Last week we reported that Incredible Connection (IC) has signed a sponsorship deal with SA’s national gaming organization, MSSA.
IC has recently a hired Trevor “qu1k_sh0t” to coordinate its involvement in local gaming. We caught up with qu1k_sh0t to get a better understanding of IC’s newfound involvement in local gaming.
Hi Trevor, would you like to introduce your self.
Hi my name is Trevor “qu1k_sh0t” Henry and I am employed as the Gaming Events Coordinator within Incredible Connection.
The fact that Incredible Connection has hired you to take care of their strategy in the gaming market hopefully represents a desire on their part to understand and promote gaming in SA. You have been involved in local gaming for some time now, could you briefly introduce yourself and give a rundown of your history with regards to gaming.
Well I have been gaming as far back as I can remember playing “Where on earth is Carmen SanDiego” when I was all of 5 or 6 years old. I was a console gamer for many years and finally got bumped into computer gaming. Once I started to play online I was hooked, BF2 was the first online game I really sunk my teeth into and while playing BF2 I was invited to join =BFB=, and from there it just snowballed. I have only been online for 2 years and in that time I have won several competitions individually and moved over to COD4 where my team is ranked as one of the strongest in SA. I have also taken over the reins at =BFB=.
Why did IC choose to get involved with MSSA? Given the widespread unpopularity of the organization with many competitive gamers, would it not have made more sense to approach someone like AGASA or iGame?
Incredible Connection wants to support the entire gaming community. We want to grow the gaming market and develop it to international standards. In order to do so it is a natural progression to get involved with the National Federation for Computer and Console Gaming in South Africa. MSSA has the power to award something more substantial than merely a win.
With regards to the negative press, that is something that cannot be avoided unfortunately. MSSA has made a few mistakes in the past. The MSSA is aware of all the shortcomings that they have made and have put measures in place to correct them. Obviously as an avid gamer, and someone that was there when the trouble was afoot, I know of the problems and have raised them to the MSSA’s attention.
Coming on board now as the sponsor, we do everything in our power to ensure that the same problems do not repeat themselves.
With regards to the other gaming organizations, as I have said many times before, we will be getting involved. But some paperwork takes longer to finalize. Incredible Connection organized prizes for the BOTC Call of Duty 4 v3 tournament that is currently active. These prizes where organized as BOTC needed a sponsor and we as a company value what BOTC is doing for competitive gaming online.
We have a few plans in the pipeline that I will be unveiling as and when they are finalized. We are planning long term gain here, for the gamers and for my company.
Incredible Connection certainly has the resources and infrastructure to offer gamers excellent service, pricing and support. However, it currently prices its games and hardware significantly higher than other retailers, will this change anytime soon?
Incredible Connection is aware of the current pricing structure and also completely aware of the fluctuations of the market. As a company in this specialist market where prices go up and down based on so many factors it is impossible for one chain to have the best prices in every single product. Because of the competition with regards to pricing, we welcome it. At the end of the day the more people that are competing in the market the lower the prices will be driven. All that means at the end of the day, the consumer wins.
Can you give us a basic outline of how you/IC plan to change the negative perception of the retailer in the gaming scene?
The first and most obvious answer is to get the correct products in store. As it stands we are adding more focus with the existing gaming market. The correct products at the right time and in the right quantity, in other words lots and lots of copies of COD: Modern Warfare 2.
In addition we will actually be increasing our stock portfolio to be able to cater to the gaming market especially the middle to high-end gaming PC’s. All of these steps take time, but we are pushing forward. The company recognizes the demands of the gaming consumer and is moving in a direction to cater to this market. Once the gamers see we actually have what they are looking for, they will come to us.
In the same vein, do you think it is possible for MSSA to win the support of the majority of competitive gamers?
To be honest, I think it is going to be an uphill struggle, but one which we have already begun. The reason is quite simple, the competitive gamers. Especially the guys at the top of the food chain tend to be very unforgiving.
As such I think the majority of the existing gamers will not be interested at first. At least those that harbor bad feelings, however once the gamers start to see the types of events we have planned for the next 6 – 18 months and beyond, hopefully they will see that things have improved and at the very least stop directly attacking both my company and MSSA. Hopefully then they will enter our events and competitions.
Where is gaming going in SA? Do you think professional gaming in SA will ever be a viable pursuit, or is our market simply far too small?
First and foremost Incredible Connection wants to develop the market and mature its development and growth. Gaming will always be gaming, a past time or hobby, something to be enjoyed. Will competitive gamers become professionals; yes I honestly think so, however not for a few years at least. When you look at companies like my own actively taking a role in progressing the market and developing competitive scenes it adds a layer of professionalism to the scene.
The moment a large number of these gamers start to act like professionals then gaming may evolve into an arena where Professionals can develop. We can only hope that the western world will start to replicate the success that Korea has had with its Professional Gaming Market.
Touching on the size of the market, there is huge potential for growth. We really have the possibility of growing the online sector in South Africa 5 to 10 times the existing number of gamers. Just imagine what that would do to LAN Parties, Online servers and competitions!
Lastly, on a lighter note, what are your top five all time favorite games?
I actually am quite boring, I tend to stick to my RPG’s and FPS games. As such they would have to be:
1. Final Fantasy 8 then 7 then 10 then 12 then 10×2. 😀
2. Call of Duty 4
3. Metal Gear Solid all of them!
4. Tropical Tower Wars ( Map from War3)
5. Serious Sam The Second Encounter
Thank you very much for your Time Trevor.
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