What Makes Gamer Girls Happy

What makes gamer girls like us happy? Like really really happy?

Gaming trips. People often have these strange, grand ideas of what they actually are. Friends tell me it's awesome that I get to travel so much; colleagues congratulate me on some time-out from the stress at work (which by the way, can get really crazy).

But beneath the jet-setting females we are portrayed to be lies the bleak truth -- that things are often tough all around, for gamers male or female in an industry that's still teething and taking its first steps.

Picture this: three hours of sleep, grumpy stewardesses (and occasionally grumpy teammates), heavy gaming equipment, hours upon hours waiting for our games to start, a sea of testosterone, a lack of regular meals and regular sleep (cos gamers don't sleep, or haven't you noticed?), and if we're unlucky - we're also PMS-ing.

So when kind and thoughtful sponsors like Toshiba -- who believes in enhancing and improving lives through innovation -- gives us the extra boost and cheer by flying us to SMM, we're over the moon.

It makes us smile like this:

msjovial* with the Qosmio. Its latest F750 range boasts an Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia Geforce GT540M graphics, "distortion-free" Harmon Kardon speakers,  plus a USB 3.0 port and two of the USB 2.0 variety.

More details on the Qosmio, because we know you secretly want one.

On top of that, we also have new shirts, which we will be wearing at SMM at the Toshiba booth this coming weekend. We'll be more than happy to take photos with you while we're there. (For an update of our schedule, please follow our Facebook.) So drop by and say hello!

And before I sign-off here's a final tip-off.

If you really want a Qosmio but you're a little short on funds, you might want to keep a close lookout on Sunday for a very very special, very exclusive offer you won't get anywhere else.

That's all I can letup for now. May the fastest fingers, strongest warriors win.

Lap Dancing with Digital Life

PMS* gears up for Digital Life Singapore, in a special feature just on the different types of laptops that you can get in the market today.

Cute aren't they?


furryfish* and msjovial* on the cover


furryfish* styled as a student on page 6 - brandishing an entry-level model from Acer


yan* personifying the working adult on page 7, for the mid-range lappys


msjovial* on page 8, with the gorgeous Toshiba Qosmio for the higher-end range

We should get them to do a behind the scenes post, what do you think guys? =D

COMEX 2011: Toshiba Qosmio Challenge with PMS*

In Singapore, there are a few Sales that we can't miss. The Great Singapore Sales, The Christmas Sales, and of course the IT Show Sales. In addition to our queuing for KOI, adding lah to the end of every phrase, or begging our friends to buy back an extra Prada from Milan, you're only truly Singaporean if you know what 'tissue chope' is, and what this picture stands for:



Come tomorrow, the COMEX 2011 Show, dubbed the Biggest IT & Consumer Technology Exhibition will be on at Suntec Singapore (levels 1-6). In addition to some 830 exhibitors and lots of eye-candy (cheap deals, check; booth babes, check) to explore, you'll also have the opportunity to game against two of our lovely ladies who will be flaunting their skills on the red-hot, latest and greatest Toshiba Qosmio F750 2D/3D Glasses-Free Gaming Laptop. And we want you to join us!


The Qosmio F750 is not just good looking, but also built for power and hardcore gaming.

With a 15.6-inch Full HD lenticular screen that can display 2D and 3D simultaneously in separate windows, an Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia Geforce GT540M graphics, "distortion-free" Harmon Kardon speakers, a BDXL drive, plus a USB 3.0 port and two of the USB 2.0 variety, you'll find more than you can ask for, all at a really competitive price.

Considering how DotA2 and Diablo3 are launching soon, I may just invest in one to enjoy the superior graphics on this powerful and portable (it's only 3.2kg!) new gadget.

More on the official Toshiba Qosmio site.

And anyhow because all of us need visual reminders, myself included, here are the two PMS* girls representing the team on the first two days (Thursday, Friday):


MsJovial* and yan* will show you how looks can kill.

Saturday will see yan*, kimchi* and zhEn.chEwy* stealing the show, while on Sunday our current main roster will be down to have some fun of our own.

So don't miss the Toshiba Qosmio Challenge with PMS* at COMEX. Level 4, Suntec Convention Hall, booth 8143/8130 this weekend.

