Microsoft has monopoly on competitive gaming

In a bid to become the top console gaming company, Microsoft has embraced the major competitive video game leagues at the exclusion of Sony and Nintendo. Microsoft exclusively sponsors the World Cyber Games, Major League Gaming, and the Championship Gaming Series with its Xbox 360 console and Windows-based PCs.

[FordGTGuy]

either Sony nor Nintendo from sponsoring them either.

[Real Gambler]

And if you read the article, I do think they really went all the way to secure those events. I don't like Microsoft that much, but that's an awesome move, particularly if they made sure it's for many years to come. Those guys don't mind spending a lot, and they do mean business. Somebody in marketing saw the opportunity, and grabbed it. In a few years from now, those events will be commonly broadcasted on tv, so awesome advertisement. These events where mainly PC before, but sure enough consoles will become part of it. Securing it early is definitively a smart but very sad move for all the other consoles.

[MaximusPaynicus]

I'm with Gambler on this one -- Microsoft just saw a potential marketing opportunity, and capitalized on it. Of course, considering just about every professional gaming league uses Halo in some capacity, it made the job of them getting this "monopoly" almost too easy.

[Sayai jin]

@Real Gambler -Bubbles for you. This is a very smart move. As the video game industry sky rockets as one of the biggest industries. This event will become televised and MS captured it before someone else did. I mean even if you do not like MS, they have the money to spend for great things and will. Hey thts what any company should do.

[marioporter]

Monopolizing competitive gaming?...BRILLIANT!!

[0LDSCH00L]

Very solid marketing move!!!

[sanderFVCKINcohen]

I hope they get that that XNA youtube thingy going on. Now that will make me vewy, vewy, happy!!!

[TheUltimatePS3Fanboy]

WTF are they talking about have they ever heard of socom or MGO???

[CyberSentinel]

Metal Gear Online? You mean the content that Kojima/Konami took out of MGS4 to "double-dip" and milk lemmings for EVERYTHING they got? MGO isn't even proven yet. Splinter Cell gives you both single player AND online play included.

If you want online play, you have to pay for the same game twice. L@l
I guess this is Sony/Konami's answer to a "FREE" online experience. LMFAO.

Blind Lemmings, You Deserved To Be Treated Like 3rd Class G-lamers.

[jack who]

gamepro is full of ****

[WilliamRLBaker]

not microsoft exclusively and keeps all others from sponsoring.
Sony and nintento could easily sponsor them, but they choose not too.

Microsoft is incapable of stoping them because its a sponsorship not a buisness, AS for that if they could and did they'd get eaten alive in media fall out.

[JasonXE]

when you talk hardcore, you think people are going to play wii sports? Would be fun if they played mario kart 64 for the n64...that was always fun.

[XxZxX]

MS is the master of monopoly, don't you know bill gates can beat you in monopoly even he started the games with $1 bucks.

[Proxy]

Yeah, but it's still not fair because he gets $200 bucks every time someone passes go and is forced to buy the next Windows OS. :(

LOL, a bubble for your witty comment. Still laughing. :D

[XxZxX]

he will convince you Boardwalk is a piece of crap and buy it for just $1 like he is doing you a big favor. Just like MS DOS and the rest is history ;)

[ArmrdChaos]

Or they could force you to pay $600 dollars for Baltic and convince you it's a future proof investment...wonder who plays like that? You see MS isn't the only money grubbing a-hole in this world.

[BIGBAER]

And, Microsoft has formed a partnership with Direct TV; subscribers have already reported a number of unused channels that are listed as GAMES channels.

Xbox 360 owners can opt to watch live gaming as presented by Project Gotham 3 and Forza 2. It's only a matter of time before live, competitive gaming is streamed directly to subscription based tv.

Hate them if you will, but Microsoft is the real innovator when it comes to gaming. Yes, Sony has Blu-ray and Ninty has the Wii, but MS has LIVE and a lock on competitive gaming----as well as the means to show on Cable TV.

Things could get real interesting. We'll just have to wait and see.