Posted on September 13, 2007, Andrew World Series of Video Games Comes to an Abrupt End, Tournaments Cancelled

If gamers were looking to the World Series of Video Games to unite the world in sport, they’ll have to look again.

Games Media Properties has officially ended the WSVG, as apparently sponsorship for the event was not working out quite as they wanted. The remaining tournaments in Los Angeles, London and Sweden have been canceled.

And the reason for this? Too many players on the field. “The continuing challenges of securing adequate revenues to sustain the production of the WSVG’s large scale events and television programming, in a very crowded field of competitive gaming leagues, has prompted us to re-evaluate our direction as an organization,” Games Media Properties announced in their official statement found on the WVSG website.

The full statement is below:

Effective immediately, Games Media Properties will no longer produce the World Series of Video Games. The remainder of the 2007 season in Los Angeles, London and Sweden is cancelled.

The World Series of Video Games launched with the goal of expanding interest and participation in competitive gaming. Over the course of two seasons, we have been honored by the strong support the community has shown in attending our festivals, and watching our competitions online and on television– all in record-setting numbers. We have been grateful for the generous support provided by Intel and other sponsors since our inception.

However, the continuing challenges of securing adequate revenues to sustain the production of the WSVG’s large scale events and television programming, in a very crowded field of competitive gaming leagues, has prompted us to re-evaluate our direction as an organization.

Unfortunately, the decision is to cancel the remainder of the WSVG season, as we shift our focus solely to growing our online advertising network of websites, which currently reach seven million users each month.

We are proud of the accomplishments and memorable entertainment we have provided through the World Series of Video Games. While we are sorry that this news will disappoint our fans and players, we are deeply appreciative that we have had the opportunity to contribute to the growth of eSports.

Who knows, maybe this will be a great thing for the remaining video game tournaments such as Cyberathelete Professional League and Major League Gaming, and will push professional gaming further without so many competitors. Because really, professional sports don’t really have many more than two leagues.

Well, okay, I suppose if you count the college leagues in football and basketball there are a few more per sport, but maybe the splintered focus of the gaming leagues was really a bad thing. It would be quite something if those that remained took the larger chunk of sponsorships and just ran with it.

Thankfully, it looks like those gamers which received top prizes will be paid. It would have been absolutely lame if the winners got blown off. And not in the way you’re thinking.  :razz:

via WSVG