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Overwatch League announced
posted in Esports
1
#1
0 Frags +

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJI9WXBWmso

https://overwatchleague.com/en-us/

Important things to note:

  • There's going to be city based teams all over the world; essentially franchises like in the NFL, NBA, MLB, etc.
  • There will be a combine where the top players in the ranked ladders will compete against each other
  • The format will have a regular season and playoffs
  • Blizzard will have complete control of the league
  • Blizzard will provide salaries for all players in the league

Other things I noticed:

  • No announcement on 3rd party tournaments and international tournaments
  • This kinda fucks over a lot of orgs like NRG and C9 that signed teams already

Thoughts?

Edit: Nate Nanzer did an interview with Polygon about the league. Some things I took note of:

As for who those team owners will be, Nanzer said that prospective owners "across both existing esports organizations and traditional sports owners" have been invited to this weekend's BlizzCon event to learn more about Overwatch League.

He also talked about having an open circuit during the offseason of the league:

"An off-season is really important and something that's missing in a lot of esports," said Nanzer. "You have this 12-month calendar, and we've heard from teams and players that an off-season would be a welcome addition. The other thing an off-season allows us to do is to make sure that there's a third-party ecosystem that exists outside of the Overwatch League. While the Overwatch League is the pinnacle of competitive Overwatch, we want to make sure that there's a robust ecosystem outside of that. You can't just build the top of the pyramid. You have to have the whole pyramid, right?"

Article: http://www.polygon.com/2016/11/4/13511762/overwatch-league-is-blizzards-ambitious-new-esports-org-includes-city

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJI9WXBWmso[/youtube]

https://overwatchleague.com/en-us/

Important things to note:

[list]
[*] There's going to be city based teams all over the world; essentially franchises like in the NFL, NBA, MLB, etc.
[*] There will be a combine where the top players in the ranked ladders will compete against each other
[*] The format will have a regular season and playoffs
[*] Blizzard will have complete control of the league
[*] Blizzard will provide salaries for all players in the league
[/list]

Other things I noticed:
[list]
[*] No announcement on 3rd party tournaments and international tournaments
[*] This kinda fucks over a lot of orgs like NRG and C9 that signed teams already
[/list]

Thoughts?

Edit: Nate Nanzer did an interview with Polygon about the league. Some things I took note of:
[quote]As for who those team owners will be, Nanzer said that prospective owners "across both existing esports organizations and traditional sports owners" have been invited to this weekend's BlizzCon event to learn more about Overwatch League.[/quote]

He also talked about having an open circuit during the offseason of the league:
[quote]"An off-season is really important and something that's missing in a lot of esports," said Nanzer. "You have this 12-month calendar, and we've heard from teams and players that an off-season would be a welcome addition. The other thing an off-season allows us to do is to make sure that there's a third-party ecosystem that exists outside of the Overwatch League. While the Overwatch League is the pinnacle of competitive Overwatch, we want to make sure that there's a robust ecosystem outside of that. You can't just build the top of the pyramid. You have to have the whole pyramid, right?"[/quote]

Article: http://www.polygon.com/2016/11/4/13511762/overwatch-league-is-blizzards-ambitious-new-esports-org-includes-city
2
#2
50 Frags +

blizzard fucking owns dude

blizzard fucking owns dude
3
#3
48 Frags +

i wish i could know what this feels like

i wish i could know what this feels like
4
#4
0 Frags +

It kind of solves the problem prior to this where there wasn't any sort of league for people wanting to get into playing, but like you had mentioned it puts the orgs that have teams already in a tough spot. Wonder how thats going to be dealt with.

Still this is huge for eSports in general

It kind of solves the problem prior to this where there wasn't any sort of league for people wanting to get into playing, but like you had mentioned it puts the orgs that have teams already in a tough spot. Wonder how thats going to be dealt with.

