Expo Icrontic 2010: sponsors and prizes

Brian Ambrozy 25 May, 2010 at 6:28pm ET Article published in Life

This year’s coming Expo Icrontic is going to feature lots of prizes, sponsored by some great companies who have shown Icrontic support over the years.

OCZ Technology is providing us with case badges, posters, pens, t-shirts, ten Behemoth Regulator mousepads, a Vertex 60GB SSD and 4GB DDR3 memory kit for prizes.

SteelSeries is providing us with two SteelSeries 3H gaming headsets and three SteelSeries QcK gaming surfaces.

Paradox Interactive is providing us with five copies of Lead and Gold and five copies of Mount & Blade: Warband.

Gigabyte is sending various swag as well as a GA-MA790FXT-UD5P motherboard.

Futuremark has provided shirts, 3D Mark licenses, Shattered Horizon licenses, and an EVGA GTS 240 video card

EVGA will be sending T-Shirts for Expo Icrontic 2010

Yelp is coming through with awesome bags and some swag for us.

Shuttle has given us three Shuttle prize packs including neat Shuttle swag like custom flasks, flash drives, T-shirts, and more.

Michigan managed web hosting company Liquid Web is helping to sponsor the T-shirts this year.

EA Games Outreach is sending Xbox 360 games: Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age and its expansion pack, NHL 10, Tiger Woods and Battlefield 2.

AMD and Sapphire are sending three Sapphire Radeon 5870 video cards for prizes.

ECS is sending a ton of swag as well as some hardware. They will be sending pens, t-shirts, mousepads, Polo shirts, vests, lanyards, and more. They’re also providing an A890GXM-A AM3 motherboard and the NBGTS250E-1GMU-F NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 1gb video card.

Thermaltake is providing three Armor A90 cases as prizes.

NZXT is providing an NZXT Hades case, three IU-01 internal USB expanders, and three Avatar gaming mice.

Sumo Lounge Furniture is providing us with two Sumo Omni bags (winner has choice of color; Sumo will ship directly to winner).

C Tech Solutions is providing us with loaner hardware for people who may need components such as mice, keyboards, and other stuff.

James “DogDragon” Mudry has provided several prizes for the Icrontic Golf Outing, including prizes for all attendees and grand prizes for winners. Thanks so much, Jim!

Comments

25 May 2010 ~ 6:30pm Myrmidon Ah jeez, does this mean we have to be nice to ryder this year?
25 May 2010 ~ 8:16pm DogDragon No! lol If we are nice to him He would there's
something wrong. lmao
25 May 2010 ~ 8:27pm rolleggroll Where is the promised OCZ girls and trampolines?
25 May 2010 ~ 9:31pm Koreish All they could send was Ryder and some Air Jordans. Sorry eggroll.
25 May 2010 ~ 9:57pm Winfrey Hot
25 May 2010 ~ 10:02pm _k Where are the t-shirts? I haven't bought a t-shirt in two years because of drawings like these.
25 May 2010 ~ 10:38pm Bandrik HALOLZ.com is also contributing a few fun door prizes as well. I will be bringing them to EXPO on their behalf. They're pretty rad.
25 May 2010 ~ 10:45pm fatcat needs more SUMO
25 May 2010 ~ 11:32pm QCH SUMO.... where are you? Come on, you're a staple at EPIC. :headbange
26 May 2010 ~ 1:20am primesuspect

_k_ wrote:

Where are the t-shirts? I haven't bought a t-shirt in two years because of drawings like these.

learn too reed:

OCZ is supplying T-shirts
26 May 2010 ~ 7:46am _k Ya I saw that, but last year there were other shirts too. There are only so many OCZ team overclocker shirts you can own before thats all you wear.
26 May 2010 ~ 9:56am BuddyJ Thanks for the support!
26 May 2010 ~ 11:47am Kwitko

_k_ wrote:

Where are the t-shirts? I haven't bought a t-shirt in two years because of drawings like these.

Lincoln approves of you being shirtless.
26 May 2010 ~ 11:52am _k Well if I stick to my workout plan as of right now I will want to walk around shirtless to show off.
26 May 2010 ~ 12:36pm JaniceAtShuttle Awesome - just let us know the confirmed numbers so we can prep some Shuttle goodies for you guys!
26 May 2010 ~ 2:58pm primesuspect K, Lisa wanted to make sure you knew about the T-Shirts

http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/ocz_lan_gear/ocz_t_shirts
26 May 2010 ~ 3:01pm _k I need ssd shirt now. Damn the man long live the empire!

