CEVO Executive Board Blog

The field of business communications is undergoing a rapid change at a rate that is phenomenal. Better developments aimed at improving both the quality and price are being made almost every day. With newer developments, business communication is becoming cheaper and at the same time, its quality is being improved. The pace of development is not surprising because of the potential role that communications play in business organizations. The very functioning of any organization depends on how communication takes place between its employees and customers. Not surprisingly, success to any organization comes with its ability in choosing better options and in remodeling itself whenever market situations call it to do so. The field of business communications is no exception. Opting for better technologies like VoIP over the traditional land line and cellular phones can give business organizations an upper edge in the already saturated and highly competent market.

VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol is a form of communication in which voice is transmitted over the Internet in the form of data packets just like email. It is also known by other common names like Internet telephony or broadband telephony. VoIP can dramatically cut down telecommunications costs and at the same time boost business productivity. A VoIP business phone system can effectively replace the current communications system with minimal expenditure. VoIP also offers some features that traditional forms of communication like land line and cellular telephony cannot provide. Using VoIP in combination with software like Ventrilo, anyone can make phone calls over the Internet. This ease of operation that is comparable with traditional land line telephony makes VoIP communication an indispensable part of business organizations. Read the rest of this entry »

Charlie Plitt is the CEO and founder of CyberEvolution, the premier professional league for on-line gaming competitions.

For years I have been asked what it takes to become a professional gamer and I have heard thousands of opinions of what being professional means, but at the end of all the questions and talking are we any closer to answering the question?

Here is my answer to the question “what does it take to be a professional gamer”. First we must understand what it means to be professional. Professionals are often considered self-regulating, in that they control the training and evaluation processes that admit new persons to the field, and whether the skills and work ethics are up to their professional standard. Likewise to be a professional means that one is providing or performing a service in exchange for payment or salary in accordance with established protocols for licensing, ethics, procedures, standards of service and training / certification. Therefore it would be appropriate to state that a ‘true’ professional must be proficient in all criteria for the field of work they are practicing, accepted by their peers, and have a high standard of professional ethics, behavior and work ethics and activities while carrying out one’s profession.
Read the rest of this entry »

Our third Executive Inquiry features some great questions and, we hope, some great answers! Keep the questions coming!

ViRii[K] asks:
“Just curious, the community isn’t too large, so why choose America’s Army over some other games like Battlefield 2142, Command & Conquer 3, etc.?”

Plitt says: CEVO is constantly looking at all the games out there as well as their respective communities. At this time, we are actively considering events for at least seven different games in addition to the four games we are currently hosting events for. But launching a new event is not always a simple task.

When CEVO gets into a new game, it’s important that we release a quality product and environment. We want to run a strong, competitive events that create enjoyment, and serve to advance the industry of eSports. With that in mind, it’s not enough to simply choose a game and go with it. There are many factors to consider when moving into a new game:
- size of the community
- popularity trends
- competitive aspects
- spectator aspects
- the game itself
- sponsor interest
- event staffing

So why America’s Army? The timing was perfect. We were able to contact some amazing individuals to come on staff, and we already had an interested sponsor in NationVoice. The community may not be as large as some of the other games currenty running, but we feel it’s large enough to support an event. And with the US Army renewing its efforts to promote America’s Army, we feel there is plenty of room for its community to grow and we’re excited to be a part of it!

James asks:
“You say that America’s Army is the first of several new games. Any hints on the other upcoming games?”

Ping says: As Plitt said previously, we are presently in active discussion of at least 7 other games. I can’t give away any names, but we’re looking at a couple of FPS titles, at least one RTS title, at least one racing title, and maybe even a console title, among others. We plan to expand into at least one more new game in 2007, possibly two or three. As far as 2008… the sky is the limit!

Duke asks:
“I’m a server admin. Is there any chance that CEVO will release a player ban list or at least a list of banned steamIDs so I can ban CEVO cheaters from my public server?”

Ping says: The last time CEVO released an actual ban list was season one of Counter-Strike 1.6. At that point in time we honestly HAD to release a ban list just to prove that CMN did in fact work. Since then, CMN has improved exponentially and we have proven its effectiveness time and time again. Media agencies GotFrag and Amped have performed independent reviews of CMN’s effectiveness and found it to be solid.

With that in mind, we have refrained from releasing ban lists for one reason and one reason only: we feel that it hurts eSports.

You’re probably wondering why we feel that way. We’ve watched over the years as other organizations have released ban lists. What is the end result? Flaming. Lots and lots of flaming. It’s no secret that major sponsorship and interest from major corporations is the only thing that’s going to push eSports into the true mainstream and transform it from a “hobby” into a “sport”. But flaming tends to leave a bad taste in the mouths of corporations, even if the flaming is directed at those who broke the rules.

