MLG spends $1.75M signing seven pro gamers

$250,000 contracts served up to members of team Carbon, Str8 Rippin; three-year deals give MLG trio of million-dollar team agreements.

Back in June, Major League Gaming made headlines when it agreed to sign a quintet of professional gamers for a total of $1.25 million over three years. While many scoffed at the amount of scratch given to the joystick jockeys, the professional gaming league apparently thinks it was a great idea, as it has signed a second wave of gamers to deals for a similar amount of cash.

Team Carbon accepts a dope novelty check.

MLG has announced the signings of the four-man team Carbon and the three remaining members of Str8 Rippin, whose team captain, Tom "Tsquared" Taylor, was one of those signed in June.

Team Carbon is made up of Chris "Shockwave" Smith, Scott "Gandhi" Lussier, Ben "Karma" Jackson, and Eric "Ghostayame" Hewitt, and is the defending MLG Halo 2 team champion. The squad beat top dogs Final Boss (the previous MLG Halo 2 champ) three consecutive times in the second half of MLG's tour this year. The team was given a three-year $1 million deal to play exclusively with MLG.

The remaining members of Str8 Rippin--Carlos "Cpt. Anarchy" Morales, Alfonso "Fonzi" Chartier, Peter "Foulacy" Dietrich--join Taylor with three-year $250,000 deals each. Str8 Rippin is considered the third-best MLG team, behind Carbon and Final Boss.

MLG competitions can be seen on the USA Network on Saturdays at 10 a.m. ET/PT, or online at the MLG Web site.

141 Comments

  • ed1word

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 7:50 pm PT

    I have been a gamer for my hole life and i think that if I was a part of this Major League Gaming. I'd show these boys a thing or two about how to really play. I own every thing from Nintendo entertainment system too ps3, xbox 360, wii. My game room is covered in games i am running out of shelf space that i have had to start to store them in other rooms. So id really like to get some info on how to get into the life style

  • mofoneck

    Posted Apr 1, 2007 4:15 pm PT

    haha gay

  • French023

    Posted Mar 3, 2007 5:04 pm PT

    wish i was that good

  • your_evolution

    Posted Jan 6, 2007 10:16 pm PT

    wow...
    no comment

  • John926

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 6:03 pm PT

    This must truly be a dream come true for them. Kudos team Carbon!

  • klusps

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 6:15 pm PT

    Atleast this shows parents or any other people who think playing video games would lead you no where, that it can be a hobby.

  • dragonmaster21x

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 2:22 pm PT

    You Got It...Just About Anyone Can Make Money Even Doing The Thing They Like Most....GAMING!....Like MLG Halo 2 Team Which Of One Team I Will Qualify For Soon....If Any1 Got Halo 2 Add My New Gamer tag For MLG.................... IMLGIGunZBlaziN

  • deckzone3000

    Posted Dec 29, 2006 7:49 pm PT

    Proof that anyone can make lots of money in America.

  • 7HR1LL3R

    Posted Dec 28, 2006 1:06 am PT

    I'm jealous, but I can't hate. If I had their jobs, I'd be a happy Pro gamer. This would be the dream job! Unfortunately, MLG gave them 3 yr contracts to do good. What if they don't become as skilled in new games in the next three years? Even though they get paid, they're not likely to get resigned unless they spend a majority of their time on newer, more popular games. It'll be interesting to see how a pro-gamers contract pans out, especially within a three-year time span. What do you guys think???

  • masterchief375

    Posted Dec 25, 2006 6:29 pm PT

    Im gonna go pro sumday....

  • mysticssj5gohan

    Posted Dec 25, 2006 5:31 pm PT

    Ahh... There's never a dull moment when gamers get jealous of other gamers who make money doing what they do

    Read below for proof

  • dkpine

    Posted Dec 25, 2006 6:44 am PT

    im loving seeing gaming getting proessional recognision. I'm going to start going on about how amaizng it is to see people getting paid amazing amounts of money for the same thing i do, i suppose it isn't any different from any other sport. and E-gaming is a sport. any A-level PE student will tell you that there are certain things a potential sport must do to be officailly recognised as a "sport". i can't remember what they are myself, but i remember researching it one bored evening...

    Merry christmas to all, hope ypu have a good one!

