MLG 2011 viewership surpasses 3.5 million

@ Kage52124 Sounds like what other people do when they watch reality tv shows.

@ Taytortots If it were televised, I would hope that it is done in a way that it showcases the players and the teams. They need to make the players the stars and not just the games.

@ALLoY1717 Correction: MLG has no gender segregated leagues. At the National Championships a few weeks ago, MLG Starcraft had its first main stage match featuring a female. Sadly, it she went against Losira. Man, woman, doesn't matter, you're not getting by Losira.

i sadly like watching star craft matches.

Here's what's funny to me. People vicariously watching other people living vicariously through their video game characters. 2nd order vicarionism if you will... Not knocking those who enjoy it, but isn't this odd and a little ironic?

I wonder why many people are hating? Isn't this a good thing?

@BlueFlameBat I believe so, but it is split between mens and womens. Which is complete BS, I don't see any reason to do that in gaming. There is no difference between the sexes when a control is involved.

I prefer the fighting game live streams. Evo, Canada Cup, SBO etc. Just something about high level (2D) fighting games that is mezmorizing.

There is nothing wrong with watching people play video games. Then why would there be video games videos on Youtube?

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I don't really care what game competition they are broadcasting, they could be broadcasting tetris competition live, I would still prefer to watch it rather than watch a jersey shore episode... Die snookie DIE!

UC Berkeley has a course to study starcraft tactic, gameplay and game theory. There is the lectures on the youtube. That means something

@BlueFlameBat There was a pro female sc2 player at the latest MLG. This is her http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/sc2-international/players/3571_Flo

I like the MLG format for Starcraft 2. They make it very entertaining.

Are women allowed to compete in the MLG?

This is very surprising (and probably inaccurate). I don't know a single person who watches MLG.

@ Unfallen_Satan Starcraft 2 had around 200,000 concurrent viewers online at MLG Providence, with another thousand or so watching it.

Good promotional material, but compared to the number of gamers out there, 3.5 million is a pretty small fraction. Besides, this information would be much more useful if we knew how many ppl turned out for which events. The popularity of certain games is probably a significant factor. A lot of folks watch gameplay videos on YouTube. If I were spending time watching someone else's gameplay, I might as well as pros at their best.

As a casual gamer Starcraft 2 kicks my butt. It's fun to watch but hard to play.

I never really watched any major competitive gaming until I started getting into Starcraft 2. It's the one game I watch videos on almost as much as I play it. P.S. Husky FTW. He's easily the best commentator. Now if we can get more 2v2, 3v3, and 4v4 matches. Love the chaos.

The scene getting big is exciting to see.

Surprising. That would put it near Monday Night Raw in terms of total viewers (though the two are different, at different times, networks, etc)

Starcraft is the main event, not halo reach.

Counter Strike move a pile of money world wide done a lot a people to compete in tournaments. Don't you guys remember the CPL???. Starcraft 1 does equal in south korea. The difference between NFL and MLG is tradition in favor of NFL but e-sport is a reality. It's not just watch someone play videogame. It's competition in a high level. EVO 2003 daigo super parring move that will be totally non sense without the huge mass of spectators

I'd rather watch It's Always Sunny or Archer than some dudes playing video games any day. The other networks, meh.

Why put Reach in the related games? MLG got so big only after Starcraft showed up.

Congrats MLG on beating well....nothing. MTV is gutter trash (does it even have music videos?), TBS is syndicated shows (save NBA games once season starts), FX is same as TBS with a few shows. How the hell does that equate to being successful? I swear all this thing does is give college dudes more of a reason to be lazy and play one FPS all day b/c they think they'll make it big someday playing video games. PLEASE! Until Vegas has MLG as an event in the sports book then its not a sport and yes I'm not in that demographic either. (*Thumbs Down rating in 3...2..1...)

I don't know why so many of you are hating so much. SC2 live streams are a blast to watch if you play the game yourself and understand what's going on. It's fun watching top players compete.

