Do Crews still exist, or have sponsors replaced them? Should they come back?

[EmptyNess]

So, dedicated Crews were one of the most interesting elements of classic smash, but seem to have faded in recent days. H2YL, DBR, DA, Socal Elite 5, and the like seemed legendary in their time, but nowadays crews aren't as big of a deal. The Norwalk crew, 20GX, and some others keep it alive but now it seems that having a name for you and your friends isn't in vogue anymore, at low, mid, or top level.

 

[FalcoSBM1990]

They fused in general terms, if you relook the whole situation, companies like Panasonic, Logitech, Sony sponsors teams like Evil Geniuses, Cloud9, Fnatic, Alliance and finally those teams sponsors profesional players.

Those teams which sponsor the players by different games categories, were created by common successful professional crews, for example, the birth of Fnatic found place by Counterstrike 1.6 England, which today is an international professional gaming corporation, the birth of Cloud9 found place by Leage of Legends in USA, the birth of Alliance found place by Dota All Stars and Dota 2 in Europe (Netherlands) if I'm not wrong.

 

[EmptyNess]

They fused in general terms, if you relook the whole situation, companies like Panasonic, Logitech, Sony sponsors teams like Evil Geniuses, Cloud9, Fnatic, Alliance and finally those teams sponsors profesional players.

Those teams which sponsor the players by different games categories, were created by common successful professional crews, for example, the birth of Fnatic found place by CS 1.6 England, which today is an international professional gaming corporation, the birth of Cloud9 found place by Leage of Legends in USA, the birth of Alliance found place by Dota All Stars and Dota 2 Europe (Netherlands) if I'm not wrong.

I understand how sponsors work from an sports standpoint, but I'm referring to it more of in a community culture sort of way.

 

[KirinKQP]

I would say that crews really only exist at mid to low-levels of play. At the top level of play, mainly the top 100, the only "crews" are the various sponsored companies (Cloud9 for example). That, or the West and East-Coast teams could be considered crews, but you decide whether or not they can be considered crews. Crews like in the early years of Melee may only exist in the small communities in individual cities and states. For example, the Ohio State University Smash Team (which I have been playing with) plays against the Michigan state team quite often. Not necessarily crews or crew battles, but the closest thing that I have experienced on the topic.

 

[FalcoSBM1990]

I understand how sponsors work from an sports standpoint, but I'm referring to it more of in a community culture sort of way.

Like explained, they fused, common crews can't keep it up, there are only 2 options.

1. Create your own organization from the beginning.
2. Waiting for a sponsor to catch up your crew, earn a proper foundation for the creation of your own organization and make yourself independent.

Horde was an ex-Alliance team in Dota 2, they revealed against Alliance and created their own team, yet they still aren't a sponsor or some professional gaming corporation, for that they need more earnings, but they have a solid finance base to keep it up, which means they're in the transition.

 

[EmptyNess]

I would say that crews really only exist at mid to low-levels of play. At the top level of play, mainly the top 100, the only "crews" are the various sponsored companies (Cloud9 for example). That, or the West and East-Coast teams could be considered crews, but you decide whether or not they can be considered crews. Crews like in the early years of Melee may only exist in the small communities in individual cities and states. For example, the Ohio State University Smash Team (which I have been playing with) plays against the Michigan state team quite often. Not necessarily crews or crew battles, but the closest thing that I have experienced on the topic.

I see. It makes sense that they'd be on a collegiate basis, these days. I see a crew as a group of local players that play together frequently and operate under the same banner, perhaps competing in crew battles or producing group videos.

Like explained, they fused, common crews can't keep it up, there are only 2 options.

1. Create your own organization from the beginning.
2. Waiting for a sponsor to catch up your crew, earn a proper foundation for the creation of your own organization and make yourself independent.

Horde was an ex-Alliance team in Dota 2, they revealed against Alliance and created their own team, yet they still aren't a sponsor or some professional gaming corporation, for that they need more earnings, but they have a solid finance base to keep it up, which means they're in the transition.

So in order to exist today, for example, H2YL, would need to brand themselves as an esports organization. That's sensible, albeit more corporate and soulless than would be preferable.

 

[FalcoSBM1990]

So in order to exist today, for example, H2YL, would need to brand themselves as an esports organization. That's sensible, albeit more corporate and soulless than would be preferable.

I entirely agree on your last statement, SK Gaming was the one who started with the curse in 1997 Germany which I'm ashamed as one German, they were the first professional team that literally transcended from a common team to a powerful professional gaming corporation, then came Fnatic who went beyond SK Gaming structure by focusing other games rather than 1 or 2.

Esports was a group of organizers, who literally had the monopoly on most predominant championships worldwide, but SK Gaming and Fnatic toppled them during the years 1999-2005, after that time skip there was a change of priorities, where Esports lost a lot of its power and became an extension of most predominant competitive games founders and most powerful gaming corporations in the world, such like Fnatic, Team Liquid, Cloud9, Alliance, SK Gaming, Evil Geniuses, Team Secret, LGD Gaming, etc...

 

[CanBeatAnyFaux]

New England has both the HTC and FSBR which are top tier crews personality-wise
HTC(Hyperbolic Time Chamber):
-Mafia
-Numbers
-Makari
-BVB
-Maybe some people I'm forgetting

FSBR(Fashion Sense Back Room):
-Crush
-Tommy
-$Mike
- Maybe some people I'm forgetting

 

[EmptyNess]

New England has both the HTC and FSBR which are top tier crews personality-wise
HTC(Hyperbolic Time Chamber):
-Mafia
-Numbers
-Makari
-BVB
-Maybe some people I'm forgetting

FSBR(Fashion Sense Back Room):
-Crush
-Tommy
-$Mike
- Maybe some people I'm forgetting

Those are both solid crews with good players but I've barely ever heard of either

They should make more group content, like a combo video or play a big crew battle or something