LetsPlay.Live
 | |
| Sport | PC and console video games |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 |
| Countries | New Zealand, Australia |
| Official website | www |
LetsPlay.Live, commonly known as LPL, is an esports tournament organizer, broadcaster, and media production company that produces video game competitions and gaming media content.[1]
Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the company's primary broadcasting studio is located in the Sky Tower.[2] Following its launch, LPL quickly became the largest independent esports promoter in New Zealand.
History[edit]
LPL was founded in 2016 by John McRae and Duane Mutu.[3] Prior to the opening of LPL's Sky Tower broadcast facility it utilised OB trucks in partnership with SKY TV to deliver linear and online broadcasts including a test esports broadcast in 2015.
In 2016 LPL launched the New Zealand Gaming Championships, the company's first tournament and the first televised esports event in New Zealand.[4][not in citation given] At the time of launch the NZGC was the biggest competitive League of Legends event in New Zealand's history. As part of the NZGC's pre-show, LPL broadcasted the grand final of the Point & Click Secondary School Competition at the Museum of Transport and Technology in Western Springs, Auckland.[5]
In November 2016 LPL announced their first branded tournament: LPL Call of Duty Premiership in partnership with the New Zealand Warriors Rugby League team.[6] The live grand final took place at the Sky City Theatre on December 21st 2016.
In July 2017 LPL announced the TEKKEN 7 NZ Championship as part of the Tekken 7 World Tour. The championship winner would receive a share of $10,000 NZD and the right to represent New Zealand as an "EBlack" esports athlete at the International Esports Federation Official World Championships in Busan, South Korea in November 2017.[7] In 2018 they repeated the championship model under the Tekken 7 Esports World Championship NZ Qualifier.[8]
LPL continued to develop tournaments for other popular esports titles. In February 2018 the company launched the first LPL PRO tournament titled LPL PRO Counter-Strike: Global Offensive – Alpha Invitational. The tournament saw three Australasian esports teams qualify for the live LAN finals in Auckland, New Zealand.[citation needed] In September 2018 their second season of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive ran as the LPL PRO Counter-Strike: Global Offensive ANZ Invitational, doubling the competition to 6 teams competing for a $10,000 NZD prize pool.[9]
SkyCity investment[edit]
In October 2017 it was announced that SkyCity Entertainment Group had acquired 40% of the company as part of a staged buyout.[2] Following this investment a state-of-the-art esports broadcasting studio was built on Level 2 of the Sky Tower, formerly known as XO Bar, for use by LPL.[10]
Acquisition of CyberGamer[edit]
In December 2018 LPL acquired Australian online esports tournament platform CyberGamer.com,[11] founded by Jeremy "Asterix" Klaosen and James "sn@p!" Burroughs in 2007. After the acquisition of CyberGamer Klaosen joined LPL as Head of Platform. CyberGamer.com was integrated into the existing LPL website and re-branded to LPL Play in May 2019.[12]
Business operations[edit]
LPL's central studio is based in the Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand. The studio can deliver both 4K and HD broadcasts and allows LPL to broadcast live events in-studio or at the SkyCity Theatre (700pax) and links to most major venues in Australia and New Zealand. It delivers direct-to-TV linear broadcasts to networks via fiber, satellite or point-to-point. As of January 2019, LPL has broadcasted over 100 events, including 84 live television broadcasts.
LPL's subscription-based website provides PC and console (Xbox One and PS4) users with ladders, leagues, and forums. It is Australia and New Zealand's largest community esports website.
References[edit]
- ↑ Damian Seeto (8 February 2019). "Let's Play Live (LPL) opens fancy new eSports studio at the Sky Tower in Auckland". Future Five. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "State-of-the-art esports studio opens at the Sky Tower". SKYCITY Entertainment Group (Press release). 8 February 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ↑ "SKYCITY Partners With Let's Play Live Media". Scoop (Press release). 20 October 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ↑ "New Zealand Gaming Championship is eSports' watershed moment in NZ". Stuff. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ↑ "Auckland Grammar wins high school LoL champs". Gameplanet. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ↑ "eSports: Warriors answer the call of duty". The New Zealand Herald. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ↑ "eSports: Tekken 7 NZ Championship unveiled". The New Zealand Herald. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ↑ "Esports: Search returns for NZ's best Tekken 7 gamer". The New Zealand Herald. 30 June 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ↑ "Esports: LPL Pro CS:GO ANZ Invitational returning". The New Zealand Herald. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ↑ "SkyCity to launch into competitive e-sports gaming". Stuff. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ↑ Seamus Keene (10 January 2019). "CyberGamer Esports Tournaments See Immediate Expansion Under Let's Play Live Acquisition". Scoop (Press release). Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ↑ "Introducing LPL Play: home for esport fans, gamers". Scoop (Press release). 3 May 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
External links[edit]
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