Excerpt from eSports Group’s “eSports Talent Outlook, July 2015”
News that the Tempo Storm eSports organization signed two leading Super Smash Bros. Melee (SSBM) free agents, Westin “Westballz” Dennis and Jeffrey “Axe” Williamson, capped a recent run for the title’s pro gaming scene. A member of the Super Smash Bros. family, which includes brethren “Super Smash Bros. Brawl” and “Super Smash Bros. for Wii U”, SSBM has overcome notable challenges in evolving an eSports community.
Among its positives, SSBM eSports represents a fast growing genre with strong grassroots and vibrant amateur scene. The fast pace and precision-based gameplay attract a more nuanced crowd; while more casual players/spectators are drawn to the fun and easy-to-watch format inherited from its party scene roots. Appropriately, eSports organizations will do well to investigate the talent market for SSBM players.
The Story
The 2001 release of “Super Smash Bros. Melee“ on Nintendo Game Cube started a legacy that has survived the test of time. The game was an instant success. Ranking as the highest-grossing game during the consoles’ lifespan and is still considered by many as the best entry in the series. An unexpected boon for Melee was the growth of tournament play. A huge number of players were playing the game competitively; effectively forging the foundation for today’s eSports community.
In March of 2008, Super Smash Bros. Brawl was released for the Nintendo Wii. While the sequel was billed to better its predecessors, it actually created a divide amongst fans of the game. Between issues like unreliable online play and the fact that Nintendo implemented drastic changes to curb competitive play, Brawl never matched Melee’s tournament success. The high-level play and precision simply went missing, and players of the game knew it. Still, the notion of a community divide still plagues the entire Smash Bros. series to this day.
The Smash Bros. Melee competitive scene, which kept a flame burning for the 14-year-old game, has been responsible for the huge push into the eSports spectrum. Actually, Melee has been growing in popularity over the last couple years; even in light of last June’s release of “Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.” While the release of a new edition, does little to improve the prospects of Melee as an eSport and, underscores the inconsistent involvement/investment from Nintendo. It does not, dampen the prospect of opportunity.
The Free Agent Landscape
A recent surge in tournament and viewer numbers, coupled with big showings at top events such as the Evolution Championship Series (EVO), has resulted in numerous top eSports teams extending sponsorship to pro Melee Smashers in 2015. The list includes, but is not limited to:
- Counter Logic Gaming – Kevin “PewPewU” Toy
- Team Solo Mid – William “Leffen” Hjelte
- Team Liquid – Juan Manuel “Hungrybox” Debiedma & Kashan “Chillindude829” Khan
Clearly, the Melee eSports scene has gathered momentum and is ready for growth. In that light, forward-thinking eSports teams and organizations, looking to expand their rosters, should take notice of the following five free agents. Note – This list has been adapted from the original created by Pokemon64ism, a member of the Smash community:
| Name | Region | Player Report | Social Media |
| David “KirbyKaze” MacDonald | Canada | · Ranked #1, Southern Ontario Melee Power Rankings · Eight top 8 placements in 2015 · Returning to 2010 – 2012 form |
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| Joey “Lucky” Aldama | SoCal(USA) | · Frequent teams partner with Mang0 · Ranked #2, SoCal Power Rankings · Performance indicators trending up · Exhibiting more consistency in 2015 |
Twitter
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| McCain “MacD” LaVelle | SoCal(USA) | · Confident player with marketable social media persona · Seven top 10 placements in 2015 · Formerly apart of Team Curse |
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Stream |
| Mustafa “Ice” Akcakaya | Germany | · Strong international performer · Ranked #1, German Melee Power Rankings · Ranked #3 in Europe · Good profile across EU region |
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| Otto “SilentWolf” Bisno | Washington (USA) | · Ranked #1, Washington Power Rankings · Top 15 player in the world · Defeated CLG’s PewPewU, April2015 · Technically sound but flashy, crowd pleasing style |
Opportunities Abound
Smash Brothers, as a series, has beaten the odds to succeed competitively; all in spite of its party game roots, varying releases and lack of investment by developers. Melee, the premier game in the series, also had its own share of struggles gaining respect. The turnaround began in 2012, when a small group of leading figures started a podcast to address improving the state of Melee for both players and spectators. The group begat, what is known today as, Melee It On Me (MIOM), which has powered the title’s eSports success story, and is at the heart of a growing community.
MIOM has effectively filled the void in competitive leadership across the Smash franchise. Few, if any, game title communities can match their history of strong leadership in the face of adversity, vision and results. Recent indications that Nintendo is investing in eSports, means Melee is primed for even better days ahead. Subsequently, eSports organizations and teams must take the Melee talent landscape into consideration, or risk missing an emergent opportunity.
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Alex Fletcher is founder & president at eSports Group, where he helps customers meet their eSports advisory & consulting needs. When Alex isn’t glued to a screen, he spends time with his wife, their two dogs, and pretends to learn Polish. Feel free to stalk him on Twitter – @FletchUnleashed