Recently, we writers were informed that our services would no longer be required for the most part. I will not get into why, but, like Mioff, it wasn't a reflection of the quality of our work. I also cannot comment on MLG's future aims or goals. That's for them to decide and disclose as they see fit. All I will say is you will be reading significantly less written content. (This is not speculation.)
What I will comment on is my own future direction. I will continue writing, not for MLG, but for my own sake and for the love of eSports journalism. I want to keep asking Pros intriguing questions, presenting unique editorials, and engaging with (and sometimes trolling) the lot of you. Maybe I’m just an egomaniac who thinks too highly of his own opinion, but that trite concern hasn’t stopped me from preaching those opinions thus far. As long as there is a demand and appreciation, I plan on continuing to put out some type of work. (Perhaps on some topics that just weren’t appropriate for the front page?)
I want to thank those of you out there who actually took the time to read our articles, both mine and the rest of the Content Team’s. Virtually every one of us came up and out of this very community. We were reimbursed for our work, but that wasn’t why we did it. We did it because we love MLG and love the games we covered. Personally, Halo has been, in many ways, a positive influence in my life. It taught me mental discipline; It introduced me to life-long friends; It provided me the opportunity to expand as a writer; And it holds a vast number of unforgettable memories.
More than anything, though, we the writers love and appreciate all of you. (Yeah, yeah, shut up.) It means a lot to us when you, our peers, care about what we have to say. None of us are really any different from the rest of you. That goes for us writers, the commentators, and everyone else. We just have a unique set of skills and, more importantly, caught very lucky breaks. But without you to listen, we have no audience to whom we can present our works. And without an audience, we have no purpose. So, remember, you were always the important ones, and will continue to be.
It is important to remember what it is that unites us all: the love of eSports and the games that make it possible.
So, thank you for granting us your time and reading our content. I sincerely wish MLG the best of luck in their new direction. And, if things ultimately don’t work out, I’ll be more than willing to pick up right where we left off.
Michael Mooridian
“Gilean”
Former MLG Content Team Member
Keep tabs on the other writers; they still have a lot to say:
@jwaddell_ -- A writer I looked up to my entire time at MLG. He set the standard I aspired to reach.
@MLGLish -- Editor for MLG. All-around great and friendly person.
@MLG_Omerta -- Man covered a game I knew virtually nothing about when it came to the competitive scene.
@SuitAndTie – Covers Halo and SC2. And his name is Roach. What gives? Oh, he also composes electronic music.
@KyleJMagee – Managing editor for MLG. He gave me my job.
What I will comment on is my own future direction. I will continue writing, not for MLG, but for my own sake and for the love of eSports journalism. I want to keep asking Pros intriguing questions, presenting unique editorials, and engaging with (and sometimes trolling) the lot of you. Maybe I’m just an egomaniac who thinks too highly of his own opinion, but that trite concern hasn’t stopped me from preaching those opinions thus far. As long as there is a demand and appreciation, I plan on continuing to put out some type of work. (Perhaps on some topics that just weren’t appropriate for the front page?)
I want to thank those of you out there who actually took the time to read our articles, both mine and the rest of the Content Team’s. Virtually every one of us came up and out of this very community. We were reimbursed for our work, but that wasn’t why we did it. We did it because we love MLG and love the games we covered. Personally, Halo has been, in many ways, a positive influence in my life. It taught me mental discipline; It introduced me to life-long friends; It provided me the opportunity to expand as a writer; And it holds a vast number of unforgettable memories.
More than anything, though, we the writers love and appreciate all of you. (Yeah, yeah, shut up.) It means a lot to us when you, our peers, care about what we have to say. None of us are really any different from the rest of you. That goes for us writers, the commentators, and everyone else. We just have a unique set of skills and, more importantly, caught very lucky breaks. But without you to listen, we have no audience to whom we can present our works. And without an audience, we have no purpose. So, remember, you were always the important ones, and will continue to be.
It is important to remember what it is that unites us all: the love of eSports and the games that make it possible.
So, thank you for granting us your time and reading our content. I sincerely wish MLG the best of luck in their new direction. And, if things ultimately don’t work out, I’ll be more than willing to pick up right where we left off.
Michael Mooridian
“Gilean”
Former MLG Content Team Member
Keep tabs on the other writers; they still have a lot to say:
@jwaddell_ -- A writer I looked up to my entire time at MLG. He set the standard I aspired to reach.
@MLGLish -- Editor for MLG. All-around great and friendly person.
@MLG_Omerta -- Man covered a game I knew virtually nothing about when it came to the competitive scene.
@SuitAndTie – Covers Halo and SC2. And his name is Roach. What gives? Oh, he also composes electronic music.
@KyleJMagee – Managing editor for MLG. He gave me my job.
Another part of MLG's 2012 plan apparently, looks like the entire written content staff has been cut except for the 2 head editors (Kyle, Alicia). It looks like this is less intensive than the earlier round of cuts as not all of these people were full-time, but certainly supports Sundance's cryptic lean-and-mean tweet.
I was always impressed with the quality of written content on the MLG site, so it is sad to see them go. Though, given how few people seemed to read it I can see why the company would want to focus elsewhere in the future. It will be interesting to see how things pan out next year, tough to have much of an opinion when we don't have the full picture yet.
The list, thanks to Antoine:
http://twitter.com/#!/MLG_Omerta
http://twitter.com/#!/jwaddell_
http://twitter.com/#!/Gileann
http://twitter.com/#!/DillonJLowery
http://twitter.com/#!/sasmacdonald
http://twitter.com/#!/SuitandTieMLG
Best of luck to them, they are all very solid wordsmiths.
Updated tweets from Sundance:
Someone please post in that TL thread that I do in fact have a plan. The editorial was top notch - was proud of it. But it didn't get read.
We're going to focus on what moves the needle. After all - I am running a business.