While slots last!

What are Singapore gamers doing wrong?

It's Sunday at Gamescon 2011. Scythe.SG prepares to face China giants EHOME in a fight that could take them to the much coveted USD1 million at the inaugural International DotA 2 Championships. Millions across the world are tuned in on the stream at DotA2.com. Veteran game casters slesh and tobiwan keep the crowd's adrenalin high with their soccer-like commentary.

Back home in Singapore, eager fans and friends gather at Colosseum, Iluma with team PMS* to watch the game. When Scythe.SG takes the first game, the crowd goes wild. The girls cheer and the guys grin in silent pride. And even though Scythe eventually falls to be placed third, taking home USD150,000, everyone felt that they had done a good job -- in a face-off that pit the world's top 16 teams against each other.


Watching the game at Colosseum, Iluma.

And then there was silence. As DotA gamers around the world congratulated each other and international sites covered the event's finale most of Singapore was sleeping on without an inkling that five guys - who had trained hard for weeks out of the public's eye - had made Singapore proud in international eSports. They are arguably more famous, more well respected and more well received in countries like China and Germany than in their own country.

When PMS* was crowned the Iron Ladies champion in 2010 January and took home two trophies and a cash prize, the only ones who celebrated with us were our family, friends and fans (with only a handful of Singaporeans). One of the PMS* members even ran into a conflict with her lecturer (despite being officially excused from school) over why she was unable to hand in an assignment due on the day of our homecoming flight. We were more publicised in China, Shanghai and Beijing, than in our own homeland (they covered us in magazines, newspapers, online and even on television).

Aerial Phirkan's emotive and eloquent note on Facebook rouses similar sentiments. He discusses how countries like Korea, China, Germany and even Thailand have not only recognised eSports as an official sport, but have already started treating gaming as a professional career. Phirkhan also brings up another issue - that the media in Singapore frequently brands gaming in a bad light just because of a few black sheep. As there are corrupt politicians, there are going to be gamers with issues.

In addition, as our very own Tammy "furryfish" Tang mentioned in her blog yesterday, it is typical for Singapore gamers who have qualified for regional or international events to be unable to attend because of a lack of funding and support. And we as seasoned competitive gamers who travel yearly for our events can attest to this -- that all the events that we have travelled for so far has never been subsidised by anyone else but our own sponsors (who are ironically based in the United States) and ourselves.

So what is it that Singapore gamers are doing wrong? Why are we not winning the affection of a country that prizes merit? And with local-bred, locally grown up talents.

Gamers and likeminded organisations have banded together with a petition on Vision 2030. Calling for the support of Singaporeans who we know, have not yet had the opportunity to voice out for the cause either because they were unaware, or were misled to think that gamers are a social ill.

It is time. We competitive gamers deserve the recognition we get for the blood, sweat and tears that we put in. And the awards and worldwide trophies we bring back for the country.

We are ready, but is Singapore ready for us?

Rally to the cause. Vote now for eSports in Singapore!

[ EVENT ] Watch The International DOTA2 Championships with PMS Asterisk*!

YOU'RE INVITED!

$1million USD

16 top teams, Scythe.SG for Singapore!

Breaking News: Scythe.SG just won EHOME, breaking their zero loss, and are through to the top 4!!

Join us this Sunday (21 August) from 4pm til late at Colosseum, Iluma (7th floor) as we watch the grand finals of the first-ever DotA 2 International Championships.

We're obviously rooting for Scythe.SG to win this, but it doesn't matter if you're supporting another team. Come join in the fun and excitement!

.

Other than screening the matches on the huge, wall to wall screen, we've got other activities lined up for everyone!

FREE PLAY
20PCs will be set aside for ANYONE to play DOTA

11am-3am on Saturday and Sunday (20-21 August 2011)
*This will be given out on a first come first serve basis


SPECIAL RATES
All other PCs will be charged at $2.50/hr (member rate) instead of non-member rate of $3.50/hr for anyone playing DOTA on sat and sun

PMS | Asterisk* GUEST APPEARANCE

Limited autographed posters

(from our latest photoshoot!)
Team matches can also be arranged for Saturdays when we train

WALL OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR Team Scythe.Singapore
Participants can take a polariod (while stocks last!) and leave words of encouragement to the competing teams.

