A lot of us are and will be new the the "Major League Gaming Pro Circuit" and this that said, what better way to get us started than a guide from MLG themselves. This guide is specific to those attending and not spectating at home, however for those watching at home we will get details on that as well. Also, this "guide" is set more towards those who have never competed in a tournament before as it answers pretty much every basic question you might have.
Taken from here.We know that some of you might be unfamiliar with how a Pro Circuit Live Competition works. Whether you’re coming as a competitor, or as a spectator, there’s a lot to take in. To get you ready for the Winter Championship in Columbus on March 23-25, we’ve created this handy guide that should explain everything: from how to sign up, to why you should go, to what you should do when you get there. By the time you finish reading this, you’ll have all the knowledge of a seasoned veteran and you’ll be ready to roll when you join us in Columbus.
1. What is the Winter Championship?
Nothing but the very first massive-scale live Event of the 2012 Season! At an MLG Pro Circuit Live Competition, thousands of players and spectators come together for three days packed with everything a gamer could ever want. When you first walk into the venue you’ll see three giant Main Stages, one for StarCraft II, one for Halo: Reach, and one for all three fighting games, each surrounded by dozens upon dozens of gaming stations, promo booths chock full of free stuff, floor areas dedicated to special events, and tons more. Whether you’re spectating or competing, you can meet the pros, get their autographs, and stand just feet away and watch as they play. It's almost impossible to describe the atmosphere of a live competition. Imagine being in a room with thousands of your friends, watching the top players in the world competing right before your eyes—and getting the chance to compete against them.
The MLG Pro Circuit currently has five titles: Halo: Reach for the Xbox 360, StarCraft II on PC, and Mortal Kombat, Soul Calibur V, and King of Fighters XIII on PS3.
An MLG Pro Circuit Live Competition is the ultimate place to be a gamer. Coming to compete? The best pros in the country (and sometimes the world) will be there, and you’ll get the chance to play against them. Playing online gives you plenty of chances to play against your friends, beat total strangers, and improve your skills, but there’s nothing like a live competition. If you’re coming to compete, you can play for three days straight—you don’t even have to sleep if you don’t want to (we recommend that you get some sleep). If you’re spectating, you’ll find a wealth of things to do and see: all in the company of people who love gaming as much as you do.
2. What happens when I compete live?
You’ll be a part of a huge field of players and teams, and hundreds of spectators, all together in the same giant venue, all staying in the same hotel. You’ll get the chance to spend three days going head-to-head with some of the best in the world, in front of a hugely enthusiastic that will hang out your every move.
Here are just a few of the things you can look forward to when you play at a Pro Circuit Competition:
3. What happens when I attend as a spectator?
- You’ll have the chance to make a name for yourself and test yourself against the game’s best players
- It’s a nonstop weekend of gaming: loads of tournament play, hours of free play if you happen to get eliminated, and tons of people looking for some after-hours LAN action each night.
- At this particular Live Competition, over $190,000 in prizes is on the line.
You'll get full access to everything that's going on all weekend. Watch matches taking place on the Main Stages, on the Featured Stations, and on the floor. If you're a StarCraft II fan, you can watch all the action from three screens on the Main Stage, with two screens streaming from the players' POVs. There are also a variety of activity booths offering free play, sneak previews of new games, and contests. Promotions and giveaways run all weekend; you could go home with a pile of free gear and samples of tons of products, from cans of NOS all the way to gaming equipment.
4. I’ve never played live; will I be competitive?
A lot of the people there will be attending for the first time. Not everyone is a pro or a veteran. You’ll have the chance to play against people of widely varying levels of experience and talent; the odds are, if you’re motivated enough to come out to a Live Competition, you’ll be good enough to play at one. Do you play online on GameBattles? That’s an excellent way to get experience and improve your skills, and if you’ve done well there, you’ll probably find that you can play just as well live. You’ll have to adjust to the intensity and atmosphere of a live event, but a bit of adrenaline never hurt anybody.
5. How does a Live tournament work?
The tournament format for the Winter Championships is different than past events. For StarCraft II, there will be an Open Bracket and a Championship Bracket consisting of the Top 16 players from the Winter Arena. Halo: Reachwill have one Open Bracket, seeded by the cumulative points of each team member in the FFA Competition. Soul Calibur V, Mortal Kombat, and King of Fighters XIIIwill each have one Open Bracket with players seeded randomly. Brackets for all games will be double elimination. In the event that two players or teams match up for the second time in the tournament, Extended Series rules apply. For more information, follow the links above to the full competition format for each game.
6. What is it like to be a competitor?
It's intense. The brackets are large, the competition is fierce, and the days are long. Come prepared; you will be in the venue for quite a while, and you or your coach or manager should bring water and snacks to help keep you going. Food is available both within the venue and immediately outside, but having something on hand if you want to take a quick break can be quite helpful.
If you want to leave the venue, speak to your Tournament Admin. They will be able to tell you exactly how long you have before your next match, so that you can leave if you need to, without worrying about when you'll be playing next. Most players will have plenty of downtime to practice, to relax, to see the sights in the venue and to mingle.
7. How do I attend as a spectator?
Just buy a venue spectator pass. This pass entitles you to watch all the action, from the minute doors open on Friday to the minute the tournament ends on Sunday. It also allows you to participate in all contests, promotions, giveaways and special events.
8. Where exactly is the tournament being held?
The venue is the Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N High Street, Columbus, OH
9. How do I get there?
The Greater Columbus Convention Center is located 7 miles away from the Port of Columbus Airport. Arch Transportation (
614-252-2277 ) runs 7am-midnight daily. Airport: $17.00 per person each way. Individual pickup times can be scheduled by calling them directly, reservations recommended. Cab fare is $20-25 each way.
10. What do I do once I get there?
When you arrive at the venue on the day of the Event, just head to the check-in line for competitors or for spectators. We’ll have your team or individual competitor pass (or your spectator pass) reserved under your name and the MLG ID you used to buy it, and we’ll search for your name and give you your pass. Full details about what you need to bring to get into the Event (photo ID, etc) will be emailed to you once you buy a pass.
11. Can I compete or spectate if I’m under 18?
Yes! Everyone is welcome. Competitors under 18 should check out the parental consent form for further details.
12. When does everything start?
Check-in for Competitors is at 10:30am ET on Friday, March 23. Competitors and Gold Members may enter the venue at 1:30pm. General admission for spectators is at 2:00pm. The festivities begin at 5pm sharp with the Opening Ceremonies, and gameplay kicks off at 5:30pm.
We hope you’ve found this guide helpful and that you’re now prepared for all the excitement of a Pro Circuit Live Competition! Get ready, and we’ll see you in Columbus.
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