Still this is huge for eSports in general
5
#5
-54 Frags +

ow is a joke

ow is a joke
6
#6
18 Frags +

I feel like the professional sports system works because of player's unions. Without those won't you just have players getting fucked over left and right because the teams that signed them are shitty? and with the (presumably) large amount of capital required to obtain a team it's not like players could create their own org like you've seen some teams do in CS. This just gives 100% of the power to orgs, if a player isn't signed by an org they can't compete it all. I don't like this at all right now

I feel like the professional sports system works because of player's unions. Without those won't you just have players getting fucked over left and right because the teams that signed them are shitty? and with the (presumably) large amount of capital required to obtain a team it's not like players could create their own org like you've seen some teams do in CS. This just gives 100% of the power to orgs, if a player isn't signed by an org they can't compete it all. I don't like this at all right now
7
#7
-14 Frags +

There's always UGC OW, saam.
8)

There's always UGC OW, saam.
8)
8
#8
2 Frags +

In the video it makes a vague mention of 3rd party events but phrases it in a way that paints them as a lower standard than the league. Also bidding for slots means a lot of smaller orgs will be screwed and theyre trying to prevent the problem LCS has.

I mean I'd rather see an ATP style system like CS but this sint as bad as i thought it would be. Not a fan of the whole no relegations thing though.

In the video it makes a vague mention of 3rd party events but phrases it in a way that paints them as a lower standard than the league. Also bidding for slots means a lot of smaller orgs will be screwed and theyre trying to prevent the problem LCS has.

I mean I'd rather see an ATP style system like CS but this sint as bad as i thought it would be. Not a fan of the whole no relegations thing though.
9
#9
-5 Frags +
saamI feel like the professional sports system works because of player's unions. Without those won't you just have players getting fucked over left and right because the teams that signed them are shitty? and with the (presumably) large amount of capital required to obtain a team it's not like players could create their own org like you've seen some teams do in CS. This just gives 100% of the power to orgs, if a player isn't signed by an org they can't compete it all. I don't like this at all right now

they want everything to be uniform and appeal to new players rather than make it functional

[quote=saam]I feel like the professional sports system works because of player's unions. Without those won't you just have players getting fucked over left and right because the teams that signed them are shitty? and with the (presumably) large amount of capital required to obtain a team it's not like players could create their own org like you've seen some teams do in CS. This just gives 100% of the power to orgs, if a player isn't signed by an org they can't compete it all. I don't like this at all right now[/quote]
they want everything to be uniform and appeal to new players rather than make it functional
10
#10
11 Frags +

did i hear that right? the regular season is going be LAN play?

so it's like actual sports?? damn

did i hear that right? the regular season is going be LAN play?

so it's like actual sports?? damn
11
#11
17 Frags +
sendow is a joke

idk blizzard supports ow like crazy, kinda makes tf2 look insignificant, wish we got that kind of support

[quote=send]ow is a joke[/quote]

idk blizzard supports ow like crazy, kinda makes tf2 look insignificant, wish we got that kind of support
12
#12
-3 Frags +
saamI feel like the professional sports system works because of player's unions. Without those won't you just have players getting fucked over left and right because the teams that signed them are shitty? and with the (presumably) large amount of capital required to obtain a team it's not like players could create their own org like you've seen some teams do in CS. This just gives 100% of the power to orgs, if a player isn't signed by an org they can't compete it all. I don't like this at all right now

Baby steps, my dude.

[quote=saam]I feel like the professional sports system works because of player's unions. Without those won't you just have players getting fucked over left and right because the teams that signed them are shitty? and with the (presumably) large amount of capital required to obtain a team it's not like players could create their own org like you've seen some teams do in CS. This just gives 100% of the power to orgs, if a player isn't signed by an org they can't compete it all. I don't like this at all right now[/quote]

Baby steps, my dude.
13
#13
25 Frags +

I wish Valve did this for TF2. :(

I wish Valve did this for TF2. :(
14
#14
4 Frags +

This seems pretty huge, and I'll bet other top tier eSports are going to be watching very closely

This seems pretty huge, and I'll bet other top tier eSports are going to be watching very closely
15
#15
13 Frags +

If they can pull the city based teams thing off I'll be impressed, until then I feel like its just copying lcs

If they can pull the city based teams thing off I'll be impressed, until then I feel like its just copying lcs
16
#16
0 Frags +

I'm wondering how blizzard will make all these existing rosters work as region teams considering teams like fnatic/faze/splyce dont even have all their players based in single country or if they want to scrap everything and have this NFL/NBA player draft which seems like an idea not a lot of people would be behind.