It keeps growing year by year. With technology making it easier to view it, it will only keep growing. I would like to see what will happen next year.

Keeping in mind that Chess is a highly competitive Sport, there should be no reason as to doubting MLG's position as an eSport. Good luck playing Starcraft competitively if you're either 1. an idiot or 2. a casual.

Hmm... I'll stick to the NFL... but I'm over age 40...

@voldo25 I wonder how many GameSpot'ers, especially those whose avatar is a ninja that wears blue to try to hide in the dark, is still a virgin. Freakin' Soul Calibur nerd.

I wonder how many of those viewers are still virgins.

Wow, they almost nailed one really bad viewed night TV show... in 8 months.

I think they should def offer a more variety of games. But this will open doors for sure. TV networks and advertisers are def looking at these types of numbers and I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes a televised event maybe on G4 or Spike TV.

And for people who say "Why would you watch people other people play video games?" Well, I counter your question with another. Why do millions of grown men watch other men play football when they can easily go outside and throw the ball around themselves? We like watching the best do what they do best. Do I want to be the best at Starcraft 2, sure. Do I play a lot of it? Yeah, I do. But I don't have the time to sit down for 8 hours a day and practice. I don't have the money to travel across the country and compete competitively. I enjoy watching Starcraft 2 professional because each player has a storyline (moreso than any other sport - tweeting after a suspension? - lol) each matchup is entirely different. Every game pans out differently. The casters are entertaining, and the play is EMACULATE.

Starcraft 2 is really fun to watch. I don't see how people enjoy watching FPS games however.

This is a video game site. Why hate on news that is good for gaming? There is nothing more riveting than the high-level competition, storylines, and personalities that drive professional Starcraft 2. You also can't argue the esport's rising popularity or the community's passion. This is a good thing.

Starcraft 2 is easily one of the most entertaining game to watch. I enjoy ALL sports, soccer.. football, basketball, baseball, etc. Sometimes its nice to sit back and watch the best players in the world duke it out 1v1. What other sports have a 1 vs 1 aspect? Ping Pong and Pool? Yeah Starcraft is much more exiciting than those. Personally, however, I don't care for first person shooters that show at MLG, and I think watching RTS games are much more entertaining. Google Boxer vs. Rain Air Battle and tell me that it isn't exciting. Haters gon' hate.

@Zero5000X it's actually quite entertaining when you're watching the game you actually enjoy. just because none of the games on the pro circuit interest you doesn't mean others think it's boring too. @QOSMSTR it's not a sport, it's competition though

See my ex and I watch each other play Skyrim, for example because her and I get a kick out of what the other one does and play each others characters. It's fun on that scale. Sometimes we even play AC while slightly drunk. However, to watch an entire competition like this...can't do it. Think about it. Sitting there with a beer helmet...watching others play COD, Halo Reach, and so on...This is actually making me like football season

This news makes little sense. First off, MLG--which "broadcasts" live streams of video game footage--is comparing themselves to cable networks. Furthermore, the cable networks they are comparing themselves target completely different demographics than what MLG is going after. Comedy Central targets (and is very popular with) the male 18-49 crowd. This is the same crowd that gives shows like The Daily Show and Colbert Report on average 1.5 million viewers nightly--which makes this viewership of 3.5 million over the course of 8 months look pathetic. FX specializes in high-production original dramas that also target the 18-49 audience. TBS's flagship is Conan, which again garners ratings among the 18-49 crowd in a similar manner to The Daily Show. And from what I know, MTV essentially targets teen girls and has become an absolute joke of an "entertainment" channel. The only programming they mentioned that deals with the male 18-24 demographic is Adult Swim, which they admit to not matching in terms of viewers. If you're going to make claims against others, at least make sure the people you're railing are relevant to your claims. Also, the CEO of MLG is really named "Sundance"? Wat.

Take that EVO!

Puke.

Gag.

Still dont believe gaming is a sport...

Try explaining to someone what MLG is, and after they try and correct you that it is MLB, see how long it takes before they start laughing.

Lame.