Will you be watching TI4?

[Comic Sans]

I am, and I am super psyched for it. The meta is the best one we've had in a while, so the games should be fantastic. I am not rooting for anyone in particular, but I'd love to see my Hontrash Fnatic do well, especially with all that's gone on with Era.

 

[Isalan]

Yep, I'll be there doing art stuff too, leaving this Friday! I'm rooting for DK because iceiceice is precious.

Just wanted too say, LOVE your work. Hopefully DK will do well, after last year Mushi deserves a win, and I do love a bit of iceiceice.

Have fun in Seattle!

 

[Isalan]

Yeh it proves to be a decent even to watch.

I want Fnatic to place but they're most likely going to struggle with roster issues etc. They could do it but most likely we're going to see IG in the final vs another Chinese team as IG recently steamrolled Evil genius (The main US team).

Also watching the Russians lose in round one was the best feeling ever. Most Dota2 players will probably know why.

Agreed, it would be nice too see Fnatic do well, especially with what Era's been going through. I would have dearly loved to see Excalibur play, even though his range of heroes seems to be a bit limited.

I think MVP's performance was really very good, shows how well Korean doto is coming along. Give it a year or 2 and they could be a force to be reckoned with. Saying that, Liquid played a blinding series against them, all credit too the team, great co-ordination.

Based on today's action, tournament is shaping up to be a damn good watch. Hopefully it won't descend into a rat war, though I think the large single game group stage approach is gonna put pay to a lot of that. Might end up seeing a bit more of it come the later rounds though.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Nah, I haven't played a second of DoTA 2 and I wouldn't understand anything that's happening.

Still though. Wish other games got the competitive scene near as huge as DoTA 2 is. TF2's i52 is coming up and I haven't heard much word online about it, besides TF2-specific communities.

 

[Vigormortis]

You bet your arse I'll be watching. Not only for entertainment reasons (and boy will this one be entertaining) but also because I have a vested stake in some of the outcomes; both in the rankings and in two fantasy leagues.

So far I'm 7 and 1 across both leagues, so here's hoping my relative winning streak holds out through TI4!

 

[elvor0]

Nope, I still find the very idea of competitive game tournaments on this scale, especially with the prize pool being over 10 million to be absolutely fucking stupid. People shouldn't become millionaires from shit like this.

The world cup is going on at the moment. I know there's not a prize pool, but the dudes get /paid/ a rediculous amount, not just winning it from a prize pool. Or is it just vidya games you have a problem with?

Besides, it's out of peoples own pockets and sponsor money, not taxes, so I can't really have a problem. Who am I to judge where people put their money?

 

[Chemical Alia]

Yep, I'll be there doing art stuff too, leaving this Friday! I'm rooting for DK because iceiceice is precious.

Just wanted too say, LOVE your work. Hopefully DK will do well, after last year Mushi deserves a win, and I do love a bit of iceiceice.

Have fun in Seattle!

Thanks a bunch, I appreciate it! Trying to get a few things wrapped up before I go out there, including something we technically haven't even started yet. v:

May I say that I just love your new Natures Prophet set! Sadly I did not get the luck with Timberthaw (unlike a buddy of mine) but it looks fucking sweet as well.

I'm kinda bummed they didn't add the custom TP and my ability icons for the other set, but I know Valve has been crazy busy getting all of that stuff ready in time and and honestly expected some omissions.

Nope, I still find the very idea of competitive game tournaments on this scale, especially with the prize pool being over 10 million to be absolutely fucking stupid. People shouldn't become millionaires from shit like this.

I think it's amazing. Then again, at the moment I make my own living making virtual hats for the people earning "millions" playing video games. The community has shown that this is something they're willing to support and spend money on, so I suppose you'll just have to get used to the idea. If someone is good enough at a video game to actually make a living for a time playing that game, then I'm certainly impressed.

 

[Frankster]

I find competitive MOBAs boring to watch and honestly don't understand why it's so popular tbh so nope won't be watching.

I wasn't the biggest starcraft fan but found watching sc games, and strategy games in general to be more entertaining to watch on a professional level.

 

[Candidus]

Yep, I'll be there doing art stuff too, leaving this Friday! I'm rooting for DK because iceiceice is precious.

IceIceIce is definitely in that category of player whose personality is as defining as their skills and specialties. Along with SingSing, Dendi and Puppey. And of course, Notail!

I'll be watching it no doubt; on the noob stream because Purge/Sunsfan are a better casting duo than any combo on the main stream! I'm rooting for Fnatic (optimistic, sure), and my backups are DK and Na'vi. I'm not going to cheer for Cloud 9 or Liquid, but I wouldn't be upset if they won and I hope they place in the money.

iG on the other hand I would like to see fail hard in the playoffs, then lose their first lower bracket game to exit the tournament. I know, fat Chuance of that happening, but it's what I want.

 

[Isalan]

Ok I'm calling shenanigans.

