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AMD Loses QuakeCon To Intel

Posted by Zonk on from the kind-of-like-the-chip-market dept.

The Inquirer has a report that AMD has lost sponsorship of the QuakeCon event to Intel. From the article: "As the official CPU and title sponsor of QuakeCon 2005, Intel will be providing its Extreme Edition tournament systems and servers to host the tournament and bring your own computer (BYOC) games. As AMD news site AMDzone.com says, with such close competition between Intel and AMD when it comes to high performance gaming, this could be bad news for AMD and tip the scales in Intel's favour. Intel is clearly trying to get a leg up on the eSports front, having sponsored other big events such as Bloodline and successful gaming team 4kings, it seems that Intel wants to have its name associated with all things e-Sports. "

44 comments

  1. The real reason why Intel won sponsorship... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Intel figured out a way to tape a flashlight to a gun.

  2. AMD missing strategy by superpulpsicle · · Score: 4, Insightful

    When AMD had the #2 product, no problem. Intel won every deal.

    Now that AMD clearly have a better product, why are they not winning?! They loose events after events, OEMs after OEMs. Apple, Dell, Quakecon for starters. They can't just rely on enthusiasts.

    1. Re:AMD missing strategy by bersl2 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      That's a funny statement, "They can't just rely on enthusiasts." The ones I talk to are absolutely smitten with them at the moment. It is common knowledge (well, everywhere except the known Intel-whoring sites) that the Athlon64 beats the Pentium 4, hands down, in everything but multimedia encoding. And their (single core) processors are better priced than Intel's, and they overclock better than Intel's too. I don't think I have to mention the thermal parameters either.

    2. Re:AMD missing strategy by KillShill · · Score: 1

      gee, i wonder why with amd cpus, being much much faster for gaming, why they don't garner any sponsorships.

      gee, i wonder.

      my arm is very strong.

      --
      Science : Proprietary , Knowledge : Open Source
    3. Re:AMD missing strategy by HoneyBunchesOfGoats · · Score: 1

      AMD doesn't have nearly the fabrication capacity that Intel does.

    4. Re:AMD missing strategy by elasticwings · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I for one don't really care if AMD is the fastest or not. They have always had better pricing value for good performance. And since Intel likes to things like this. I don't think I will be supporting them with my money. Also, learn the freaking difference between lose and loose.

  3. Why can there only be ONE sponsor? by WidescreenFreak · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I don't get this. When you watch NASCAR (I don't, thankfully), you see cars that have more visible sponsor logos than visible paint. Dozens and dozens of sponsors per car - not just one sponsor.

    When you watch a show on commercial TV or you listen to a commercial radio station, you hear various commercials for several companies - not just one company.

    What is so flipping special about QuakeCon that they can only have either AMD or Intel as a sponsor? Why is there apparently some kind of shame in letting both companies sponsor it? Oh, look! There are other names besides Intel that are sponsoring QuakeCon! Why is AMD not allowed to be one of them?

    This militant, extremist attitude that there can only be either Intel or AMD - but, heaven forbid, not both - is ridiculous. And, frankly, you can't tell me that Intel won because they're better at gaming. Sorry, I don't believe that and the numbers normally side with AMD from what I've read; however, that does not mean that one party should be excluded. They're willing to pay up. Let them. Then let Intel's and AMD's PR fight among themselves.

    If anything, it means that the gamers lose. With paid sponsorship by AMD now verboten, the prize packages are smaller than they otherwise might have been. Who knows? With AMD's support the prizes could have totalled $250,000 instead of the current $150,000.

    Ridiculous and sad (in a pathetic way) at the same time.

    --
    The Overrated mod is for reversing inappropriate, positive mods, not for voicing disagreement with a post.
    1. Re:Why can there only be ONE sponsor? by Tanmi-Daiow · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Its not that there has to be one sponsor. Its rather an image thing. AMD and Intel are competing companies. Would they really want to share the limelight with their competitor? All the companies on the NASCAR cars are NOT competing products. In fact they have little to nothing to do with each other, and often are owned by the same company. That is why both AMD and Intel can't sponsor it.