  • tartar23

    Posted Dec 24, 2006 1:56 am PT

    WoW , I just signed up with MLG for 2 Million - yeah , bullshi* million i.e.

  • xatman911

    Posted Dec 23, 2006 2:38 pm PT

    This seems a lot like game earning which is later converted into tax...

  • Greatwasabi

    Posted Dec 22, 2006 10:33 pm PT

    This is kind of stupid... anybody could get into this as long as you spend enough time with the game.

  • majestikk

    Posted Dec 22, 2006 6:37 pm PT

    Bullsh*t...

  • alphazealot

    Posted Dec 22, 2006 1:09 pm PT

    Considering one of the players signed, Karma, has won every FFA event (which turns into a 1v1 after top 8 is determined) this year, I would say you don't stand a chance.

  • Dualmask

    Posted Dec 22, 2006 7:45 am PT

    Some people have all the luck. Let's not be jealous, let us be congratulatory. And unlike pro sports, this is a field that anyone can get into, provided they have the skill at the game. All you have to do is enter some competitions and get the attention of sponsors. Don't get mad, pick up a controller and start practicing and you can be in the headlines next year.

  • buffer34

    Posted Dec 21, 2006 9:20 am PT

    They can make money doing something they love - more power to 'em. A lot of people don't respect someone who is a "professional video gamer" for a living, but who cares. Do you what you want to do...

  • SuperSonic223

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 8:36 pm PT

    Jaguar600
    I am 100 times better than all of them at halo 2 all they can play is team put them 1v1 against me and see what happens thanks

    Well it still takes a lot of skill to work as a team. When you play in a 1 on 1 game you only have to fight one person and you don't have to worry about people creeping up behind you, a random grenade flying at your face, or someone on your team dying. In other words there is more strategy involved in a team game as oposed to a 1 on 1 game where it really depends on they player's skill level.

  • Jaguar600

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 7:52 pm PT

    I am 100 times better than all of them at halo 2 all they can play is team put them 1v1 against me and see what happens thanks

  • Thesilverpimp

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 5:15 pm PT

    wherez my paycheck? lol

  • DrakeNOwns

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 4:13 pm PT

    I guarentee i am the best halo player here ... seriously, i play with pro's all the time, there are only like 3 flat out ugly players out there to answer your question. And halo takes so much skill. It looks easy and simple, but trust me, this games takes time..

  • judgepeter813

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 3:18 pm PT

    when you game at that level, it's not fun and games anymore... it is pretty cool though that they get paid to do that stuff.

  • JEEBUS_BOGONDO

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 2:34 pm PT

    holy crap

  • MontyNice

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 1:09 pm PT

    Perrez, real talk rite there. Sad ppl dont look @ things that way. Oh well not much we can do about it...

  • Perrez8

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 12:35 pm PT

    "Athletes get paid to do this but they put their heart and soul into it," what professional sports are you watching. Pro athletes b itch and complain about making millions while 95% of the country toil away in debt. And if you live in the real world you'd realize what they do is insignificant in the real world. Pro's work at something until they're the best, and the best = more money. All these MLG'ers worked at video games to become the best and once again the best = more money and a lucrative video game contact. The fact of the matter is this, it boils down to jealousy on your part. Your not as good as these guys and your pissed because they're getting paid. I wanted to be the quarterback for the 49ers and moonlight as the power forward for the Phoenix Suns, but I came to the realization that I can't. So if these guys can get paid, godspeed and if you get your chance to play them on Xbox Live or pwn up and go to a competition to see how you'd stack up, then do it, otherwise just sit there and go 23-8 owning noobs and crown yourself King of Manyuca land. LOL, pro athletes put their heart and soul in to it {shaking head}

  • Gosnork

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 12:18 pm PT

    manyuca, If someone paid you a quarter million to play games you would turn it down? If these kids can make a couple million playing games for say 10 years, whats wrong with that? More important things in life? So they play hours a day. They are getting paid 250,000 to play! They play for 8 hours a day , your in school or at a job for 8 hours a day. Who says they dont have lifes outside of

  • manyuca

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 11:51 am PT

    I give kudos to the kids if they know how to play Halo 2, I will not take away that statement but I find incredibly pathetic that these bums are actually getting paid to do this.

