Everytime I'm pezzled and read these threads I just think "feckin nerds" but when I'm sober or bored I watch all these esports and think it's amazing.
It's never a sport though.
It's never a sport though.
Gaming Competitive Gaming/E-sports
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Can't believe I missed the opening ceremony 
Slacks is just pure cringe, and Kaci after 6 years of working at TI still doesn't know anything about the gameCan't believe I missed the opening ceremony
The projection technology is superb though.
EU/NA are getting curbstomped so far. EE fell apart yet again in TI. Hoping VP do well tomorrow against LGD.
Talking about knowledge of the game, I think choosing Day9 as main host has been a brilliant pick.
As smooth as Machine is, and as harsh as it probably is to drop Redeye after so many events, Day9 is doing really well and his doto knowledge shines through. Instead of dead air and relying on or prompting other panel members, he's able to keep the convos flowing because he actually knows whats gone on in games, etc. Really impressed with PPD too (always thought he was a cnut in EG), and love Jack's input. They need to use him more.
As for last nights games, thank feck EE is out.
ReDEyE's knowledge of the game is fine, but he's too formal most of the time. Day9 has that easier air of being one of us while still give the presentation a professional air.
The quality of the panel is vastly improved this time due to PPD's and Akke's presence. Both won TI and were/are top tier player who can give true insight into the working of the game/draft. Merlini/Purge etc... were good in their own ways but they are simply not of that calibre.
The quality of the panel is vastly improved this time due to PPD's and Akke's presence. Both won TI and were/are top tier player who can give true insight into the working of the game/draft. Merlini/Purge etc... were good in their own ways but they are simply not of that calibre.
Redeye doesn't actually play the game though, does he? It feels like Day9 can contribute to discussions and prompt more because he has a deeper understanding of the game and doesn't just have to fall back on memes/banter or other panel members to carry the discussion
Forgot to say I'm really enjoying Synd casting again too. Think him and ODPixel would make a good combo. OD for the play-by-play and Synd for the knowledge.
My fav game so far. Some awesome plays.
Forgot to say I'm really enjoying Synd casting again too. Think him and ODPixel would make a good combo. OD for the play-by-play and Synd for the knowledge.
My fav game so far. Some awesome plays.
I personally think Slacks is fine in limited dosis, like at TI. For other events when he has a bigger role I get a bit sick of him as well. I don't really think Kaci's lack of knowledge is an issue at all - she's here to do interviews and stuff like that, and she can do that just fine with no knowledge of the game. She's a great interviewer imo and does well to get some of the more introvert personalities to open up.
PPD has improved a lot over the last year in this regard. When he was on panels right after he retired from playing it was often very very negative, but he has softened a lot since then - he still provides some savage salty moments, but I personally think those are pretty great. And yeah, Jack (KBBQ) is brilliant - he's there working for the Chinese cast though (hence his spectacular suit), so that's part of the reason why he's not used more on the English stream.
Not gonna comment on the results the night, in case some people want to catch the vods later (https://www.reddit.com/r/DotaVods/ is great for spoiler free watching, if you want to catch up), but some amazing games. The first game between LFY and TNC stands out for me, but the Liquid-Secret series was also incredible, as you'd expect, as were the EG-Empire games.
Woah, can't believe EG are out. They really need to replace Cr1t.
It's disturbing how popular video games are becoming. As football fans, it should concern all of us if kids increasingly choose the option of sitting on their arse playing a game instead of going out and playing football.
Also it continues to amaze me that people are willing to watch other people play a video game and that too one like DOTA.
Also it continues to amaze me that people are willing to watch other people play a video game and that too one like DOTA.
Are you purposefully taking the piss?
Do you voice the same misgivings about people binging television shows, music or comic books all day?
Well it depends on the quality, if it's equivalent to shite like watching other people play DOTA, then yes.
Also people who binge watch usually acknowledge they've been unproductive and, unlike video gamers, rarely claim their activity is a sport.
I don't enjoy watching people play chest or golf or curling or hockey, doesn't mean it's shite.
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. However, 'it should concern all of us' is just a stupendously sanctimonious and stupid argument. Urbanisation and widespread access to television were what led to decline in outdoor physical activities, pinning it on 'video games' is dumb, period.
Watching people play a video game is no different than watching anything else. It's entertainment if you enjoy it, and it's not if you don't.
Edit: Also, read the OP. There's a different thread for discussion about this. This thread is for discussing the gaming, whether you like it or not.
