Regarding Riot-controlled Leagues

Toastey·Feb 23, 2016·1 votes·331 views

While I understand that Riot wants to preserve the health of their Leagues and their esports value, I can't help but feel that they're trying way, way too hard to micro-manage their scene. An open circuit is far too long overdue. As far as I know, this is the only esport in which the developer of the game meddles directly to this extent. Riot is not, and should not attempt to be, an esports organising institution. The esports side of their game should be handled by full-blown, storied, credible organisations whose sole specialty is organising esports events and leagues, not by some Riot HQ extension offices that have too little credibility and too much power.

Riot should really hand over their esports scene to true professionals, for the sake of the scene's current health and for the sake of the future of the scene. It's fine if they continue to host and organise MSI and Worlds; indeed, these Riot-sanctioned events would be bigger and better if they were the only two foci of Riot's esports department's efforts (as opposed to its current workload of of micromanaging every major region across the world). Additionally, Riot Games would be better equipped to fulfill their actual function---that of a game developer.

Honestly, there are no reasons to continue such a garbage region-locked League system. It's greedy, short-sighted, exclusivist, and disrespectful to the players and the game. For the sake of your game, Riot, don't try to act more grown-up than you actually are.

2 Comments

LazerFruitFeb 26, 20161 votes

nice hate thread you got there, it's riot's game why should they not have control of THEIR league in THEIR game

ToasteyFeb 27, 20161 votes

because developer-controlled, exclusivist leagues have almost always been lacklustre in esports history? because riot (and riot apologists like you) have a tendency to ignore what history has to offer, and end up making something shitty and pretending that you invented it? exclusivist leagues are not a new thing, and they've never done better than open circuits managed by third-party, esports specialists. there's a reason that the cancerous region-locking that you take for granted even exists; riot is trying to force unrealistic, artificial storylines (primarily East VS West) that probably would have happened on their own (and in more spectacular, competitive fashion). there's a reason that western teams have so little experience in Bo3 and Bo5 series, and get dominated internationally. who do you think forces these teams to play in their own stagnant regions and prevents them from getting any international practice or experience? who do you think places an artificial premium on made-up rivalries that barely even exist half the time? who do you think constantly lies to the casual fan and feeds them misinformation about how good or bad certain teams are? Riot does. they control too much, and they try to control even more---and it's ruining what could be a vibrant, healthy scene.