    Athletes get paid to do this but they put their heart and soul into it, these kids just sit down there til they figure out a specific pattern. I am a gamer, a damn good one if I say so myself but I live the real world and I believe that there are more important things in life than playing Halo 2 three days straight.

  • HollywoodR15

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 11:35 am PT

    nhlkoho
    that's a joke. give these guys a mouse and keyboard and put them up against the real gamers

    do you know how lame you sound, pick up a contoller a try to game, douche.....

  • danwhittle123

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 11:05 am PT

    This is stupid.

    Halo 2 omg. Step into another competetive game and they will be ruined before they know what hits them. Don't call it "Major League Gaming". Call it "Major League Halo Snoozefest". well thts y there pro gamers at halo2 u g@y

  • Megavideogamer

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 11:03 am PT

    I Guess that Videogames are being somewhat taken seriously as a "sport"??1? Or competition of skill at least. It is a start I suppose. Good for the people for were signed to comtracts to compete.

  • princeofgames90

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 10:32 am PT

    hahaha funny

  • SemiMaster

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 10:17 am PT

    This is stupid.

    Halo 2 omg. Step into another competetive game and they will be ruined before they know what hits them. Don't call it "Major League Gaming". Call it "Major League Halo Snoozefest".

  • DarthKalo

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 9:55 am PT

    These guys better watch out, I'm on my way up. LOL!

  • MChammertime05

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 9:33 am PT

    noodles12345678
    lol. all that money given to people that are good at halo 2. i like the halo series and all but..halo 2 takes minimal effort and time to be good at. and anybody can be 'pro' at it in a few weeks.


    no not at all lol
    i've been playing halo for around 4 years and it's not that easy to become a pro
    there are a lot of people out there who play 24/7 it is very difficult to place high in an MLG event

  • Darkatomz

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 9:31 am PT

    omfg so much money...

    doesnt XiT count as pro...?

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 8:38 am PT

    So much $$$$$$!!!! I wish I could get some........

  • Eggy78

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 7:44 am PT

    ramses01 & MaDNuGgU: I definitely agree that $83K is enough money to "live." in fact, at this point in my life, I would do just about anything to make that sort of money. I live on my own and make roughly ~$11K annually, and I can live on my own on that and even have fast internet (which, of course, is probably the most important thing in the world).

  • dmastor

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 7:34 am PT

    gosh i need to play games more gosh

  • nhlkoho

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 6:17 am PT

    that's a joke. give these guys a mouse and keyboard and put them up against the real gamers.

  • ocdog45

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 6:08 am PT

    I gotta step my game up

  • noodles12345678

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 5:25 am PT

    lol. all that money given to people that are good at halo 2. i like the halo series and all but..halo 2 takes minimal effort and time to be good at. and anybody can be 'pro' at it in a few weeks.

  • addmon

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 5:12 am PT

    Interesting that a company would effectively sign up players like it was a sports team. Who knows, one day we may have mainstream gaming leagues dominating our televisions or even see them as olympic events

    everythingj, that's one obnoxious statement there, especially since they've been holding massive Tekken tournaments worldwide since way before the Xbox was even concieved.

  • thestrateger

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 4:02 am PT

    wow, they spend allot of money on this game, interesting if the game is good because they spend allot of money on it...

  • DarkChyld

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 2:05 am PT

    this is pretty cool man. i'm glad those peeps are getting something for their talents. HA, IN YOUR FACE JACK THOMPSON, you pube gargling hermie.

  • everythingj

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 1:29 am PT

    If i could make 80 grand a year playing video games, I would. kudos to these guys and MLG, which i think is an awesome league.
    I wonder what Halo3 is going to look like next year in terms of pro players.


    PS
    who has ever been paid professionaly to play an exclusive sony playstation game?
    go xbox.

  • kenesu96

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 10:26 pm PT

    83000$ is what more than almost all teachers police firefighters and probably alot of doctors make in a year!

    im a good player too! i beat TEMPEST! wheres my check?

  • Metamorphos1s

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 10:17 pm PT

    "ramses01
    LOL at people who this is a lot of money. Come on now. It only works out to about $83K a year. There is no way you can live on $83K a year. Survive sure, but live no way." where do you live? i live in manhattan which is very expensive and i can "live" here with that kind of money.

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