG.


==Games on the MLG Pro Circuit==
Towards the end of 2013, MLG suggested that it might include ''Melee'' at [[MLG Anaheim 2014]].<ref>http://smashboards.com/threads/mlg-2014-feedback-discussion.343288/</ref> ''Brawl'' was also considered for inclusion, as well as ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'', if the game was released by the tournament date. In March 2014, ''Melee'' was confirmed to be reappearing at MLG Anaheim 2014, but it was also announced that ''Brawl'' would not make a return for the tournament. While response to ''Melee''{{'}}s appearance was positive, the decision to exclude ''Brawl'' received more mixed reception, owing to the continued controversy over ''Brawl''{{'}}s gameplay changes compared to ''Melee''. In addition to MLG Anaheim 2014, various qualifier tournaments were also organised for the event.
Games currently supported for all tournament play are Halo 2 and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas. Online tournaments also include Gears of War. In 2007 MLG dropped SSBM from the pro circuit, but as said above will continue to support the community by sponsoring grassroots tournaments.


Major League Gaming also held competitions for Tekken 5 but low turnout led to the discontinuation of that tournament in October 2005. In addition, tournaments were held for Gran Turismo 3 and Soul Calibur in the 2004 season, but these were also dropped, again due to low turnout.
MLG Anaheim 2014 eventually took place from 20 June to 22 June 2014, marking ''Melee''{{'}}s first appearance at an MLG event since 2006. The tournament, however, was criticised by some entrants and spectators for multiple logistics issues regarding the timing of events and quality of online streams; furthermore, MLG ended up losing recordings of ''Melee'' matches, and had to obtain them from viewers who had captured the livestream, even though their website asked viewers to not do so.


==2007 Season==
Following MLG Anaheim 2014, MLG did not speak about whether ''Smash'' would reappear for future tournaments; this continued into 2015 until October, when it was confirmed both ''Melee'' and ''Smash 4'' would appear at the [[MLG World Finals 2015]] finals. Since the conclusion of the event, no further news has been given as to whether more ''Smash'' titles will appear in MLG's future events.
The 2007 season tournament dates as of 2/11/07 are:
*[http://www.mlgpro.com/?q=node/106070 Charlotte(Charlotte, NC) - Apr 13-15]
*[http://www.mlgpro.com/?q=node/106077 Meadowlands(Secaucus, NJ) - June 8-10]
*[http://www.mlgpro.com/?q=node/106073 Dallas(Dallas, TX) - July 20-22]
*[http://www.mlgpro.com/?q=node/106071 Chicago(Chicago, IL) - August 17-19]
*[http://www.mlgpro.com/?q=node/106075 Orlando(Orlanda, FL) - Septempber 21-23]
*Playoffs - TBD
*National Championships - TBD


==Major League Gaming in the Media==
==References==
===The league in the press===
<references/>
MLG was featured in the Wall Street Journal, noting that MLG has recently acquired $10 million in funding to help craft the league.


===The league in television===
==External links==
In the seventh season  of MTV|MTV's True Life series, an episode centred on MLG-contracted Halo 2 player, "Tsquared".
*[http://www.mlg.com/ Official Website]
The league and player, LiL Poison were mentioned on CBS's 60 Minutes in a story about professional gamer, Fatal1ty.
USA Network, currently America's #1 cable TV network, aired the first season of MLG Pro Circuit on Saturdays from November to December 2006. Voom of Dish Network satelite television provider is scheduled to show the first season in High-Definition during March 2007.


===Sponsorship===
{{MLG}}
MLG, which main sponsor is Gamestop, signed with sponsors Boost Mobile, Red Bull and Scion for the 2006 season.
 
