Now, online multiplayer games are the norm. Even series that feature single-player campaigns, like the Call of Duty , Battlefield , and Gears of War franchises, are better known for their multiplayer. Games that once featured only single-player stories, such the Uncharted and Assassin’s Creed series, have implemented online multiplayer in sequels. And although more games are incorporating multiplayer elements, few allow for local multiplayer; the focus is almost entirely on virtual shared gaming experien

Tempo Storm will be facing Method, who struggled during the Mid-Season Brawl and Western Clash – Phase 1. However, they definitely have the ability to perform, as they placed 3rd at the this year’s EU Pro League. Things look favorable for Tempo Storm in the first round, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility for Method to show up and get the upper bracket

Plants vs. Zombies 2 already has 10 “premium plants” for a total cost of more than $30 altogether, tax included. And that’s just plants. You can also pay for upgrades and in-game coins. To my knowledge, Plants vs. Zombies never went higher than $20 for the whole game, with no micro-transactions, so I can only assume PopCap is making a truckload off of this. Now I know people like to point out how less than 10 percent of people who play free-to-play games participate in micro-transactions. This makes it seem like the companies are doing what’s best for the player by offering a portion of their Moba Game walkthrough for free, while only making a small chunk of change on the side to get by. It’s a compelling narrative that doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. This number conveniently leaves out how much money they’re actually making from those ten percent of people who want a full gaming experience.

I admit that Dota 2 has the benefit of an established fan base unmatched by almost any free-to-play game (League of Legends excluded). Not many games have fans who are willing to pay for something that doesn’t benefit them in any way. Taking that into account, though, there still is no good excuse for free-to-play micro-transactions that benefit the company more than the player. Honestly, the solution is just to make your game cost money. Remember that? When games cost a flat fee for the entire thing? This was a largely successful model, and the only reason I can see for the shift is pure greed, especially by a company like EA that already has boatloads of money to roll in.

Now, let’s not get carried away. Making money is a company’s goal, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The issue is, this benefits the company at the expense of the player. Consider this: what’s to stop Plants vs. Zombies 2 from perpetually releasing new plants while balancing the zombies and expansions in a way that necessitates their purchase, as they already have? This turns the game into an infinite cash-cow that will likely make more money than if they charged a $60 flat fee by grinding it out of players who want a full gaming experience.

Such a new major event with backing from some of the biggest names in eSports would likely draw a lot of attention. There was also a rumor that the companies involved might create exclusive deals with only certain teams or existing competitions. This is causing some of the organizers of existing smaller tournaments to fear that they could lose influence if such a super league was announ

And yeah, I know these $60, AAA titles still have some greed to work through (like $10 DLC for Titanfall that’s just three maps), but it’s all manageable, and Dota 2 is still the only game to do free to play right. Beyond Dota 2, The Last of Us just had a completely free multiplayer map pack released for it. It can be done. All gamers want is a model that fosters mutually and equally beneficial purchasing. Give it to them.

Round 1 of both the upper and lower brackets will be best of three; every round after that, save for the Grand Final, will be the best of five matches. The Grand Final is a best of seven match and will determine who will win the cash, trophy, and that spot at the HGC Finals. If you want to see what the bracket looks like, you can check it on the HGC websi

There are still plenty of fond memories to be made playing in-person multiplayer games. The shift to online has already occurred, but many series still employ local multiplayer as an option—particularly games released by Nintendo and Harmonix. If you’re a fan of couch co-op or split-screen games, this is one instance where voting with your wallet can really make a difference. Show distributors you’re willing to pay for the local multiplayer experience when it’s offered for games you enjoy. If enough people do the same, distributors will surely take not

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