A lot of specifics remain to be answered though this idea is really fucking cool and a great way to get OW on par with huge esports like DOTA and LoL and we'll see if its great or terrible.

I'm wondering how blizzard will make all these existing rosters work as region teams considering teams like fnatic/faze/splyce dont even have all their players based in single country or if they want to scrap everything and have this NFL/NBA player draft which seems like an idea not a lot of people would be behind.

A lot of specifics remain to be answered though this idea is really fucking cool and a great way to get OW on par with huge esports like DOTA and LoL and we'll see if its great or terrible.
17
#17
30 Frags +

next thing you know, blizzard's going to be pushing overwatch into schools as a sport

next thing you know, blizzard's going to be pushing overwatch into schools as a sport
18
#18
7 Frags +

c-cool
FeelsBadMan ̿̿ ̿̿ ̿̿ ̿'̿'\̵͇̿̿\.

c-cool
FeelsBadMan ̿̿ ̿̿ ̿̿ ̿'̿'\̵͇̿̿\.
19
#19
0 Frags +

do blizzard have complete control over each team if they're paying the players salaries? or is it actually based on geographical location

do blizzard have complete control over each team if they're paying the players salaries? or is it actually based on geographical location
20
#20
14 Frags +

this just keeps making me sadder and sadder

this just keeps making me sadder and sadder
21
#21
36 Frags +

this shit with ppl tryna stunt on each other in the combine to impress teams would be sick if this were a game with like good movement and more individual skill

this shit with ppl tryna stunt on each other in the combine to impress teams would be sick if this were a game with like good movement and more individual skill
22
#22
10 Frags +

I think it's a cool concept.

Kinda sad it's for a game I couldn't care less about, but still I'll be watching this to see how it turns out.

I think it's a cool concept.

Kinda sad it's for a game I couldn't care less about, but still I'll be watching this to see how it turns out.
23
#23
6 Frags +

Overcuck'd again...

Overcuck'd again...
24
#24
-2 Frags +

Gonna be like LoL LCS (not exactly, but pretty close). I'll say it's good as long as Blizzard doesn't kill all the 3rd party tournaments like Riot Games does.

Gonna be like LoL LCS (not exactly, but pretty close). I'll say it's good as long as Blizzard doesn't kill all the 3rd party tournaments like Riot Games does.
25
#25
4 Frags +

Where does one go to cast OW. My only connections are in Australia.

Where does one go to cast OW. My only connections are in Australia.
26
#26
11 Frags +
DreamboatWhere does one go to cast OW. My only connections are in Australia.

that train kinda left a long time ago my dude

[quote=Dreamboat]Where does one go to cast OW. My only connections are in Australia.[/quote]
that train kinda left a long time ago my dude
27
#27
7 Frags +

ok i'm going to fucking kill myself lmao
fuck payday's giving me some good ideas to steal overwatch
edit: i just looked up how many years do you get if you try to steal a video game store, if I don't reply in an hour I got arrested
edit2: im alive

ok i'm going to fucking kill myself lmao
fuck payday's giving me some good ideas to steal overwatch
edit: i just looked up how many years do you get if you try to steal a video game store, if I don't reply in an hour I got arrested
edit2: im alive
28
#28
21 Frags +

I wish I liked this game

I wish I liked this game
29
#29
9 Frags +

Concept is really good, putting the intricacies of eSports/Gaming aside, Geographically we're inclined to root for local teams. Let's say for UK for example, the London team will be the one UK people follow. I mean I find OW boring to watch but I root for former TF2 players, but a potential spectator can potentially get behind a team represented by geographic location.

This has the potential to be something but we will see how it goes. All I can say is I am happy for the many talented TF2 players finally getting a financial reward from gaming, even if it's not TF2.

Concept is really good, putting the intricacies of eSports/Gaming aside, Geographically we're inclined to root for local teams. Let's say for UK for example, the London team will be the one UK people follow. I mean I find OW boring to watch but I root for former TF2 players, but a potential spectator can potentially get behind a team represented by geographic location.

This has the potential to be something but we will see how it goes. All I can say is I am happy for the many talented TF2 players finally getting a financial reward from gaming, even if it's not TF2.
30
#30
5 Frags +

when does the game get a replay system <---- real question

when does the game get a replay system <---- real question
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