Casters did a fine job. Getawhale fit right in and sounded great.

Specifically, when ESEA isn't keeping our scene alive. The community is. The community funded the i46 and i49 fund and that was completely beyond ESEA. The only thing ESEA is doing for us is providing a LAN, but I am not convinced the LAN event is the best thing for TF2 anymore.

And now corrupt admining looks a hell of a lot like the lesser of two evils compared to what ESEA has done with it's client. And I specifically remember every "top" player at the time going all googly-eyed over the big-name CS league taking an interest in TF2.

if Cevo did have a LAN would there be any reason to stick with ESEA? I cannot think of one. Piggy-backing off it's "name" hasn't done a single thing for TF2 like everyone originally thought

Maybe it is. But it's all relative. If they see a potential financial gain, maybe they take the risk. I would never trust anyone to not do something based on the logic that "they did it already it would be dumb to do it twice."

Let's forgive them and make an exception just this once. Afterall the company as always been fair and willing to work with the community to provide the best product. Without sticking blindly to an arbitrary rule whenever it best suits them.

But seriously...that is awful reasoning. "They couldn't possibly try to do it again." Just like caught hackers right? If there is financial gain to be had? Who knows. Maybe they do try it again.

All I know is the client hasn't touched this PC since I reformatted, and now it never will.

That is really pathetic and horrifying, and is demonstrative of a larger issue we've been saying about ESEA for years. They care only about money. Not in the way businesses should care about money...they care about it ruthlessly, without regard for their users. Their users are literally money farms.

We in TF2 pay them for what? An anti-cheat and a LAN? What is so great about the LAN? I know all the "top" invite players won't play without the LAN. I've heard that before. Only...take a look at invite. Where are the top players?

There are 2 teams. 12 players. Are we really suggesting it's all worth it for those 12 players? What about 3rd and 4th place this season. Who is paying for their LAN fund? Who is going to shell out money for these teams to lose in the first round to either iT or Mix?

The community is.

For too long we have begged eachother for money that makes no sense spending. How many former invite players sandbag to avoid going to LAN? How many stopped playing to avoid the LAN and it's fiscal burden? I get that TF2 feels more legitimate having a LAN and being part of a league with name recognition, but is it really worth being the red-headed step child to a league run by thieves?

How much better would this season be with Watch This still playing? No Exceptions for them. Rule enforcement to a T with them. Yet the very creators of those rules, broke the law. And we're supposed to make an exception? We're supposed to say, "that's okay, ESEA, we are spineless nerds who want some vindication playing our game, so take my 60 dollars and my dignity."

Do you really trust the ESEA client after this?

He who tries, will be wasted