Dear GOVT, We JUST NEED 1 CHANCE to SHINE! Gamers do READ =)
I hope the GOVT will open their eyes and notice Scythe's achievement and ours. Even though they got 3rd and missed out on the opportunity to win 1 million USD in the recent DOTA 2 competition, they managed to  beat 2 top teams in the world along the way and still won themselves USD$150,000. For the past few years,
Many Singapore gamers have done really well and have what it takes to be internationally recognized.
 
Ducky was a legendary Warcraft 3 player in Singapore and he did really well and stunned the world before with his performances. He eventually stopped. Other example would be how some of our local CounterStrike players, which was often praised by international teams for performing really well in tournaments but they couldn't continue because of the lack of funds and sponsorships in Singapore.
 
E-Sports is an official sports in many countries like Germany, China, and most importantly gaming powerhouse, South Korea. I've been to Korea several times and its really amazing how big their e-Sports event is. They even have their very own K-Pop stars which I've met (4 Minutes, Brown Eyed Girls, MBLAQ and many others) gracing their event. That aside, our local players have already proven to give these international players a good fight but are we getting enough opportunity?
 
Vision 2030 is an initiative by the government and wanting local people to voice their ideas on how SG sports can do well and be more recognized. E-Sports is one of them. But are they going to listen? Just because of some bad media write up saying how Gamers get addicted to games, having lack of sleep and skipped school and they are having bad impressions already? Reality check, they played the wrong game. The names/teams I've mentioned above are all e-Sports gamers and some went on to even became a professional gamer and represented the country in numerous competition but never ever received the backing that we needed. All of us have our own social lives and some of us are even married. We still do spent time with our families and loved ones. In terms of education, most of them are even degree holders. E-Sports doesn't destroy gamers like us. It actually improves our lives to be honest. Meeting players from all over the world, learning from them, learning their culture and learning other people's style and thinking is definitely useful. More importantly, earning their respect.
 
Singapore has always highlighted this main point from the past; "Support our LOCAL TALENTS". At the end of the day, are we really doing that with the amount of young talents we have for every platform? I keep seeing negative things for every single things we do. I'm not only talking about e-Sports, but other activities in Singapore as well. Singapore has got loads of talents. Look at our Street Dancers in SG and how amazing they are. Look at our local Singers. I dare say we are very talented in many forms of entertainment/sports (other than those mentioned above) in Singapore and i do not see us getting the backing that we need. Instead, its really annoying when most reporters tend to write negative stuff over in the papers over small issues(only a handful has written brilliant articles). And trust me, everyone in the scene know they always do. Just because of 1 person who did the wrong thing, they are making us, e-Sports gamers look bad. Know the scene first before assuming anything dearest reporters. Do attend our tournament events at least and see our passion first before slamming the community and bringing our efforts down.
 
1 more embarrassing thing which occurred in 2008. We had won our rights to represent Singapore in the annual WCG Grand Finals but several of u didn't have the funds to fly over to Cologne,Germany. We eventually set up a donation drive and 2 of us managed to fly over (including myself). The embarrassment really came when one of the international player asked if we paid on our own and we said No. Their first reaction when we told them we are there because we did a donation drive, they were stunned and started to question our government. Its the first time i really felt embarrassed to be playing in an international event just because our we didn't had the funding. But at the end of the day, Singapore Cybersports & Online Gaming Association (SCOGA) managed to raise a hefty sum of money for us to fly over and that actually showed me how some Singaporeans out there believed in us and are willing to support us. Even secondary schools, like Pasir Ris Secondary did a donation drive to raise funds for us and we were really touched.
 
Even local Singapore celebrities are supporting us for our local gaming events as well.
What more do you want before you can give your full backing for e-Sports and possibly other things in Singapore? During the general election 2011, we heard how some of the politicians promised to listen to the people and try to cater to our needs. Stick by your words. The presidential election is coming up next week and us gamers around Singapore do hope they will take this into consideration as well based on our achievements and what we have done for our country. Sure, this may not be as big as housing, or senior citizen's welfare (no disrespect to them), but at the end of the day, it has to start somewhere no matter how small it is. So many of us have proven our skills and professionalism internationally and right now..
 
WE NEED A CHANCE!
 