Post-its will also be provided for those who do not want to take a photo.
Will be mounted on a board and displayed at Colosseum.

We'll also be taking a photo of it, so look out for it on our facebook page, and tag yourselves there!

DotA2 Fever!

I didn't think I would be so fired up by DotA2.

Before Gamescon and DotA2 kicked off yesterday with a stunning 80+ (or was it 90) minute game where EHOME battled it out with iG, my reaction towards DotA2 was kinda lacklustre. It bordered between a "oh okay it's tomorrow" and "where's mika baby, here kitty kitty".

The changes in platform (Garena - RGC) and switching of games (LoL, HON) have been causes for my diminishing interest.

DotA (when I am not training with the girls) is for me at least, a social game, anchored on who you play with and how much fun you get out of it. With the awful lag issues in RGC sometimes, the "vouched and non-vouched" issues and the halfhearted migration of the Garena-SingaporeClanWar community, playing the game has somehow lost its silver lining.

So I haven't exactly been bothering. Not much.

And then DotA2 happened.

Admittedly, I was a little apprehensive at first. Is it going to be another Starcraft2, where the improvements in graphics and addition of new units/skills/items whittled down the more enjoyable aspects of the game? Another Heroes of Might and Magic where the gameplay is lost in the fireworks?

I would really hate for that to happen to my second favourite game of all time (my first being the one, the only Diablo franchise!).

And then I watched The International DotA 2 Championships. And surprisingly it looked and felt just like DotA! Aside from the improved graphics (which imo were not overdone to the point they occluded the gameplay), and the very pretty lady heroes now (my favourite is Drow, she's so cool!) it felt exactly like the game I've always loved and enjoyed. I hope that when I get down to playing it, it will be just as I thought it would be.

Oddly I haven't seen some of the more popular heroes like ShadowFiend and Bat Rider being picked - are they even in the taverns? And I can't wait for the games today - starting at Singapore time 1600 with EHOME facing off TyLoo.

Here are my predictions, a little biased, from the games I saw yesterday. (So take it with a pinch, huge pinch of salt!)


I'm predicting that EHOME will take this game. Haven't seen TyLoo play, but EHOME's calibrated and cautious play makes them a difficult opponent to take down for any team. Unless TyLoo can seize the early game and throw EHOME's momentum off it is going to be difficult. A close game.


When OK.Nirvana.int bulldozed through Nirvana.cn yesterday I was alarmed at how well they have gotten their act together in DotA2. But iG is going to give Nv.int a run for their money. Despite playing difficult odds (against EHOME) iG did surprisingly well in capitalizing their opponent's mistakes, so even though I think this game may have a few surprises, iG will win this.


The only game I have seen MYM play was against m5, which they lost with a single digit in kills. The same went for Scythe who fell to Na'Vi at midnight (GMT +8). In terms of individual skills, I would say Scythe has a bit of the upper hand with Singapore's three heavyweights iceiceice, hyhy and xy. But MYM's strategist and commander Maelk, as well as Misery on carry and Mania's really awesome support are also to be reckoned with. Hard to say, but I'm rooting for Scythe to pick this one up!


I am a Na'Vi fan. Ever since they were DTS I have really admired them for their awesome teamwork, surprising strategies and camaraderie. So it's a no-brainer really that I think they will win this. M5 hasn't been slack either, in the way they showed MYM who's boss, but yeah *sheepishsmile Na'Vi is going to nail this.

So that's all for this post!

Do follow us on our Facebook and join in on the live discussion during the games later on today!

See you all!

The Hottest Female Gamers in Asia

It’s an ordinary morning, I’m rushing to work , my sinus is acting up and there are no cabs to be found when I need them.

Ordinary.

Until I check out my facebook updates and see this post on my wall :

Suddenly my worries shift from "zzz the sun is so hot, why didn't I bring shades" to “oh no what picture did they use??”

It doesn’t help that half a million people are trying to access the page at the same time, so I can’t seem to get it loaded til I’ve reached the office and gotten on my laptop.