@Wowi I havent watched LFY vs TNC yet but the vibes from reddit seems to be that the latter are legit. Do you think they can edge OG in a bo3?
Very worried about the boys since s4 has become choke4 again this tournament. Not winning/drawing lane even if solo and his hero pool seems to have shrunk. Brew, Clock, Bat, Puck. No more Axe, Cen, LC. The insistence on a Wyvern pick during group was strange as well.
VP vs LFY will probably be crazy fun tonight. The latter stomped VP in 15 min during group so cyka blyat Vodka doto will want their revenge.
Very worried about the boys since s4 has become choke4 again this tournament. Not winning/drawing lane even if solo and his hero pool seems to have shrunk. Brew, Clock, Bat, Puck. No more Axe, Cen, LC. The insistence on a Wyvern pick during group was strange as well.
VP vs LFY will probably be crazy fun tonight. The latter stomped VP in 15 min during group so cyka blyat Vodka doto will want their revenge.
@InfiniteBoredom TNC looked great in the first game against LFY, and probably should've won it. They were 12k up (with alch giving aghs to almost everyone) but then had a very poor teamfight and lost pretty much all of it. Never had a chance in the second game though. I think OG learned a lot from watching them today, and I think they'll have a plan for them - I think OG will win it, but it will probably be a 2-1.
S4 played two axe games during the group (won against C9 and lost against LFY). Had a game on Centaur, Enigma, Bristle, Magnus, Shaker and NP as well - I think you might have been unlucky with the games you've caught, because he's been quite diverse actually.
I think Brew has worked quite well for them, first game aside where it looked like S4 didn't have the proper control groups set up (fecked up big time on the micro in the first few fights). They went 3-2 with Wyvern in the groups (losses to Newbee and VP), so I don't find that particularly strange - I think Fly generally picks it in some good games. I don't think drafting was the issue for OG in groups, they just didn't execute properly - poor laning in pretty much every game, as you say, which left them at a huge deficit going into the midgame. Crit, on the other hand, seems a bit too obsessed with the hero and played quite poorly on it in the Empire series.
VP looked incredible against LGD today, and I think LFY showed signs of weakness in their first game against TNC. I personally think LFY topped during the group stage and that teams will have a plan against them (like TNC in game 1), but if I'm wrong and they do beat VP they can go all the way. PPD really believes in LFY, and he's a much smarter man than I am.
S4 played two axe games during the group (won against C9 and lost against LFY). Had a game on Centaur, Enigma, Bristle, Magnus, Shaker and NP as well - I think you might have been unlucky with the games you've caught, because he's been quite diverse actually.
I think Brew has worked quite well for them, first game aside where it looked like S4 didn't have the proper control groups set up (fecked up big time on the micro in the first few fights). They went 3-2 with Wyvern in the groups (losses to Newbee and VP), so I don't find that particularly strange - I think Fly generally picks it in some good games. I don't think drafting was the issue for OG in groups, they just didn't execute properly - poor laning in pretty much every game, as you say, which left them at a huge deficit going into the midgame. Crit, on the other hand, seems a bit too obsessed with the hero and played quite poorly on it in the Empire series.VP looked incredible against LGD today, and I think LFY showed signs of weakness in their first game against TNC. I personally think LFY topped during the group stage and that teams will have a plan against them (like TNC in game 1), but if I'm wrong and they do beat VP they can go all the way. PPD really believes in LFY, and he's a much smarter man than I am.
Drafting wise I think Fly is still unwilling to branch out. As you say maybe I'm just unlucky with the games I caught (Main event starts around 3 a.m to 12 am everyday), but the impression is that he always prefer to draft a defensive support duo, or in case he gives Jerax his ES then one laner will unquestionably be at a disadvantage. For all the shit Ana got about his laning, he's improved leaps and bounds and can actually hold his own now with an equal/favourable match up. If they are willing to play with aggression in the early game I think they'd be much more formidable. You cant perpetually put yourself at a 5k disadvantage at 15 min and expect to crawl out of it everytime.
Also, 4 teams left in UB are all from Group B, quite ridonk how stacked it was.
Also, 4 teams left in UB are all from Group B, quite ridonk how stacked it was.
Yeah, Fly always loved the double defensive support, which is also what OG won the first two majors with. That isn't really the case anymore though, because it's not the type of player Jerax is. Jerax played roaming heroes exclusively in the group (https://www.dotabuff.com/players/26771994/matches), but didn't really have much impact in most of the games. I agree that Ana has been their standout performer so far - it's the rest of the team that needs to step up.