Posting and speaking on behalf of all the e-Sports gamers in SG,
Mohamed  'Flash.Xtr3me3' Phirkhan
 
And to those who thinks nobody watches e-Sports, i hope this picture will change your mind
Picture taken from WCG official sitehttp://www.wcg.com/
Terence Ting
Great insight into the perspective of a seasoned eSports veteran
Brendan Seow
bro this is singapore. as much as we all hope it will be an official sport, sad to say our local talents are now coming from other countries and taking citizenship here, trust me, when a few china players from here decide to go international the government will make it an official sport, that will form the 'singapore team'. they refuse to let singaporean's achieve anything. as much as i hope this movement of yours gets recognized i believe they will brush it off as just another gamer, talking crap. and for once i really really hope to be proven wrong. cheers.
Reuben Wong
:) Good post man. My sentiments exactly!
KL Kura Chin
tbh i dun think the govt gives any shit, football is such a big thing in the world and take a look at our very own s-league =)
Eugene Quikz
nicely said abang :)
Desmond Lau
No offences, but i've to disagree with you Kura, just look at the last election..... that's what happen if they did that... but now their mindset is changing before more young generation is going against them and gaming needs to be inside the list. Thats what all e-Sports veterans like @[546165814:2048:Aeriel Phirkhan] is trying to achieve. He would rather try and try then giving up, that's the spirit that drive him to excel the best in what he likes to do :)
Asyraf Fadzlee
Well written Phir. I hope S'pore govt would consider S'pore enormous potential, especially we don't the potential to be wasted just like that.

Not too late for a change, but it has to be start from the grassroots. Youngsters, kids has to be given a chance to show that games is not a cause of social problem.

Eventhough I'm now already in the corporate world, but deep in my heart, I'm waiting for the right time to return and contribute something to e-Sports in SEA. I hope that for those who wanted to be sponsored and sorts, stop that kind of mentality. You have to spend and sacrifice before you can get the reaps and benefits.

Trust me, it will be not about whether yes or no, it's just about when.

Singapore e-sports, I'm keeping my eye on you :)
Teo Jie Han
lets support one another with our common goal. =)
Tammy Tang
aeon won the Asia IEM qualifiers for League of Legends - finals were played at gamescom this week, and they didn't go because of lack of funding.
Reuben Wong
:(
Dawn Yang
guys take a read! @[663093195:2048:Kelvin Tan], @[731655311:2048:Nicholas Aaron Khoo], @[527146914:2048:Dennis Ravana Ooi], @[585592983:2048:Reuben Conceicao]
Tung Chijun
I support this so much dude! Do support @[138532709558102:274:BlackshotTV] because I'm trying to do the same thing there too! If possible, I'll make it cover all the games in eSports for Singapore!
Lynette Tan
Good post bro!! Come on, let's support eSport
Aeriel Phirkhan
blog entry by our very own @[679036463:2048:Tammy Tang] http://sylvirspydir.blogspot.com/2011/08/esports-in-singapore.html
Aeriel Phirkhan
words of wisdom by @[733498444:2048:Lynette Tan]
"eSport is gaming with proper and correct mindset n discipline.
Game Addict is those who play without using their brain properly."
Yirong Lee
nice one phirkhan!
Lynette Tan
Nice one Tammy!!
Lesner Chua
support the president that support us
Eric Yong
yes yes yes yes yes
Eric Yong
They care about sports, but not e-sports. Aren't both of them sports?
Lionel Hammy Maria Lee
Supported +1
Mohamed Amerul
well written...not Sg only..MY or even perhaps ASEAN..
Kelvin Tan
Well written bro. If we have enough gamers with your passion, I'm sure we'll see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Terence Ting
Everyone who reads this note please vote for the vision 2030 esports movement here as well http://vision2030.uservoice.com/forums/124815-generation-z/suggestions/2068311-esports-as-a-form-of-sport-and-have-an-esports-pro
Myron Tay
sorry to burst your bubble my dear ex room mate, but getting the government to sponsor us gamers... is kinda of a far cry. as it is, even the olympians globally do not get sponsored by their respective countries - even if they win the gold - it isnt from the government. they are all from corporate sponsors or very generous individual donors. for example the USOC or United States Olympic Committee is the one who paid out the 25k to michael phelps for bagging all his golds but the USOC doesnt receive a single cent from the us gov. it does so from its corporate sponsors. everything in this world goes back down to return on investment - they will only give you cash if there is something in it for them. and for the singapore government, there is nothing in it for them to sponsor you.
Davin Ng
You should probably make the guy from EPIC Gaming Convention (I forgot his name... oops. :X) read this - he's one Young PAP dude getting groomed for something big. Poke him about it and he should be able to make the right people listen.

Call me a cynic, but I'm utterly convinced that the government won'tl give a rodent's behind for eSports in Singapore. It's an open secret in Singapore that all the talk about "supporting our talent" is hot air. If they want to support something it must have economic value behind it. If an athletics sports doesn't have a chance for a gold medal to increase Singapore's status in the world, the team will hardly get any funding. What will eSports do for Singapore's standing? Nothing!

