May 02, 12:00 pm
Being a member of the Frag Dolls and the leader of PMS Clan, I get lots and lots of questions about how people can go about getting their team sponsored. While I can’t really tell you how to go get sponsored (as it really comes down to selling yourself and a companies products/services), I can help you put a sponsorship proposal together that would assist you in your hunt. This is something that should be sent to any company that asks for more information from you, and can be emailed out to potential sponsors. You can even organize your proposal into a brochure to hand out at tournaments and industry events!
You can use this same outline for many sponsors, just remember that there are some areas that need to be tailored specifically for each company so edit those every time. While this should be done in a Word document for easy emailing, PowerPoint also works great, too. It works especially well if you have a lot of images you want to include, but I HIGHLY suggest you convert it into a .pdf file so the information can’t be changed by others, as it provides security. Be sure to keep the file size down and keep image size small so that there are no issues sending it via email.
A basic sponsorship proposal should contain the following:
- Cover Page- Contain Title with Team Name (i.e. Green Team 2008 Sponsorship Package) and images of team at LAN events. Visually appealing.
- Intro to Team:
a) Biography and short history on Team
b) Team Mission - Why Green Team?
What you can do for sponsors above and beyond wearing a logo on a chest. Can you work at industry shows doing shootouts? Can you do interviews and naturally tie in sponsor product? Do you have other media outlets or upcoming opportunities? Do you have a trafficked site where you can put logos and links? Can you show traffic and hits to those sites? Can you talk people into using the company’s products?A specific paragraph on why YOU believe in this product/service and how it will tie into your team. How does this sponsor gain overall by sponsoring YOUR Team, other than just wearing a logo? Why is your team unique over others (i.e. top placements, special interests that promotes more media coverage, special community or ties to them, anything that would create more exposure than most other teams).
- Tournament History: List all tournament placements.
CPL Dallas 2007- Halo 2- 4th Place
WSVG New York- Halo 2- 2nd Place 2005 - 2008 Events- Complete list of tournaments planning/wanting to attend for the year.
MLG:
New York, NY-June 10
San Diego, CA- July 18
Orlando, FL- August 17 - Sponsorship Packages- Companies want a ballpark of what you are asking for, and you need to be specific. Here you would create a table of sponsorship levels and money requested as well as increasing EXTRA things you can offer for the higher levels. Or you can ask for one set dollar amount that encompasses everything you are able to do for the company. Just think about some of the extras you can do for a sponsor and add them to the higher packages if you go this route. Be creative!
(i.e.)
Bronze Sponsorship- Should includes the basics only. Average of flight, hotel, and possibly per diem cost.
What it entails- Logo on sleeve, small Logo/Link on bottom site.Silver Sponsor- All of the above plus a little pocket padding.
What it entails- Logo on sleeve, medium Logo/Link on main site.Gold Sponsor- All of the above plus A LOT of pocket padding.
What it entails- Logo on shirt back, Large banner Logo/link on Website, Logo on all Personal Profile Pages such as MySpace/Facebook, promotion of sponsor in specific forums and communities. Anything else you can think of, add it! - Summary- Here just write a paragraph summarizing why your team would be a great fit with this sponsor’s product/services and how much you think they would benefit by sponsoring you, as well as why you would benefit from their sponsorship. Go over key points you want to recap and tie it into a closing.
Good luck sponsor hunting!
Apr 18, 7:20 pm
theviper556: do you play on the PS 3 much...?
I have one still in the box. If a game comes out that is only on that system and I just have to play it, then it would get opened. I just haven’t really gotten to it. It’s not that I don’t like PlayStation, I am just wrapped up in my Xbox and PC!
what do you think of RSV 2?
I have competed on every Rainbow Six title on Xbox, starting at the original. It’s safe to say I love this franchise and I think this last one is the best yet!
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Ninja_Raiden: What’s the strangest question you’ve ever been asked?
If I would send a picture of my feet to someone…
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Brimtown: What’s your most embarrassing gaming moment (in public - online doesn’t count)?
As sad as it sounds, for me it was when we were playing on main stage and my screen was shown on the projector for the audience. I got into a close combat shootout with an opponent and mistakenly zoomed in close. With everyone watching me, I found it very embarrassing to do such a stupid and noobish maneuver.
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Da_Bunny: When are you going to start your Cadet program? or have I completely lost it and you already started it?
