Gears of War has something of a reputation online for giving the host a noticeable advantage in certain situations, such as melee combat.  Is this a real problem, and will the LAN setup of MLG matches eliminate this?  How can players who want to compete on the MLG level but can’t set up a LAN on a regular basis for Gears matches deal with this problem?

Yes, Gears has a distinct host advantage, many XBL games have the same issue. Fortunately this advantage is not as noticeable on LAN. The way MLG deals with this is by alternating host throughout a series. Higher seeded teams are rewarded with host more often than lower seed.

I know MLG has very specific rules in place for other games to prevent glitching and the use of exploits during matches, but Gears multiplay definitely has its share of easy-to-perform glitches.  What rules will MLG be implementing to make sure games are glitch-free?  Are there any common glitches that will actually be allowed?

We currently ban any glitches that break gameplay. This would include falling through the map, abusing the roadie run system, and any type of weapon glitches. What we do allow however are glitches that are easy to perform and help speed up gameplay. We currently allow players cancel animations while picking up a weapon or reviving a teamate, resulting in the player sliding over there objective. This adds a big element to the game and even takes away from the host advantage.

What does Gears of War bring to the MLG that it doesn’t already have?  How will Gears make the MLG more appealing to gamers who haven’t really taken an interest in pro gaming yet?

Gears of War brings a great new audience to MLG. Gears will make MLG more appealing because there are now more options and games for which gamers can compete in. This past weekend was the first time we had GoW on the circuit and it proved to be a record smashing event for MLG in terms of attendance, viewers and prize money to be given away (55,000 live and online fans watched more than 1800 competitors compete and win almost $100,000 in prize money).

Are there any plans to incorporate non-shooter games into the MLG in the future?  I know the MLG had Gran Turismo events in its early days, and interest was low.  Is there any chance we may see Tekken or Virtua Fighter in the lineup of games sometime?

We are always looking at potential games to add to the circuit. We’re not restricted to just shooting games, as we’ve had other genres in the past. There are several exciting titles that are coming out soon, so we’ll be evaluating them soon.

What advice would you give to the average gamer who wanted to get involved with MLG competition?

We run online tournaments for many games on MLG and Gamebattles which is commonly used as a starting ground for aspiring pro's. The average gamer should definitely check that out and see how they stack up against other gamers in the world at www.mlgpro.com.
They can also come to the Pro Circuit events and show what they’ve got at the FFA (free for all). Strongside for instance, has a truly inspirational story. He burst onto the competitive gaming scene in a flash, catching the eyes of the best pros in the world by finishing fourth in FFA (free for all) of his debut tournament at the 2005 Las Vegas MLG event. In less than 2 years, he entered the MLG community and is now playing on the #1 seeded team, Final Boss, that’s sponsored by NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas. And to top it all off, he just signed a 3 year $250,000 exclusive contract with Major League Gaming. Strongside is the embodiment of the aspiration that all Major League Gamers dream of.

Thank you for your time.