If our government is truly serious about supporting our talent, then people like @[111516564823:274:Inch Chua] wouldn't see the need to leave the country for better musical opportunities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EwtYpdI8C0

Have a listen. It's undeniable that she's talented, but everywhere she goes in Singapore she's constantly laughed at by her fellow Singaporeans. When she made her announcement to leave the country and cited lack of local government support, guess what? Everyone jeered at her for being a whiner. Our own countrymen will apply the same derision to gamers trying to break into eSports.

The best way out is to not even rely on government support at all. Singaporean teams ought to work at getting noticed on the regional or international stage, and on the right platform? What do I mean, "the right platform"? It means getting teams to play games that are not BlackShot/Sudden Attack/Maple/Special Force that have zero global attention. There are plenty of games out there that are suitable platforms and are available in Singapore.

i.e.? League of Legends (5 million prize for the new season), upcoming CS title Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Team Fortress 2, upcoming Battlefield 3, StarCraft 2, etc.

At this stage Scythe Gaming ought to have attracted already the attention of big names like Dignitas and Fnatic. It'll be a matter of time before they're contacted by the managers of those big clans and get signed on as the Asian division of the clan or whatever.

Don't rely on the government to help us with this endeavor, please. We all know how apt they are at screwing we, the people over. We should not be approaching them like beggars, but from a position of strength. Get ourselves some international attention, bag a deal to link up/sign up with the international gaming powerhouses and then from that point negotiate with the government for concessions/opportunities.
Zaidi Sabtu-Ramli
Sad but true isn't it... Same goes for us musicians too bro... Getting a 7th place world ranking at the World Music Contest (WMC) does nothing for me.. NAC and Lee Foundation even rejected my scholarship to do my Dual Major Masters in Music. I would've been in Berklee (Boston) right now if only I have the funds to go further... Seen it all before. Nothing new... Hmm...
Davin Ng
@Zaidi - Yeah. I'm about to leave Singapore on the 6am flight for the US because Singapore sucks when it comes to real advancement that are not in the career fields of being a doctor, lawyer, banker or office slave.

There's no use appealing to our PAP politicians when they have NOT been listening to we, the people for the past 50 years, and now they only pretend to listen.
Adrian Jay Lim
Firstly nice article P :) @Dave yes for some parts but not really for others :). I am constantly talking to the man upstairs... The information I get are certain concerns :). Anyway it's hard to talk or type here... On iPhone lol. Besides I am also getting tired, might just move on got to feed family :). I will support in spirit :).
Myron Tay
it doesnt mean that games arnt fun tho. and you still can make a living off it if you're awesomely brilliant. your time horizon isnt going to be long obviously but if you are really that talented you can make it work for what it's worth. there are plenty of big corporates who are willing to sponsor you and the prize money is generally huge for big games such as SC2. just dont count on the governmet to chip in
Adrian Jay Lim
Ayah I guess I have to explain :p. Singapore Sports Council has funding provided for different sports the funding is divided to the respected NA's to promote talent in the areas where applicable. Each NA is to have budgeted and forecast the year intention for it's team or participants. The SSC then allocates funding where applicable depending if there will be Singapore representation or not. Not all participants are sponsored. It's is leveled in 3 stages. Full, half or partial. That depends on each contribution of the participant, for example. Full means salary given. Half is subjected to time trained or otherwise and partial differs for different NA's. To answer abt Funding yes it's not new.
Typing with thumb is tiring... P call me tomorrow we talk more :).
Davin Ng
Basically, I don't need sex, because the government fucks me every day? :P
Adrian Jay Lim
Lol wrong number lah dude :p
Kelvin Tan
Oh we flew 4 guys during 2008 WCG by the way. Tetra, Phirkhan, Ravana and Danny Koo. We returned with a Silver for Virtual Fighter 5. =)

