Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[CGS draft (and Joystiq) at the Playboy Mansion]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/13/cgs-draft-and-joystiq-at-the-playboy-mansion/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/13/cgs-draft-and-joystiq-at-the-playboy-mansion/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/13/cgs-draft-and-joystiq-at-the-playboy-mansion/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The Championship Gaming Series had their inagural gamer draft at the Playboy Mansion last night, and we took it upon ourselves to attend and give you the scoop. It was grueling and arduous to make it through hours at Hef's historical hangout, but somehow we managed to survive. The things we do for you readers really shows our resolve.

First of all, we'd really like to know where all the money is coming from, because this event certainly wasn't cheap. We know they had some big name sponsors last night (Mountain Dew, XPS, Xbox 360, DirecTV, IGN, etc), but did they pay for all of it? Will they be funding the whole gaming season? According to the folks we talked to last night, this production alone cost a million dollars (rented crane, multiple cameras, live streaming, flatscreens galore, and a partridge in a pear tree), plus once you factor in the cost of hosting an event at the Mansion, providing food and drinks for 500 people, parking, shuttles and hiring Bunnies and CGS girls ... you've spent a pretty penny. But will it all be worth it?

Gallery: CGS Draft at the Playboy Mansion

Continue reading CGS draft (and Joystiq) at the Playboy Mansion

JoystiqCGS draft (and Joystiq) at the Playboy Mansion originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CGSChampionship Gaming SeriesChampionshipGamingSeriesprofessional gamingProfessionalGamingWed, 13 Jun 2007 16:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Headshot! Energy bar for gamers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/16/headshot-energy-bar-for-gamers/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/16/headshot-energy-bar-for-gamers/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/16/headshot-energy-bar-for-gamers/#commentsFiled under: ,

Mountain Dew and Red Bull just isn't enough for today's serious gamers. Now they need specially marketed energy supplements to keep them in the fragging zone. Enter Uncommon Loot and Headshot; the candy bar specifically created for gamers.

With 100 mg of Guarana, Headshot could pack a serious punch considering that your average bottle of Bawls has approximately 80mg of everyone's favorite nervous system stimulant. Uncommon Loot will be releasing the product to gaming centers first and will eventually make it available on their website.

We'll be sure to bring word of Headshot again after the first professional gamer is kicked out of competition for crushing and snorting his candy bar.

[via Engadget]

JoystiqHeadshot! Energy bar for gamers originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Feb 2007 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bawlsboom headshotBoomHeadshotcplheadshotmountain dewMountainDewprofessional gamingProfessionalGamingred bullRedBullFri, 16 Feb 2007 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Game champion commits suicide over gambling debts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/08/game-champion-commits-suicide-over-gambling-debts/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/08/game-champion-commits-suicide-over-gambling-debts/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/08/game-champion-commits-suicide-over-gambling-debts/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Christian Sellergren, a professional gamer who led Team Eyeballers to the 2004 CPL Counter-Strike championship, apparently took his own life last November over massive debts accrued from online gambling. The news trickled down to us through a rough translation of a recent story about the death in Swedish paper Aftonbladet.

According to the report, the 21-year-old Sellergren, who went by "divino" online, turned his competitive instincts to online gambling after retiring from the eSports scene. Sellergren lost his job and accrued over $13,000 in debt to fuel his addiction, which he kept from parents and friends.

While stories about pro gamers with six figure salaries and major sponsorship deals may make you think the scene is all about glitz and glamor, this story shows that is not always the case. Our sympathies go out to all of Sellergren's friends and family. If you think someone you know may have a gambling problem, please don't wait until it's too late. Get help.

[Thanks Will]

JoystiqGame champion commits suicide over gambling debts originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Jan 2007 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CounterstrikeCPLdivinoesportsgamblingPCpro gamerprofessional gamingProfessionalGamingProGamersellergrenMon, 08 Jan 2007 15:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Casual players act hardcore, win loot]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/11/casual-players-act-hardcore-win-loot/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/11/casual-players-act-hardcore-win-loot/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/11/casual-players-act-hardcore-win-loot/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Something's perverse about the idea of a casual games tournament, but that's exactly what happened when 71 gamers who don't speak a word of l337 gathered to compete in Bejeweled 2, Solitaire and Zuma.

