MSI: A Complete Waste of Time?...

TheGrandAlliance·3/4/2015, 9:52:54 PM·1 votes·1,115 views

The 2015 Mid-Season Invitational has no World Competition Implications; nor any significant prize money. Why do we care again?... Why do the LCS teams care again either?

There is no incentive for any team to "play their best" because there is nothing on the line. Furthermore; as in teams of other "sports", they may not play their best... that is any "secret strategies" they have will unlikely be used unless something is on the line (in Worlds). This of course is not to ruin any competitive advantage when they need it most later this year.

Is it a fun thing to have to get all the teams together? Perhaps. But if there isn't any (logical) reason to win it other then ego reasons.... well why again?...

"BECAUSE I CAN!!!" Apparently is RIOT's response...

And lastly: (Northern) Florida?.....

Indeed it is so...

8 Comments

Vixanys3/5/2015, 5:54:55 PM2 votes

First, for some teams, it is important. International Experience. LCS (NA/EU) have extremely limited source of this in their format. Chinese teams have a shit-ton of games throughout their "season" but Series of 2 is still limiting in adaptation and evolving to an opponents strengths.

Next, Diversity in meta. Chinese Over-Aggression, EU ADC/MID lane Focus, Jungle Heavy NA, Tilt-creating Korean styles clashing in a tournament that isn't Worlds, helps teams see how they would stack up without having to stress about what the cost of that experience costs.

The Mid Season Invitational is kind of like a Pre-Worlds preview of what may happen. And gives the teams plenty of time to clean up their play and strats before Championships are on the time. It does also, give dominating regions the ability to see the other regions play styles directly (There is sooo much more to learn from playing again a team that VODs, Match Histories, Past Performances do not show you).

As I have mentioned in another MSI related thread, North Florida has immediate access to International travelers, and likely provides a venue that will accommodate Time There (not just play but Setup, Promotion, cleanup) and the size they want to make this (in recent time) Eastern US event.

1011001110003/11/2015, 7:58:37 PM1 votes

Think of it like the NBA All-Star match. No one really gets anything out of it but an ego boost, so players really DON'T play their best. But it's fun to watch every so often.