I disagree with that. A lot of people make decisions to go to Evo based on the overall feeling of “hype” at the time. Special Events play into this. Obviously, Special Events matter on some level, or they wouldn’t exist.
I know back in '07, there were a good number of people (including people I know personally) that went to Evo solely because of Mike Chaos/DPC. All of that shit matters to people.
I don’t think there’s anyone that doesn’t care about SF that’s gonna be like “Justin Wong!!! I gotta go now”, but there are players that are like “Meh… Evo’s not hype this year… wait… Valle/Wong FT7… maybe I need to go to this”. Definitely.
I don’t think he’s wrong for trying to capitalize on it…and he’s only looking to capitalize in the form of a bet. It’s not like he’s asking for guaranteed money from Evo staff…
I know a lot of people in the community have a distaste for people making money off of SF, but at some point our community has to grow up (now… I think trying to make sustainable wages of of SF is retarded… but I have no real objection to anybody trying). There’s nothing wrong with any party trying to make some money off of SF and the community. As long as they provide something, I don’t see why people have a problem with compensation.
While I do understand Justin’s viewpoint if attracting more MMs and more money into EVO it might attract sponsors, but I believe it’ll do more harm than good.
SFIV will never get to the levels of FPS and other types of games. Reason: It’s an arcade game.
SFII while I was big back then nowadays everything is different and even today many people (including my friend’s) bash arcade gaming because “it’s too hard and cheap.”
Most people I know who purchase SFIV are casual gamers who will never play it that much or even think about entering tornys.
Casual Gamers will always be Casual Gamers. Advertise to them to make a profit but don’t expect too much out of them.
The people who will take it to the next level are arcade gamers usually (and time to time people who just like fighters). People usually in their 20s+ who been to a few arcades in their time to understand the challenge that you can find in an arcade. The friendships you can make, and fighting your opponent side to side.
I have friends who are arcade gamers and casual (and nerdy) gamer, they are two completely different things. Arcade gamers are usually people who know what makes a good game and practice until they get everything down. Casual gamers don’t want to practice and prefer to do a collect-a-ton and call that a challenge. With online services so you don’t have to leave your room to play against someone online casual gamers will not go out of their way to fight challengers face-to-face.
Now, for me EVO is holy. It’s where many different arcade gamers who understand how an arcade game is come together and face off with a big crowd. The best of the best with no BS. EVO is the biggest arcade event in the US and since arcade gaming will always get a bad rap because of its nature by casual gamers I’m proud we have something like this going for many years.
I’m scared with sponsorships it’ll attract the wrong crowd. The casual gamers who don’t belong in EVO and don’t truly understand arcading gaming will call it one big joke. Then again they won’t have problems watching a FPS torny.
To make it even worse just show the Justin/Daigo 3s video and that’s a major turn off with my casual friends.
I prefer keeping EVO without any big sponsors. I know you guys want to make more greens but shit it’s more of the “be careful what you wish for” kind of things.
Honestly, I don’t understand why Justine is so concerned about getting shit up to 10k. Like Watson said, if Choi v Justin got 13k on each side, then this event will get 10k one side easy.
Also, I’m sure Watson is cushioning some of the bet since he’s trying to make his book keeping go as smooth as possible aka, if Jwong bets go over what can be matched on Valle’s side, he will throw in some of his own dough to keep things silky smooth. (not sure if he does this just speculation since I never seen him turn town anyone’s money who wants to bet)
SF4 is a popular game, and this EVO will get more attendees than before, we just gotta show the nubs how to bet.
I wish that Justin wouldn’t hold EVO coordinators hostage with his MM stipulations, but Justin, esp. with the state of SF4 today and experience with big MM in the past, how could you believe that this could NOT go over 10k?
You fucking people are morons I swear. EVO didn’t create this match, this match was created by alot of smacktalk in #capcom. There are a certain group of hardcore fans who talk daily about everything SF related, that is #capcom. You know who you are. This is where the discussion of the potential money match took place. Marn was there, Sabin was there, Floe was there, myself and Calipower as well as quite a few more. Alex doesn’t want to play Sabin in a MM. So me being from the scantr0n school of instigating asked Valle if he would MM Jwong. To our surprise, because Valle isn’t a gambling man, he said sure. Marn then woke up Justin and asked him if he would accept and Justin said 10k BET IT. So bet it we will and I started this post to create hype. And thats exactly what happened. PEOPLE ARE HYPED TO SEE THIS. There’s no denying that. There’s no exploitation by EVO at all. Wizard, The Cannons, Seth they don’t gain a damn thing by putting this up on the big screen. The numbers before any of this came up for EVO were already going to be through the roof. Its not like Joey, Ponder and Ink were at some meeting saying," How can we get people to come to EVO? Oh I know!! Lets exploit Jwong on the big screen!!" This just turned into something the community would love to see. Justin if you don’t want to do this match, just say no. Stop with all this BS. The 10k you asked for will be there. Your a top notch player and Alex is a top notch player. Easily 2 of the 4 most recognizable faces in the fighting game scene. Do this for the fans.