I breathe a sigh of relief when I see the picture – it isn’t too bad.

But I quickly realize that I’m featured alongside the likes of Linda Liao, Utada Hikaru, and the legendary Tossgirl.

Wuttt ??

I’m normal, man. (or should I say, woman.) And those other 4, they ain’t normal. As much as I think I might be well known, I’m nowhere near those few.

Perhaps that’s why I’m no. 5!

So it’s with a good-natured chuckle that I post the screen caps :

http://sg.yahoo.matchmovegames.com/newsarticle/hot-asian-gamer-babes

Yahoo!! We're on the news!

In all matter of Friday-ness I sauntered in to the office today feeling the vibes of the weekend sinking in. Half sleepily I switched on my MacBook and clicked on Firefox for my daily dosage of news, notifications and what not.

THEN I SAW THIS:


LETHAL, LOCAL, DEADLY LADIES: THE PMS CLAN it read.

Way more effective than coffee or chicken essence, I was instantly awake.
And then prodded by colleagues with the "hey hey, someone's famous" look.

Being on the news takes getting used to.

Read the article: http://sg.yahoo.matchmovegames.com/newsarticle/pms-asterisk
AND LIKE IT! ♥

i-City: We're Back!

Hello! We're back!

Since ESTC Winter and EPIC GameFest last year the team - truth be told - went into a 3-month long hibernation. After a hectic 2009-2010 schedule, I would say it was a well-deserved break. And much needed.

Well winter is drawing to an end, a new season is beckoning.

Armed with just our mice, mousepads and faith in each other, we walked into i-City intending to have a hell of a time playing and travelling together. And we did! ♥

We lost our first game - pretty much expected, for we only started playing together again 3 days before the event. So yes, fact is that we now suck, but things are going to change.

That said, done, I will now be passing around some glossy pictures to do a little talking. Plus a little bit of a surprise giveaway at the end.

You always love this bit best, don't you?


#1: Behind closed doors

There's always laughter and bits of fun when we are travelling together, and here's a peek at what goes on behind closed doors, when we're getting ready to head out to an event!

#2: In between places
During the long wait for a cab that never came (in the end the kind owner of the hotel ferried us to i-City in her car), I framed a few more shots of the girls messing around at the lobby.





#3: i-City dinner with AEON
After checking out a great sunset from i-City, AEON and us decided to have piping hot steamboat dinner near the tournament venue.






#4: Shopping, a movie and some tea.
We took a little walk around Jusco and did some shopping - new shoes, new clothes, and had tea at Nonya colors (they serve very good pastry). Then we caught Sucker Punch at the cinema - at only RM5 per person. Like seriously, beat that.






And now for a little surprise. ♥

Earlier on I said that there was going to be a giveaway and here it is. We have a bunch of signed Polaroids that we'd like to give away to the biggest PMS* fan. There is ONLY ONE COPY, so this is not even limited ed. It's really really exclusive.

Tell us why YOU deserve to win it on the contest thread on our Facebook Fan Page and the post with the most likes will walk away with the whole set.


Contest ends on April 10th so start posting on Facebook now!!

♥ Asterisk*

Newsflash - PMS* Headlines in October

PMS* at League of Legends - Ring of Champions 2010

We were invited to join the League of Legends - Ring of Champions tournament sponsored by Air Asia, informatics, Razer and partnered by SCOGA and Garena. There was a total of 8 teams from 4 countries.

As we have never played the game before (as with a few other teams), it was quite an eye opener as we struggled with learning the runes and masteries just moments before the game commenced. We placed 7th on the kill table after day one and proceeded to the knockout stage on day two.

Our first game was against the Singapore powerhouse Another Story, who eventually won the tournament. Some highlights in the game was when iceiceice was tossed in by cyn then taken down by tammy and me on the middle lane (even though he had an ally nearby). hurhurhur. Or when there was a clash with the guys at mid and we won it with very lovely effort from everyone - the crowd went crazy on this.



Overall it was a very fun experience (although we had to wake up very early on a weekend to make it for both days) and I must say that I wouldn't mind playing the game in my free time.

Here's a photo of us with the Garena booth babes. HUAMEN FTW!!!!