Hehe, yeah - everyone talked about group A being the hard group!
Hehe, yeah - everyone talked about group A being the hard group!
It don't understand why people feel the need to come into the thread and shit on others for showing an interest in something other than football. We all have different interests. I mean, we all support United, right? Is it necessary to come in, act like little trolls and talk shit about "nerds" playing video games? We get it, you don't think it's a sport (I don't either, and the thread title is a bit shit tbh, it's probably baiting them in), but this isn't the 90s ffs. You don't need to act like luddites and shit on anybody who shows an interest in something PC related.
Might be worth making a seperate TI thread or changing the title. I don't know.
Anyway, not surprised to see the western teams (bar VP) struggling. Predicted C9, EG and Secret to all go out early. I for one welcome our new Chinese overlords!
Might be worth making a seperate TI thread or changing the title. I don't know.
Anyway, not surprised to see the western teams (bar VP) struggling. Predicted C9, EG and Secret to all go out early. I for one welcome our new Chinese overlords!
Anyone else watching the final now?
Here, bit drained after last series but hell its worth it
I'm not interested in eSports at all but the central components of many of the games are strategy, tactics, camaraderie, commitment etc. which are of obvious benefit to intellectual and to some degree social development, and are typically more explicit than they are in something like elite football.
The more important part is that eSports is still a grassroots movement at its core and, like any grassroots movement, it can teach people a lot about the barriers that need to overcome in the modern world to establish and legitimise new ideas in a hostile environment, while also fighting against the very damaging influences of commercialism, corruption, doping (financial and physical) and more, which are all prevalent in major sports.
So your moral highground disappears quite quickly if you look into it in any detail beyond the deeply flawed notion of reclusive geeks in dark rooms on computers watching other reclusive geeks in dark rooms, vs. healthy amateur sportspeople watching honourable elite athletes.
I've done a bit of international research into it and the overlap between traditional sports fans and eSports fans is actually quite significant. What you'll find is that time spent watching eSports is more likely to eat into time spent watching shit on tv or reading inane newsfeeds as opposed to eating into physical leisure time.
The International is always an entertaining watch, and I dont even play dota.
Not even a $25m prize pool... How am I meant to enjoy it?
Let's go, Newbee!
Let's go, Newbee!
I just can't deal with the name Matumbaman. Something about it...
Sounds like someone trying to say batman whole having a stroke.
Indeed.One win away from the Aegis.
What a run so far, GH is a god
What a run so far, GH is a god
Well that was easy
Game 2 was brilliant from them to come back from the early pressure.Well that was easy
Wobbled against IG but in the end the edge they have from GH is just too much. 3 TI thus far having a pos4 support that can force the first 2 bans have been a guarantee for success.
I missed the first half of G2 because of a call. Came back and it was 16-9 I believe? Friend told me it was 10-0 at one point. Will have to catch a replay.
Happy for Kuro. Such a chill guy.
I think Liquid's vast pool of heroes probably won it in the end. GH's in particular. Io, shaker, veno, huskar, brood, NP, necro, NS. As the panel said, Newbee had to pick their poison.
I think Liquid's vast pool of heroes probably won it in the end. GH's in particular. Io, shaker, veno, huskar, brood, NP, necro, NS. As the panel said, Newbee had to pick their poison.
Physical exertion is required though.
Think of all those wrists man!
Think of all those wrists man!
Anyone been watching the Overwatch League? It's the first time I've ever bothered to watch any sort of esport and I'm enjoying it more than I expected, the presentation is surprisingly professional, to the point I just don't understand where the money is actually coming from for this to work.
Couldn't give a crap if it's sport or not, it's called esport for a reason. Is email a form of mail? Logic.
Couldn't give a crap if it's sport or not, it's called esport for a reason. Is email a form of mail? Logic.
You may joke but quite a few of the pros suffer from carpel tunnel.
But then so do most teenagers, next, wanking will be declared a sport. And I can tell you it's much closer to the definition of sport than gaming!!!
Finally, my time to shine.
Do you play? Because it looked awfully confusing to try to follow as a non-player. I've had a great time in recent months watching CS:GO, a simpler game and also one that I played years ago.
Also don't care if its a sport or not. Its a competition I enjoy watching/following.
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Is anyone forcing you to watch this? Why do you care what other people find entertaining as long as its not hurting anyone.