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A BIG Step Forward for Australian CS
Big League: CS 1.6 Beta Series

Interview




Thanks for taking some time out of your schedule Michael, Can you give us a quick rundown on who you are and what you do for a crust?

Hey Jake, no stress im just eating breakfast :-)

Im mike woods, if you have played a nationals in the last 2 years we have probably met and / or drank beers. Back in the day I was a co founder of Anything Interactive and was heavily involved in events like ainc, nrgcup & gamerthon. I also produced estv, Smashtvee & gamerthon webtv and a few other things along the way. Now im flying solo producing Big League & writing the games page for MX.

Here are some links:
Gamerthon Halo3 Finals
Old school SmashTvee
ESTV

So you have been involved in the production and coverage of gaming events in the past. Tell us how you think events have changed and where you see events and coverage headed over the next year?

Events really haven't changed that much in the past few years, WCG is still WCG, ESWC is well.. lets not go there. That being said, event coverage is growing and expanding, sites like here, gotgames & gotfrag are really the foundations of eSport coverage in Aus. That being said, I guess my mission over the past few years has been to make eSports a spectator friendly thing, with big screens, cameras & commentary & I believe if we can pull big league off successfully then we may get to see a new level of eSports coverage :)

There has been quite a few positive changes in the community as of late, You have just announced the "Big League" Series - Where did your idea stem from, and what kind of preparation has it taken to bring this idea to reality?

The idea stemmed when I did smashtv'07 at ainc. I though at that stage wasnt in a position to go for it due to all the other events we were doing with AI. Though splitting with AI in July I really thought that this was the time and ive spent the last 4 months in heavy preparation gearing up for this launch.

Obviously with Team Immunity & WCG building some hype over the past few weeks, The Australian CS community is in a pretty excited state - Did you plan the Big League with this time frame in mind?

Yes and no, the video games industry has 70% of its activity in the lead up to Christmas, so obviously November was the perfect choice, though I also knew I would need the whole 4 months to get fully prepared for this.

The recent fall of the CGS could mean big things for Big League, do you think you think Big League has the potential to step in where CGS left?

I dont think we will expand to CGS size too quickly, we have nowhere near the budgets they operate at. That being said CGS did set up a perfect foundation for us to work with, people understand the concept of broadcast eSports now all we have to do is do it better in 2009.

I've worked in a little bit of TV previously, and I understand that there can sometimes be a delay from shooting to editing. How quick are you expecting to roll out the first few episodes, and what kind of time frame are you operating in?

Well I guess this is why we are doing this as a beta, we will be producing 2 episodes live in the studio on a Friday night, then taking them into post production for a cut and polish on the Saturday and hopefully have them out by the Sunday.

That being said, after this beta season we will actually do the whole thing live so games can be online within an hour of shooting :)

Now you have always been a behind the scenes man, calling the shots from the directors chair though with Big League your grabbing the microphone for the first time in a few years, why the sudden change?

I had to first develop and refine the eSports broadcast concept first, a lot of the technology we use is very complex and its taken over a year to get the concept down pat. Now its quite solid and we have a co – director & great co – producer I thought it was time to go back infront of the camera.

Once this first "Beta" season is over, What will be your next step for the series, Can you give us a tiny insight into your master plan?

Haha, I cant reveal all my tricks now else there will be nothing to talk about in the future! Im currently planning for a 2009 Jan / Feb season which will include a few other games other then CS, though I know everybody is bugging me to get this on Aurora or C31 though I feel that this has bigger fish to fry. Give me a few weeks to confirm a few things and ill fill you in on the grand plan :)

Ps. anybody wishing to get involved do shoot me an email michael@woodztown.com

Ok well thanks for your time, I hope everything runs smoothly and we'll be coming back to you for an update in the coming weeks.


News Pages:
» Page 1: Australian CS has taken a forward surge with the recent performance of Australia...
» Page 2: Interview Thanks for taking some time out of your schedule Michael, Can...
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Comments « back ... 1 2 ... next »
1.
12/11/2008 01:52pm
deXtrous
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first
2.
12/11/2008 01:53pm
Mojo*
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yerp
3.
12/11/2008 01:54pm
GoMeZ
Administrator
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first that actually read it.
4.
12/11/2008 01:56pm
graff
Administrator
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sweet!

Is this actually being televised on a tv station?
5.
12/11/2008 01:56pm
kbz
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B1G
6.
12/11/2008 01:57pm
deXtrous
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prize moneyz?
7.
12/11/2008 02:00pm
graff
Administrator
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this better fuckin go through!
8.
12/11/2008 02:00pm
reazn
Administrator
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#4 - broadcasted via the web at this stage for the Beta season.