      --
      "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive." - C.S. Lewis
    2. Re:Why can there only be ONE sponsor? by mogalpha · · Score: 1

      Okay, I can either mod you down for being flamebait, or counter your argument. "Militant, extremist attitude". Seriously. Yes, NASCAR has multiple sponsors, but if you RTFA, it says "title sponsor". Yes, QuakeCon, like pretty much every event that has sponsors, has multiple sponsors. But as in most cases, they are not competing companies. If you read about the xbox360 ad on the laundromat across the street from where sony was unveiling the ps3 in Japan, you'll notice that sony paid the laundromat money to take down the xbox360 sign, not to put up its own next to it. That's how advertising works; and admit it, it would be pretty ridiculous to have both AMD and Intel banners hanging around the convention area.

    3. Re:Why can there only be ONE sponsor? by supabeast! · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Because Intel is willing to spend more money to be the ONLY sponsor than AMD can pony up for it to have multiple sponsors.

    4. Re:Why can there only be ONE sponsor? by WidescreenFreak · · Score: 1

      I can either mod you down for being flamebait

      That's right! Don't bother saving those mod points to bump up someone else! Use them to censor those whose points you disagree with! That's the intolerant, Slashdot way!

      Oh, wait. You responded. Nevermind. (Yeah, that will probably get me nailed at flamebait or troll, but - karma be damned - it felt good to say.)

      if you RTFA, it says "title sponsor".

      And that justifies what appears to be locking AMD out of sponsorship completely?

      it would be pretty ridiculous to have both AMD and Intel banners hanging around the convention area.

      Many gatherings, such as Comdex (when it actually does run), are nothing but technical companies, who are competing for your business. Microsoft, Oracle, Sun, and so forth are all under one roof. Why is that not ridiculous? There are conventions related to video editing. Ulead, Pinnacle, AIT, and other companies are under one roof with their banners and demonstrations. Why is that not ridiculous? What about E3 or other smaller, technical "games and gadget" conventions that have Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft under one roof as well. Why is that not ridiculous? Having competing companies with banners in the same convention area happens all of the time. Those are hardly ridiculous.

      Actually, having both companies work together to sponsor this event might actually show some civility between them, something that both of them could use right now.

      --
      The Overrated mod is for reversing inappropriate, positive mods, not for voicing disagreement with a post.
    5. Re:Why can there only be ONE sponsor? by Momoru · · Score: 1

      The event will have multiple sponsors, but for the record even NASCAR only has one "headlining" sponsor each race. It's the Subway 500 or the CocaCola 450 or whatever. AMD can probably still can (and probably still will) have a smaller level of sponsorship.

    6. Re:Why can there only be ONE sponsor? by vasqzr · · Score: 1


      On top of that, Nascar has a sponsor for whole racing class. It used to be Winston Cup (as in the cigarettes), now it's Nextel Cup Racing (as in the celluar phone service)

    7. Re:Why can there only be ONE sponsor? by MBraynard · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      You mean to say, on the SAME NASCAR cars.

  4. Let Intel pay for quakecon by hobotron · · Score: 1


    I dont care who sponsors quakecon, neither do the people that run it or attend it, hell almost all of them probably have an AMD system anyway. Let Intel waste money trying to convince a market they abandonded to listen to their PR about how "cool and fast" their chips are.

    --
    There is truth in humor.
    1. Re:Let Intel pay for quakecon by IAmSceptical · · Score: 1

      Let Intel waste money trying to convince a market they abandonded to listen to their PR about how "cool and fast" their chips are.

