More Than $120,000 in Prizes and Player Stipends Up for Grabs at MLG Pro Circuit at the Anaheim Convention Center July 29-31
Coming off a record breaking competition in Columbus, Ohio, top pro players, aspiring amateurs, and thousands of video game fans will descend upon Anaheim, California, this weekend as the 2011 Major League Gaming (MLG) Pro Circuit competition returns to the Anaheim Convention Center. From July 29-31, competitors from around the globe will battle for more than $120,000 in prizes and stipends playing some of the most popular video games of all time including the record-setting Call of Duty®: Black Ops on the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) entertainment system, Blizzard Entertainment’s blockbuster real-time strategy game, StarCraft® II: Wings of Liberty™ on PC, and the popular Halo: Reach on Xbox 360. Fans can purchase spectator passes online or on-site at the Anaheim Convention Center and can also become MLG league members to receive discounts on passes, as well as free 720p high quality, ad-free LIVE video streaming to watch all of the action online. Memberships are on-sale at www.majorleaguegaming.com.
The Anaheim competition is the third of a challenging, six-city US Pro Circuit tour that places the most talented players alongside their toughest opponents. More than $1 million will be awarded throughout the year making this the largest MLG season to date.
The Players and Games
StarCraft II on PC
More than 270 players from around the world will compete in the sold out StarCraft II tournament, including SlayerSMMA (Korea), the MLG Columbus Champion. Joining him from Korea will be SlayerSBoxer, Brood War legend and one of the most well-respected players on the scene, MvP DongRaeGu , the up and coming star of GOMTV’s Global Starcraft Team League fame, and IMmvp , winner of GSL’s January 2011 season. Other players to watch include EvilGeniuses’s Idra (USA) and Dignitas’ Naniwa (Sweden).
Call of Duty®: Black Ops on PlayStation 3 system
The record-setting, blockbuster title Call of Duty: Black Ops on PS3™ system, is the newest addition to the Pro Circuit. Hundreds of players will battle for a 1st place prize of $10k in gameplay modes Capture the Flag, Domination and Search and Destroy. Coming off their first ever MLG first place win in Columbus, OpTic including players Rambo, BigTymer, Merk and JKap will return to try to reclaim their title. Force including players Eman, Fantasize, mpaacslaps and Domozilla; #3 seeded team, FeaR; and Dallas winners Quantic Leverage will also be vying for the top spot.
Halo: Reach on Xbox 360
Hundreds of Halo: Reach players will compete during the three-day, double-elimination tournament for the 1st place prize of $20,000. Columbus winners Instinct featuring Ogre 2, iGotUrPistola, Lunchbox, Roy; 2nd place finishers Str8 Rippin including Tsquared, Neighbor, ElamiteWarrior and Legit; Dallas winners Status Quo and Final Boss will be back to battle for the championship.
The Experience
Thousands of spectators will view all of the action via three giant main stages with huge video screens and live commentating. Attendees can visit an array of booths featuring meet and greets with the Pros, the latest products from MLG partners, pre-release access to games and more. Booth highlights include:
· MLG Booth: Visit the MLG booth all weekend long for an opportunity to meet and play against MLG Pro Players, compete in the Black Ops FFA, watch the AR.Drone synchronized flight show and participate in the new MLG booth challenge to win cool prizes.
· Sony Ericsson, official mobile handset of MLG: Attendees can purchase the Sony Ericsson Xperia™ PLAY onsite for the new price of $99 and receive an additional MLG exclusive offer for $20 off the handset. New 2-year activation and data pack required.
· Dr Pepper, official soft drink of MLG: Stop by for play-a-Pro sessions, signings, Text-to-Win promotions with an array of prizing, and a chance to meet the new Dr Pepper Girls.
· BIC® Flex4® Razors, official razor of MLG: Play Halo: Reach in the BIC® Flex4® Live FFA (free-for-all or individual) competition. One winner will be flown to the National Championships to compete for $4,000. Plus, participate in a text-2-win promotion for a chance to win cool gaming gear like an ASTRO A40 Audio System.
· PlayStation®, official partner of MLG: Get early access to pre-release games at the PlayStation Compound. Experience the PlayStation® Move Sharp Shooter attachment, stereoscopic 3D gaming and compete with friends for amazing prizes.
· STRIDE, official gum of MLG: Participate in unique challenges throughout the weekend and receive Pro Player autographs.
· Alienware, the official desktop of MLG: Experience the most powerful desktops available at Alienware gaming stations throughout the venue.
· ASTRO, the official headset of MLG: Stop by the ASTRO booth to check out and buy the latest gear – the A40 2011 and A30 pro gaming headsets.
· Parrot AR.Drone, official Augmented Reality Gaming Toy of MLG: Have fun racing these flying quadricopters against MLG pro players for the best time in an obstacle course for a chance to win a FREE AR.Drone. Try your flight skills in the AR.Drone cage, qualify for the competition, and get ProPlayer autographs plus free swag all weekend.
· Army National Guard: Visitors can test their strength in a push-up competition, participate in a Call of Duty high score competition for a chance to win great prizes and giveaways, and partake in the Augmented Reality Uniform Experience to see themselves in a National Guard uniform.
Army National Guard and MLG are also offering a military discount. Spectators can show a valid military ID to receive a reduced rate for passes.
NOS ® Energy Drink has partnered with Los Angeles area G&M Food Mart to offer free MLG Anaheim spectator passes with proof of NOS purchase.
Live Streaming at majorleaguegaming.com
For those that can’t make the event in-person, they can watch LIVE on www.majorleaguegaming.com via four streams – two streams for StarCraft® II: Wings of Liberty™, one dedicated stream for Call of Duty®: Black Ops and one for Halo: Reach. With an HQ pass or MLG membership, fans can upgrade to ad-free high quality streams and get immediate access to HQ tournament VoD.
The recent Columbus Pro Circuit delivered a record-breaking 22.5 million online video streams to viewers in 164 countries. More than 15,000 fans attended over the course of the weekend and more than 1,300 players from around the world competed. The online viewers, combined with in-person attendance made Columbus the largest Pro Circuit competition in MLG history.
Upcoming Pro Circuit Stops
Following the Anaheim competition, the 2011 Pro Circuit continues in Raleigh, NC (August 26-28) and Orlando, FL (October 14-16), culminating with the national championship in Providence, RI this fall (November 18-20).
ABOUT MAJOR LEAGUE GAMING
Founded in 2002, Major League Gaming (MLG) is the dominant media property exclusively targeting the approximately 40 million consumers in North America who have a passion for playing video games as a competitive social activity. The company exclusively represents the best professional gamers and gives millions of aspiring gamers around the world an opportunity to compete, improve their skills, and socialize through a thriving online competitive community and live Pro Circuit competitions. For more information: www.majorleaguegaming.com.
ABOUT BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
Best known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft® and the Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo® franchises, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment’s track record includes thirteen #1-selling games and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company’s online-gaming service, Battle.net®, is one of the largest in the world, with millions of active players.
