169 replies to this topic

[Blitxll]

Is MWO ready to be an E-sport. I haven't been here very long so I don't know what high tier play even looks like (links to high tier play would be awesome). Also how does the forum community feel about this?

I saw a post about whether people would support the tournament pack and it looked like a 50/50 split on whether people would buy it or not. Some buying it not even to support the E-sport but just supporting MWO.

What are your general thoughts and feelings about this?

[Felicitatem Parco]

ESports is a way to gain viewership and customers. I have nothing against it since I do not see how it can possibly cause harm to the game (aside from pissing people off who get pissed over anything and everything that isn't exactly what they want... And those people don't matter to me).

Besides, MechWarrrior Online moving to a Solaris arena is just asking for an E-sports component.

[Deathlike]

Short answer is no.

Long answer is more complicated, outside of expressing how much effort would be needed to pull it off, and PGI doesn't really have the ability to accomplish this in a timely manner.

I mean, unless you enjoy the game from watching videos of the game (whether it is from comp play or a casual streamer), it can be kinda hard to explain to other people. I don't see the outside public being interested... especially when the game has no in-game replay system or properly visible fonts when steaming the game as a spectator.

Edited by Deathlike, 02 May 2016 - 11:32 AM.

[Gas Guzzler]

What's ironic is as PGI markets it as a "High Skill E-sport", they are actively developing ways to cater to the lower caliber players who want more of a slow paced simulator feel, where they can shrug off all kinds of damage and have 1v1s take upwards of 5-10 minutes.

[pbiggz]

lolno

[Davers]

There are a couple of things that really hurt the game as an Esport. First off, the range of the game. You can have fights breaking out anywhere from 1km to 5m. If you pull back to see the full view of the action, it's like watching an anthill; too close and you miss what half the team is doing. Since you can't actually see many of the weapons or their 'game effects' you end up staring at the paperdolls during the fight, rather than the fight itself.

Also, the inability to see/discuss the mechs that people brought before the fight begins. Usually there is a bit of a scramble at the start of every match where the announcers are quickly trying to identify the mechs, and to check the load outs, before the two teams start shooting.

This is based on the MRBC League games that I have watched.

[Spr1ggan]

This game isn't even close to being worthy of being an e-sport. Boring uninteresting gamemodes, low skill playerbase, hit reg, invisible walls, unbalanced spawn locations, objective locations, and maps.

[DaFrog]

It's an E something. Do we talk about porn as being E-sex ? No ? So why are we talking about video games as sports ?

[Novakaine]

Well at any rate it will be interesting.

[Malcolm Vordermark]

Blitxll, on 02 May 2016 - 11:26 AM, said:

(links to high tier play would be awesome).

Here is a link to the MRBC's (player run league) youtube page.

[jaxjace]

Gas Guzzler, on 02 May 2016 - 11:34 AM, said:

What's ironic is as PGI markets it as a "High Skill E-sport", they are actively developing ways to cater to the lower caliber players who want more of a slow paced simulator feel, where they can shrug off all kinds of damage and have 1v1s take upwards of 5-10 minutes.

this.

no, it will likely never be an Esport.

[Afuldan McKronik]

jaxjace, on 02 May 2016 - 02:39 PM, said:

this.

no, it will likely never be an Esport.

It really is too bad that they have to waste this much time, effort and money to do so. I actually thought when it was first announced that MRBC was going to become the official League/Tournament. With prizes handed out by PGI and everything.

[Quicksilver Aberration]

Afuldan McKronik, on 02 May 2016 - 02:41 PM, said:

With prizes handed out by PGI and everything.

Well PGI does actually give MRBC admins and shoutcasters prizes to dole out for the tournament. Linky link

[Afuldan McKronik]

Quicksilver Kalasa, on 02 May 2016 - 02:47 PM, said:

Well PGI does actually give MRBC admins and shoutcasters prizes to dole out for the tournament. Linky link

Thats cool, but I was thinking more the $60,000.

[Aresye]

Deathlike, on 02 May 2016 - 11:32 AM, said:

I don't see the outside public being interested... especially when the game has no in-game replay system or properly visible fonts when steaming the game as a spectator.

Those are two fairly big issues that (IIRC) PGI is at least attempting to address. I heard they were attempting to create a replay based system that uses game data, and they at least said there were changes coming to the spectator tool.