I asked where our progress is on this and was told they are indeed still working on it. You should harass Gypsy!
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OtnemeM_IroM: How many roads must a Gamer walk down before they call him/her a Gamer?
One road - play games!
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scworld: Is there a reason why the Frag Dolls seem to play mostly in console-tournaments (mostly Xbox360 now IIRC)?
Yes there is. We are employees of UbiSoft and the biggest titles in terms of numbers are their Clancy 360 games. It doesn’t mean we don’t play PC, too. It just means our focus is UbiSoft titles which are ONLY supported tournament-wise on console right now. There is no professional tournament league that offers a UbiSoft title on PC.
How do you feel about game developers aiming more and more at mainstream gamers to get more money, but abandoning the hardcore fans with which they became a (big) business. Is the money of the hardcore fans not enough to cover cost, or is there more demand for profit from the shareholders?
As with any company, they want to expand their reach, growth, and bottom dollar. This is done by catering to the masses and not the minority. Unfortunately, the hard-core players and fans are a small percentage of gamers out there. Do we like it? No. I myself have gotten very upset discussing with dev’s about changes to my favorite game. But is it right? Yep, it’s their company, and their game. Of course they want to reach more people because that’s how a game is determined a success.
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s0me_girl: what did you do before you were a frag doll?
I am the co-founder and leader of the PMS Clan, and have been involved in the girl gaming movement for years now. That’s why I joined Frag Dolls in the first place. Career wise, I was in a suit in an office working a 60/hr week salary job in the staffing industry - running home after for clan matches. lol
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Ninja_Raiden: If every game you ever wanted was made available on PC and console yet you had to choose between the two formats, which would you choose?
I have and always will be a console gamer. I do play PC, but if any game is on my beloved 360 I love kicking back and laying down to play.
What’s your take on Gamerscore?
It sure gets me to play any game on Xbox first. Smart marketing in my eyes.
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vernacularninja: If you could only have one game and one CD to take with you on a year-long trip, what would they be?
Wow, that’s tough. WoW or Rainbow? WoW or Rainbow? I refuse to choose. The CD will most certainly cause me to get heckled, but it would be Fleetwood Mac.
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MANTRA_04_TANGO: What makes the Fag Dolls so unique apart from being a girls only clan?
We are actually employees and get paid to do what we love. I would think we are the first gamers ever to get hired by a company to play games, not just a sponsorship. Hopefully we can pave the way for others. Nothing could top that! Other than that we did take top 16 for the MLG season last year, and even though you ask what sets us apart aside from the fact we are girls, proving as a minority that we can hang with the majority IS a big factor of what we are about - and the most important for me.
Would you class yourselves as professional gamers, if so why?
Someday I am going to write a blog on what IS a professional gamer, really I am, as so many interpretations exist. However, we make our living playing games, we compete on a professional circuit, and we have taken placements in professional tournaments. Those reasons make us professional gamers.
It’s good how UbiSoft promote the presence of women in the gaming industry to represent their video games but… what do you think would attract more women?
Exactly. What we are doing, as well as other female groups out there, is showing the world girls got game too, and providing environments and encouragement to continue to game no matter what obstacles they encounter.
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MEXICANCRACKER4: I’ve always wondered… how’d u girls get your names? Is their a story behind them or did UBI pick them, etc?
We all picked our name, and of course everyone took the time to find meaning in their own. I chose Valkyrie because it represented a strong group of female goddesses of war, which went hand in hand with competitive gaming to me.
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OtnemeM_IroM: If you could be any video game:
a) Hero
b) Villian
c) Misc. Character
...which would you be and why?
I am always the Hero. I don’t know why but given a choice I always play a game 100% good and in RPG’s if I accidently make the wrong choice I have been known to lose my progress by restarting from my last save… weird, I know!
Apr 11, 10:00 am
Even though Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 was shut out of the first Magor League Gaming Tournament due to the release date being so close, that doesn’t mean you still can’t win prizes and play against pro gamers in Meadowlands.
UbiSoft, MLG, and Game Stop teamed up with us Frag Dolls and members of Dynasty who will be conducting lightning round competitions in which we have been instructed that we MUST give away the prizes. So even though you can’t beat us (and you won’t), we will still be devising demonic ways to toss out these gifts to the deserving Rainbow fans. Games, GameStop gift cards, and cash are headed your way - all you do is show up. Entry is free for spectators and the lightning rounds are open to anyone. So come show us what you got!