EDIT: WTH my all caps message reformatted ITSELF WTH LINC!
26 May 2010 ~ 3:51pm Winfrey I dig the shirts.
27 May 2010 ~ 1:09am QuadyTheTurnip How the shit-ass do you get sponsors for a hang-out community event? o_O
27 May 2010 ~ 1:24am Thrax Lots of attendees, and a site with good traffic/community influence.
27 May 2010 ~ 2:39am Canti

Quady the Turnip wrote:

How the shit-ass do you get sponsors for a hang-out community event? o_O

By winning.
27 May 2010 ~ 3:02am Winfrey

Quady the Turnip wrote:

How the shit-ass do you get sponsors for a hang-out community event? o_O

Icrontic is pro, yo.
27 May 2010 ~ 3:04am Thrax Android 3.6, codename ProYo.
27 May 2010 ~ 9:34am primesuspect

Quady the Turnip wrote:

How the shit-ass do you get sponsors for a hang-out community event? o_O

Influence. We're pro.
27 May 2010 ~ 1:41pm Ryder

Quady the Turnip wrote:

How the shit-ass do you get sponsors for a hang-out community event? o_O
27 May 2010 ~ 2:15pm Bandrik

RyderOCZ wrote:

(nothing written)

I see what you did there.
27 May 2010 ~ 2:23pm primesuspect

Quady the Turnip wrote:

How the shit-ass do you get sponsors for a hang-out community event? o_O

Actually, I'm glad you asked.

A lot of people come to Icrontic from a variety of angles; you, for example, came to us through our TF2 server, which is a sort of community outreach effort on our part.

Icrontic does a lot of hard work. For example, just search for the CES 2010 tag to see the kind of industry relationships and reporting we did in January. A lot of those relationships then blossom into something like a sponsorship for Expo.

With Icrontic's strong social media presence, 300,000+ monthly pageviews, and a dedicated internet following, companies are ensured that they will be noticed all over the internet, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and more. This is a chance to get some grassroots exposure and PR for their companies. This is also a chance to execute on some creative marketing strategies with fun and innovative connections directly with computer enthusiasts, connected tech geeks, and gamers.

Smart companies and their PR agencies know this, and that's why they sponsor events like ours
27 May 2010 ~ 2:35pm Bandrik

primesuspect wrote:

With Icrontic's strong social media presence, 300,000+ monthly pageviews, and a dedicated internet following... ...that's why they sponsor events like ours

As nerdy as this sounds, thanks for posting this. Probably the best sales pitch I could have possibly read, and I'll use it to point out similar things to company reps if they show they're looking for places to market their gear via reviews or sponsored support.
27 May 2010 ~ 6:34pm fatcat I thought sponsors did it for the Icrontic funbucks?...
27 May 2010 ~ 7:13pm primesuspect New official sponsor: DogDragon!
27 May 2010 ~ 7:16pm fatcat

primesuspect wrote:

New official sponsor: DogDragon!

this gentleman hooked us up with a nice PGA Golf timepiece last year for the golfing event, and this year sent me a box of golf goodies including twelve 3-pack of golf balls along with an assortment of other golfing items. he is even throwing in a "big prize" I don't know about yet, so make sure you thank him.
27 May 2010 ~ 8:37pm DogDragon

primesuspect wrote:

New official sponsor: DogDragon!

Thank-you Prime
I'm just giving back to Icrontic ,
GLAD to be a part of Icrontic.:)
28 May 2010 ~ 12:20am ardichoke

fatcat wrote:

I thought sponsors did it for the Icrontic funbucks?...

I sent my sekrit santa some Icrontic funbucks, I'm surprised there were not pictures posted of them...
30 May 2010 ~ 8:38am Linc

primesuspect wrote:

300,000+ monthly pageviews

You mean 500,000+, sheesh.
30 May 2010 ~ 10:49am QCH He doesn't like to brag.
31 May 2010 ~ 10:37pm primesuspect Added another sponsor: AMD has agreed to send us something big
1 Jun 2010 ~ 1:43am QCH Oh man!!!!
1 Jun 2010 ~ 2:50am Obsidian

fatcat wrote:

needs more SUMO

I never even knew about those and now I want one really bad. Come on Sumo dudes, hook us up :bigggrin:
1 Jun 2010 ~ 2:53am Thrax Sumo is quite unlikely to sponsor us ever again.
1 Jun 2010 ~ 7:15pm ardichoke

Thrax wrote:

Sumo is quite unlikely to sponsor us ever again.