      The only market Intel has lost is the hobbyist market. This will be very good, and effective, PR for them. The audience they are targeting is far more than those who show up to QuakeCon. AMD owes their position to PR and outreach to gamers and hobbyists as much as it does to actual performance. If PR did not work companies would not be spending so much money on it. And as much as it hurts my nerd sensitivities PR is probably more important then a slight technological edige.

  5. Ok, Let's stop this right now. by cjsnell · · Score: 1, Flamebait


    Let's stop this right now. Video games are not sports. Or even e-Sports. Sports, by definition, require physical exertion. Call them gamers, for sure, but don't put them in the same class as people who actually pry their collective asses out of the chair to go raise their heart rates for a few hours. :P

    </soapbox>

    1. Re:Ok, Let's stop this right now. by vga_init · · Score: 1

      I've exerted myself physically while playing counterstrike. It's not extreme like some sports, but I've gotten stress injuries from it (example: burst capilaries in my palm, causing red dots. This is caused by too much repetion on the keyboard).

    2. Re:Ok, Let's stop this right now. by KingJackaL · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Sports, by definition, require physical exertion

      They do? While a dictionary would support that view on first glance, it's interesting to note how dictionaries note the relationship between a game and a sport.

      I'd define a sport as any game taken seriously (competitively). Which would include things such as poker tournaments, chess tournaments and golf - none of which require physical exertion. (*pokes golfers*)

      --
      Perfecting the art of insanity since 1982
    3. Re:Ok, Let's stop this right now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      It is not black and white.

      Look at the sport of freediving - where most of the events require minimising any sort of physical exertion so you can last for longer on one breath.
      Compare to the "videogame" Dance Dance Revolution, or even Counterstrike, where average exertion levels are higher than freediving.
      Compare the sport of car racing vs. car simulators, where physical exertion levels are near identical.

      Wherever you look, you'll find that the physical exertion required varies wildly from sport to sport, and many require less physical exertion and skill than computer games (or other games like darts or chess).

      Face it - sports are a subset of games, and the transition from game to sport usually is just a matter of luck, history, or the level of professionalism/money involved.

    4. Re:Ok, Let's stop this right now. by Sparr0 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      So is DDR a sport? (thats the arcade game where you have to 'dance' on arrows on the floor in time to the video/music)

      What about golf? Or darts? Shuffleboard?

    5. Re:Ok, Let's stop this right now. by code-e255 · · Score: 1

      Professional snooker is a considered a sport in the United Kingdom (and probably in other places too). They don't really do any more physical movement than a Quake player. And apparently they sometimes even drink a bit of beer while playing. So sport doesn't have to involve physical fitness.

      I do consider professional Quake, Counter-Strike etc. a sport, but not as a very serious one. Quakers and Counter-Strikers are teenagers and students who probably will do something completely different for a living in three years. Real sport athlets usually do what they do for life - once their bodies start to physically deteriorate, they often become coaches or commentators or something. Football, rubgy, cricket... those are professional sports. Those games have been established, and they won't change much in the future. Quake, Counter-Strike, Battlefield 2 and other games played by pro gamers will be replaced by other games in five years or so, and that's why I think professional gaming won't ever be big - the scene's just too dynamic.

    6. Re:Ok, Let's stop this right now. by Prophet+of+Nixon · · Score: 1

      I never considered golf, darts, or bowling (amongst others) to be sports since there is no means for any player to affect any other player's score... they're all just single player games with score comparisons at the end (like comparing centipede scores or whatnot). I don't understand why they're considered sports at all.

    7. Re:Ok, Let's stop this right now. by Sparr0 · · Score: 1

      That's one of the most exclusive, albeit understandable, definitions I have seen. You just excluded pole vaulting, rowing, hurdle jumping, shot put, most forms of timed racing (swimming comes to mind), gymnastics, etc... All told about 3/4 of the olympics.

    8. Re:Ok, Let's stop this right now. by Pxtl · · Score: 1

      What about lawn-bowling, crokinole, pool, etc - various low-exertion games in which players can affect each other.

