From Lazy Summer to Major League Gaming: Mike Sepso on Founding the Esports Giant
*By Zane Bhansali*
Mike Sepso is a gilded name in esports.
His latest win? The senior VP of Activision Blizzard was recently appointed a strategic partner of Overwatch team league New York Excelsior.
And he also happens to be the leader of Major League Gaming, which he founded with partner Sundance DiGiovanni in 2002. But before he assumed his throne, Sepso conceived MLG during a single lazy summer when he and his partner were basking in the glory of their previous company, Gotham Broadband.
"What we wound up doing a lot of was playing 'Halo' competitively against each other and other people and going to Yankees games," he told Cheddar of that period.
"And somehow, over the course of lots of games of 'Halo' and winning some money from the guys that lived down the hall from Sundance, lots of Yankees games, and sort of thinking about it, the idea for MLG came together."
Sepso may sit above most in the esports stadium, but he's still able to spot all the changes from his perch.
"I think you have the new world of the gaming industry ー it's different," he said. "The old genres don't really matter anymore."
He distinguished the most popular titles by their goals, and said "Overwatch" was "built for esports" and Epic Games' phenomenon "Fortnite" was "made for broadcast and streaming."
Of superstar streamer Ninja and his game of choice, he said, "I think it's sort of a symbiotic relationship. I don't think Ninja would be playing 'Fortnite' if there weren't a lot of people interested in watching."
And of course, it's all about the fans.
"I think part of it is he just got really, really good at streaming and developed a really good rapport with this fanbase. And then this game came out, and it was sort of perfectly attuned to him."
But, Sepso said, it's also a matter of skill and expertise. Ninja, among other things, has mastered his craft.
"It's rewarding if you're a really skilled player, and certainly he's got a long history of being a very skilled player and very practiced."
The 2022 NBA playoffs are intensifying as four teams vie for an NBA finals berth. Tonight, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors can book their finals ticket with a win over the Dallas Mavericks, while Miami will be feeling the 'heat' tomorrow night, facing elimination against the Boston Celtics.
And with the growing popularity of sports betting, the NBA playoffs offers a potential money-making opportunity for fans. Trysta Krick, host of BetMGM Tonight, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is displaying his world-renowned collection of historic memorabilia to the public for the first time in the Big Apple. Irsay joined Cheddar News to talk about why he's bringing artifacts from the Beatles to Jerry Garcia to light now. "I borrow all this stuff, you know, and I just feel kind of an obligation to share it with the public and make it come alive if you will," he said.
Ryan Hammond, Executive Director of the Eagles Autism Foundation, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he explains how the Eagles Autism Challenge came together and how the entire organization, beginning with team owner Jeffrey Lurie, has been able to raise autism awareness to new levels.
Alex Glaze and Trysta Krick tell viewers which NBA wagers will be a slam dunk while Gabe Lacques steps into the batter's box with his best picks for MLB Opening Day.
Sponsored by BetMGM.
Alex Glaze and Trysta Krick provide their winning strategies for betting on the end of the NBA Play-In Tournament and the start of the playoffs, while Minty Bets breaks down Thursday night's MLB slate and pitches her top picks.
Sponsored by BetMGM
Alex Glaze and Michael Jenkins size up Saturday's Final Four matchups while David Salituro tells us what to expect - and who to bet on - when it comes to MLB Opening Day and the Masters Tournament.
Sponsored by BetMGM
Olivia Harlan Dekker, Alex Glaze and ESPN College Gameday analyst LaPhonso Ellis deliver their top plays for the Round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament, with Glaze also discusses what Kyrie Irving's eligibility for home games means for the Nets title chances.
Sponsored by BetMGM
Olivia Harlan Dekker, Alex Glaze, and Sean Green provide viewers with all the intel they need to place winning bets and dominate their brackets during the NCAA Tournament, ranging from breakout performers, most likely upsets, and who will win it all.
Sponsored by BetMGM
With Selection Sunday just days away, Olivia Harlan Dekker and Tyler Fulghum break down Thursday night's action and the outlook for several key conference tournaments. Meanwhile, Alex Glaze dishes out his top plays for a star-studded Thursday night NBA doubleheader.
Sports Betting in the U.S. is booming. According to industry experts, we could see another boom this year as more states move towards statewide legalization of sports wagering. While this comes as huge news for fans, there are some very real concerns as to whether or not sports betting potentially poses a threat to public health. Senior Clinician at the Caron Treatment Centers, Eric Webber, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
