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Pro Video Game Leagues — Another Economic Casualty

Posted by Soulskill on from the quake-me dept.

Anonymusing writes "Not long ago, professional video gamer Emmanuel Rodriguez earned a base $30K salary plus prize winnings in the Championship Gaming Series. However, with the economy suffering, sponsors like DirecTV and News Corporation are backing out, leaving Rodriguez with a more typical job for a 23-year-old: store clerk. After the demise of the CPL and the Championship Gaming Series last year, the only major pro gamer league left is Major League Gaming, though it expects to turn a profit this year — some of its players earn more than six figures from the $1 million in prizes given throughout the season, while others are putting off college to work on their gaming careers." A recent story in the LA Times discusses how the games industry slow-down is hitting game developers hard as well. Conversely, the used game market is seeing significant growth — it'll be interesting to see what publishers learn from this.

7 of 207 comments (clear)

  1. What will they learn? by Evil_Medic1 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Probably...
    "The used game market is canibalizing our sales, they must be stopped!"

    1. Re:What will they learn? by Stepnsteph · · Score: 5, Insightful

      What they SHOULD learn is that they need to lower their #&@%ing prices. We're not talking rocket science here: People buy used games because they're - gasp! - not $60 or more. $30 to $40 is a far more realistic price range for games, and thus that's what most people are going to pay. Basic economics is a little too difficult for these people though. They'll just panic and blame used games for "cannibalizing their sales", or go on blaming piracy, or make some other inane excuse.

  2. Pizza always tastes better the next day too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Conversely, the used game market is seeing significant growth -- it'll be interesting to see what publishers learn from this.

    Clearly they need to go straight to the "used" market. It's like "straight to DVD" in movies.

  3. A little help by Useful+Wheat · · Score: 5, Interesting

    To be honest, I've never really understood how the pro gaming leagues really made any money. I understand that sponsors will give money to anything (re: Pizza hut advertising on a NASA rocket http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=2202), but this is no excuse. At the very most I'm indifferent about how well other people play the games I play, and I'm pretty sure most of my friends are the same way. The economy is just a useful scapegoat in this situation. Let's take a survey: How many of you enjoy watching other people play video games? How many of you have dismissed players that dominate you as having spent way too much time playing video games? What's your favorite kind of cheese? I'm partial to those Kraft American Singles.

  4. WSV by Jethro · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wonder if I can start a professional World's Smallest Violin league...

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    In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is kinky.
  5. Developing story by lupinstel · · Score: 5, Funny

    In light of this news EA Sports has decided to cancel their new game "Major League Gaming - The Game 2K9".

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    Don't blame me, I voted for Cthulhu.
  6. Re:Sports Celebrities by ptelligence · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That has absolutely nothing to do with why I watch women's beach volleyball.