ORLY? I sense a story behind that one...
2 Jun 2010 ~ 11:56am Bandrik

ardichoke wrote:

ORLY? I sense a story behind that one...

Don't worry about it. Sumo was fun for a while, then came the kthxbye that just sometimes happens with companies.
2 Jun 2010 ~ 12:45pm primesuspect Added: LiquidWeb! (Ardichoke's employer). Thanks to them (and him!) for getting on board to help us defray some of the t-shirt cost this year.
2 Jun 2010 ~ 12:58pm Linc Note: I chose them as our new host BEFORE learning about this!
3 Jun 2010 ~ 1:19pm primesuspect Added NZXT to the sponsors list!
3 Jun 2010 ~ 1:44pm Tushon

fatcat wrote:

needs more SUMO

Does the lady come with the bean bag? If so, I'm in for one. http://www.sumolounge.com/sumosac-couple.php?re=na
3 Jun 2010 ~ 6:45pm BlackHawk She's in the bag...
4 Jun 2010 ~ 12:26pm Snarkasm In lots of tiny pieces, for maximum comfort and rearrangeability.
4 Jun 2010 ~ 3:53pm primesuspect Added Sumo to the sponsors list!
4 Jun 2010 ~ 5:54pm QCH AWESOME list of sponsors.
4 Jun 2010 ~ 6:09pm primesuspect Update: AMD told me today they'll be sending three 5800-series video cards as prizes
4 Jun 2010 ~ 6:10pm Obsidian Damn, it just keeps expanding. At this rate I may actually get to win something.

Ninja Edit: HOLY BAWLZ GO AMD!
4 Jun 2010 ~ 6:12pm primesuspect It's not over yet. There will be more on this list before it's done
4 Jun 2010 ~ 6:44pm QCH OH MY... This means that, if played correctly, everyone should get an AWESOME prize.
4 Jun 2010 ~ 6:47pm Tushon

Thrax wrote:

Sumo is quite unlikely to sponsor us ever again.

primesuspect wrote:

Added Sumo to the sponsors list!

This is the first time that I have ever seen Thrax close to wrong. Also, 3 5800s .... do want!
4 Jun 2010 ~ 7:27pm fatcat heh, Thrax has his moments like us all.

and I'm glad Sumo sees it our way
4 Jun 2010 ~ 8:42pm ardichoke

QCH wrote:

OH MY... This means that, if played correctly, everyone should get an AWESOME prize.

That or the drawing will be rigged so the favored children of Icrontic take home all the loot :rolleyes2
4 Jun 2010 ~ 8:48pm Zanthian This list is looking awesome. I look forward to the chance of winning something cool. Great work guys!
6 Jun 2010 ~ 3:13pm Tushon

ardichoke wrote:

That or the drawing will be rigged so the favored children of Icrontic take home all the loot :rolleyes2

Those jerks!
6 Jun 2010 ~ 6:22pm Linc

ardichoke wrote:

That or the drawing will be rigged so the favored children of Icrontic take home all the loot :rolleyes2

You weren't even there that year Besides, they've been put to good use - the XBox and speakers they won are the very same ones you clowns all use at ICHQ.
6 Jun 2010 ~ 7:49pm Preacher

primesuspect wrote:

Update: AMD told me today they'll be sending three 5800-series video cards as prizes

I'm pretty sure AMD would like to use those cards to specifically support Icrontians in uniform past and present...
8 Jun 2010 ~ 6:19pm RyanMM I'd like to help out in case some peeps need a system or a monitor or something. I don't have much, but hopefully I can match a needy gamer up with a piece of equipment for the weekend.

http://icrontic.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89870
8 Jun 2010 ~ 6:23pm Linc

Preacher wrote:

I'm pretty sure AMD would like to use those cards to specifically support Icrontians in uniform past and present...

I'm pretty sure they'd like us to keep them as compensation for poaching our writers.
8 Jun 2010 ~ 7:03pm shwaip

Lincoln wrote:

I'm pretty sure they'd like us to keep them as compensation for poaching our writers.

I'm pretty sure they want me to win them so I can add them to my collection.
8 Jun 2010 ~ 8:02pm QuadyTheTurnip

primesuspect wrote:

Actually, I'm glad you asked.

A lot of people come to Icrontic from a variety of angles; you, for example, came to us through our TF2 server, which is a sort of community outreach effort on our part.

Icrontic does a lot of hard work. For example, just search for the CES 2010 tag to see the kind of industry relationships and reporting we did in January. A lot of those relationships then blossom into something like a sponsorship for Expo.