Those competitors that float to the top will be pulled from the masses and thrown up on the MLG Main Stage to demonstrate their skill to the entire venue, for a brief moment of fame. So if you were planning on passing on Meadowlands, start rethinking that trip and come play with us to win some prizes. We are still in the works about everything else we might be doing in Meadowlands, but you can be sure we are going to make it fun, fabulous, and worth our dedicated Rainbow Six player’s time! Lightning rounds start at 5PM Friday and noon on Saturday!
MLG Meadowlands
April 11-13
Meadowlands Expo Center
355 Plaza Drive
Secaucus, NJ 07094
Phone: (201) 330-7773
Apr 01, 11:00 am
Once upon a time in an Internet IP address far, far away called Forum Forest there was a small population of dwarves who worked every day for the most part, building and taking care of their small cyber community. Now these weren’t your ordinary dwarves from ages past who worked underground in dusty mines, why no, these were a different breed who had come together in ways of magic and on the super speed highway of their shiny and new thinking boxes, bonded by their common interest of whatever it was that first caused them to land magically in the forest. They had long ago forgotten what that was. They might still be hidden from the world behind their trusty magical LCD screens, but they enjoyed social acceptability and gleefully babbled in their shortened hybrid language every day.
Forum Forrest was a small part of the larger kingdom of Forum Land which was ruled by a terrible Wicked Queen also known to some as the The Admin. She abused her subjects with swift wielded warnings, tyrannical forum filters that changed their language to one that couldn’t be understood, and had been known to banish subjects without just cause at the drop of her witch’s hat. Her power was total in Forum Land and her decrees were fast and furious; many in the land lived in great fear of her wrath.
The Wicked Queen was aided in her thirst for being a busy body and knowing everything by a Magic Mirror, a.k.a The Narcissist. People used to think the magic mirror was good, but this story teller begs to differ. The Magic Mirror is known for telling the truth alright, but only its own truth in its own mind. Using amazingly big words, the Magic Mirror posted banter that made people’s heads ache. Even if you took out a dictionary and tried to decipher the language used by the Magic Mirror, it still didn’t make sense. See, the Magic Mirror was so in love with itself that it had to make everyone else feel stupid and ugly to fulfill its destiny of being the most all-knowing and beautiful thing in the kingdom.
As the wicked Queen was kept very busy with kingdom duties and conversing with her cohort, the Magic Mirror, the dwarves lived fairly in peace and quiet away from her prying eye, for the most part. They passed their days with amusement, arguments, and not a little suspicion of strangers who might drop in, until one day they met someone who would forever change their lives. It was The Princess, known to all as Snow White for her purity and sweetness. She was the step-daughter of the wicked Queen Admin and was escaping an attempted ban from the queen who was starting to take notice of her beauty and the love of the forum community members. Of course, it was actually the Magic Mirror who had brought Snow White to the attention of the Wicked Queen. He had recently began to hate Snow White because she had pointed out, even though nicely and with musical notes, that something he posted didn’t quite make sense. He was of course enraged and vowed vengeance.
Although the forum Queen had used all her powers to ensure the death of Snow White when she banned her IP, Snow White with the help of a kind huntsman had obtained a new IP for herself and had fled to the sub forums of Forum Forest to hide out in secrecy. Everyone else in Forum Land lived to protect Snow White, as she can do no wrong in their eyes, and the dwarves who had spied on her in years past were under the same spell. Gifted, talented and beloved, they welcomed her into their circle and would fight to the teeth to protect her honor and purity.
Being loving in heart and resigned to the fate of being forced to the sub forums, Snow White immediately got busy cleaning up Forum Forest and assessing the dwarves around her. She was surprised to see that the dwarves here were not all that different from the dwarfs that lived in Forum Land. In fact looking around she immediately saw the differences of each and every one, and identified the type of dwarf they were.
(The Ring Leader) - Doc was considered the leader of the seven dwarves as all of them seem to follow his words and listen closely to what he had to say at all times. He had been in Forum Forest so long he couldn’t remember any place before. His tendency was to be the one to try and keep threads organized, fight off the Drama Dragon and other unwanted guests, should they appear. He always helped point others conversations to their appropriate tree in the forest. If too much time lapses he was usually the one to look for recent and funny news headings and share it with the residents of the forest to keep conversation moving.