It’s not that we think releasing a ban list is BAD for eSports, we just feel that not releasing a ban list is better for eSports.

That being said, we have been reconsidering our decision as of late. We know there are some doubters within the community as to whether or not CMN works. We know there are cheat sites claiming they get around CMN, and we know there are competitors making claims that CMN is a thing of the past. This doesn’t really phaze us, because we know the truth and so do our players - which is why CEVO has been and continues to be one of the most prestigious online leagues to play in and the standard to which many of our competitors seem to aspire. Nevertheless, every now and then maybe it’s not such a bad idea to remind everyone how we got here in the first place. After all, we did pioneer the concept of using in-house, privately developed anti-cheat software in league play.

Will you see a ban list any time soon? Maybe. We’re thinking about it! Have an opinion? Share it here!

ressik asks:
“Does CEVO feel that it is threatened by other organizations like CGS, CGESA, WSVG, etc?”

Plitt says: Absolutely not!

If you look at what CEVO has accomplished since we started in 2003, and what we continue to accomplish season after season, CEVO’s quality and committment to the community speaks for itself. For the last four years our volunteer staff has strived to provide the community with the most fair and competitve environment and in doing so we have paid out over $250,000 in cash and prizes.

The one thing that I have learned in the last four years is that sucess takes time and a commitment to a vision. Sucess is in eSports is not measured in dollars and cents, and it is not measured in hours or days, but measured by results.

As for feeling a sense of threat from other online eSports companies (CGESA, XPL, etc …) we do not see these companies as a threat but as a necessity. Competition is good for the industry and gives us a chance to push ourselves to improve all aspects of our service. That means it’s good for the gamers too.

As Andrew Carnegie said, “While the law of competition may be sometimes hard, it is best for the community, because it ensures the survival of the fittest and the best results.”

As for feeling threatened by the MAJOR LAN players (CGS, WSVG, MLG, WCG) there is no threat currently as their business models do not include online gaming at this time, and the CEVO business model compliments their events as we cultive the players of the future. I think more importantly it has been great to see the growth and development of these companies as all individually have made huge improverments to eSports as they have been competing for your viewership and participation in their events.

SnakeEyes asks:
“If they ever make ‘Counter-Strike the Movie’, who would you rather see in the lead role - Vin Diesel, or Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson?”

Plitt says: LOL that’s a good question. I guess I’d say Vin Diesel. I’m an avid fan of xXx and, honestly, I almost cry every time I watch The Pacifier.

Ping says: I’m definitely going with Dwayne Johnson. Considering the most complex dialog in the movie would consist of the phrase “Go! Go! Go!”, even The Rock couldn’t screw that role up.

Do you want to ask a question? With CEVO’s Executive Inquiry, almost anything goes, so let us know at executives_blog@cevo.com.

The Executive Inquiry is back for round two with more questions - some serious, others entertaining!. We hope you enjoy them, and remember to keep the questions coming!

chicky.rawr asks:
“What do you all do for day jobs?”

Carmony says: I work for a software development company that specializes in DVD Rental Kiosks. If you’ve ever seen a kiosk in a store that you can rent DVDs for a dollar-a-day, there is a good chance that I’ve worked on the software used to power it. I can’t say much more than that, due to the dozen or so Non-Disclosure Agreements I’m required to sign. But it is a fun and challenging job. On the side while I’m not working my butt off for my day-job or CEVO, I do small websites and PHP programming for small businesses.

Ping says: I own my own business: Rivulent Web Design and IT Solutions. I specialize in data-driven web applications and spend most of my “work” time creating surveys for university-sponsored web-based research.

Pretty boring right? Well I also moonlight as a Professional Nanny for Property Guardian Animals.

Plitt says: I am the Global Events Trade Show Manager for Ciena Corporation, a telecommunications company specializing in fiber optic technologies.

Joanna asks:
“What were your first jobs you’ve had? Did they suck, or were they fun?”

Carmony says: My first real job was working at Del Taco when I was 15. I had a paper route before that when I was 10-12, but this was my first real “job.” I actually kind of liked it. Got free food, was close to my home, and I got some good money for a 15 year old. It of course really sucked when I had to clean the bathrooms after some 300 pound man laid waste to a toilet….. eww….

Other jobs I’ve had include:

• Paperboy
• Lifeguard / Lifeguard Trainer
• Swimming Lesson Teacher
• High School Swim Team Coach
• Cheeseboard Cleaner & Waxer (I’m not joking, I cleaned and waxed large wooden boards that cheese would age on for months. The factory smelt like rotting cheese)
• POS Technician (Once again, not joking, POS stands for Point of Sale,
  like a cash register)
• Website Designer
• Programmer / Developer

… Wow, I’ve had a lot of jobs.

