GRRR Squad Forum

mmm, I'm not one for politics, so I'm so not even slighly interested, good or bad, when there are agenda's it's borked already.

To me, I couldnt be bother with another MSSA thread, I spent a couple of days reading though one previously, even registered and logged in to one of their meetings.

It's more of a "e-pene" coz I'm charing this meeting for the MSSA, than actually getting ANYTHING done at all. 2 hours on Teamspeak and not a single thing of interest or noteworthyness discussed.

So, bottom line, count me out - I'm not interested.

I'll comment when I have a chance to properly read all of the threads.
I've had personal experience with the MSSA and will discuss that later.

@ Fly - did you read the threads I linked to? There are many comments from committee members of the MSSA that seem to address most/all of your concerns.

@ Hubris - I agree. Your post has earned much respect from me, for what its worth, it makes more sense to start afresh, but as pointed out by Tiger (in the threads I linked to) it would take 5-10 years to achieve recognition by the govt. What makes the most sense about this to me is that we could ignore govt recognition and still grow gaming.

There is a lot of good debate going on here, I am glad to see that there is some thought going into it. I would like, once more, to encourage those interested in the debate to do a little background reading in the threads I posted at the top.

Guys, my 2c...

I had a look at the SASCOC website and the MSSA computer game sites. MSSA are an affiliate of SASCOC and host all sorts of games; including GuitarHero, things I have no idea what they are and other equally nameless faceless competitions. However, from a technical stand point they are about the equivalent of say the South African Hockey Association in terms of the power delegated to them from SASCOC.

Except for the salient facts: they are no where near as capacitated, they also lack any credible support from their parent body. There is no mention of MSSA anywhere on the SASCOC website, nor of computer gaming. I don't see how MSSA expect us to believe that if they collect R60 from each member, that will all change. Sure they are hosting a big gaming event in CPT - but who knew about that? What credibility do they have with the computer gaming community as we know it? I had no idea who these guys were - in my opinion, they're doing a shite job.

Sports grow with money. Money comes from sponsorship. Sponsorship comes from private interest and that means a return on investment greater than what the consumer bank offers. If not in terms of Rand value, in unquantified terms that lead to exposure, support, profit and growth. I don't see MSSA ever breaking into that band of operation.

If a credible and capacitated gaming association could be formed, it would have to be formed specifically for hand-held, console and PC gaming... These are big ticket items that international producers know delivers good returns. Manufacturers and developers know gaming events draw crowds and increase their brand's visibility. They generally happen to have deep but tight pockets though.

Some brave soul would have to build an alternative association with cooperation from events like Rage and companies like XBOX etc. to form the nexus for gamers and rl people to interact and actually do what these associations are so bad at: hosting annual sponsorship events that draw crowds, are financially viable and increase the society's conciousness of gaming (and brands :P)

Oh yeah and what Paul said :smoke:

I don't quite agree, there is an immense amount of potential in the local gaming industry. The only problem is active participation.

We don't have enough board and disgruntled members like Geth hanging around so I understand the challenges that these kind of associations bring!

I think it is important however that the MSSA gets a fat smack in the face and it seems the only way to do this is via this membership forum.

I think the main fact we need to face is that the eventuality of online games being recognised as a 'sport' or anything approaching that kind of status in any African country is a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong way off.

Does anyone know what MSSA thinks of US joining them?
I would rather join an existing bigger maturer structure than have the community try make their own. I have seen peeps fighting/name calling/bitching making associations that never worked. (paintball)
The only real question is - would we be fairly recognized and represented.

Yes, we would all like to see the benefits of computer gaming recognised and supported by the MSSA.
No, noone wants to sit around a table explaining punkbuster to people who play with figurines.

My 2c is that unless you are willing to engage with MSSA in 90% futile, 10% constructive dialogue then you are not willing to support MSSA, only benefit from it, and you will find out soon enough that the MSSA teat is dryer than towel, in a desert, under a sun lamp, after a late night out.

To sum up, this thread is not simply asking whether you think joining MSSA is good for you, its whether you are willing to first pay yearly fees, then get involved with club politics and then get involved with MSSA politics. There will be no free rides.

PS Some of the comments so far suggest that some may have not bothered reading the links in the first post. If that is the case then really, lets be honest, you aren't that interested, save your breath, vote no.

Stu do you really want the government involved with gaming? They already screw up enough.

MSSA stands for Mind Sports of South Africa, these means stuff like chess, scrabble etc

I don't see these types of games (not that there is anything wrong with them) having enough in common with online gaming to warrant a joint association. If the gaming community was serious about progressing gaming in South Africa I see the two best options would be

* Create a separate Association from scratch, this would then, with a lot of work become the National Standard purely by it’s size. I think that is how most unions/associations become official. If they ahve enough support then they become the default.
* Work with existing institutions like SGS/DoGaming, iGame, WAGE etc, become more involved in that and mould them to what you want. Yes I know these are private/corporate companies and are there to make money or have a specific purpose. But you can leverage off their structure and systems until it becomes big enough to break away.

All of the options though would mean that a considerable amount of the community would have to be active and dedicate time to whatever association institution and I just don't see that happening. I consider myself to be a typical gamer and I know I do not have the time or energy to get involved.

I am willing to put time into this clan but not further than that. Yes that is right I am lazy

Firstly No you can't be honest! So shut your face! j/k

Ok I see your point! I am of the mind that it may attract additional investment / sponsorship within the E-Gaming community, If we make it as accredited as possible!

The benefit is the Government/ is behind MSSA but it offers the opportunity of developing the community.