Reflection on LIVE 2008: It’s Not a Variety Show
I’ve been thinking about what to say about LIVE 2008 as a whole for the past 2 days. It’s actually hard to summarize two days of non-stop action in just one blog post - thus the multitude of posts I’ve been making lately. I usually just do 1-2 a day but I’ve been posting like mad since LIVE ‘08 ended. Anyway, after thinking about LIVE long a hard as well as comparing it to other gaming events that our competitors do, I came upon a conclusion on why I think LIVE is special and why it’s really the biggest online gaming event in the country. Level Up Live 2008 does not put the spotlight on celebrities, movie stars, bands, or sexy girls that have absolutely nothing to do with online gaming. Level Up Live 2008 is NOT a variety show wherein we use the acts to lure in people. We are not about cheap gimmicks. Level Up Live is about one thing and one thing only - it’s a tribute to the gamer. Yes, the sexy cosplayer girls are nice too but ultimately the main draw of LIVE is the tournaments. It’s the culmination of a year’s worth of blood, sweat, and tears for millions of gamers in the country.
I know that our company and our games are not perfect. Yes, we have bugs left and right and we may have the occassional customer support issues. But name a gaming company that doesn’t have that? Even Blizzard has their fair share of problems. My main point here is that when we are able to, we really do try to focus on what you guys need and want. I’ve said this a million times already, if only we were the developers of the game, then we would stop all development until we fix all the bugs. But that isn’t the way this business works. We are game publishers - not developers. It’s not an excuse but I can assure all of you that everyone here is really doing their best to give you guys a good gaming experience.
Level Up LIVE 2008 is a testament to that. It’s the most expensive thing on our annual budget, and it really is the most time-consuming and hardest-thing-for-the-year-to-do for everyone here at Level Up. We don’t actually earn from the event since we don’t charge entrance except for the measly P50 card which you buy beforehand anyway.
At Level Up LIVE, we don’t put up a good show. We just set the stage for the gamers because they are the stars of the movie. They are the ones who are providing the performance of their lives - showing everyone that they are indeed the very best at what they do. In other words, we do Level Up LIVE to make the best gamers out there look good (LOL). If you don’t believe me, then you should have been there during the opening ceremonies. We literally introduced the gamers as if they were WWE superstars! Complete with fireworks, nyahaha. The program of LU LIVE is really built on the psyche of a gamer and that’s what matters the most. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past few events that we’ve done, the crowd cheers louder at matches than they cheer during band performances or even during the Cosplay competition.
I can definitely say that Level Up LIVE 2008 was a phenomenal success. I don’t have the actual headcount yet of the number of people who came but I’m pretty sure that we surpassed last year’s 16,000. Last year we only rented 2 halls and we filled it up. This year we rented the ENTIRE WORLD TRADE CENTER and it was maximum capacity once again.
To all the gamers who went, please accept my heartfelt thanks. To everyone who competed, especially Team Philippines, you guys are all champions. You’ve proven that you are the best in the country and I know that it’s only a matter of time before we finally bring home the gold. To everyone at Level Up that worked hard to make LIVE happen - maraming salamat po!
I’m definitely looking forward to next year’s Level Up Live. I’m sure that everyone here will be scratching their heads trying to figure out ways on how to top this year’s event. Hahaha!
PS - I’ll be posting a few more stuff about LIVE then I will do a wrap-up post summarizing everything.
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:14 am
“we do Level Up LIVE to make the best gamers out there look good (LOL)”
LMAO!
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:31 am
LU’s kick ass.. astig tlga!=p..it’s all about the GAMERS..naks hehe
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:23 pm
“We don’t actually earn from the event…”
Sa dami ng advertisers dun (Smart, Yahoo (!!), HP, etc..) plus 4000+ gamers, balance out lng ang expenses nyu?
Ndi cguro..
(btw, on another note, pero LU! request nmn next time wag sa WTC.. amf, na coke-in-can yan 40 php..)
Pero congrats narin sa very successful event, promise nag enjoy kami (The Impulse Guild from Valkyrie) at tinuturing nmin ung third Grand EB ng aming gild.. ^^
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Level Up! Live is the Woodstock of gaming. ;)
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:50 pm
However, gaya ng sabi ni Gaius, ang MAHAL ng food and beverage. I asked the people behind the buffet area kung magkano yung ensaymada. Care to guess the price?
60 pesos.
Ano yan, may ingredient na GINTO? Yung bottled H2O, 30 pesos. To me, umiral uli ang pagiging opportunista ng Pinoy.
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Nyahahaha fire works amf!!! next year mag laan kayo ng budget pra sa entrance ng mga players!!! mala WWE na dapat!!!
Suggestion lang for next year Lu Live… (hanep kakatapos lang ng LU live suggestion agad for next year… hahaha)
Mangalap kayo ng mga suggestion ng mga players na possible ilagay sa Lu Live… ex. games, booths, merchandise, and other side events from LU…
October 22nd, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Woodstock of Gaming.. that sounds nice.. suits LU Live perfectly! :)
October 22nd, 2008 at 4:01 pm
For the gamers, by the gamers, of the gamers. yun ang maganda sa LU Live walang mga artista etc. kung hindi mag mumukhang circus ang event.
October 22nd, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I love LU live!..astig tlga..
except…
“where’s kamikazee!?!”..hehe^^
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
LUG LIVE! parin pnkadabest online gaming event sa pinas.. more power!
October 22nd, 2008 at 8:13 pm
mga piso eh… ^^
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Hehe I have to agree, this year’s LU Live is so much fun and is probably the best annual Level Up event ever since you guys started the Ragnarok Phil. Championship in Folk Arts Theater several years ago.
Kudos to the great job you guys did /e11
Although I have to admit wauks, sobra mo naman ata pinapatamaan yung Ran World sa post mo hehe /heh
October 23rd, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Kaya pala medyo naluluwagan ako sa WTC ngayon, kasi last year sobrang siksikan eh.
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:45 pm
sour graping? lol.anyways 22o din nman.haha.XD LU! Games the BEST!!!!
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:09 pm
please do continue on your vision towards the success of online gamers and online gaming..good job Level-Up!
October 24th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
oo nga ang luwag s wtc.. haha..
nga pla swerte nun nanalo ng laptop amf..
malaki pa premyo nia s mga players hehehe XD
kamikazee!!
October 25th, 2008 at 1:04 am
ang saket lang talaga nung yosi iniwan ko sa labas.. isang kaha pa yun.. sobrang excited kc ako pumasok.. argh..
October 25th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
What a great honor to be part of this deeply surreal kind of an Event.
Four thumbs up!! If I have extra limbs, it’ll be six
* wafu pala ako sa wide screen.. Huwe huwe huwe huwe huwe
October 28th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
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December 26th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
where is the ragnarok 2 news?
when is it coming out