With Icrontic's strong social media presence, 300,000+ monthly pageviews, and a dedicated internet following, companies are ensured that they will be noticed all over the internet, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and more. This is a chance to get some grassroots exposure and PR for their companies. This is also a chance to execute on some creative marketing strategies with fun and innovative connections directly with computer enthusiasts, connected tech geeks, and gamers.

Smart companies and their PR agencies know this, and that's why they sponsor events like ours

This is really wildly off topic now, but I feel the need to respond, so hey, why not.

Thanks for this post, as it explains a lot about Icrontic that I didn't understand (even though I've been hanging with you guys for over a year now). Essentially, before coming to the TF2 server, I'd never heard of you guys.
While never being a huge hardware buff, I've always been interested in reviews and what tech is out there (I'm a gaming buff, and a general technology buff for sure), so I've been reading a number of "big tech news sites" for years. From stuff like Wired to sites like Tom's Hardware... yet, i'd never heard of Icrontic. :P

So, anyways. I've been around the internet for more than a decade now (holy crap, that makes me feel old. Ok, not really, but yeah). I've been an active member in dozens upon dozens of internet communities on a huge variety of topics, some small communities with only a dozen or two members, some huge with thousands involved.

A number of these communities have been big enough to hold events from local get-togethers at someone's house to large multi-day conventions (yes, complete with keynotes, speaker panels, etc.). I've even organized a few of these events myself.

The Icrontic events, until I read this thread (including Epic) have been represented to me (largely via TF2 voice chat, so maybe that has something to do with this) as "home grown" community events. Even calling the site's base ICHQ led me to assume the sort of "dude with a server or two in his basement" setup, possibly because I've heard such terminology used to describe such places before (or possibly for some other reason, I don't know).

This is at odds with such things as a multi-day convention which I've experienced before (though in that specific case, not actually in person. :P). Combine these and you can see how my mental view of IC is of a much smaller community and organization than the existence of (true) sponsors (as opposed to "sponsors". You know, the "we'll throw $50 your way" guys I've seen before.) would lead me to believe.

(If this small community vibe is what you're going for; Congratulations! You've succeeded, at least in my case! )

Even the CES reporting you guys have going doesn't necessarily betray a corporate relationship that is sponsor-worthy. I've been involved in enough communities with comparable reporting to what you guys have (probably not the same level overall, but still close) solely powered by people interested enough in such events to go as attendees or under other auspices and still take huge swaths of time to report on things in depth, even just for their own blog.

It almost makes me angry or annoyed. I've been involved with bigger communities, trying to run more ambitious events, with possibly more clout in the areas of society they moved in, and I've never seen sponsorship like this. Even for small events, I've been often stuck in a situation where a lack of funds has castrated an event (even my ability to attend an event, for example). It seems almost unfair.

Now, that said, i'm NOT angry or thinking that this unfair (I'm annoyed a little, but that's probably mostly just because this is something I haven't had the chance to utilize before myself). Just to clear that up. If I had to qualify my emotions about this, incredulous would probably be the best word.

So yeah. I'm not sure where I'm going with this beyond that, but...yeah.

Anyways, enjoy Epic everybody. Hopefully someday I'll be able to afford travelling to an IC event so I can hang out with you all.

WALL OF TEXT CRITS YOU FOR MASSIVE DAMAGE
8 Jun 2010 ~ 8:39pm Thrax To the people who come to and stay on our forum: you see and hear about 0.01% of Icrontic's influence across the web. That is a real number.
8 Jun 2010 ~ 9:00pm Linc

Quady the Turnip wrote:

I've been often stuck in a situation where a lack of funds has castrated an event (even my ability to attend an event, for example). It seems almost unfair.

Expo is castrated by a lack of funds and appropriate venue. We have it in our house because it's the only venue we can afford to equip with the requirements of the event (Internet, electricity, security, and sovereignty). By all rights, Expo should be in a convention hall by now. We just don't have the funds to make it happen.

You see the sponsor list as crazy. I see it as very gratifying, but missing the venue sponsor we so sorely need.
8 Jun 2010 ~ 9:02pm primesuspect

Quady the Turnip wrote:

(If this small community vibe is what you're going for; Congratulations! You've succeeded, at least in my case! )

That is exactly what we go for.
8 Jun 2010 ~ 9:09pm QuadyTheTurnip

Thrax wrote:

To the people who come to and stay on our forum: you see and hear about 0.01% of Icrontic's influence across the web. That is a real number.

Not to be rude, but I basically never believe people when they say I'M HUGELY INFLUENTIAL.

