Hi Duder,
I think you're completely right. I dont know what happened this year. Last year there was 5 teams. That might not sound like alot but when you have teams of 8 thats a total of 40 people. Thats 1 in 5 people at the event last year participated in the BF3 tournament. That sounds like a major success to me? Heres a quote in reference to the BF3 tournament last year in the 2012 feedback thread from Czar:
That BF3 round was the most intense I've ever played and the most fun!
This year, only the Artemis and two of the TF2 tournaments which required huge teams got that much attention. I understand the staff's reservations on running the tournament, but thats a completely different discussion altogether. I thought the $10 sale, as you pointed out, would help with that. And perhaps it did. Maybe people bought it and then couldnt download it. Origin does not have the nifty backup system like Steam does
<rant>
If you purchased something on steam and felt the need to DOWNLOAD it you need punched in the throat. You're at a LAN with 249 other people. SOMEONE has that game. Stop using all the internet when there is obvious internet problems to begin with.
</rant>
After discussing it internally this morning, having our name on it as well as two teams playing may have caused some teams to pass over it. I cant say that for sure, but then also having someone on the outside also say that it was intimidating is swaying my opinion in that direction. We will probably rent another Open Play server for the event next year, but there is a VERY slim chance that Vitality will be running a tournament for it.
and just in our defense... we only have 1 sh*tbucket on our team :D