      And consider a marathon, or a ralley, where the rules try and avoid letting the players affect each other, and the entire form of interaction is psychological. In a 100 meter dash, the other players might not exist - and yet you hear players talk, and they talk all about the "strategy of pacing the other players" etc.

      And then consider curling.

    9. Re:Ok, Let's stop this right now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      no

    10. Re:Ok, Let's stop this right now. by radish · · Score: 1

      Compare the sport of car racing vs. car simulators, where physical exertion levels are near identical

      I take it by "car simulators" you mean Gran Turismo and the like? In which case, I say, WTF??!!?!?

      F1 drivers (as a good example) are extremely fit, as the physical exertion of a race is huge. Think about being cramped into a small, hot, metal box for 2 hours, experiencing constant 5G swings in all directions, while keeping your head pointed in the right direction to see where you're going and maintaining a delicate touch on brake, gas, steering, etc. As well as all around fitness (particularly heat training), they have special exercise machines for strengthening neck muscles. A regular person would not survive a race, never mind a crash.

      --

      ---- Den ene knappen er powerknapp, den andre er Bender voice knapp "Bite My Shiny Metal Ass"

    11. Re:Ok, Let's stop this right now. by Anti_zeitgeist · · Score: 1

      whoa whoa whoa....find me one game where i can race a car and have a manual transmission with a clutch, stearing wheel, and shifter that feels like im driving a real car. Shifting up a gear isnt as easy as hittin a button....(unless its one of those crappy shiftronic systems with no clutch) But if you can find one, lemme know....cuz im interested...seriously.

      --
      If it wasn't for C, we would be stuck using BASI, PASAL and OBOL.
    12. Re:Ok, Let's stop this right now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      By caar simulator, I meant one of those arcade games where you sit in a booth which moves around, with a steering wheel and pedals and sometimes even a gearstick :)

      (I'm aware that driving a car involves a little more exertion than playing an XBox title with a controller :)

    13. Re:Ok, Let's stop this right now. by Anti_zeitgeist · · Score: 1

      haha, i know, i was busting yer chops. But seriously....anyone know how any stearing wheels with a clutch and gear shifter for pc's or anything??

      --
      If it wasn't for C, we would be stuck using BASI, PASAL and OBOL.
    14. Re:Ok, Let's stop this right now. by DigitumDei · · Score: 1

      Many professional sports played today originally started as playground sports. Some that are really old have their origins forgotten, most however have changed significantly over the last century. Others, such as racing, always required money (thus excluding younger players).

      Pro gaming is big in some countries (Korea), its more a matter of public acceptance. As the public acceptance grows, so will the money, and with it the pro player who makes gaming his career.

      Obviously we're still in a growing phase with games. But its not inconceivable that within the next century hardware and software would have progressed to the point where changes are few and far between, and the stability required to make a career out of 1 particular game will be there.

      --
      East Coast Brewers
  6. Er...close competition?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "...with such close competition between Intel and AMD when it comes to high performance gaming..."
    Bwhahaha. In which universe? AMD is tops in BOTH performance and cost.

  7. Used Mod Points Need to Post AC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Few things, first it's pretty obvious that advertising for AMD or INTEL at the same time is ridiculous, sure Nascar has a million ads but none of the cars have two ads from RIVAL companies it's absurd.

    It's like if the car from Farrari/Honda won... you wouldn't know who engineered what...

    As for AMD being the greatest, I have to agree, I own their stock and it's been good to me.

    I've bought their processors and they've been VERY good to me.

    REading about their new products is pure geek porn but... They are falling into the trap of Intel which is rasing the price performance ratio, they need to keep their mainstream chips around 200-300 and they aren't doing it, the 4200 is WAY too expensive, they should have seriously reconsidered their pricing strategy.