Na.Vi EU goes in vs Fnatic and gets destroyed.

5 minutes later the next match

Na.Vi NA goes in vs Fnatic and picks the perfect counter team to them, perfect bans and picks.


To me it looks like Na.Vi leadership sent Na.Vi EU in to be sacrificial lambs to let the backstage team see Fnatics strategy and work out a counter then pass it on to Na.Vi Us players.

I'd say the more shocking thing is Alliance just getting plowed by everyone they've faced so far. Losing to Newbee is legit, but going down against Titan was a big surprise. Haven't watched the Na'Vi EU games yet (mostly been watching newcomers stream for PFlax, Blitz and Shanes casting. Shane, lord of the gasp) but I did see XBOCT playing a safe lane Sniper which seems like a dodgy call right there.

 

[Majinash]

Ok I'm calling shenanigans.

Na.Vi EU goes in vs Fnatic and gets destroyed.

5 minutes later the next match

Na.Vi NA goes in vs Fnatic and picks the perfect counter team to them, perfect bans and picks.


To me it looks like Na.Vi leadership sent Na.Vi EU in to be sacrificial lambs to let the backstage team see Fnatics strategy and work out a counter then pass it on to Na.Vi Us players.

I find this idea completely silly. Na'Vi.EU is one of the favorites to win, and the most popular team world wide (at least judging by pennants every year). Na'Vi.US is not favored to win (no US team was, the first day was considered quite an upset) and in no way would the higher-ups or Na'Vi.EU agree to sac a win for the other team.

In addition, Na'Vi had no choice in the match order, Valve did. Part of pro DOTA is simply that other teams watch your matches and learn how you play. There is a reason teams actually banned Pudge in TI3 vs Na'Vi, and it didn't involve sending in other teams first to lose.

I find competitive MOBAs boring to watch and honestly don't understand why it's so popular tbh so nope won't be watching.

I wasn't the biggest starcraft fan but found watching sc games, and strategy games in general to be more entertaining to watch on a professional level.

This may be due to how familar you are with the game. I get zero enjoyment from watching cricket because I have no idea how the game works. I can't stand watching professional SCII and I do have an understanding.

It of course could be a matter of taste, which is fine. Either way it shouldn't be hard to understand why it's popular, the same reason baseball or golf is.

 

[Frankster]

snip

Nay that's not the reason, I play LoL and am much more familiar with it then I am with sc2 which I briefly played at one point but got bored of (I prefer relic strategy games to blizzard ones).
But I derive some enjoyment from watching an sc2 match, yet a Lol match bores me to tears.

Not just lol either, Dota2 has same effect on me. I guess I'll need to correct myself: I don't understand why MOBA games in general are the big draw in pro gaming that has vast audiences watching.
To me it's a lot of waiting and not much going on punctuated by short bursts of action. I don't mind watching a highlights reel that shows the important actions of a lol or dota match but to actually watch the entire thing? Madness, yet it is the most popular category of esport by far.

I guess I'll just have to accept there's something about watching MOBA games that just eludes me.

Oh btw just to clarify that I didn't just start saying this to troll the thread: I didn't know what T14 was or why I should be watching it, so clicked and was all like..Really? So that previous 1 million prize pool dota tournament wasn't just a one off and MOBAs are basically the big thing in esports now?

 

[DoPo]

To me it's a lot of waiting and not much going on punctuated by short bursts of action.

There is actually a lot happening between fights - it is a whole bunch of things that culminates with a fight, so it's really just lots of individual "boring" plays that lead up to the action. Who goes where, who does what, what groups would the teams choose, how would they be counteracted and how would they counteract the enemy, and so on and so forth.

While a lot of entertainment can be gained from the combat, it is not the be all and send all of gameplay in Dota 2 (as evidenced by the fact it's not combat from start to finish) and pro teams really try to make every second count.

Actually, with your remark about action and my explanation about "downtime" it sounds a lot like football of all things:

 

[synobal]

I've been watching, I'm hoping Team Liquid take it this year, they are doing pretty good. Whats weird is how bad alliance is doing really didn't expect them to be in the bottom bracket this year after winning last year. I guess thats what happens when you don't let them get Io or Lone Druid.

 

[Frankster]

snip

Lol that video felt fitting in more ways then one. Well that helps me understand the appeal of watching a moba game more now, cheers

 

[SomeLameStuff]

Okay, tomorrow morning's match between Cloud 9 and LGD which will decide the fate of Alliance, Fnatic, Mousesports, Empire and Na'Vi NA. If Cloud 9 beats LGD, then Alliance, Fnatic, Mousesports only need to win one game to escape elimination, while Empire and Na'Vi NA needs to win their last game with Alliance, Fnatic and Mousesports losing their games.

But if LGD beats Cloud 9, then Alliance, Fnatic and Mousesports needs to win BOTH their remaining games, while Empire and Na'Vi NA are immediately eliminated.

So yeah. Cloud 9 vs LGD is going to be BIG.