GamerLegion LAN tournament?

[LowEloNobody]

There have now been several hints and explicit call outs for an upcoming GL LAN tourney.

First a tweet following Viper's loss to Lierrey at RBW:L - GamerLegion Twitter
"Tough day, but the next LAN event might just be around the corner."

Then Masmorra pretty much confirmed it in his interview with Dave (great interview btw): A Conversation w/Dave - Red Bull Wololo Legacy and more | Kings & Plebians: Episode #18

"Both Nili and GamerLegion have hinted at a future LAN tournament that will be happening at the end of this year" "This tournament will feature yet another massive prizepool"

I'm guessing this will be something like a "GamerLegion Apartment Cup" reviving the NAC format using their practice apartment. Prizepool would have to be $50k+ to be considered massive in today's times.
@GamerLegion, GAC announcement when

 

[Potkeny]

GAC announcement when

You mean the dynasty of announcing the announcement of an announcement is over?!

 

[Huehuecoyotl22]

You mean the dynasty of announcing the announcement of an announcement is over?!

GL so far officially has hosted the Holy Cup and Rise of the Elephants. Both had very little time between announcement and start.
But if it is a LAN with qualifier, it must be soon, because some people might have to apply for visas.

 

[Adico]

GL so far officially has hosted the Holy Cup and Rise of the Elephants. Both had very little time between announcement and start.
But if it is a LAN with qualifier, it must be soon, because some people might have to apply for visas.

Or, they could do a German Championship 2022 (https://liquipedia.net/ageofempires/German_Championship/2021)

 

[LowEloNobody]

Or, they could do a German Championship 2022 (https://liquipedia.net/ageofempires/German_Championship/2021)

Feels weird to have a "massive prizepool" LAN for... 10? 15? competitive players

 

[Adico]

Feels weird to have a "massive prizepool" LAN for... 10? 15? competitive players

IMO it could be different things:
- A GL LAN that is just the German Championship happening this year.
- Another LAN for March 2023 that would fit the NAC format and global.

RBWL proved that people would buy tickets to see AoE at a LAN. not only that, it was a sold-out event. Ticket revenue margins are way higher than any ad or sub money. My most optimistic interpretation is that we might finally start getting consistent (all be it smaller/localized) LANs with ticket attendance to help offload the production costs.

 

[LowEloNobody]

IMO it could be different things:
- A GL LAN that is just the German Championship happening this year.
- Another LAN for March 2023 that would fit the NAC format and global.

RBWL proved that people would buy tickets to see AoE at a LAN. not only that, it was a sold-out event. Ticket revenue margins are way higher than any ad or sub money. My most optimistic interpretation is that we might finally start getting consistent (all be it smaller/localized) LANs with ticket attendance to help offload the production costs.

At $100 a ticket maybe, but the red bull ticket sales probably didn't even cover the chair rentals for the spectators

 

[Adico]

At $100 a ticket maybe, but the red bull ticket sales probably didn't even cover the chair rentals for the spectators

If we consider that right now virtually all AoE events are made at a loss to some party (in terms of direct revenue to costs), the ability to offset some of those costs is pretty good.

Even if you can't break even at the end of the day, the LAN atmosphere already contributes a lot to the other goals of most tournaments that are sponsored by MS: Get people hyped, and get people to buy the games.

 

[LowEloNobody]

If we consider that right now virtually all AoE events are made at a loss to some party (in terms of direct revenue to costs), the ability to offset some of those costs is pretty good.

Even if you can't break even at the end of the day, the LAN atmosphere already contributes a lot to the other goals of most tournaments that are sponsored by MS: Get people hyped, and get people to buy the games.

Sure, but RBW:L almost definitely spent more to have spectators than it received in ticket revenue, so it was increasing costs, not offsetting them.
Similarly for GL, if the decision is to have a LAN in their Berlin players apartment, or find a different venue to host spectators, it would probably be cost-increasing as well. It's a step-change increase in difficulty/money to have a large LAN with spectators

 

[Giuseppe551]

Just a friendly reminder that it's been 464 days since we were told that a tournament calendar was a top priority

 

[LowEloNobody]

Just a friendly reminder that it's been 464 days since we were told that a tournament calendar was a top priority

That guy doesn't work for MS anymore - priorities have changed KEKW

 

[Progeusz]

RBWL proved that people would buy tickets to see AoE at a LAN.