(The Ass) - Grumpy was in a league of his own in the forest. In fact, to this date nobody seems to understand how he is still allowed to live in peace here, because peace is not what he instilled. He had even been banned by the Wicked Queen a few times, but always seemed to talk his way back in through some supernatural way, currently unbeknownst to anyone else. Grumpy was always looking for trouble and stuck his big mean nose into everything. He was always quick to post something controversial on a new tree to start arguments. Even when others were doing their best to stay civil, here comes Grumpy to cause a stir. He always walked right on the line (usually not crossing it), and stood staunch on his opinions enjoying the flying debris around him when arguments began. He was mean enough to stir up the witch’s pot, but delicate enough to not actually break the tenacious rules of the forest. It was very amusing to know that he didn’t actually WANT to start problems, he just couldn’t help it. Snow White knew the heart of Grumpy, but also worked hard to teach him the pointlessness of arguing in Cyber World, which was probably hopeless but worth the effort…
(The Cheerful) - Happy was always laughing and having fun. Every tree he post on in the forest was followed by a million different smiley faces in which he himself helped to create. He liked to keep everyone happy and spread joy and goodwill throughout the land. Why it is true, if someone was having a bad day and needed a great big hug of encouragement, he would be the first to clasp his fat arms around the tree and give words of kindness. Everyone loved Happy, except Grumpy who, in his asinine way, thought Happy was simply too happy for anyone’s good. Grumpy found him annoying.
(The Drive By) - Sleepy was always tired which is why, I suppose, you would only see him maybe once in a lifetime. While Snow White had never met this one dwarf, she had heard tails and knew his kind well. Usually a small fly of stupidity or boredom pestered Sleepy out of his hibernation. This could be a good thing or a bad thing; you just could never tell what was going to come out of his fat red lips. Sometimes Sleepy would simply come post something rude, hateful and absolutely outlandish for shock value. Sometimes it would be that something had made him so mad that he couldn’t go back to sleep until he got it off his chest. And other times he was so bored for such a long time that he just randomly popped in to say “Hi!” It could be anything really, but the most pronounced thing about his kind was that he made one post and one post only, then simply disappeared back into cyber world making his residency a short one at best.
(The Troll) - Bashful was the shyest of the dwarves, and because of this was usually embarrassed by any attention directed his way. He was not one of those ugly trolls that people feared, even though he was dubbed with the mark of the troll. He was simply labeled thus because he indeed trolled through Forum Forest all day reading every post and thought, yet he never offered a remark in return. He didn’t need communication to feel that he was part of the forest; he had his own developed relationships with everyone, even if it was only in his head. It is fabled that he is secretly in love with Snow White, which is what keeps him around surfing through the forest in hopes to see his true love post.
(The Troll… that posts) - Sneezy’s name was earned by his ability to sneeze on every post tree in the forest at an amazing rate. He trolled around the forums every day and made sure to put his mark everywhere as a reminder of his constant existence, or perhaps even to let everyone know that he was paying attention. Because he wanted so badly to make sure his imprint was left on every stump and foxhole, sometimes his posts made no sense and often went off topic. A bit of a thread hijacker, he essentially meant no harm. You would know him simply by seeing his name… everywhere.
(The Joker) - Dopey was a clumsy dwarf, but his clumsiness was intentional and only existed to provide comic relief to all who dwell in the land. He liked making people laugh so hard that they peed their pants. Every post he made would usually be one of dry wit, even if it went off topic or was hard to understand. He liked to provide links of magic to others, and show the unusual and funny goings-on of the outside Forum Land. His banter (which sometimes appeared mean) was very witty. Dopey was one of those dwarves you most certainly want inhabiting your land, but at the same time sitting and thinking about all those witty responses has to drive a dwarf mad, you would think…
As Snow White assessed all these lively and not so lively dwarves, she thought she could be just as happy hiding out in Forum Forest as in Forum Land. But this was not to be the case. The evil Magic Mirror had stumbled upon Snow White frolicking in the daisies around the forest, and immediately informed the Wicked Queen that “her” nemesis was still among the Land.
Blah, Blah, Blah an apple, a Prince, a temporary death… err ban, and a couple of years later…(This Blog needs to end..)
