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