In a way, yes. In a way, no. Tickets to RBWL were dirt cheap. Them selling out means absolutely nothing. And random person could buy them because they were pretty much same price as basic entry ticket to the castle anyway. This doesn't say anything about the community.
What is important however is how many people were interested in the event, how many lamented the fact of tickets being sold out, how many have visited Heidelber even if they didn't have tickets for the tournament and watched it at pubs or other viewing events. Anyone who doesn't live in Heidelberg spent a lot more money to reach that place than tickets to the event cost. Some even spent hundredfold of ticket price on getting there just to live the experience of enjoying age of empires 2 tournament with fellow fans, be it at castle, or in a pub. That is what truly matters.

BTW we already knew that from previous Red Bull.

 

[kalpit00]

I mean its a LAN event and our community is growing. People will be willing to spend to be a part of such live experiences. Think of it as a concert, millions of people spend thousands of dollars to purchase tickets + travel costs + hotel + food costs just to see their favorite artists. Age of Empires is also a lot more prevalent in Germany, the fanbase is hugeee in the country. Remember SY Nations Cup LAN in China? Soo many people showed up, and that was during a time when streaming wasn't even a thing so the reach was far less than what we have nowadays. I bet if there is a USA LAN, thousands of people would show up, already people have watchparties and such for RBWL.

The only downside of such LANs is that we need someone to organize them. So far we have had Redbull do it, and if more such "companies" choose to invest into age of empires, a LAN with the correct marketing strategies can be successful. People will spend, given the right circumstances and settings and timings. The allure of a LAN is real

 

[bird_person]

could be an AoE4 LAN though?

 

[Lokalo]

Community growing? is it?

 

[eC_Gurke]

Just a friendly reminder that it's been 464 days since we were told that a tournament calendar was a top priority

This was answered mutliple times. Its a non priority for Microsoft and Nili sadly couldnt change that fact.

 

[LeoMontero]

could be an AoE4 LAN though?

no

 

[Tendo]

I'm guessing this will be something like a "GamerLegion Apartment Cup" reviving the NAC format using their practice apartment. Prizepool would have to be $50k+ to be considered massive in today's times.

I would daut that.
It wouldn't surprise me if Nili is planning NAC since a long time (maybe a combination of both NAC/N4C like RBWL) but I guess there would be a longer time between the Announcement and the Tournament itself and also a way longer period of time between RBWL and that.
And if he plans to make NAC anyway then why should they make another 1vs1 LAN in the GL-House?

So maybe smth. like ECL Lan-Finals with mixed 1vs1 and TG's?
Rise of the Elephant went into that direction (just no LAN and invited teams), Teams means you need a big Prizepool, so maybe that could be smth.

 

[LowEloNobody]

could be an AoE4 LAN though?

GamerLegion doesn't have any full-time AoE4 players anymore

 

[FolderOfDoom]

Feels weird to have a "massive prizepool" LAN for... 10? 15? competitive players

If we go by citizenship then only 1 player called Jordan ... lul.

yeah maybe Nili and Running + 3-4 more players could provide good set between each other, but the winner will be set since day 1 and clapp his way to the win

 

[Michaerbse]

If we go by citizenship then only 1 player called Jordan ... lul.

yeah maybe Nili and Running + 3-4 more players could provide good set between each other, but the winner will be set since day 1 and clapp his way to the win

Off topic: Tbh I think right now the gap between JorDan and Running is much smaller than the gap between Running and the rest.

Anyway, I don't expect a German Championship LAN currently.

 

[Jarvin]

"Both Nili and GamerLegion have hinted at a future LAN tournament that will be happening at the end of this year" "This tournament will feature yet another massive prizepool"

Hold up
This can't be real, can it?
It's the middle of November and we haven't heard anything official about it yet, and with Christmas being a thing surely any event would have to take place around mid December at latest.
It's one thing if it was meant to be an online event with no qualifiers, but a supposedly massive LAN event within the next 4 weeks? Hmm..

 

[LeoMontero]

Hold up
This can't be real, can it?
It's the middle of November and we haven't heard anything official about it yet, and with Christmas being a thing surely any event would have to take place around mid December at latest.
It's one thing if it was meant to be an online event with no qualifiers, but a supposedly massive LAN event within the next 4 weeks? Hmm..

right now im thinking more of early 2023

 

[Jarvin]

Hold up
This can't be real, can it?
It's the middle of November and we haven't heard anything official about it yet, and with Christmas being a thing surely any event would have to take place around mid December at latest.
It's one thing if it was meant to be an online event with no qualifiers, but a supposedly massive LAN event within the next 4 weeks? Hmm..

1111
I guess I was wrong

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[Zbyszek]

I hope they dont have sponsors for this event.
I mean when you get 100k for a tournament and tell nobody about it that has to be fraud right? Just spreading it through insider channels looks so shady when you could post on aoezone, liquipedia the aoe website....