New PMS* member Hui Zhen on New Paper New Face



If you bought the New Paper on Tuesday (yesterday), you would have seen our very own PMS|Chewy*, or Eliza Tan Hui Zhen on the New Face challenge. Doesn't she look hot here??

She's also very bubbly and nice, as we found out after spending two days with her during the LoL-ROC tournament, so she has looks with a personality to match. What a lucky guy Xinglei is... =D

After the shoot she was also interviewed by Razor TV. Check this out.



Next on PMS*
Look out for an announcement of a new PMS Asia team, coming soon...

Be a PMS* Fan on Facebook

FEVO Fever

Advertorial

About two weeks ago we all got a FEVO Card each. It looks like any other card except it's got very cute graphics and can be customised with your own photo.



FEVO is basically a Prepaid MasterCard with an EZ-link option - meaning you can top-up credits to make purchases on E-sites like Garena, Viwawa and also Golden Village!

So since we got one each, we were thinking of what we could do with it. They are of course, assuming that you don't have access to a credit card. We came up with...


4 Things You Can Do with FEVO.

1. Buying Gold Member on Garena
When you desperately need to enter a room that has 230 people in it because 9 friends are waiting for you to play inhouse, and NO ONE in the room wants to help to leave and rejoin, you are basically screwed. With FEVO you can log on to the Garena Shop, buy a one-month Gold Member and then join the room!

Of course we don't need it because we have Premium... but anyway... NEXT.

2. Buying Movie Tickets
Your house is at Joo Koon. Your date wants to watch a 8.30pm movie at Bugis. And you know for SURE that if you go a few hours before the show it will be sold out. So do you go all the way down 6 hours before to stone there and do nothing, or use a FEVO to purchase tickets online... It's a no brainer really.

3. Buying Game Credits
The new costume is released. It will look very nice on your character and you know that all your friends don't have access to a credit card so they will have to go down to the shops to buy credits. And you have your FEVO. Which will give you credits in a few easy steps. FEVO ftw.

4. Shopping Online VS, F21 and so on...
Very Kimberlyn & Huayan kind of activity (that's why they're broke sometimes!!), but I'm sure we were all victims at some point to online shopping.

Look out next week for what each of us did with our FEVO cards.


FEVO Enables You To Do More.
> Find Out More

PMS* Audition Results

AND FINALLY RESULTS FROM OUR AUDITION!

After arguing, debating and comparing notes for the last 2 days, we have come to a decision. It wasn't an easy choice - there were more that caught our eye. But to be fair to everyone, we only have time and resources for two, so two we have picked. And here they are.

Without further ado, please join us in welcoming Yvonne "PMS | Vonvon_*" Yong and Huizhen "PMS | Chewy*" Tan into PMS Asterisk*. It has been agreed unanimously that both ladies will be joining us at SMM 2010. =)


Yvonne Yong, PMS | Vonvon_*
15, Student

Aspiring to be a lawyer when she grows up one day, Yvonne is currently a student pursuing her "O" levels certification. Of the wide spectrum of subjects, she especially enjoys history, literature and social studies classes. In her free time, Yvonne goes kayaking, swimming and running. "It explains my tan," she chirps.

PMS*: "Somebody to look out for. Would love to see what she can bring to the team and DotA community."


Huizhen Tan, PMS | Chewy*
19, Student

Professing love for all things Japanese, Huizhen has been studying the language for more than a year now, to prepare for her grand tour of Japan two years down the road. Not just a gamer, Huizhen has also earned metal in sports - placing second in Interschool Volleyball Championships (2005, 2006) and 20th for Cross-Country (2006). She is currently contesting in The New Paper New Face 2010. Look out for her in the news!

PMS*: "A great girl with potential. It will be fun to travel abroad with her!"


We would like to thank Game Haven for letting us have so much freedom and space in their premises, Dennis from SCOGA for sharing the key points of CyberWellness with us, and last but most importantly - all the girls who came down for the event. Your participation meant a lot to us, and we hope that you will continue playing and improving - we look forward to seeing you again next year at PMS* Audition 2011!

P.S. check your emails - we have dropped a note to all of you!