Just wanted public to know that their donations made "returns" on international level. It's not just about us believing in them, it's also about them producing results.
Afiz M. Noor
Just give us the green light. Don't be surprised. The street they crossed will suddenly turn into an airport runway.
Adrian Jay Lim
@Kelvin, true :).
Oo Gin Lee
great stuff man,
Oo Gin Lee
bro, i think its time I did a feature story on what you just wrote about
KL Kura Chin
tnp just screwed gamers over in todays page 2 and 3
Aeriel Phirkhan
You see what i mean over certain reporters. Its always about the negative stuffs. They just don't realise that those people are playing the wrong game. To them gamers are gamers and they do not know the classification of the different types of gamers. Its really plain stupid to assume addicted gamers are the same as esports gamers.
Oo Gin Lee
stories of game addiction do exist, and they are real, TNP is just its work lah, I think what needs to be done however is the persuade the authorities that gaming is no different from any other activity - golf, mahjong, snooker, bowling, chess - play too much and without control it will lead to addiction and negative effects. But I think the point is that e-sports is not about gaming addiction but the celebration of great local talent, and almost all e-sportsmen I have met are not fat, lonely and socially inept idiots that many older folks have a stereotype. I have written so much about this that I have given up already lah. E-sports somehow cannot get elevated to be recognised as a national sports, so that there can be an organisation that represents the gamers.
KL Kura Chin
yes but just by that article alone almost most people who dunno aout esports will think gaming is bad.
KL Kura Chin
and when the best in esports like our sg guys getting third will probably go untoiced
Oo Gin Lee
since we are on this topic, who is still playing competitively? Danny? Wilson? Titans? Phirkhan?
Oo Gin Lee
I am doing story ah for Digital Life on Wednesday, have been trying to contact the boys since Friday but none of them has a mobile phone with a roaming line
Aeriel Phirkhan
Wilson is still playing. So am i. Tammy and her team are always ard as well. In fact those old players are still playing like BF nuts etc.
Oo Gin Lee
if anyone can get ANY of the Scythe team to talk/chat with me would be great, its impossible to reach them
Aeriel Phirkhan
I will get tammy to contact them for u. But having their thoughts alone wont be enough though..
Dawn Yang
I just posted about this issue as well, on the PMS* team blog: http://pmsasterisk.blogspot.com/2011/08/what-are-singapore-gamers-doing-wrong.html
Oo Gin Lee
I think one of the big problems is not having an NSA status for cybergames. Without official recognition as a national team, the players will always have problems getting approval from polys, schools, army to get official leave to play. Once there is a "national" team, things will be smoother for the players. So I think government support is important, not for sponsorship but for recognition
Aeriel Phirkhan
As for NS, we do understand about not being able to leave during the BMT phase. Its normal. But the problem lies after they passed out from BMT..
Mary-Anne Lee
i was gonna suggest submitting this to @[14440041382:274:theonlinecitizen] but if DL is gonna cover it then just as well :)
Tammy Tang
the more the merrier, please get theonlinecitizen as well. i'm interested to see what their angle will be, and what their take is on this.
Aeriel Phirkhan
I honestly think media is the main key platform for esports to shine. We can always do both mary anne :)
Mary-Anne Lee
i'll cover your note tonite on a team blog also then! :)
KL Kura Chin
colinosw said on 22 Aug, 2011 Report as offensive
is any one the mother beater?
KL Kura Chin
http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/this_urban_jungle/738048/spore_gamers_take_home_usd150000_for_3rd_place_win.html
Aeriel Phirkhan
More stories here as well. Credits to @[663093195:2048:Kelvin Tan]
http://www.kelvintjm.com/2011/08/22/the-singaporean-gamers-cry/
Adrian Jay Lim
What Gin has mentioned, Hits the Nail on the head.... We must first get and be recognized as an NSA :) before Sport Council can get invilved :)
Lynette Tan
Phirkhan, we need to meetup some day..
Adrian Jay Lim
Yar bro u suppose to call me.... No sound no count :p
Mary-Anne Lee
hi everyone, just tacking on abt the progress our local fighting game scene is making since phirkhan only mentioned tetra. just this year, we had a contingent represent us at EVO 2011, which is the equivalent of wcg for fg. from there, xian and leslie finished in 17th and 25th places respectively in the top 32 pool. in mvc3 xian also finished in 17th place.

xian is one of singapore's best players, and one of the most accomplished when you think about the international scene. and the above is just a little bit of his achievments! he's in japan now with tetra reppin' our country at a tournament called godsgarden. so kudos to our fg scene, and don't forget about them. i personally feel they are growing and rising in a way that will eventually spell success for them.
Eugene Koh
It's been more than 10 years, gaming can't remain in its infancy stage forever in Singapore. Back then, we did well, right now we are doing even better. Hopefully this time, everyone can band together to show that gaming is not just another useless waste of time.
Toh Ghim
nice article phir
Adrian Jay Lim
er, guys pls understand how the Gov works before making statements that shows lack of knowledge :). There is No official recognized NSA for E-Sports thats y. Iit has to be recognized by SSC. For this to happen it must be initiated by other departments in the Gov cause SSC doesn't have the expertise to quantify and validate E-sports. I know this first hand as I was part of WBA (Wake Boarding Association of Singapore) and we had the same issues regarding this because the Gov, recognize SWF (Singapore Water Ski Federation) run by Paul Fong as a NSA..... There is More that meets the eye guys :).
Mary-Anne Lee
http://newnation.sg/2011/08/singapore-gamers-not-receiving-enough-support-from-govt-facebook-note/