Ping says: My very first job was as a groundskeeper (litter picker if you want to be a jerk about it). Beyond that, I have been: attendant at a miniature golf-course, concessions manager, computer lab technician, assistant manager at a resort, freelance web designer, and finally, a business owner.

Oh yeah, and somewhere in there I doubled as a fudge packer. Literally. I honestly made, packaged, and sold fudge.

Plitt says: For my first job, I worked for my father in the family seafood business. That’s why I smell so bad… 20 years of fish and shrimp has a way of permanently altering your body odor!

Knight asks:
“Does Charlie really intermix and butcher common sayings and phrases? Do you have any examples?”

Ping says: Yes, Charlie loves to “modify” everyday common sayings to make them his own. Let’s see…

Original Version: One bad apple spoils the bunch.
Charlie Version: One rotten egg ruins the bunch.

Original Version: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Charlie Version: Flattery is the best form of imitation.

Original Version: Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
Charlie Version: Don’t give away a good horse.

Original Version Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Charlie Version Don’t bet on all your eggs.

Original Version You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.
Charlie Version You can bring water to a horse, but he’ll piss on you if you make him drink it.

Plitt says: Lies… all lies…

SnakeEyes asks:
“I understand Carmony is from Utah. Do women in Utah wear burqas?”

Carmony says: Yes, I’m from Utah. No, women don’t wear burqas. Also, to do a preemptive strike on few more questions: Yes, I am a member of the LDS Church (aka Mormon). No, I don’t have more than one wife. Yes, I really do play video games. No, I’m not like the Amish. Yes, I rode around on a bike wearing a white shirt, tie, and helmet for two years in a foreign country (Mexico to be precise); and last but not least: No, Jehovah’s Witnesses are not the same as “Mormons”.

Ping says: Don’t trust him - ask for proof!

Brian “Riesling” Moore asks:
“In my opinion, CEVO sells itself. Can you name a few things that CEVO may be working on that really makes you feel good about achieving long term success?”

Plitt says: When CEVO was first announced, most people scoffed at us. No one thought that we would be successful, but three years later, here we are. We have achieved something no other organization has done. We have succeeded where others have failed. As of yet, no organization has successfully done what we do on a day-in and day-out basis.

We pioneered the use of proprietary cheat-detection software in online league play. We drove hard to provide unparalleled support that was prompt, courteous and, most importantly, AVAILABLE when you needed us to be. We were the first to make a strong push with the pay-to-play model. And, perhaps most importantly of all, we offered unprecedented access to our staff by you, the gaming community. We have succeeded on all fronts and, in doing so, we have set the standard and raised the bar in the world of eSports.

We did all of this by pushing the envelope, and we will continue to follow this strategy as we move forward. As long as we are offering what the community wants, listening to the communities suggestions, and working towards improving eSports, I think we will continue to enjoy growing success.

Look for CEVO to expand into a few new games by 2008, possibly including an RTS title. We are also looking forward to building up a Quake community this year.

Plus, we are currently working on several enhancements and new features to the CEVO website and Tournament Engine. They should make CEVO an easier place to play and offer some great new “toys” for our pay-to-play members. Some features will also be released for ALL CEVO members, even ones that don’t actively play on any teams.

Do you want to ask a question? With CEVO’s Executive Inquiry, almost anything goes, so let us know at executives_blog@cevolved.com.

Welcome to the first ever CEVO Executive Inquiry! We are excited to present our answers to some really great and entertaining questions! We hope you enjoy our responses as much as we enjoyed reading your inquiries. And remember to keep the questions coming!

riot34 asks:
“Will CEVO be offering any playoffs/prizes for Project Gamer?”

Carmony says: Yes, from the conception of the idea of Project Gamer, we have always intended to offer prizes. They will not be as significant as the prizes for our pay-to-play divisions of CEVO, but we still intend to make them rewarding. We know it would be disappointing if we said “Congrats, you won, now here’s a Snickers bar and a pat on the back.” Now I like Snickers, but a 70 cent candy bar would be pretty lame. We want people who win to receive something gratifying and rewarding.

Some people have thrown out the suggestion of free entry into regular season CEVO events for placing high enough. We’re working out these details right now. In the coming weeks we will announce details on the playoffs and prizes.

If you have any ideas for prizes, feel free to let us know at executives_blog@cevolved.com.

chicky.rawr asks:
“What is your least favorite part about CEVO? The Cheaters? Watching endless demos?”