The Wicked Queen was chased by the entire little clan of dwarves to a cliff where a magical lightning bolt ensured she fell to her death. This is now long forgotten, but essentially a hack and a permanent ban of her ISP ended her reign. A Prince, who was also The Moderator of a nearby land rescued Snow White and came to help rebuild Forum Land. The Prince was all-knowing, all-kind, and steered everyone to all the right ways. He took special care to know and relate to every personality that dwelled in the land, and provided happiness and harmony to all. As the land had once belonged to her father, Snow White was dubbed the new Admin and both she and the Prince ruled with kindness and serenity for years to come.
Her first decree was to change the word filters so that only gigantic words which ignoramus people used to make other people feel smaller, were changed into words that were easily understandable to all. The Magic Mirror was proven to be a true idiot and lout on his first post, and ran off to some other cyber land with his tail between his legs and was never heard of again.
And they all lived happily ever after!!
Mar 15, 3:27 pm
As World of Warcraft is essentially my life at the moment until Rainbow Six Vegas 2 is released, alas you get another blog about WoW. This is one that should be inherently known to raiders in this game, but for some reason people don’t seem to understand it’s what makes you a good raider. So, for the sake of spelling it out for all the nubs out there, please if you can’t follow these simple steps DON’T even bother wasting a guilds time by trying and saying you are a raider.
1.) BE PREPARED: What does this mean, you ask? Bring ANYTHING (and plenty of them) that allows you to do your job and to do it better: Pots, Foods, Reagents, Elixirs, Oils, Soulshards, etc. etc. If there is something in game that can increase the effectiveness of you or other members, BRING LOTS OF IT. It’s simple. Don’t cry about the money and don’t whine about wasting stuff. Raiding is serious business, and anything that helps the raid helps bring down bosses. Go farm, slacker.
2.) BE THERE: I can’t tell you how many people think they can show whenever they want to and get in a raid, and then get pissy when they are passed up. DON’T BE THAT PERSON. A raid is only as effective as its members and you need a core set of dedicated people to progress anywhere. If you can’t commit to the raid nights you can’t be a real raider. It’s not fun and games and should be viewed as a secondary job. When you don’t show up and people are counting on you, you let 24 other people down. For shame! Be on 15 minutes before raid start if you expect to attend or don’t count on your spot. Raid leaders are not mind readers and people are flakes. We aren’t just going to assume that you are going to show. And expect to stay until raid time is over, don’t just try to bail early with no warning or think you can leave because your favorite TV show is on. COMMON SENSE PEOPLE. If you want to be a raider, you have to treat it like a job.
3.) RESEARCH: If you are going into a new place that you have never been before, don’t rely on being able to understand the fight in front of you. Take 5 minutes and go look up the fight and read for yourself. Not only will it be easier to understand, many times you have great strategies and videos that you can watch that will really give you the experience you need to be effective. A new boss is hard enough, but if you prepare yourself you will be much more effective that much sooner. So get off your butt and do it!
4.) PAY ATTENTION: This is the stuff that will drive any raid leader crazy. Quit letting the “elevator” boss kill you in SSC, quit falling off into the water with your auto run, quit breaking sheeps with tab targeting, on and on and on. When you do not pay attention, people die, raids wipe, and down time (which is a morale killer) is increased. You must have your undivided attention on the raid and stop those unnecessary AFK’s. If you must go away from your computer, inform the raid leader, keep it minimal, and TIME IT RIGHT where it doesn’t affect the raid overall.
5.) QUIT THE COMMENTS: Stop the complaining and unnecessary chatter. We aren’t here to giggle and have fun unless it is an instance we are one shotting. We aren’t here to gear you solely out, we aren’t here to hold your hand, and we aren’t here for “you” period. We are here for each other and that is the way a raid mentality must be in order to be successful. We don’t want to hear “can we go?” whining, we don’t need people calling others out when they accidentally mess up, and we don’t need people getting pissy because the raid is wiping. You need to trust your raid leaders and officers to take care of those issues behind the scenes, and your uncalled-for additional comments are not solicited or warranted.
I know this might sound harsh to some, but these are indeed the steps to being a good and qualified raider. These steps operate with the assumption that you already know your class and can play it well, but guilds always have officers or someone that is there to help you individually, so take advantage of them. If you are not topping the charts on healing or dps, I bet you there is somewhere to improve so talk to some people or once again research how to be better. I can guarantee you all those “top” people are already following every step. If you can’t follow these simple guidelines, high-level raiding probably isn’t for you. The time wasted training you and gearing you isn’t fair to the rest. Have fun raiding (or not) on WoW.







