Evortion Dragon: Results of 2012
In December last year, everyone only talked about the upcoming end of the world and other mystical nonsense. Nothing, of course, happened (although there are versions that the process was launched and we are approaching the “rainbow” finale with semi -mini steps), and 2013, fortunately, came. Having rested well and walking off all traditional January holidays, we summarize the results of the 2012 e -sports.
The year of the dragon did not disappoint computer fans. In 2012, several hundred championships passed around the world, on which millions of dollars were played out. Chopped into a variety of games – from the old woman Counter-Strike 1.6 and classical version Dota – to ultratechnological Battlefield 3 And Starcraft 2
► Dark and gloomy computer clubs have gone the past. In the photo Kazan club Battle Hall is a sample of how the e -sports ground should look like.
Last year, e -sports continued to develop systematically. Previously, many considered it exclusively as children's fun and associated with dark basement computer clubs and an empty waste of time, but over the past few years he made an incredible leap forward.
Recently, a small dispute arose in our community about which direction e -sports is moving and "whether we are right, comrades". Almost all the respected "dinosaurs" of the CIS computer spoke out, and we received two camps with radically different points of view. Some claimed that e -sports is stinging at a dead end and before it was better. Others objected that they were only glad of how everything is happening, and there is no need to change anything.
► And if you hold, for example, a million dollars in Angry Birds, the game will also be considered e -sports?
Truth, as usual, somewhere in the middle. Computer sports, like a bun from a children's fairy tale, resolutely fled from computer clubs and almost completely moved to online. It is on the open spaces of the network that the vast majority of championships are now taking place. However, the largest tournaments nevertheless retained in their format spectacular Lan finals as the last, decisive, stage of competition.
The main achievement of computer sports, we consider the fantastically rapid development of “streams” (from English. Stream – live broadcast). Of course, this technology was far from light last year, but it was in 2012 that there was a sharp jump in the popularity of such broadcasts-there was probably not a single tournament left that would not be broadcast on the network in real time.
► Alexey Krupnik (White-Ra) has long been not pleasing to fans outstanding results, but still the favorite of the game community. His streams are watching tens of thousands of spectators.
Previously, the strongest world teams and championship organizers pounded for years on the door of leading television channels, proving the prospects of e -sports as a spectacle. Most often they were sent to all four sides and continued to shoot series about the adventures of brave police.
But times have changed. With the advent of companies Twitch.TV And OWN3D.TV not e -sports has not become uninteresting in television, but television is uninteresting in e -sports. It got to the point that the prizes of some championships are now formed exclusively from funds earned through their own direct broadcasts.
[[Bullet]] Carlos Rodriguez Santiago – SK Gaming player and the most popular LEAGUE of Legends stream worldwide around the world.
In addition, people appeared who simply launch their favorite game on their PC and broadcast it through the channels of the above companies, earning several thousand euros per month on this. This is far from always the strongest players in the world – it is important here the personal charm of the commentator, who can play mediocre, but at the same time desperately to amuse his spectators with his jokes and be a real soul of the company.
And back in 2012, much more companies with a world name began to look with interest in e -sports. If earlier the main sponsors of teams and championships were computer iron manufacturers ( Intel , Benq , Asus , Acer , MSI ) and game periphery ( Steelseries , Razer , Roccat ), then even such companies were pulled up as Red Bull, previously focused on extreme sports exclusively.
► World -famous Red Bull discovers computer sports.
It is also noteworthy that most large developers have been striving for e -sports recently – as Ubisoft , Valve or Wargaming. After all, the secret of success is actually simple – if you want to extend your game life, position it as competitive discipline and conduct regular championships. Prize – not the highest price for a guaranteed influx of new players.
So, the rating of the most popular games (by the number of players online) on the platform Steam All 2012 headed Dota 2, But the loud single releases appeared and disappeared after a week.
ESISTORS "with them" and "with us"
Last year, we received an invitation from the Swedish Institute to visit Sweden and get acquainted with its game industry, as well as visit the largest computer festival Dreamhack Summer 2012.
► Viewing views with Dreamhack Summer 2012 – the largest computer festival in the world.
Soon at the arrival it became noticeable how the attitude of the Swedes towards e -sports differs from the attitude of our compatriots. All the people accidentally chosen and interviewed on the street said that, of course, they heard about video games and consider it a cool and interesting hobby.
The CIS countries are still significantly lagging behind Scandinavia in this part, but we also have positive shifts – mainly around the Ukrainian capital. Kyiv was lucky to accept several very large championships on the site at once Kiev Cybersport Arena , Which helped the city to recapture the title of "Evortion of the CIS" from Moscow from Moscow.
To bring a certain line under the results of the year, we decided to make several nominations.
The main event of 2012
The International 2
Could it be otherwise? Million tournament from Valve We have been waiting from the very first days of 2012, and he surpassed all the expectations. We will not describe the Sitl championship in detail, separate material is dedicated to it. We will only tell you about its influence on the development of computer sports.
► The guys obviously chose the wrong places, it was possible to get closer and closer.
The International 2 gathered all the strongest professional players in Dota 2 and was well organized. The broadcasts of decisive matches on the air (and this is only through streams) was watched by half a million people. A lot of people saw matches in the record or just heard somewhere about the championship.