I don’t think people understand the difference between the actual MM and side betting. If you’re putting/placing money on valle or justin, you are side betting. If you’re giving/donating your money to valle or justin, you are contributing to their MM fund.
I seriously doubt the first year for SF4 at Evo isn’t going to hype people. That is what is going to tip the scales. Not a Wong vs Valle MM that they could probably watch on youtube later.
as far as star power goes,
please… i mean PLEASE dont equate star power/marketability with playing skill.
Gootecks on his best day couldnt beat Diago… but, put him or Mike ross in front of a camera and then do the same for Diago and its pretty much no contest. They interview great and couldnt coach them better myself.
I watch SF4 competitions for the same reasons I watch the NBA. yes the spurs are a great solid team and yes tim duncan is the best player. but the sponsor money always goes to lebron and Kobe because they have the star power to attract fans
So I wouldnt discount the US for its potential to get sponsorship and advertisement.
Im just talking about Dollars and cents as far as marketing.
What Justin is really trying to say is he has no pride left after Daigo turned his ass inside out at GS. So he has no pride left to bet.
Seriously, if this doesn’t happen because Justin thinks there needs to be some sort of buy-in like the WSOP, EC might get their hype knocked down a few pegs.
Also, I’ll bet buffet dinner at the Belagio on Valle.
haha this shit is gay. i hope it doesn’t get to 10k. 10k just to watch a motherfucker on the big screen? fuck that. i can type justin wong in youtube right now if i felt like it, and it aint gonna cost me fuckin 10k.
Justin is not going to compete in any “money match” because there is no more money matches for Justin. Due to business “Principles and Policies” it has to be a “Cash Prize”
None of my business.
Don’t care.
Whether any of you view Justin as an Icon in fighting games throughout the world or not, which in reality he is, doesn’t really matter. Diago on the other hand is just an Icon to this community and a hand full of gamers outside of it and all of Japan but in the world aspect, especially here in the US, Diago is not a household name when it comes to gaming. Gamers like Fatal1ty is, TSquared is, Carbon is, Karma is, Strongside is, even the old school gamers like Billy Mitchell and Todd Rogers are actual house hold names in gaming. Its just that you guys here in SRK do not know.
Justin has done a lot of promotional bids for the community such as special challenges and interviews and things of that nature which has contributed to the further development SRK as a community and Evo as an event. That is in no way to say that he has made SRK, so before anyone start putting words in my mouth, let that fact be known. Many gamers have contributed to SRK’s development and that is great because these players are from the SRK community. Choi, Valle, Watson etc. However Justin does not belong to SRK, he belongs to the Empire and even if he had said yes, I would have over ruled and stopped it.
For the last couple of years I’ve “ALLOWED” Justin and many other contracted players in Empire Arcadia to run free, to do bids for people and stuff and it has never helped or benefited this organization but it has surely helped others advance. Very rarely is Empire Arcadia even credited for any of that work. Of the people here in the SRK/Evo community outside of Empire or its fans, only Seth Killian has given credit to my company. The few people that know that the players are “LEGALLY” contracted to the Company have not and will not give this credit and that is fine. Whether you people want to accept it is a company or not is irrelevant. I really stopped caring back in 2006. My gamers and I use the word “MY” because they belong to MY company, will no longer be used without the express written consent of Empire Arcadia, Inc. or myself. They are allowed to compete in these tournaments on their own merit but promotional stuff…heh…those days are DONE.
Evo has their policies on the use of images and likeness of players and that is fine. It has never been a problem with me. What happens at Evo under Justin or any other player in Empire Arcadia in the standard line up of competition is fine. Anything outside of that must run through me, because I’m Justin’s boss and at the end of the day I will have to answer to any problems that may come up and deal with my partners and associates that now fund my company. Real talk.