Slog - Comments on Pay to (Watch People) Play http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play Informal poll for the proud geeks who troll Slog: Does anybody want to pay $10 a day to watch "the world's greatest gamers" compete at Qwest Field for the next four days? When I first heard about the World Cyber Games international finals, which start today, I thought that a decent number of people might attend this pro gaming event if it was free (aside from parking, natch). Curiosity and all. But if the organizers really think Americans are hot enough on pro gaming to watch it with a price tag attached, then you must've missed the collapse of fellow... Copyright 2008 Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:22:05 -0800 Thu, 04 Oct 2007 19:29:33 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Will in Seattle No.

I just don't get why anyone would be interested in that.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c817982 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c817982 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:29:45 -0800 Comment by Chris Microsofties (and friends) get in for zero dollars, which might make it worthwhile.

]]> Chris http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c817988 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c817988 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:34:42 -0800 Comment by Ziggity I don't see any difference between tickets to this event and tickets to HUMP.

]]> Ziggity http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c817989 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c817989 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:35:11 -0800 Comment by Lady L no.

big fat hell no.

Seriously?! Even with Valve and MS being there, hell no. Are the orginizers of this event even slightly aware what came through town just a few months ago?

]]> Lady L http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c817990 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c817990 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:36:10 -0800 Comment by Angela Actually, as I discovered today, you can get a voucher for two free tickets on the WCG website: http://www.worldcybergames.com/6th/2007/GrandFinal/ticket.asp

You just have to register, and answer two very easy questions (they give you the answers) and print it off. Of course it's only to 12,000 people, but it appears they have only given away about 300 so far. Free is so much better than $10 to gawk at uber nerds.

]]> Angela http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c817992 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c817992 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:41:36 -0800 Comment by Mansi Go Mr. Poe!!!

]]> Mansi http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c817995 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c817995 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:44:16 -0800 Comment by elenchos Shouldn't the Strangers Worst Enemy be the one sent to this kind of thing? I would think Madrid would make it worth reading about.

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818008 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818008 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:50:17 -0800 Comment by Billy Mitchell Hater Will Steve Wiebe be there?

]]> Billy Mitchell Hater http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818022 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818022 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:56:38 -0800 Comment by josh bomb fuck yes i'm going, anything to get an early crack at TF2 and check out the new valve action!

also, i can get stoned and watch brood war all day long, it's so pretty.

]]> josh bomb http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818033 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818033 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:04:01 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Even if it was free.

Well, now, if they let us play some of them ... for free ...

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818040 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818040 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:06:43 -0800 Comment by Katelyn @5... Only 12,000 tickets available for free?

So basically this is a free event. No WAY 12,000 people in the area will show for this. The organizers should do raffles, with great prizes... maybe that would bring in more folks. It could be a sad sad boring day in Qwest without some kind of competition amongst the viewers.

]]> Katelyn http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818055 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818055 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:19:07 -0800 Comment by K Any excuse for a Pictochat fest is a good one.

]]> K http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818069 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818069 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:25:53 -0800 Comment by Christin Last week, I attended Furries Versus Klingons" in Atlanta, and it was $10. It was well-attended and worth it.
I'd definitely pay $10 to see a pro gaming competition. And remember: You're in PAX (et al) hometown territory. Seattle's thick with geeks with money. I'd wager this event will be a success, and if I were in the area, I'd bring ten friends and go.

]]> Christin http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818080 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818080 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:31:30 -0800 Comment by Baxter Only if a big fatty blunt is included with the price of admission.

]]> Baxter http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818097 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818097 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:48:07 -0800 Comment by Toby I wouldn't pay $10, but I can think of some hard-core gamers that would. To them, it's a kind of sport. Seeing this would, be exciting for them, and they'd see $10 as pretty cheap.

]]> Toby http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818105 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818105 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:56:43 -0800 Comment by Max Bell Sounds like a low-rent comdex to me.

Sadly, one of the companies totally frakked up the appearance of an actor I'd meant to go see, so I'm not as interested as I'd otherwise be.

]]> Max Bell http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818131 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818131 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 15:31:08 -0800 Comment by dimmer can't handle the tricky questions, and the risk of not being in the first 12,000? try here:
http://www.thestranger.com/extras/pdf/sales/WCG2007_tixvoucher.pdf

]]> dimmer http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818160 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818160 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 16:02:39 -0800 Comment by SDA in SEA Okay, I admit to playing the occasional video game. Okay, maybe more than occasional. And Wii, every once and a while. And sometimes X-Box. But I'm not a nerd. Really. Okay, maybe a little bit of a nerd.

Despite my minor nerd status, I can't for a minute imagine going to Qwest Field to watch OTHER people play games. Not even for free. Not even if I was stoned. Gah!

]]> SDA in SEA http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818169 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818169 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 16:09:13 -0800 Comment by Juris Um yeah, I've found printable vouchers for free admission all over the place. So I'm going saturday to watch the Gears of War tournament (I am geeky enough to be honestly curious as to what the 'best in the world' at this look like) and maybe make an ass out of myself playing GHIII since there is Eric fucking Clapton. As mentioned above, this is PAX country, and I trust it'll be surprisingly well attended.

But if it cost me $10? Hell no, I could put that towards Mass Effect for the xbox in a month.

]]> Juris http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818203 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818203 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 16:39:25 -0800 Comment by Juris http://www.xbox.com/NR/rdonlyres/73EE05EA-6EB0-4EC1-A42D-5BEF53B2999E/0/TicketWCG.jpg

In case that above link gets taken down for some reason, this is basically the same thing; free entry pass.

]]> Juris http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818206 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818206 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 16:41:01 -0800 Comment by Cow A friend of a friend is flying in from the Netherlands just to watch this. Both I and my friend think she's insane, but there it is.

]]> Cow http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818276 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818276 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 17:57:22 -0800 Comment by Mac I would, if only just to see South Korea's entry into the Starcraft comp.

]]> Mac http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818301 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818301 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 18:42:56 -0800 Comment by Aexia PAX offers a lot more --Exhibitions from video game companies, gaming tournaments YOU the attendee participate in and live entertainment.

And of course, the Omegathon.

]]> Aexia http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818316 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/pay_to_watch_people_play#c818316 Tech Thu, 04 Oct 2007 19:29:33 -0800