The tournament caused a powerful response from American television – several channels (including NBC ) took special stories about him, which became a revelation for many Americans. They made their documentary video in Valve. In our opinion, this is the best documentary for the entire existence of e -sports.
► Valve documentary can be safely sent to any television channel
Ti 2 left even greater trace in the minds of Dota 2 fans. A fantastic atmosphere, a beautiful city, concert halls and on time paid prize $ 1.6 million in a good sense shocked those who did not get to Seattle.
If the first few months, after the end of the tournament, we watched running players from one composition to another, now everything is settled. The next such championship is just around the corner, and it is necessary to approach it as strong and played by a team. It is impossible to miss it, because there are rumors that The International 3 can be the last tournament of this kind of Dota 2.
The best team of 2012
Ninjas in Pyjamas
Last summer NIP were one of the first to believe in bright prospects Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. While the rest played in Counter-Strike 1.6 , The legendary Emil Kristensen ( Heaton ) quickly put together a five, consisting of star Swedish shooters.
► Emil Kristensen previously played for NIP in CS 1.6, and now, as a manager of CS: Go-partle travels with the team in all championships.
In five months of its existence Ninjas in pyjamas We won all the tournaments in which they participated – a total (last year) seven large pieces. For all seven, they did not lose to formidable rivals and cards.
It is noteworthy that the strongest five of the world in the game in CS: GO He does not know defeats on LAN – there they won fifty -eight cards in a row, and the general difference on the rounds of the rounds was +530. According to available information, it can be calculated that the final account of one average card is 16: 7. Sounds, isn't it? And also, who is curious, NIP At these tournaments earned $ 73,000.
[Bullet]] The next championship and another gold. Are there any other places except the Golden Genie Casino first?
Somehow confront Patrick Lindberg ( F0rest ) and the companies last year only the French from Verygames , which, by the way, blowed all the finals to the Scandinavians. In decisive meetings, they were often smashed with a score like 16: 1 or 16: 3.
Honestly, we find it difficult to call you those who are the first to stop the Swedes. So far, they are forced to admit that NIP There are no serious competitors, and it is not known when they appear and whether they will appear at all. However, theoretically the most chances are now the titled Polish five ESC Gaming (Neo, Pasha, Kuben, Taz, Loord).
► Poles play every day better and better. Recently Neo and the company beautifully went around all rivals and won the championship in Kyiv.
The fact is that these Poles are almost the only ones who were always ready to win the Swedes. They have repeatedly driven into the corner of Christopher Alesyund ( Get_Right ) and Patrick Lindberg ( F0rest ) when they still played in CS 1.6. The most striking example was the final WCG 2009 , when the gentry stopped, it would seem, invincible Fnatic.MSI.
Do not forget about the guys from Fnatic And Na’vi – They are not used to the role of outsiders and are unlikely to come to terms with further Swedish dominance. If the first in December managed to change several players, then the second composition retained and train hard. Basic emphasis Na’vi do it precisely for January-February and only then will go to their first European championship.
► So far, such moments in the Na’VI game are rare, but soon the situation may change
Everyone has already bored the constant victories of the Swedes – the community is eager to see new champions. Those who will stop faster Ninjas in Pyjamas! 2013 promises to be very interesting, if only the game itself does not fall out of the official disciplines of prestigious world championships ..
The best player of 2012
Lee Sak (Parting)
If the winners in the first two nominations are players in Dota 2 And Counter-Strike: Global Offensive , then the third sends us to Starcraft 2. We have already recognized the eighteen -year -old Korean master as the best player of November, and now he has become the best player of the year.
► Won Parting is the best player in Starcraft 2 according to the results of WCS and WCG 2012.
Won Sak not very successfully performed all year, but went to the peak of the form exactly when it was necessary. He shine with brilliance all rivals on World Championship Series from Blizzard And World Cyber Games 2012.
The talent of this Korean was started back in 2010, when a sixteen -year -old guy made his way to the final of the most prestigious league in the world – GSL Season 2: Code S. Then he lost the legendary and much more experienced IM.MVP , but who did not lose to him at that time?
► Happy champion barely holds a heavy Blizzard Cup in his hands.
The young player said to everyone: “Yes, MVP And Ms I am too tough for me, but I will wait for my stellar hour ". Only two years have passed, and Parting , Having removed the scalps from the best players from around the world, in total I earned $ 125,000.
At the very end of 2012, he said that he was leaving his team Startale And soon he will sign a contract with a new organization. Surely it will be some kind of strong American team like Evil Geniuses or Team Liquid , After all, only they can offer the player the best financial conditions.
► Americans from Evil Geniuses – the main contender for young South Korean talent.
However, the monetary side of the issue is hardly the main one – Parting Rather, he dreams of fame and European and American championships. In South Korea, local professional players Spartan training regimen and it is not particularly customary to flaunt before the fans.
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It seems that everything we wanted to tell you about e -sports in 2012. We sincerely believe that 2013 will be successful for everyone and give us extremely joyful minutes. As for computer sports, championships and new games-they, of course, will be where they will go?