We're having trouble imagining a LAN party without overwhelming BO, shouts of "pwnt!" and at least one Y chromosome for every X, but that's what Fun Technologies claims happened this past weekend in Hollywood, CA.

To be serious for just a second: casual games tournaments are nothing new. Scrabble, Chess, Poker and Bridge tournies have been around for many years (in some cases, hundreds of 'em). This may well be the biggest prize awarded in a software-based casual game tournament, though.

Professional FPS players the world over can now rest easy. When ya'll are too old and slow for FPS competitions, you won't need to start endorsing Mueslix and Viagra. Instead, prolong your glory days on the casual gaming circuit.

[In the image: champion Kavitha Yalavarthi, with her winnings and her fiance.]

JoystiqCasual players act hardcore, win loot originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Sep 2006 01:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bejewledcasual gamesCasualGamesfatal1tyjonathan wendelmsnPCpopcapPopCap-Gamesprofessional gamingrealarcadezumaMon, 11 Sep 2006 01:01:00 EST<![CDATA[World Cyber Games looking for gamer input]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/06/world-cyber-games-looking-for-gamer-input/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/06/world-cyber-games-looking-for-gamer-input/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/06/world-cyber-games-looking-for-gamer-input/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Interested in contributing to the World Cyber Games? The WCG is searching for gamer feedback on the rules and regulations of its tournament games, so if you have a burning desire to see a particular ruleset put in place, now's your chance.

Looking for gamer input like this is useful, although part of the WCG organisers' job is to be, or seek out, experts on individual games to advise on rules. However, if enough players contribute their thoughts, there should be less contention over minutiae during the tournament itself.

JoystiqWorld Cyber Games looking for gamer input originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Mar 2006 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pro gamingprofessional gamingProfessionalGamingProGamingworld cyber gamesWorldCyberGamesMon, 06 Mar 2006 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World Cyber Games '06 titles announced, Halo 2 dropped]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/02/15/world-cyber-games-06-titles-announced-halo-2-dropped/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/02/15/world-cyber-games-06-titles-announced-halo-2-dropped/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/02/15/world-cyber-games-06-titles-announced-halo-2-dropped/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The World Cyber Games, an international professional gaming competition, has announced which titles will be used for this year's competitions. With the advent of a new platform, it's been interesting to see where the focus of professional gamers will lie.

A return to Counter-Strike 1.6 (last year's competition used Source) and upgrades for FIFA Soccer and Dead or Alive are all on the cards, but the surprise switch outlined is the removal of Halo 2 from the line-up; it's being replaced with Project Gotham Racing 3. Console FPS players will be disappointed.

[Via Gamespot]

JoystiqWorld Cyber Games '06 titles announced, Halo 2 dropped originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Feb 2006 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitive gamingCompetitiveGamingPCprofessional gamingProfessionalGamingworld cyber gamesWorldCyberGamesXbox-360Wed, 15 Feb 2006 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pro gaming more attractive than pro tennis]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/02/06/pro-gaming-more-attractive-than-pro-tennis/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/02/06/pro-gaming-more-attractive-than-pro-tennis/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/02/06/pro-gaming-more-attractive-than-pro-tennis/#commentsFiled under: ,

A Scottish gamer has traded in his racquet for a railgun, with a change of career from professional tennis player to pro gamer. David Kinnaird, a new recruit for UK pro gaming team 4Kings, comments in this BBC article that "pro-gaming is bigger than tennis in a way" thanks to the sponsors involved.

Whether David's decision was a wise one will become clear in time, but comparing professional gaming to traditional sports throws up interesting parallels. The abundance of sponsors available to the top players, the hours of training and the fact that many people see it as just a hobby are all common factors, yet people are more likely to take tennis players seriously than those who play computer games all day. This could be thanks to the accessibility of games -- anyone can pick up a racket, but quickly realise they have no skill, whereas video games are designed so that the player eventually wins.

JoystiqPro gaming more attractive than pro tennis originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Feb 2006 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e-sportsprofessional gamingProfessionalGamingquakeMon, 06 Feb 2006 17:30:00 EST