Blast boss Robbie Douek (left) outlined his ambitions for the Major CS:GO of Paris on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower. © The Digital
What better than the Eiffel Tower and its slender point towards the sky to represent the ambitions of Blast in France, a few months before the start of the Parisian FPS Major Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO)? It was therefore on the first floor of the building, in the Gustave Eiffel room, that the Danish structure and its boss, Robbie Douek, had invited the press to present their plans for this competition. An event like France has never experienced, on one of the most popular competitive games in the world, which should allow the French e-sports scene to take a step as much as Blast to impose its know-how. to do in the organization of international tournaments.
An opportunity for the France of e-sport
Robbie Douek does not hide it, Blast knew how to show opportunism when Emmanuel Macron brought together the small world of electronic sport at the Élysée and expressed the wish that international competitions be organized in France. Taking the French president at his word, the company was able to quickly present a credible Major project organized in Paris to the ecosystem and to the French public authorities. And it was the president himself who announced, on his social networks, the holding of the long-awaited competition next May. Enough to complete the national offensive on the organization of major sporting events in the coming months, with – among others – the Rugby World Cup, which will take place at the start of the next school year, and the 2024 Olympic Games.
“For France and for Paris, we know that this is an interesting opportunity to organize an event which will bring together dozens of teams and tens of thousands of supporters, not to mention the millions of spectators online. world will converge on this city that I love so much, participate in its international influence, and this will generate jobs, economic income. We have reached a stage where the size of e-sport events gives new levers of collaboration with the public authorities, the managers of the theaters and the sponsors who are more and more numerous”explains Robbie Douek.
Richard “Shox” Papillon, professional football player CS:GObelieves that Blast has been able to make competitions a real show. © The Digital
If we trust the information released by Blast on this occasion, and the ideas defended by its representatives, we can already say that the Major of CS:GO in Paris will be a big spectacular party for e-sports, and more particularly for fans of this competitive FPS dinosaur. Richard “Shox” Papillon, 30, one of the veterans and best representatives of the scene Counter-Strike French, praises the professionalism of Blast as a tournament organizer.
“Since they arrived in the industry, they have always been keen to do things as best as possible, whether for the public or for the players. We have seen Blast arrive with real means to meet people. CS:GO very spectacular moments for the public to follow. They did a lot of work on the stage where the two teams compete, but also the broadcast of the matches for people who are not in the stadium. And for us, as players, we find that there are almost never any technical problems in the organization, equipment, etc. We are really put in the best conditions to play.”recognizes the one who just announced a team project
For Dan “apEX” Madesclaire, another active French gaming legend, and Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, a 22-year-old prodigy who is one of the best players in the world of CS:GOit is above all the prospect of playing a Major in France that is exciting. “We know that the French fans of CS:GO will be boiling. It’s a dream, really, to be able to play such a competition on our game in our country. We will do everything to qualify for the play-offs and play in front of the public at the Accor Arena in Bercy.”, indicate those who are engaged with the French team Vitality. They add that such an event will inevitably have beneficial effects on the attractiveness of the game in France, and perhaps bring out new talents.
For Blast, a match of CS:GO is above all a great spectacle. © Blast
Blast is currently working on sketches of the scene imagined for this event and, while nothing is final, it must be said that the ideas that have been shared with us are indeed ambitious and spectacular. “Our obsession is to constantly reinvent this kind of competition and broadcasting. We really want to go further than just lining up the two teams facing the public and filming them. For example, we have the pyrotechnic effects at the end of the round, when the bomb explodes. Sheaves of fire which give a warm shot to the room and give another dimension to the show. I do not know if we will really do it, but we are also working on the smoke effects, which we imagine using when players use smoke grenades. And we have plenty of other ideas to energize matches and their broadcasting.”explains Robbie Douek.
Unfortunately, the comments of the matches provided live on stage, which also help to bring the matches to life, will be in English even if the event takes place in France. For the boss of the Danish company, who speaks perfect French, it is a difficult decision to make, but audience studies show that it is preferable to provide commentary and broadcasting in English, and to give the relay to other specialized broadcasters in different countries by marketing the video stream of the event. Interactions with the public will still take place in French, on the sidelines of the meetings.
The ticket office for the Major de CS:GO in Paris, which will be held from May 8 to 21, 2023, will open on January 23 for pre-orders, and on January 26 to the general public. The prices are not yet known, but Robbie Douek says he wants as many fans of the game as possible to afford a ticket. He mentioned a price range of 35 to 40 €.