With so many asking for insight on so many fronts, this monstrous update from Jet Set Studio is providing you the information you need to get locked in and start preparing for our third annual event, March 17-18 in Des Moines, Iowa!

Discount Hotel Expires FRIDAY

If you’re planning to travel to TIPGC, and we know a lot of you are, you only have a few days to snag one of the few remaining discounted rooms (only $95/night) at an awesome hotel in downtown Des Moines.

CLICK HERE to visit our TIPGC travel page and you’ll find the special reservation link to guide you through discounted registration.  Once again, this deal expires this Friday, February 24th…so do not delay.

Roster Change Reminder

Once locked in, team rosters CAN change all the way up until check-in on Saturday morning, at which time it’s locked for the weekend.  Get organize and lock in today!

Prizing

Everyone wants to know what the prizing for TIPGC will look like.  With a slightly shifted format of pulling a portion of the registration into the cash prizing, this is a bit different than in past years, so let’s look at a few team count scenarios as we can’t wait to fill up the all-new TIPGC Briefcase!

Example Cash Payouts
32 Teams * $140/team = $4,480
$4,480 – 25% Venue Fee ($1,120) = $3,360
1st Place (65%) = $2,184 per team = $546/person
2nd Place (25%) =$840 per team = $210/person
3rd Place (10%) = $336 per team = $84/person

16 Teams * $140/team = $2,240
$2,240 – 25% Venue Fee ($560) = $1,680
1st Place (65%) = $1,092 per team = $273/person
2nd Place (25%) =$420 per team = $105/person
3rd Place (10%) = $168 per team = $42/person

We recognize that cash is king.  As the exact amount of teams lock in, we’ll have the exact prize money ready to shower our winners with, but what’s always made TIPGC so unique, is all the awesome products our generous sponsors provide the TIPGC champions.  We’re super-psyched about our TIPGC 2012 sponsors and here is a list of what each supporting company is bringing to the TIPGC Champion’s Table…so far!

ASTRO Gaming – Astro Scout Bags

GUNNAR Optiks – Pairs of Gunnars

NYKO Technologies – Raven PS3 Controllers, Xbox 360 Charge Base S, and more

Game Helmet – Custom TIPGC 2012 fitted hats to 1st Place

Gaming Generations – Variety of Xbox 360 merchandise

We’re working to add to this unique array of great prizes, but we hope this clears any confusion towards the great prizes we’ve got up for grabs at TIPGC 2012.

EPIC Games Endorses TIPGC

This is fresh off the press today!  We’ve received word that we’ll be receiving a special shipment, directly from the Gears of War 3 mothership, EPIC Games.  This swag shipment will be a part of our prizing, live stream, and raffle giveaways throughout the weekend.  This is very neat to have the support of a developer like this (hint, hint Bungie and Infinity Ward) and we have to give props to Fragged Nation, who made this connection.

Fragged Nation Online Event

That’s a nice segue to sharing what many of you already have heard about.  FraggedNation.com is hosting a FREE online tournament, as a way to boost the excitement for TIPGC 2012!  With a nice lineup of prizes provided by Focus Fire and the grand prize of an actual TIPGC Team Pass for each game division, don’t miss this neat event that will only get you more excited for TIPGC 2012.  Details and online registration can be found here: www.fraggednation.com/content.php?k=TIPGC

Astro MixAmps

Many have asked what the headset situation at TIPGC 2012 will be.  Like last year, we’re very excited to announce that our continued partnership with ASTRO Gaming will allow us to equip all of the 50+ gaming stations with their exclusive MixAmp™ Pro.

If you have an Astro headset or other compatible headset (see rules for details), you and your team will have the ability to lock into the best that gaming has to offer.  A special thanks to our friends at Astro for swinging a logistical maze in order to make this work and we’re especially excited to plug our live stream viewers into the sounds of TIPGC like never before!

Twitch.TV

Nothing much to update you on here, besides get ready to go BIG.  The TIPGC 2012 live stream is about to explode on Twitch.TV.