Carmony says: Punishing teams, by far, is the worst. Especially when a teammate does something stupid (like cheat, ring, etc.) and a team gets penalized for it, maybe even knocking them out of playoffs. We hate to see all your hard work go down the drain. Sometimes people accuse us of holding a grudge against a team or we’re bias against teams, like to screw teams over, or that Charlie wants to keep the money so he can buy new spinner rims for his Jetta. Trust me, there is nothing more we want to do than bring a team into Ventrilo, congratulate them for an amazing season, and send them out their checks for winning. When we have to do the opposite, it sucks for us. I hate that the most.

But other than that, sacrificing my sleep to only 3-4 hours a night to meet a deadline with the website blows pretty bad too.

Ping says: I’m not going to lie - catching cheaters is pretty fun. But Carmony is right… having to punish a whole team for one player’s ignorance sucks. As a former team captain myself, I passed on a lot of seemingly talented players due to the chance that they might not be legit. I would hate to have had to tell my team we were punished because of one stupid player.

Oh, and lack of sleep? Yeah, one time I pulled a dozen all-nighters in an 18 day period to meet a deadline.

Plitt says: The sheer embarrassment I feel when I fall asleep on my mic and audibly snore when customers are in the channel.

muggy asks:
“Is your last name really Ping? Cause that’s fricken awesome.”

Ping says: To be honest, I really don’t know why so many people ask me this question, but it’s nice to know people think it’s “fricken awesome!”

No, I am not in any way related to the Ping golf club dynasty (although I do hit a mean long ball), nor am I a ping-pong champion (anymore). I do have a network tool named after me though.

SnakeEyes asks:
“Charlie, is it true that you walk around and slap people like Rick James? I’m CHARLIE PLITT B*TCH!”

Plitt says: While I do demand a lot from my staff, I must admit my PIMP hand is a bit weak. So no … I don’t go around announcing my presence. If anything, I am very humble and try to stay out of the limelight as CEVO is about eSports, not about Charlie Plitt.

Carmony says: I dunno, when I’m behind on work, I feel like I’ve gotten a few back hands from the Plitt….

SnakeEyes asks:
“I want to see Charlie Plitt versus Angel Munoz in a UFC match. If Angel were willing, would you agree to fight him in a celebrity UFC match at the next Winter CPL?”

Plitt says: Yet again another entertaining question. I am not sure about the UFC style bout, but a celebrity boxing match for charity could be and would be appealing. I can only imagine that the community would come out in droves to watch Angel and I throw down especially if it is for a good cause.

SnakeEyes asks:
“And if you were training for said fight, would you drink raw eggs like Rocky?”

Plitt says: Not sure about the raw eggs … but I’m pretty sure that proper preparation would require a lot of steak… and Captain Morgan!

SnakeEyes asks:
“And if the fight happens, what would your game plan for victory be? Would you be a striker, or would you go for the ground and pound?”

Plitt says: Seeing that I am 6′ 3″, 260, and a former college football player I would say I would be more inclined to ground and pound.

Ping says: Charlie really is that big. When I met him it was like shaking the paw of a grizzly bear. Does UFC have a “maul and devour” tactic?

Do you want to ask a question? With CEVO’s Executive Inquiry, almost anything goes, so let us know at executives_blog@cevolved.com.

Since CEVO’s initial launch almost three years ago, one of the more unique aspects of our organization has our client’s ability to speak directly with CEVO’s Executive Board. On almost a daily basis, players coming in to our Ventrilo server seeking support or just to hang out would take the opportunity to ask the Executives and other CEVO officials about our league, our personal lives, our favorite games, our opinions on hot topics and eSports rumors and more. We have truly enjoyed talking with you and answering all your questions!

However, with CEVO’s growth and the addition of thousands of players participating in CEVO, it gets harder and harder for us to sit down with each and every customer for a one-on-one conversation. While we will still talk in vent and enjoy the opportunities we do have to talk with you, we also want a way for our customers to ask us questions even when we are not available on Ventrilo.

CEVO is excited to announce the Executive Blog, where the executives will speak to you, the community, on topics important to you, the community.

Starting immediately, CEVO is introducting The Executive Inquiry. YOU ask the questions, and WE answer! That’s it. No rules, no regulations, just your questions and our answers. While we can’t answer everything, and inappropriate questions will be ignored, there is no harm in asking! So if you have a burning question about CEVO… about the Executives or our decisions… about the word on the eSports street… fire up an email to executives_blog@cevolved.com and ask away!

Every so often, as questions come in, the Executive board will provide answers to your questions. Once again, the questions are not limited to any topic or subject, and anyone can ask. Simply email executives_blog@cevolved.com. We look forward to your questions and say “Bring them on!” Check back soon to see the first set of questions and our responses.

Thank you again for all the amazing community support, and we look forward to many great years of service ahead!

Sincerly,
The CEVO Executive Board