November 18 2008 22:52:51

Welcome

Designed for gamers by gamers. You will always find the latest information and downloads for patches and mods, as well as anything else we come across.

Quake Live

All the latest release information, rumors and innuendo, with any facts we can dig up.

Quake 4

All the latest information on patches and mods - check out our tips and tutorials for help on taking your game to the next level.

IRC Pickup Channel: #truecarnage on Quakenet

Sponsors: If you are interested in helping support the site, please consider visiting our sponsors and ordering a server. All of the pickup servers are on gameservers.com.

Navigation

Submit Article

Submit News

Articles

Contact Me

Forums

News

Site Map

Terms and Conditions

Pickup Channel

General Rules

Quake 4 CTF League

Rules

CTF Guide

CTF League Archive

Season 2 Div 1 Schedule

Season 2 Div 2 Schedule

Season 2 Standings

Season 1 Standings

Season 1 Schedule

Quake 4 News

Q4Max News

Quake 4 News

Quake 4 Config Tips

_impulse List for MP

Ascii Symbols

Basic Scripting

Color Chart

Name Tricks

USB Rate Change

Quake 4 Common Errors

Quake 4 Movement Tips

Quake 4 Gameplay Tips

Power Up Timing Guide

Weapon Definitions

Quake 4 Server Guide

Chicago Server Config

Setting Up Autodownload

Server Cvars

Affiliates

Link to us!

Total Downloads

Our files have
been downloaded
160668 times!

From the News Desk

WSVG Folds it's Tent and Goes Home

The World Series of Video Games is closing up shop. They released a statement to the effect that they could not make competitive events profitable and they have decided to focus their attention on their more successful online properties such as GameRiot.com. This is a serious blow to the Quake 4 professional community, a blow it can probably not survive. With the future of the ESWC not entirely certain after Nvidia backed out of supporting the event, where does this leave professional FPS gaming with the 2 major event organizers in trouble or defunct?

Where it leaves it is somewhat further along than where it found it. The dilemma stems from the fact that many of these organizations are simply not managed well and suffer horribly at self promotion. During the WSVG season I requested advance information regarding streams (scheduling) and Q4TV (ips). I never received a reply. Moreover, the coverage elsewhere in the community was spotty at best due to the diffuculty in getting information from event organizers. The WSVG was continually improving their coverage, but they were still a looong, looong way away from being successful promoters.

For whatever organization is planning to continue (hopefully the ESWC) I have some tips. You are already shoutcasting many of the better matches. For the ones that aren't broadcast, why on earth don't you edit together a highlight real with commentary? You have the resources in place to do it and there are features in Q4Max to enforce demo recording server side, so why wouldn't you take advantage of the tools that exist?

There is enough of a community support structure that all you have to do is ask what people want to see. None of this is rocket science. There are examples from many successful models to draw from. The NFL? Professional Poker? Who would have thought 10 years ago that professional poker would be on ESPN? How did they do it? Intelligent analysis of game play, educating their viewers on the nuances of the game? There is a reason that John Madden was on Monday Night football for as long as he was. For years I was annoyed at his inane comments ("What they need to do here is score a touchdown"). It wasn't until recently (after he was gone) that I realized the man was keeping my girlfriend from asking so many stupid questions when the game was on.

The days of sponsors throwing money your way without a clear return on their investment are over. Event organizers are going to have to put some thought into how they promote their events or more sponsors are going to walk. There is a huge demand for good coverage and the possibilities are endless.

How about Maxstats for the whole season on your website?
How about a downloadable demo archive?
Stream archives?
Gameplay tips from the stars?
Map analysis pre-made for commentary fodder during shoutcasts?
Player profiles with previously cut footage for shoutcasts?

If it's your business shouldn't you be able to come up with better ideas than I have off the top of my head?

The more troubling side to this (other than my ranting) is that sponsors now have more than one failed series of events to refer to when they are debating where to put their advertising dollars. Having those mistakes take center stage in those future discussions is going to be hard to get past without a good plan. And this is where there is some silver lining.

The standards have been raised. I have to give the WSVG some props for that even as I rant about their mistakes. Consistent streams from event to event with good shoutcasting (2GD is the man) was a huge step forward. It is from these improvements that I have some hope. The thought of transitioning to a TV audience at this point is a pipe dream. However, you can be successful with quality online coverage supporting well run events. The events provide the content and the site has coverage.

It's not rocket science....you just have to do it well.

Comments

No Comments have been Posted.

Post Comment

Please Login to Post a Comment.

Ratings

Rating is available to Members only.

Please login or register to vote.

No Ratings have been Posted.

Not a member yet?
Click here to register.

Forgotten your password?
Request a new one here.

Latest Downloads

The Chill Runs Deep	427
Q4wcp9 Perf	852
Q4 Supremacy Mod Ins...	623
Q4 Supremacy Mod Man...	486
MaxBrowse	1104