Instead of trying to hook you with a cheesy line, I’m just going to show you some numbers. More specifically, some cash totals.

Team A ~$160,000

Team B ~$40,000

Team C ~$270,000

Now for a question; which of the above numbers are Complexity’s expected prizes from 2007? Before I give you an answer, let’s put it in context.

Remember, Complexity joined the Championship Gaming Series (CGS) this year with the promise of massive prizes. In an advertisement promoted on GotFrag.com, the CGS announced $5 Million being available in the league this year. So what is the answer to the question above?

The Team A amount is Complexity’s 2006 earnings, not including salary. Team B’s figure is Complexity’s current 2007 earnings, not counting salary in CGS and other tournaments this year, making it the correct answer.

So what is the amount listed under Team C? That’s what Complexity could have won in earnings from playing CS 1.6 and CS: Source this year and participating in all major events (ignoring details like scheduling conflicts).

When Complexity started the year, they made a huge move in picking up Ronald “Rambo” Kim. It shocked the community to watch one of its oldest and biggest stars leave the Nvidia and Intel sponsored Team 3D to join its arch-rival Complexity. Kim’s focus was on a single goal; win as much money as he possibly could this year, and to do it playing in the CGS.

To that end, he started the Complexity House in his hometown of Plano, TX. He moved Tyler “Storm” Wood, Matt “Warden” Dickens and Danny “fRoD” Montaner into the house. Then he watched his new boss, Jason Lake, navigate the new Department of Homeland Security regulations to import the newest player addition, Marcus "zet" Sundström, into the United States and join the team at the Complexity House.

I was one of the first people to visit the Complexity House, and it had the feel of determination. Of all the rooms in the house, only one was done; the gaming room. Five computers lined up neatly against the right wall, each one a perfect setup for its specific user. The rest of the house was in shambles. Complexity members slept on inflatable beds and ate in a makeshift kitchen. The living conditions didn’t matter to them, because all they saw was the potential to win the $1 Million prize purse at the end of the season.

‘We have the best lineup in the World. Imagine what we can do being on LAN together 24/7,’ was the line said over and over again. In a heart to heart conversation with Kim at the house, he told me that this was his year and that he would do everything he could to make sure it was successful.

Nine months later, take a look at where Complexity’s CS team stands.

Complexity’s CS team went 10-2 for their franchise, yet the rest of the franchise could not muster enough points to make coL a playoff team. They are collecting $30,000 each in salary from their franchise, the Los Angeles Complexity. They’ve won ~$40,000 in prizes from the X-Fire event, Digital Life, Newegg, PNY March Madness, GotFrag Intel Event and CEVO Seasons.

From CGS itself, they won’t win a dime of prize money, excepting some undisclosed amount at the CSS World Championship finals. They lost the chance to grab a piece of the $75,000 Region 1 first place prize and the big $500,000 payday for the number one franchise at the CGS World Championships.

But what about that guaranteed salary from CGS or what about paying travel expenses to all these events around the World? A source who wishes to remain anonymous confirmed that Complexity turned down a sponsorship with a major corporation in order to become a franchise of CGS. A sponsorship that would likely have paid similar salary and travel to most if not all the events needed to win ~$270,000 in prizes this year.

On top of all of this, they also aren’t allowed to play CS 1.6 by the league and only CS:Source at league-approved events. The league’s rules stopped coL from external income that could really help the team achieve its previous year’s success.

This leaves Complexity doing virtually nothing for the next few months, and fans wondering if joining the CGS was the right move.

In the United States, where CGS is promoting CS:Source, Counter-Strike 1.6 events have been few and far between, but internationally CS 1.6 is as strong as ever contributing a majority of the ~$270,000 dollars available this year in first place prizes.

Why is coL in this situation? All of the promises and potential, then when the potential fell through, the effects couldn’t have been what coL imagined when they signed up.

The answer is simple, no CS 1.6 and CGS choice of rules.

Without CS 1.6 there’s really no way to supplement coL’s income with other tournaments won. Added to this is franchise’s performance as a side effect of the format and structure of the CGS rules.

One of CGS’ most controversial moves in the community was their decision to change up each game’s “standard” rules. Almost every game was changed, shortening them and hopefully making them more exciting. Ultimately, they created a multi-game scoring system to determine franchise performance in the league.

They assigned nine points to PGR, one point per round to CS matches and one point per DoA round. GMs, who were now being paid to select players in a very complex multi-game format, weren’t sure where their best chance to win would come. Chicago Chimera, run by a smart and independent Brian Flander, was able to select two PGR players early. Looking back, PGR turned out to be a huge factor all season and the CS teams, even with coL’s 10-2 individual record, turned out to be a non-factor.

“I think CGS rules need to be tweaked a little, the multi-game platform can tend to be a little random,” said Eric “dabears” Stromberg, a member of Chicago Chimera CS:Source team, “Especially when such little rounds turn into giant ones when your team loses by 1 point.”

By way of example, Carolina Core’s FIFA player, Nicholas “peekay” Depalmer went 1-11 on the season and scored only 15 points while giving up 41 points. Even with this performance, his franchise, Carolina Core, finished second in CGS Region 1 playoffs. On top of that, if his franchise performs well at CGS World Championships, he could earn a piece of the $1 Million in prizes.

I don’t blame the Complexity CS team for the decision they made to join CGS, because it looked like the right one. They had a chance at the $1 Million prize purse and the stability of $30,000/year. But looking back on the 2007 Season so far, they could have been the World Champions of CS 1.6 and CS Source.

Instead, they are a part of a mediocre CGS Franchise that can’t play CS 1.6. Ronald “Rambo” Kim’s year instead has been sacrificed for the future success of CGS.