The B/R Weekly Rushdown: July 20, 2016
Boy, did things pick up quickly. Evo 2016 dominated the eSports world and provided a great deal of news on the future of the fighting game scene. Dota 2's The International 2016, which has been steadily building excitement since June, is starting to take shape, but problems are starting to arise.
Here is your rushdown of news from the last week.
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Evo 2016 Happened
Evo 2016 came, it went, and it left most begging for more.
The annual fighting game open tournament broke every one of its participation records, with over 5,000 Street Fighter V players, more than 2,000 playing in both Smash Bros. Melee and Smash Bros. 4, and over 1,000 playing Pokken Tournament.
Fittingly, Evo organizers went to great lengths to make the event look bigger than ever. Instead of taking over a random Las Vegas hotel, they filled the Las Vegas Convention Center for the pool stages and then claimed the Mandalay Bay Events Center for the finals. Driving home its size and scope was a glorious Sunday of action in front a massive, raucous crowd on a stage as glamorous as one could expect out of Las Vegas.
A lot can be said about how important, how amazing and how compelling the tournament was. And a lot has been said. Check it out here.
Dota 2's TI6 to Host Official Cosplay Contest
One of the best surprises at the Dota 2 Manila Major in June was the cosplay contest. While cosplayers are often sneered at by the public at large, the artistry and skill therein is undeniable. When many of the Philippines' top cosplayers had a grand opportunity to show off their work at the tournament (and a $10,000 prize) dangled in front of them, they made the most of the opportunity and wowed Dota 2 fans with their meticulous homages to the game's characters.
Now, cosplayers have an even grander stage and an even bigger prize pool to compete over with the announcement that the The International 2016 will host its first official cosplay competition. Fifteen finalists will receive a slice of a $15,000 prize pool, and many more will spend some time in the spotlight of one of the greatest eSports events of the year.
Anyone interested in learning more, or perhaps mulling over entering the field, can check out the official Dota 2 blog post.
TI6 Possibly Facing Major Shake-Ups Due to Visa Issues
A topic that has repeatedly popped up in the Weekly Rushdown has been the difficulties players from Asia can face when trying to compete in western tournaments. Unfortunately, the highest-profile incident of this kind to date occurred on Monday with news breaking that Filipino teams Execration and TNC Gaming were possibly going to be forced out of the $18 million USD tournament due to visa issues.
According to the eSports Inquirer (via DailyDot.com) both teams' applications for B1/B2 visas were denied, leaving them with no means of entering the United States. They are currently seeking a P1 Athlete visa but face a wait time that could keep them from competing.
That's a devastating blow to both TI6 and the Filipino eSports scene. TNC Gaming is already qualified for the TI6 main event and could be missing out on a substantial payday while Execration are looking to get into the tournament with a wildcard spot.
Both teams are currently seeking help at the political level, reaching out to Bam Aquino a senator that has previously helped Filipino eSports competitors. If that doesn't pan out, however, they are missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime.
Valve Cracking Down on Skin Betting
Another frequent topic of discussion on the Weekly Rushdown is updates surrounding skin-betting in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, which allows players to bet digital items on the results of pro games. Stories of class-action lawsuits and scandals have put a great deal of strain in the community and have been a major part of the eSports news cycle for the last few months.
After years of being an unregulated Wild West, however, skin-betting may be going the way of the cowboy. According to Polygon.com, Valve is making moves to take down betting sites...and could end up wiping out the industry in short order.
"Using the OpenID API and making the same web calls as Steam users to run a gambling business is not allowed by our API nor our user agreements," said Valve's Erik Johnson, via Polygon.com's Allegra Frank. "We are going to start sending notices to these sites requesting they cease operations through Steam, and further pursue the matter as necessary. Users should probably consider this information as they manage their in-game item inventory and trade activity.
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While skin betting is a massive industry worth tens of millions of dollars, a few well-placed cease-and-desists could easily grind things to a halt. If so, the CS:GO viewership experience could change in a big way.
Capcom Cup Taking a Page Out of Dota 2's Book
More on TI6? And more on Evo? You're dang right.
Dota 2's "Compendium" system is one of the most amazing ideas in eSports history. Functionally a Kickstarter campaign built directly into the game's client, Compendiums are sold on the promise that a portion of the proceeds go directly to The International's prize pool. Players that contribute are rewarded with items, mini-games and various other exclusive features that, more often than not, offer a strong return on investment.
It's a simple idea but a genius one...and Capcom is looking to get in on the action. The Japanese publisher announced on Friday (via Dailydot.com) that a special Street Fighter V DLC pack including a new level, new costumes and new color options will be hitting the PlayStation Network. Oh, and a cut of the sales will be added to the Capcom Cup prize pool.
Needless to say, that's a very good thing. Few publishers have actively sought out ways to bolster the earning potential of competitive players, and Japanese publishers in particular have struggled with this idea. While it's unclear how much of the proceeds will go to the players, this can only be looked at as a step in the right direction. Hopefully, fighting gamers will be able to start competing for prize pools similar to those of their MOBA-playing cousins.
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