The reality behind MLG’s Combine

Well recently Major League Gaming announced their first Doritos combine, a lot of people have been looking forward to these combines and more information on what these Combines are going to be about. Well now we know a good majority of information. The real question is, what is this going to mean for you? The players that wish to compete view this as their “big chance” to go pro. They announced this with only a month and 22 days away, think that is enough time? Well i am not to sure.

Now we get to the real meat of the situation, what these combines mean to you. First lets start off with what we do know.

DATE: March 26-28, 2010

What it means- Like i said before They announced this with only a month and 22 days away, teams with sponsors are rushing to get their sponsors the information so they can get to the events. Which means sponsors are scrambling to get funds together in a time where our economy is struggling as it is.

VENUE: The Gaylord Opryland Resort
2800 Opryland Drive
Nashville, TN, 37214

What it means to you -Nice venue, so at least it is going to be a nice.

WHO CAN COMPETE: The Combine is an amateur-only competition that is all about putting the spotlight on upcoming talent. No pro players are eligible to compete in the Combine.

What it means to you–Now this is the most interesting part of the whole thing. MLG has stated that “The Combine offers what so many of you have been asking for: a clear way for amateur players to shine and prove that they have what it takes to make it to the MLG Main Stage. ” Therefore, who can compete is a contradictory statement. They want amateur players, which means non-professional players. Yes any teams outside the top 16 are considered amateur. But what about those teams that have placed top 16 before, or those teams that place consistently top 20 or even 32. Which makes teams like, Ambush, Take Respect, North of 49 able to compete in the Combine who are not at an amateur level. Which pretty much means that they will start with the amateur players with no points, and with no one to stop them, will run the bracket and take home an easy spot. Which will be the complete opposite about what they are trying to accomplish with them.

COMPETITION FORMAT: Halo 3 4v4 (256 team bracket) and Halo 3 FFA (1,280 player bracket). 4v4 Team Passes include automatic entry to the FFA.

What it means to you – Yeah, same deal as the normal events, but the FFA will be interesting. With every player of the 256 teams able to enter, it will allow players from top teams as i stated before to run the events.

HOW IT WORKS: Fight your way to the top of the heap in an all-amateur tournament. Winners will get awesome prizes, including some cash, free travel and accommodations, as well as a reserved Team Pass for the following Pro Circuit Live Competition. Any competitor that stands out has the chance to be personally evaluated by an MLG Pro.

What it means to you — Perhaps MLG forgets that we have teams like Ambush, North of 49 and Take Respect who are and have teams that are top 16 caliber but lack the points that it takes to be considered a “pro team” therefore, this will not be an amateur tournament.

REGISTRATION DATES: February 23 for Halo 3 4v4; February 24 for Halo 3 FFA.

What it means to you– Registration is closing in and hardly gives teams enough time to scramble for money to get to the events.

Well, MLG says they will have more information coming so we’ll have to see what they will do with the combine.