37 replies to this topic

[vVv LordJerith]

Happy Holidays! 2011 has been another amazing year for vVv Gaming! Our event attendance and our website traffic continued to grow, and our podcast show saw some amazing conversations and controversies. In addition to this, our social media presence grew with our Twitter crossing 5k followers and our Facebook page crossing 3K Likes!

I want to personally thank you. It is you, the vVv community and competitive gaming fans and supporters, that make vVv Gaming so special. We have the best community in competitive gaming. Your faith in my leadership and the reputation you bring to our brand and sponsors is known throughout competitive gaming. Again, I want to thank you.

During this holiday I ask you to please do three things:
1. Enjoy yourselves! Skyrim, SWTOR. . . we have so many amazing games that offer us a wonderful break from heated competition.
2. Thank our staff members. They are amazing people who work so hard to make sure that vVv Gaming lives up to its mission statement.
3. Take this survey to possibly win a $60 Amazon gift card

As I reflect on all our accomplishments from 2011, I can’t help but also think about all we plan for 2012. Instead of making all kinds of announcements, I want to share something with you.

Last year, an acquaintance of my boss attended a 100th birthday celebration for his great aunt. During the festivities, the guest of honor was asked to share a few pearls of wisdom acquired over the course of her long life. After thinking quietly for several moments, she simply said, “Things change. And always take a sweater.”

That’s brilliant advice for everyone, including eSports organizations. No matter what the circumstances, you can’t count on the continuation of the status quo (no Halo pun intended), and you certainly can’t control the climate. Just when you think you know what normal looks and feels like, there’s a change.

Just a couple of years ago, CEO Mohamed El-Erian and his colleagues at Pacific Investment Management Co. (PIMCO), the world’s largest bond fund, coined the phrase “the new normal” to describe the changing investment climate brought on by the economic crisis. He explained the term by saying that “the new normal speaks to what is likely to happen given current conditions, rather than what should happen.” Nerds have always had a tough time with “should.” The term “cheese” is a great representation of that trouble. I’ll let you ponder that awhile.

One thing I have noticed from where I sit in vVv Gaming is that there is a large talent pool of players out there, to be sure, but the paradox is they don’t all have the skills to participate at the highest levels of competition, particularly those skills needed to drive innovation and growth, such as their marketability and ability to grow a fan base. And a full talent pool teeming with the wrong candidates makes the process of trying to invest in the right people externally all the more costly and risky.

I think you can guess where this is leading. In the new normal, many players and organizations are at risk of being left out in the cold. They are at a point where they need to be more proactive, strategic and effective when it comes to investing in the development of their players, as well as growing a fanbase.

For eSports leaders, that means playing a crucial role in defining and preparing for what the new normal looks and feels like in their organizations. It will be up to league owners, team managers, competitive gaming journalists and content providers to assure that eSports is not reactive but adaptive enough to speak to what is likely to happen given current conditions.

We plan to do our part. I ask you to please participate in this survey.

This survey will help us to provide more of what you want, as well as help us tell the world why the eSports community is worthy of more investment.

Happy Holidays! Thank you so much for your continued support.

[vVv SugarBear]

When do we get the annual holiday rant?!?!

[Ragez]

HAPPY HOLLIDAYS!! when the survey is gonna start? also great reding:) vVv gaming is growing up

[vVv SugarBear]

The survey is already available, click the link.

[vVv FacT]

"Things change, and always take a sweater" Pretty awesome advice indeed.
Also I liked your statement "Nerds have always had a tough time with “should.” The term “cheese” is a great representation of that trouble." It's so true.

[vVv Blazek]

"Things change, and always take a sweater" Pretty awesome advice indeed.
Also I liked your statement "Nerds have always had a tough time with “should.” The term “cheese” is a great representation of that trouble." It's so true.

Remember: if you lost, it's always because your opponent cheesed you! XD

[Voison]

Happy holidays vVv..

[vVv Arkaine]

Happy Holidays guys <3

[MizKitten]

Happy Holidays vVv, i can honestly say that i am super happy to have met all of you and cant wait to get to know more of you!! I also cannot wait to see how things grow and produce in the New Year Keep it Real!!

[Griddlez]

Here's to talented individuals becoming a Michael Jordan of E-Sports for vVv in 2012.

[YosH]

Happy Holidays! and survey completed hope I win

[The Turtle]

Happy holidays! Thanks Jerry! My fellow vVv members...love you all!

[Emery]

Happy Holidays everyone <3 Hope everything runs smoothly for all of you out there. Taking the survey now

[grabby]

Yeup - survey taken.

Cheers and Happy Holidays to everyone @ vVv, glad to be a part of the community . Wishing everyone nothing but the best.

[vVv Sintherius]

You know what's funny? I saw the link for the $60 dollar gift card entry, and skipped over it. When you said to take the vVv Gaming survey, I immediately clicked. So glad I joined vVv, everybody is amazing in this community, so thank YOU, Jerry. Hope everybody has a great holiday season!

[vVv Brock]

You know what's funny? I saw the link for the $60 dollar gift card entry, and skipped over it. When you said to take the vVv Gaming survey, I immediately clicked. So glad I joined vVv, everybody is amazing in this community, so thank YOU, Jerry. Hope everybody has a great holiday season!

So glad I made you sign up back in 2010!

[PreTenD]

Happy holidays!! Good survey

[vVv Anaxamander]

Happy Holidays everyone!

[vVv Sintherius]

So glad I made you sign up back in 2010!

Me too! I honestly remember it like it was yesterday.
We were all getting ready to go to iHop, and you said you would pay for my meal as long as I paid you back right after (which I did, and I think it was $8) and visited the site. Good times

[Krayzie]

Happy Holidays!