| Why did you decide to apply for an open position | | | | time for other activities, though most of them seem |
| here? Do you have any references? What time | | | | content with that. They work together to achieve a |
| commitment can we expected from you? What might | | | | common goal and upon success, they see their long |
| sound like a job interview to most, is indeed a typical | | | | preparations and teamwork rewarded, while looking |
| application procedure - for top raiding guilds in World of | | | | forward already to the next raid. |
| Warcraft. They pride themselves in being the most | | | | The level of organization becomes apparent when |
| skilled players and they are just as picky if it comes to | | | | looking at the tools a leader of a raiding guild uses to |
| select new members. Is this just tough corporate guy | | | | manage his members: |
| acting, or have player-made organizations evolved into | | | | - Guild portals to manage guild websites, news, |
| something much more complex than ever anticipated? | | | | member listings, openings and updates |
| For most of the six million World of Warcraft players, | | | | - Forum software to facilitate discussions of strategies |
| slaying the biggest dragons on the servers, getting the | | | | and publish announcements |
| mightiest swords or becoming one of the most | | | | - Server licences and servers for multi-conference |
| powerful mages is their biggest dream inside the | | | | VoIP applications |
| game. There is just one little drawback: You don't get | | | | - Mailing software to notify members of emergencies |
| there alone. This is one of the reasons why players | | | | and short notice raids |
| band together in guilds - groups of players with a | | | | - Incentive databases to track raid attendance by |
| common interest. For the really big goals, you need lots | | | | members allowing to reward them accordingly with |
| of friends. 40 is the maximum and often required | | | | virtual items |
| number of players it takes to kill the mightiest dragons | | | | There are dozens of different providers for guild |
| in "WoW" - the affectionate abbreviation World of | | | | portals, databases and game-specific VoIP programs |
| Warcraft players use for their game. Guilds that | | | | that cater to the need of raiding guilds and other |
| specialize on those big hits, are being referred to as | | | | professional players. Software sellers adapt more and |
| raiding guilds. | | | | more to this emerging market and recognize the |
| It's a little bit as if the table has been turned around on | | | | earning potential. The guild's requirements rise and the |
| Super Mario. Instead of one hero fighting never ending | | | | growing number of vendors suggest that they are |
| waves of foes, it's groups and armys of players now | | | | taking their organizations serious enough to spend |
| fighting one big evil monster. These epic battles in the | | | | significant money on them. |
| virtual realm require strategy, coordination and practice. | | | | Already there is a Leadership e-book on the market, |
| Players discuss possible strategies in chats and | | | | written specifically for guild managers in World of |
| forums, play together every evening to make their | | | | Warcraft. The World of Warcraft Guild Management |
| teamwork perfect, use headsets and Voice-over-IP | | | | Guide adds a game-specific twist to the self-help, |
| (VoIP) software to coordinate their efforts vocally, | | | | how-to and leadership literature. It seems to be only a |
| watch videos on YouTube of other groups fighting | | | | matter of time before the first guild consultants pop up. |
| them and read up on strategy guides how to beat the | | | | Raiding guilds still seem to be in their infancy when |
| next big dragon in their path. They are full-time players, | | | | looking at their recent and silent rise. Maybe the |
| members of raid guilds. | | | | competitive members of those online game sports |
| Members of raiding guilds often recount their "raiding | | | | clubs manage to take things a little further. It happened |
| schedules" - sometimes with pride, sometimes with a | | | | before - take a look at the nationwide success, TV |
| tired sigh. Weekly attendance requirements usually | | | | broadcasts and tournaments for the game Starcraft in |
| have them play 5 hours on 4 evenings a week. And | | | | Korea. If serious sponsors become interested, who |
| those time frames are meant only for actual raid | | | | knows - maybe dead dragons will soon be presented |
| encounters and do not include preparations inside and | | | | by Pepsi and you'll see Lenuvien, the Elf popping a can |
| outside of the game. This of course leaves little free | | | | for the next commercial. |