As they entered the Raleigh Convention Center this past weekend, fans of Major League Gaming who had attended MLG’s first Raleigh event last year were in for a pleasant surprise. Though last year’s event saw a modest turnout and set-up, this year provided a much more focused, jam-packed experience.
The clear focus this time around was on giving attendees as much bang for their buck as possible. From expanded seating for spectators at the big matches to carnival-style games provided by sponsors, attendees always had something to do.
Bill Raynor , a Raleigh citizen, found the event to be a fun excursion.
“It’s interesting to see what all there is on display here,” Raynor said.
The main attraction, the competition matches of Halo: Reach, StarCraft II and Call of Duty: Black Ops, were accordingly treated as showcase elements of the event.
Instead of a single group of bleachers for one of the games, as was the case last year, each of the games on display was provided with numerous rows of seats. This made for a much easier viewing experience, as there was more than enough space for attendees to relax and enjoy a match.
The matches were also held in a more continuous manner. This reduced the amount of time between rounds. Instead of a loop of the same few sponsors’ commercials, players were treated to color commentary, player interviews, and at the StarCraft area, a documentary about the fandom.
Kelsey Lehr , a Charlotte native, highly appreciated the amount of content.
“I felt like there never really was a dull moment,” Lehr said. “there was always something to see on the screen.”
Besides simply watching matches, there was plenty to do. Several sponsors provided ways for attendees to win prizes and have fun. At the Stride Gum booth, people were welcome to take part in an Atari joystick ring toss, a pro player knockdown game and a challenge to untangle the cords of game controllers.
Another challenge was provided by the National Guard booth, who ran a push-up competition for the more in-shape gamers in the crowd.
For visitors looking for a bit more gaming at the competition, Sony was on site to provide just that. At the ‘Sony Compound,’ several high-profile PlayStation 3 titles were on display.
A multiplayer competition for the soon-to-be-released Resistance 3 was open for anyone to enter, while Mortal Kombat was playable on arcade-style booths. Also on display were stations to demonstrate the use of PlayStation Move in games such as SOCOM 4, Killzone 3 and Resistance 3.
Sony also held a giveaway, giving attendants the chance to win a PlayStation 3 as well as several of the games and accessories on-display.
There was much to see on the event floor this year, which meant there was always something for guests to do. Some, however, such as Jesse Holder, felt that there could have been more direction on where and what everything was.
“I’m not really a hardcore gamer,” Holder said, “so it would’ve been nice to have a bit more information about what all there was to do here. A map would’ve been a great help.
Overall, though, attendees seemed satisfied with the experience MLG Raleigh provided.
“I loved it,” Lehr said. “It was really neat to be able to be here, and it was like a dream come true to see all my favorite StarCraft players.”
Though the focus was on providing a great experience for attendees, the competitors themselves were also provided with several upgrades this year. The StarCraft players competing on the main stage were provided with soundproof booths to play in. This allowed them to concentrate and not be distracted by the audience and commentators. Another bonus for players was reserved front row seating, making it easy for them to wait until their next match began.
With better exhibits, a greater focus on providing entertainment, and more event showcases, this year’s MLG Raleigh was a success, managing to eclipse the fun attendees had at the organization’s first visit to the city. Should MLG return again, it will be interesting to see how they top themselves next year.