If I see outsiders saying "So and so is hugely influential", that changes things.

Not that you guys aren't influential. Just not 10,000 times more than I've seen and heard. :P
8 Jun 2010 ~ 9:12pm TiberiusLazarus Once you've met Thrax, you'll realize just how huge he is....
8 Jun 2010 ~ 9:26pm Koreish He's this (08==============D) huge. Just ask himself, Gnome Queen, or Lincoln.

And yes he does have three balls.
8 Jun 2010 ~ 9:50pm QuadyTheTurnip He should probably get that checked out, make sure that third ball isn't a tumor.

AND THEN IT TURNS OUT ITS ACTUALLY TWO BALLS ITSELF. FOUR BALLS.
9 Jun 2010 ~ 1:01am primesuspect Added C Tech solutions, for loaning equipment if we need it
9 Jun 2010 ~ 10:17am Thrax Ballsballsballs of steeeeeeel.
9 Jun 2010 ~ 10:41am RyanMM

Koreish wrote:

He's this (08==============D) huge. Just ask himself, Gnome Queen, or Lincoln.

And yes he does have three balls.

I heard that mother had like 30 freakin dicks.
9 Jun 2010 ~ 4:28pm Tushon

RyanMeray wrote:

I heard that mother had like 30 freakin dicks.

I lol'd at the reference
9 Jun 2010 ~ 6:48pm RyanMM

Tushon wrote:

I lol'd at the reference

I'm gonna go listen to that again. For the 4th time today.

He's coming, he's coming, he's coming...
10 Jun 2010 ~ 2:13pm primesuspect Added details of what EA outreach is sending us:

Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age and its expansion pack, NHL, Tiger Woods and Battlefield 2.
10 Jun 2010 ~ 2:18pm shwaip I'm about to finish Mass Effect - the second one would be awesome.
10 Jun 2010 ~ 2:51pm primesuspect Added Thermaltake as a sponsor! They'll be sending three Armor A90 cases
10 Jun 2010 ~ 2:52pm Tushon

RyanMeray wrote:

I'm gonna go listen to that again. For the 4th time today.

He's coming, he's coming, he's coming...

Ate opponent's brains, Invented Cocaine
Washingtonnn, Washingtonnn;D

I also love the scene where he pushes the burning school building full of British children off a cliff.
10 Jun 2010 ~ 4:51pm Thrax 6'8", weighs a fucking ton.
10 Jun 2010 ~ 4:52pm ardichoke twelve stories high made of radiation
10 Jun 2010 ~ 8:19pm primesuspect Added ECS. They're supplying tons of branded swag as well as an AMD890 AM3 board and an NVIDIA GTS250 1gb video card.
10 Jun 2010 ~ 8:36pm _k This seems like a lot more than last year. We need a building and some publicity for EXPO then it should really take off.
10 Jun 2010 ~ 9:02pm primesuspect It is a lot more than last year. That's why going to trade shows is so valuable.
10 Jun 2010 ~ 11:33pm RyanMM Awesome, awesome news.
14 Jun 2010 ~ 1:24pm primesuspect Update: AMD and Sapphire announced the cards they're sending: Three Sapphire Radeon 5870 cards!
14 Jun 2010 ~ 1:33pm Obsidian Whoa. I was half expecting them to send HD 5830's... which are nice and all, but they're no 5870. Sapphire is a good brand too. Do want.
14 Jun 2010 ~ 1:58pm QCH /me faints...
14 Jun 2010 ~ 2:08pm primesuspect Updated again! Gigabyte announced what they'll be sending. Branded swag and a motherboard
14 Jun 2010 ~ 4:17pm Tushon I do want to come away with new computer parts!
14 Jun 2010 ~ 4:38pm MAGIC

Tushon wrote:

I do want to come away with new computer parts!

There is a pretty good chance of that.

This is the best sponsor turnout we have ever had. Big thanks to all of them and Brian for brining it together.
21 Jun 2010 ~ 2:43pm Tushon

MAGIC wrote:

Big thanks to all of them and Brian for brining it together.

Indeed! Three cheers!
21 Jun 2010 ~ 5:07pm primesuspect EVGA added. T-shirts incoming!
22 Jun 2010 ~ 6:06pm primesuspect Big ups to Yelp for coming through for us in a pinch!
22 Jun 2010 ~ 6:24pm Ramsom Thermaltake FTW
22 Jun 2010 ~ 6:49pm primesuspect Woot! Hey Ramsom!
23 Jun 2010 ~ 12:52am Jason Yelp is awesome, I use it all the time. Glad they came through for you.