The main problem with the current spectating system is two-fold:
1. The team rosters, damage %, map, and other essential data for spectators, is ONLY viewable in 3PV.
- For a comparison, let's look at CS:GO. You can watch each individual player's 1PV and still see both teams, the health of each player, what weapons and equipment they bought, and a full map in the corner.
- 3PV is great to show viewers a quick glance at a team's positioning and strat, but it isn't exciting to watch.
- 1PV is more exciting to watch, however you can't see all the other information related to the match, and it's hard to tell which side you're spectating without knowing the positions on the maps and/or names of the pilots.

2. HSR prevents accurate spectating data.
- Like it or not, the main draw of esports centers around player and team worship. People love to watch the fast reaction times, accurate shots, and mastery of mechanics that high level players display.
- Problem with MWO is spectators have the same problem as when you're spectating your own teammates: The crosshair is not accurate to where the player is actually shooting at.
- Nobody likes watching what looks like a ton of missed shots, where the only indication that something actually hit being the red flash of the crosshair and/or paper doll update. That absolutely SUCKS for viewers.

If PGI can create a solid spectator overlay that properly shows team and game information regardless of which view they're in, AND they can create a way to accurately show where a player is actually aiming, it will go a long way to helping MWO as an esport.

Also, forgot to mention, but server tick rate!

Last we heard, the tick rate for MWO's public servers was 30, and quite possibly even lower for private lobby servers (judging from horrendous hitreg issues that seem to be exclusive to private matchmaking). That's way too low for high level tournament play.

Hopefully the tournament servers will be at least 64 tick.

[Deathlike]

Aresye, on 02 May 2016 - 02:53 PM, said:

Those are two fairly big issues that (IIRC) PGI is at least attempting to address. I heard they were attempting to create a replay based system that uses game data, and they at least said there were changes coming to the spectator tool.

The main problem with the current spectating system is two-fold:
1. The team rosters, damage %, map, and other essential data for spectators, is ONLY viewable in 3PV.
- For a comparison, let's look at CS:GO. You can watch each individual player's 1PV and still see both teams, the health of each player, what weapons and equipment they bought, and a full map in the corner.
- 3PV is great to show viewers a quick glance at a team's positioning and strat, but it isn't exciting to watch.
- 1PV is more exciting to watch, however you can't see all the other information related to the match, and it's hard to tell which side you're spectating without knowing the positions on the maps and/or names of the pilots.

2. HSR prevents accurate spectating data.
- Like it or not, the main draw of esports centers around player and team worship. People love to watch the fast reaction times, accurate shots, and mastery of mechanics that high level players display.
- Problem with MWO is spectators have the same problem as when you're spectating your own teammates: The crosshair is not accurate to where the player is actually shooting at.
- Nobody likes watching what looks like a ton of missed shots, where the only indication that something actually hit being the red flash of the crosshair and/or paper doll update. That absolutely SUCKS for viewers.

If PGI can create a solid spectator overlay that properly shows team and game information regardless of which view they're in, AND they can create a way to accurately show where a player is actually aiming, it will go a long way to helping MWO as an esport.

Also, forgot to mention, but server tick rate!

Last we heard, the tick rate for MWO's public servers was 30, and quite possibly even lower for private lobby servers (judging from horrendous hitreg issues that seem to be exclusive to private matchmaking). That's way too low for high level tournament play.

Hopefully the tournament servers will be at least 64 tick.

So... it's either never gonna happen, or #MWO2020.

[Firelizard]

Here's an insane idea:

What if PGI just made a fun and enjoyable game, and let the e-sport community decide if they want anything to do with it. As opposed to attempting to force the issue as we have now.

[Afuldan McKronik]

Firelizard, on 02 May 2016 - 03:33 PM, said:

Here's an insane idea:

What if PGI just made a fun and enjoyable game, and let the e-sport community decide if they want anything to do with it. As opposed to attempting to force the issue as we have now.

I think theres lots of things that should have been done first. MRBC format looks nice, but only people who already are familiar with MWO are even going to know wtf is going on.

[dervishx5]

Firelizard, on 02 May 2016 - 03:33 PM, said:

Here's an insane idea:

What if PGI just made a fun and enjoyable game, and let the e-sport community decide if they want anything to do with it. As opposed to attempting to force the issue as we have now.

PGI's response:

[Afuldan McKronik]

dervishx5, on 02 May 2016 - 03:43 PM, said:

PGI's response:

#JUSTMWOPLAYERS