I think they're going to aim at getting it on TV and doing the whole sponsorship TV series.
9.
12/11/2008 02:02pm
Sollz
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Wouldnt swearing be an issue?

one *beep*n halls, oh *beep* im low, *beep* *beep* that *beep*, *BEEEEEEEEEEP*
10.
12/11/2008 02:04pm
graff
Administrator
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Thanks jake.

They should broadcast it live via the web and get in touch with Aurora TV (http://www.aurora.tv/) to televise each episode after it has been recorded. Aurora TV is a great community channel on Austar/Foxtel and they will would happily televise something like this. I have seen many quite amateur shows on there that dont look to be as professional as this. If it proved to be popular on Aurora that would help with commercialisation next year.

http://www.aurora.tv/index.php?option=com_content&...
LAST EDITED BY graff ON 12/11/08 02:06pm
11.
12/11/2008 02:07pm
reazn
Administrator
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#9

depends on classification

It would probably have to be classified PG or M due to the whole killing people side of the game.

12.
12/11/2008 02:27pm
GoMeZ
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replace the gun models with water pistols and remove the blood sprites...
13.
12/11/2008 02:44pm
teddyT
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Sounds really good! Hopefully this runs smooth, can't wait for it.
14.
12/11/2008 02:45pm
unpro
Administrator
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looks good, nice little writeup too jake :)
15.
12/11/2008 03:11pm
beNiz
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16-0
16.
12/11/2008 03:37pm
cozeh
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so this is just for melbourne?
17.
12/11/2008 03:49pm
losty
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great idea, about 5 years to late.
18.
12/11/2008 04:00pm
fidzehh
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hmmm keen!
19.
12/11/2008 04:59pm
ATiEk
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nice nice !!
20.
12/11/2008 05:03pm
davestr1zl
Editor
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http://www.dicevip.com/2008/11/12/big-league-cs16-...

some more specific info there!
21.
12/11/2008 05:56pm
kbz
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unpro did jake write it or did beedee?
LAST EDITED BY kbz ON 12/11/08 05:58pm
22.
12/11/2008 06:24pm
CarN
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Can i be an on TV personality i'll push the ratings and i wont keep anyone down like Hulk Hogan.
23.
12/11/2008 06:27pm
cob
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thats great if u cant put it on a big channel y not try TVS or ch 31 wat some ppl call it
24.
12/11/2008 06:29pm
pikel
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#17
25.
12/11/2008 07:02pm
dippa
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can't classify the program PG if you're televising counter-strike (CS has a rating of M). sounds good though.
26.
12/11/2008 07:12pm
jnsie
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#4 failed comprehension at school
27.
12/11/2008 07:46pm
Mojo*
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how jnsie LOL
it can be televised over the internet, not just TV
28.
12/11/2008 08:03pm
reazn
Administrator
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#21 - i did?
29.
12/11/2008 08:27pm
sommi
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Oh please

If this is rated anything beyond PG then Boxing should be R Rated
30.
12/11/2008 08:37pm
pOOT
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no point on doing this if no one has that drive to become a progamer, and scared of looking like bunch of geeks in to the public..
if it's a league no one going to play in it if it gets in the way of work.. unless ur paying salaries or got bunch of jason lakes involved in it.
31.
12/11/2008 08:55pm
kbz
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i have the drive of a progamer + im not scared of looking like a geek, got beef?
32.
12/11/2008 09:47pm
davestr1zl
Editor
User Online
#27 'televised' by its very definition, means it has to be broadcasted on television.
LAST EDITED BY davestr1zl ON 12/11/08 09:48pm
33.
12/11/2008 09:49pm
jnsie
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^ rofl what do they teach at caulfied m8
34.
12/11/2008 09:54pm
kbz
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to not be a closet gamer
35.
12/11/2008 10:05pm
Mojo*
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wtf do they call it on the net :S
36.
12/11/2008 10:16pm
clip
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a red head should be in this ... then the rest wouldnt look so fugly course except for ben0r TV - RMIT chicks would be all over this guy who went large at WCG.
LAST EDITED BY clip ON 12/11/08 10:21pm
37.
12/11/2008 10:35pm
davestr1zl
Editor
User Online
#35 i dno, broadcasted/streamed who knows, but not televised.
38.
12/11/2008 10:58pm
cozeh
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ahah losty, spot on the mark
39.
13/11/2008 12:40am
Incuban
Administrator
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#17 spot on
40.
13/11/2008 12:41am
Clam
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get this shits on channel 31
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