    For the first time the mainstream is going to consider their chips, their fab in Dresden will bring them up to 30-40% of intel's fab capabilities and they are blowing their superior IP by making their chips too expensive.

    They should be focusing on selling out all their chips so their Geode, Alchemy, and Turion lines can get the media attention THEY deserve.

    AND looks to return to a position where they can't use their full fab capacity... which is going to be sad considering how brilliantly designed their dual core chips are :(

  8. Silly article slant by HunterZ · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I thought TFA was being a bit melodramatic by suggesting that gamers would actually care who is sponsoring an event like that. Everyone on the block knows that AMD's 64-bit CPUs are the hot item for gaming PCs these days, and for at least several years now AMD has enjoyed a reputation for providing the most bang for your buck with cheaper, more easily overclockable processors.

    Really the only holds Intel has over the gaming PC sub-market are old-school brand loyalty -- they have a reputation for releasing the most stable CPUs, combined with a now false stigma of leading the way with the CPU technology -- and a now crumbling monopoly on pre-built systems.

    --
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    1. Re:Silly article slant by imr · · Score: 1

      Exactly.
      Power and price is what matters to the bulk of gamers, not who sponsors what.
      Intel has the reputation of outpowering amd ONLY at very high price and ONLY for a not so noticeable gain.
      amd own that market. :)

  9. For one simple reason. by Inoshiro · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Domain. When you see a car go by advertising McDonald's and Home Depot, you know that they're not competing.

    I have yet to see a car with Ford and Toyota on it, or a Microsoft/Sony co-branding. I don't see how this is any different.

    --
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  10. bring it on... by Gogo0 · · Score: 1

    Cue the "Intel is evil" and "AMD deserved to be the sponsor" comments.

    Why did Intel get picked? Probably because they offered more money.
    "It always boils down to money, dammit. America is terrible! Down with Intel! All praise AMD!"

    Remember that it is a SPONSORSHIP. The product doesnt really matter, its the money that makes "sponsor" more than just a weird sound that comes out of your mouth.

  11. I'd like to see.... by frooddude · · Score: 1

    I'd like to see the tourney winner bash the Intel box he got stuck playing on. The only good thing being that all the other players get stuck on Intel boxes too.

    Of course if the BYOC's get to play all the way to the top of the ladder, then it might really be an eye opener when an AMD guy wins...

    1. Re:I'd like to see.... by jinzumkei · · Score: 1

      Uhm when you are done eating your bowls of hype, I was just wondering WTF difference you think it makes whether you play quake on an AMD machine or an intel.

      Neither processors have any issues running ANY iteration of quake. If you believe otherwise, you're either a fanboy , stupid, or most likely a combintation of the two.

  12. More fuel to the fire by shoptroll · · Score: 1

    I bet this will be exhibit #1337 or so in the AMD v. Intel case.

    Any takers?

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    Insert Sig Here
  13. Gamers are informed consumers by OverDrive33 · · Score: 1

    I highly doubt the impact that this is actually going to have. I consider myself an "enthusiast", but seeing Intel banners rather than AMD banners at QuakeCon really isn't going to sway my thoughts about performance, nor is it going to erase the knowledge that I have that AMD64's perform better for gaming.

    "Oh Intel is sponsoring QuakeCon? I guess I should buy an Intel processor"

    The real crime comes when companies sponsor games, and those games get optimized for the company that's sponsoring *cough*battlefield2&nvidia*cough*.
    Maybe the BYOC computer event Intel servers should detect what computers are running AMDs and automatically add 30 ping to them.

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    1. Re:Gamers are informed consumers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Agreed. Of all potential customers, Quakecon's attendees are the most likely to know that AMD's CPUs are better than Intel's CPUs for gaming. I have my doubts that Intel's PR blitz will sway many (if any) hardcore gamers. However, you can be certain that almost every presentation will be opened up by someone practically yelling into a microphone about Intel's doubtlessly hardcore and superior CPUs.