The International 2022’s Group Stage Begins Amid Production Issues
The group stages of The International 2022 have commenced, but the focus of discussion surrounding the event has shifted away from the gameplay itself. The main point of contention has been the poor production by PGL, which has been a topic of concern since the regional qualifiers in early September.
With two events already behind them, fans were expecting PGL to step up their game in terms of production value once the teams reached the main event. However, these expectations were quickly dashed as the panels lacked visual inspiration, gameplay suffered from low frames, and betting sponsors took up more screen space than the talent at times.
Meanwhile, the viewing experience was split between five different streams, each dealing with similar issues, if not worse. This has led to disgruntled Dota fans expressing their dissatisfaction, except in PGL’s Twitch chat, where complaining could get you timed out.
Actor Asa Butterfield Criticizes TI11’s Production Quality
Actor and Team Liquid substitute, Asa Butterfield, raised his voice in the discourse, questioning how a multi-million dollar event like TI11 could be overshadowed by smaller events in terms of production quality. He specifically mentioned L’Odyssée, a Super Smash Bros. tournament in Paris that made use of available resources to create a visually impressive player presentation and panel placement.
PGL’s Decision to Stream on Twitch Causes Viewership Decline
PGL’s decision to stream the event on their Twitch channels has also been a point of contention, as it has led to a decline in viewership. By moving away from the established TI-specific channels, including the main page with over one million followers, and making some of the split streams hard to find, PGL has faced criticism from fans.
Production Issues and Advertisements Overshadow Discussions
In addition to the production issues, pre and post-game discussions often feature ads that are larger than the caster’s face cams. This departure from previous TIs, where ads and sponsorships were less prominent, has raised questions about why Dota events rely heavily on betting companies for sponsorship.
The lack of dedicated studio space in Singapore and attention to detail for this group stage has made the production of TI11 look inferior compared to previous Major tournaments hosted by ESL, WePlay, and Beyond the Summit.
While the true production value is expected to come into play during the playoffs at the live stadium in Singapore, the community has expressed disappointment with the quality of the last three TI-related events.
This is not a great look, especially after Valve recently reaffirmed its commitment to the competitive Dota 2 scene.
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