The Pro Circuit is back! You’re probably just about recovered from MLG Columbus, and just in time. The three-day wonder that is the MLG Pro Circuit Live will be crashing into Anaheim, meteor-style (but much more organized, and without the destruction) on July 29-31, and it will be chock-full of more action to watch, more contests to enter, more prizes to win, and more to see than ever before. If it’s your first time coming to a Pro Circuit Competition, you’re going to be blown away, and if you’re a seasoned vet, well… you’re still going to be blown away. All activities in the venue, all weekend long, are open to anyone with a Spectator Pass. Here’s what awaits you in Anaheim.
The Venue
As always, the venue floor will be divided into sections. The tournament section is broken up into two main parts: the floor, and the Main Stages. The floor sections contain the Feature Stations, where selected matches will take place, and all the gaming stations where tournament games will go on all weekend long. Stand right behind your favorite players as they battle through the Open Bracket! Just be sure to give them a bit of space; there’s a lot on the line, and they need to concentrate.
The Stages
At the very front of the venue you’ll see the three Main Stages. There is one each for StarCraft 2, Halo: Reach, and Call of Duty: Black Ops. And here’s where the setup will differ somewhat from previous Pro Circuit events. Because of overwhelming popular demand, we have moved StarCraft 2 to the center Main Stage. This marks the first time a PC title has ever been featured in the center of the venue. And as to the burning question on all of your minds: yes, there will be more chairs. Lots of them.
The gameplay on the Main Stages and floor stations is far from the only action going on over the weekend, though. The venue floor contains a variety of booths and special areas featuring contests, special promotions, chances to meet your favorite players and get their autographs, and much more. Here’s what will be going on all weekend long:
Special Activities
- Ever want to play StarCraft 2 while sitting inside a Hummer? Of course you have; who hasn’t? And now you can. The all-new Alienware Hummer will be parked right in the venue, and it will be decked out with Alienware PCs and monitors, on which you can play StarCraft 2 and a variety of other games. And to make the deal even sweeter, team Dignitas will be on hand, giving out autographs on Friday and Saturday (see the full schedule for specific times).
- Want your own Xperia™ PLAY, the official mobile handset of MLG? There’s no better time to get one. Buy yours onsite and you’ll get it at the special new price of $99, plus an exclusive MLG discount of another $20 off (with a new 2-year activation and data pack). Honestly, that’s a pretty insane deal.
- Halo: Reach players: show everyone what you can do! Compete in the BIC® Flex4® FFA 2011 for a chance to win a trip to the Pro Circuit National Championships in Providence, where you could win $4,000!
- Compete in Call of Duty: Black Ops in the National Guard booth and get a chance to win a variety of Playstation prizes, as well as the chance to see what you’d look like in a National Guard uniform.
- Visit the MLG Booth all weekend long for a Scavenger Hunt and Call of Duty: Black Ops FFA; meet and play against MLG Pro Players, compete in the FFA and participate in the new MLG Booth challenge to win swag and prizes.
- Stop by the Playstation Compound for daily competitions; you could win a copy of Resistance 3, long before it hits stores on September 6, as well as a bunch of other prizes and swag.
- Compete in the AR.Race and get a shot at winning your own Parrot AR.Drone! These things are amazing, so beware; if you win one, you will have to fend off all the friends and acquaintances who will pester you constantly to let them play with it.
But prizes, contests and swag aren't enough; you want to meet the pros. We don't blame you. Here's exactly how and when to do that.
Meet the Pros at MLG Anaheim (all times PDT)
Friday
Time Players Location
1:00pm – 2:00pm Meet Mvp, MMA, Boxer, DongRaeGu MLG Booth
2:00pm – 3:00pm Meet Elamitewarrior and StrongSide National Guard Booth
2:15pm – 3:15pm Meet Select AR Drone Booth
2:30pm – 3:00pm Meet Team Dignitas Alienware Booth
3:00pm – 4:00pm Autographs: TLO, Walshy, Bravo Sony Ericsson Booth
3:30pm – 4:00pm Play a Pro with Tsquared Dr Pepper Booth
4:00pm – 5:00pm Reach Pro Scrim with Roy and Pistola Dr Pepper Booth
5:00pm – 8:00pm CoD:Black Ops Scrims, players TBD MLG Booth
Saturday
Time Players Location
10:00am – 11:00pm Reach Pro Scrim with Tsquared Dr Pepper Booth
10:00am – 11:00pm CoD: Black Ops Scrims, players TBD MLG Booth
10:00am – 11:00am Meet Mvp, MMA, Boxer, DongRaeGu MLG Booth
11:00am – 11:30pm Play a Pro with Roy and Pistola Dr Pepper Booth
11:30am – 12:00pm Meet OGRE2 Stride Booth
12:00pm – 12:30pm Play a Pro with KiwiKaki Dr Pepper Booth
12:00pm – 1:00pm Race AR Drones with Snipedown AR Drone Booth
12:30pm – 1:00pm Autographs: Walshy, Bravo Sony Ericsson Booth
1:00pm – 1:30pm Autographs: TLO Sony Ericsson Booth
1:30pm – 2:00pm Autographs: KiwiKaki Dr Pepper Booth
2:30pm – 3:00pm Meet Naded Stride Booth
5:30pm – 6:30pm Autographs: Tsquared, Pistola, and Roy Dr Pepper Booth
Sunday
Time Players Location
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM Caster Autographs: Day[9] MLG Booth
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM Caster Autographs: DJ Wheat and JP MLG Booth
5:00 PM – 5:30 PM Caster Autographs: Husky & Mr. Bitter MLG Booth
Doors open to spectators at 1:30pm PDT. If you already have a Gold Membership, or if you decide to buy one on-site, you get to come in early, at 1pm PDT—at the same time as the pros! (There will be a special check-in line for people with Gold Memberships.)
Get set for Anaheim! Check out the broadcast schedule, read up on our pre-event coverage, and check out the Guide to Attending a Pro Circuit Competition. Get your game faces on, and we’ll see you there.
