Sooner of later I just knew I was going to do this. I knew I was not immune to doing what so many other publications before me had done. And that is...
To come up with my own year-end AWARDS.
Yes, folks and folkettes, the time has come for me, Sally S. to hand out what I like to call, "THE SALLYS" I may not put a ton of effort into this, like creating a small Icon on the front page for award winners to place on their websites if they wanna brag to anyone (there goes my modesty again) about their win. But I know what I like. And during my travels around the net, I’ve come across a lot of feds, a lot of RP’s and a ton of characters. Some I remember, lots I don’t. Those that do stick out in my mind, deserve some sort of recognition, I believe. But instead of going for such categories as "Roleplayers of the Year" ..."Feud of the Year" and stuff like that, I decided to give out Awards in categories that usually don't get much fanfare. These categories, I feel, deserve to be recognized because they make a greater impact on the game than people realize. So if I can reward them for their efforts, maybe, just maybe, they continue the good work they've been doing and make our hobby a better game.
So, without further adeiu. I give you... the winners for 2008.
1) GREAT FEDS OF 2008 ............. VIKING WRESTLING FEDERATION & the X-TREME WRESTLING FEDERATION
WHY?..... The VWF puts out 2 weekly shows for about 60 or so roster members. They have 9 titles to compete over and have had some of the most experienced and respected Rpers stop by. The site is easy to navigate and the graphics are very well suited to the site. Not many feds can been seen as a measuring stick where players tell themselves, "if I can hang with these guys/gals, I can hang with anyone".
The XWF puts out an astonishing 3 shows a week for about 40 roster members. The shows are all written out, and segments are encouraged to be submitted by the player themselves. Also, their shows are structured so that no matter who you are, you have to work your way up to the premier show, MASSACRE. Every title holder is a deserving one because they have paid their dues to get the chances they received.
2) GREAT FED LAYOUTS................. A1E.... TIGER WRESTLING NATION ..... DIVASUNLEASHED
Why?..................... A1E has a great idea of centralizing your requests in that whenever you click on a button, the results pop up in the middle of the screen.... no annoying redirects that take you to another page, making you hit the back button. Their fonts are easy to read and the graphics are simply, yet effective, without being over powering or too macho.
TWN is so cool. The graphics are crystal clear, they have a flash screen in the middle of the site, a footer on each page (rare these days). Basic layout with a front-top logo, but it’s what they do with the space that makes the place nice to visit.
DU is the cat's meow. It radiates exactly what the fed is all about... females! The soft yellows and pinks fit the fed so perfectly but the softness ends there. In-depth roster pages, pictures of the Title-holders on the front page.
3) GREAT COMMUNITIES .................. EWzine
WHY?........................ It's not because of their content or resourses, it's because they are ever growing in terms of ideas and layouts. It's this constant rush to improve that most other communities lack, that puts eW above the rest. For every good idea they come up with, they have 8 or 9 failed attempts at other projects, but they do not let that get to them, they keep on trying. I posted on the eW forums along ago, that they needed to find their niche, and make eW famous for something that no other community had. Well, they have now done that. They tried tournaments, mafia games, arcade stuff, fed reviews, etc, etc. But in the end it's not what the ideas they come up with, it's the fact they keep trying ideas. I've been to other inter-fed, Fed-linked, communities and they have a set way of doing things, which they are very good at. Ewzine now has something they are good at, and that is the ability to change. No other place has a greater desire and urge to be more than they already are, than EWzine. And for that, they set themselves apart from the rest.4) GREAT E-WRESTLING IDEAS......... EWzine........ OTHER SIDE of eWRESTLING Awards.
Why?............................. EWzine came up with the live video show. I've seen video shows, but they were not live and I've listened to live audio shows, but with no picture. But both examples were all in-character stuff that unless you were personally involved with, you didn't care too much about. The EW show is about e-wrestling concerns, topics and headlines that are going on across the net and is done out-of-character. You can ask fellow viewers, guests or the EW owner himself (the host) anything e-wrestling related, and get an answer in seconds. Sort of like having the owner on your webcam popping in to tell you all the e-wrestling news going down this week.
OSeW has come out with their second year-end Awards. What makes this so special is that the awards are for female wrestlers only. Categories such as Top Heel, Wrestler of the Year, Best Fued, and such cover all aspects of the e-World. As well they tally up and post a top 75 list of the best female wrestlers out there. No other site has done this...EVER! An idea whose time has come.
5) GREAT ROSTER PAGES............. GLOBAL CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING
Why? ............................. By far, the best layout I've ever seen. Almost like having your own website dedicated to your character. Multi-page layout that is easy to read and very well structured it comes with it's own clickable headers that take you to your own image galleries. Also, instead of a cliche "accomplishments" section you get an area labeled "Prestige" where your braggable feats are recorded.
6) GREAT FED NAMES........................... TOTALLY FICTIONAL WRESTLING FEDERATION... PLATINUM DYNASTY WRESTLING.... FULL METAL WRESTLING... SOULED OUT WRESTLING.... DYNAMITE CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING
Why?................................ The names say it all. No Global, X-Treme, World-Wide, or National anywhere to be found. The name alone seems to have a character of it's own that envokes imagination and that is something owners strive to do, when thinking of a name (at least I hope they desire this!!!)Some of these places are not operating right now, but still have a great name that has caught my attention. I have some experience in Marketing so I can tell you with a bit of authority, these names are great!
7) WEIRDEST PLACE TO BASE A FED ........ SIBERIA
Why?............................... A ton of feds take place in New York, Chicago, LA or other big market places. Some even are based in small towns scattered around the globe. But Siberia Wrestling takes place in the great frozen northern tundra of Russia. Cool is definitely the word here.
8) GREAT FEMALE CHARACTER NAMES ...... SYLHOUETTE ..... HELGA VON BUTCH
WHY?............................. Well, Sylhouette is so smooth, slick and sultry sounding. Perfect for a female character. A single word for a single impacting image. Something all characters should strive for. As for Helga, the opposite is true here. It's so cliche and over the top, that it works on so many levels. The name harkings back to the days when wrestling good guys and gals fought the bald, evil German and Russian foes in the 60's and 70's. Retro to the extreme.
So, until next year… keep up the great works people.