Today marks the beginning of the second competitive season for
League of Legends. Featuring a prize pool of $5 million - the largest
in eSports history - along with a host of new and exciting features
such as new masteries and summoner spells, the open beta of the
highly anticipated Spectator Mode, and even ranked teams, Season
Two promises to be one of the most exciting updates to date.
I like LoL and I've probably given them around $50 during the lifetime of the game, but it amazes me that they have $5 million to throw into a prize pool. I'm sure some of that money comes from sponsors, but geez.
It makes me envious. I'm good enough to have played vs. pros and the result has been me getting torn up. Even after reading up smart builds, playing for money/position, remembering enemies spells and telling the team about them, tricks for jungling, etc. etc. I'm just barely able to not be the sole cause for our team's loss. You have to play a lot more smart, but ventrilo assists greatly with awareness; it becomes all about who can get the dragon more often or who knows when the other team is attempting the dragon and can get the gank and then the dragon, who harasses best to make people return more often or pop more potions.
Evidently, to qualify for the big tournaments for large prizes, you need to play qualifiers as a team each week. There is a $100 bonus for each team member of the team who wins the most each week as well as a $500 bonus for the monthly finals between those who have earned the most points, so that's not a bad amount on it's own.
I like LoL and I've probably given them around $50 during the lifetime of the game, but it amazes me that they have $5 million to throw into a prize pool. I'm sure some of that money comes from sponsors, but geez..
$50x 5 million players (some pay more some pay less) I would also gess that there is going to be more then one form of adverting. So Riot them self my only have to come up with 3mill, Remember that this event is going over a long time period, the longer that you can make that the more you will get form adds.(This will also depend on the number of estimated peapol watching). There is also the fact that they can claim add money from video streams that a going to be covaring there event.
Over all its not a bad plan, i would like to knowe a few more internal numbers.
I think they're definitely making their money. The effort put into the skins seems to be paying off. I've seen a couple of BloodLord Vlad's and that skin costs 15-20$.
That prize pool just incentivizes people to play more and just playing the percentages game, they're going to end up making some decent sales off of players.