==External links==
*[http://www.mlgpro.com/ Major League Gaming]
*[http://www.boostmobilegaming.com/ Boost Mobile Gaming site with podcasts of MLG events]
*[http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=boostmobilegaming Boost Mobile Gaming podcasts on Youtube]
*[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12353167/ Pro video gaming comes to cable TV]
*[http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/action/halo2/news.html?sid=6152992 Gamers get $1m MLG gig]
*[http://www.mlgpro.com/?q=node/64636 Tsquared on Fox]
*[http://www.ampedesports.com/news/2937 StrongSide joins Final Boss]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Gaming] - primary reference for this smashwiki article


[[Category:Tournaments and Events]]
[[Category:Competitive play]]

Latest revision as of 17:08, January 20, 2024

The current logo for Major League Gaming

Major League Gaming, often abbreviated as MLG, is a professional American gaming league founded in 2002, dedicated to competition in console gaming. Headquartered in New York City, the league has had some interaction with the Super Smash Bros. series, with Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U having appeared on their brackets. In addition to giving more recognition to the games, some smashers from the MLG scene later became celebrities in their own right; Ken Hoang, for instance, credits the league with helping him pay for college, and he has since appeared in other television shows. In January 2016, video game publisher Activision Blizzard acquired the Major League Gaming brand, with intentions to restructure the company and spin it off into an esports television network, though this has yet to materialize. Microsoft later acquired Activision Blizzard and all its subsidiaries, including Major League Gaming, on October 13, 2023.

Involvement with Super Smash Bros.[edit]

Melee was added to the circuits of MLG in 2004; it was retired in 2007 due to declining interest in Melee with the development of Brawl underway, as well as an increasing focus in the MLG to seventh generation consoles. Adding to this, an increased independent tournament scene began developing, which sometimes undermined the MLG's own tournaments.

In 2007, MLG bought Smash World Forums from Gideon for an undisclosed sum, though it was reportedly enough to cover Gideon's medical school expenses. While MLG was able to move SmashBoards to more stable servers, preventing site crashes that had previously plagued the formers, a large number of posts made prior to 2007 were deleted and numerous threads about old tournaments were lost; furthermore, Gideon's various fansites that were linked to Smash World Forums.

In 2010, Brawl was added to MLG circuits, as a replacement to Melee; this inclusion, while not as popular as the Melee scene, did lead to Brawl experiencing a similar surge in popularity. While popular as an "alternate" fighting game, MLG later removed Brawl for the 2011 Pro Circuit. The reason for Brawl's removal have not been disclosed, though common theories include dwindling attendance at events (the MLG Raleigh tournament, for instance, only attracted 148 singles entrants); growing interest in grassroots tournaments; a lack of sponsors (most notably Nintendo's refusal to let MLG livestream Brawl events); and that two of the most well-known Brawl players, Mew2King and ADHD, were found guilty of bracket manipulation at MLG DC 2010 in October.

Neither Melee nor Brawl returned for MLG events in 2012 or 2013. Furthermore, on 27 November 2012, MLG sold SmashBoards to AlphaZealot through his company Xyelot LLC,[1] in what was viewed as an attempt to further the separation between Smash and MLG.

Towards the end of 2013, MLG suggested that it might include Melee at MLG Anaheim 2014.[2] Brawl was also considered for inclusion, as well as Super Smash Bros. 4, if the game was released by the tournament date. In March 2014, Melee was confirmed to be reappearing at MLG Anaheim 2014, but it was also announced that Brawl would not make a return for the tournament. While response to Melee's appearance was positive, the decision to exclude Brawl received more mixed reception, owing to the continued controversy over Brawl's gameplay changes compared to Melee. In addition to MLG Anaheim 2014, various qualifier tournaments were also organised for the event.

MLG Anaheim 2014 eventually took place from 20 June to 22 June 2014, marking Melee's first appearance at an MLG event since 2006. The tournament, however, was criticised by some entrants and spectators for multiple logistics issues regarding the timing of events and quality of online streams; furthermore, MLG ended up losing recordings of Melee matches, and had to obtain them from viewers who had captured the livestream, even though their website asked viewers to not do so.

Following MLG Anaheim 2014, MLG did not speak about whether Smash would reappear for future tournaments; this continued into 2015 until October, when it was confirmed both Melee and Smash 4 would appear at the MLG World Finals 2015 finals. Since the conclusion of the event, no further news has been given as to whether more Smash titles will appear in MLG's future events.

References[edit]

External links[edit]