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1/ Unsurprisingly, there are angry people on the internet over my comment re: players caring about online play at this point.
You can anger people over literally anything in 2020, even without trying. Let's clarify.
You can anger people over literally anything in 2020, even without trying. Let's clarify.
2/ My fundamental belief is that there is no chance the best players can fully care about online play at this point.
That doesn't mean they aren't trying, but it does mean the effort isn't the same as at a large scale offline tournament.
That doesn't mean they aren't trying, but it does mean the effort isn't the same as at a large scale offline tournament.
3/ That can translate into many things, such as worse preparation, looser playing style, lack of pressure, etc.
Most important, the quality of the product (i.e., the match) suffers, ASSUMING players are not giving it their 100%.
That's bad for fans.
Most important, the quality of the product (i.e., the match) suffers, ASSUMING players are not giving it their 100%.
That's bad for fans.
4/ However, if players are indeed giving it their 100% and (techical issues, lag, worse production quality, etc.) aside online play is STILL after months the equivalent to offline play, then my conclusion is clear:
Most CS:GO should be online year-round.
Most CS:GO should be online year-round.
5/ Why?
Because offline events are expensive and fans don't pay nearly enough for their tickets to make them profitable. They're expensive showcases (that help with sponsors).
The reason these online tournaments go on forever with endless BO3s is the economics ACTUALLY work.
Because offline events are expensive and fans don't pay nearly enough for their tickets to make them profitable. They're expensive showcases (that help with sponsors).
The reason these online tournaments go on forever with endless BO3s is the economics ACTUALLY work.
6/ So if it is indeed true, as arT suggested, that the quality of play is identical online vs. offline, then we should make an effort to move ~all of the CS:GO calendar online.
You can improve the economics for everyone involved, and put CS:GO on a sustainable path.
You can improve the economics for everyone involved, and put CS:GO on a sustainable path.
7/ That fans or players "prefer" offline events shouldn't be enough of a reason to host them, if the former aren't willing to pay more for them, or the latter won't take less money to afford them.
Offline events have been justified as the tablestakes for getting teams to attend.
Offline events have been justified as the tablestakes for getting teams to attend.
8/ However, if teams actually do view online CS:GO as the equivalent of offline CS:GO, then I do, 100% honestly, think that we should consider moving most tournaments online.
I don't believe most have that view, but if they do, why do we bother with offline CS?
I don't believe most have that view, but if they do, why do we bother with offline CS?
9/ TOs lose millions for no reason, players have to be traveling for >200 days/year, and everyone suffers from bad food, hotels, etc.
What if we could do away with all of that?
What if we could do away with all of that?
10/ In an online world (e.g., only Majors offline), you could gut all TOs from expenses (esp. personnel) and pay significant revenue share to both teams and players, and potentially justify/even increase player salaries.
Everyone wins.
But only if the effort is truly the same.
Everyone wins.
But only if the effort is truly the same.