As a lead sponsor of TIPGC 2012, Twitch.TV is helping maximize our professionally produced, fully commentated live stream experience that will be something to enjoy all weekend long.  Compete on the TIPGC Main Stage and expect to be seen.  If you can’t make it to TIPGC 2012, our friends at Focus Fire will ensure you experience a beautiful alternative that will allow all our viewers at home to track TIPGC excitement, watch great competitive game play, interact with our commentators, join in the live chat, and experience great giveaways from all our sponsors.  #LFG

Rules Updates

Our tournament staff has worked hard to organize all of the game division rules, settings, schedule, and round-by-round game types.  Each division’s document can be found on the bottom on the TIPGC Registration Page and after recently posting round-by-round game types; we’ve listen to the community through #TIPGC on Twitter and the TIPGC Facebook Event Page, and will be making some polishing touches to each division’s document very soon.  We appreciate the positive feedback from all of you and the gaming community is what fuels this video game event, so we’re proud to listen and respond to make TIPGC as good as it gets.

Green Beer

We’re still working on the details of how we plan to bring St. Patrick’s Day to all our TIPGC attendees. Expect a party and more details soon.

Official TIPGC 2012 Shirt – First Look

Walshy and our friends over at Kiaeneto are about to do it again.  We’re very close to solidifying the design, shirt colors (not white), and making sure you have an awesome memento to take home from TIPGC 2012.  Bring an extra $20 and be sure to snag a limited edition TIPGC 2012 shirt before they’re gone!

TIPGC DATA DUMP: COMPLETE

 Now sit back, enjoy…then share this!

VIEW UPDATED RULES

Many teams have been waiting to see the round-by-round game types and maps for these game divisions…and here is your first chance to see what we have in store for these two game divisions.

NOTE: With MLG still testing the 4v4 Halo Reach settings, we’ll be waiting to post that division’s V5 rules document until immediately after MLG finalizing this game’s standardized settings, round-by-by round game types, and maps.

Would YOU and your team like to take home all the prize money we’ll be loading up into the all-new TIPGC Briefcase?!

Thanks to our friends over at Focus Fire, for bringing this neat idea to TIPGC 2012.  We can not wait to fill this bad boy with some serious cash and shower it upon each of our TIPGC 2012 Champions!

 The 50+ gaming stations at TIPGC will all be Xbox 360 consoles, but our friends at Focus Fire have special converters that allow players to use a PS3 controller seamlessly on the Xbox 360.  We’ll have 8 converters available to rent at the event, so no matter how you enjoy MW3, you’ll be taken care of at TIPGC 2012.

Happy New Year!

To celebrate, we’re excited to announce that 4v4 team registration for all game divisions is NOW OPEN.

With three exciting game divisions being showcased on a single live stream channel, the ideal applicant will have these important traits:

In-depth and strategic knowledge on 4v4 MW3, GoW3, & Halo Reach

Has experience with live commenting, ideally for a large audience

Sharp, interactive, and fun personality

Can conduct professional and entertaining interviews

Will attend the entire weekend event in Des Moines, Iowa

Brings additional social media and live stream followers

Interested?

Share your experience and Contact Us Today!

BACK

Contact Us to distribute TIPGC Fliers in your community!

What an exciting moment.  Our third annual event is coming to life, as we’ve officially given the green light to The 2012 Iowa Pro Gaming Challenge!

Mark your calendars.  The dates for this TWO-DAY EVENT are March 17-18,2012.  Why two days?  More game divisions, more teams, and more parties.

Online Registration opens January 1 and we only have a limited amount of team passes available, so get your team organized, and prepare for the best TIPGC ever.

As you can see on the right, the collection of amazing TIPGC Sponsors continue to make this event unique, so be sure to support these partnering organizations.

One of the most exciting elements of TIPGC 2012, will occur online during our professional live stream.  With enhanced Focus Fire and Twitch.TV partnerships, we’ve got BIG plans for the TIPGC Main Stage.  Earn the right to play in this spotlight, and showcase your skills in front of the 500,000+ viewers we are expecting!

Want to help spread the word?

Use #TIPGC on Twitter, RSVP on the Facebook Page, discuss TIPGC on GatheringofGamers.com, and post this slick graphic all around the web.

Green means go and TIPGC 2012 is now official, so here we go!

Official Press Release

People have started asking about The 2012 Iowa Pro Gaming Challenge.

Are we hosting TIPGC III?  When?  What game divisions will be available?

No official announcements have been made, but rumors are starting to fly.

We’ve got all the highlights online!  Along with 150+ event photos, you’re sure to enjoy the TIPGC 2011 Highlight Video.  We’ve also got a special Facebook Photo Album for some tagging fun, so jump in and enjoy!

TIPGC 2011 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

We’re excited to share post-TIPGC highlights, but with 50GB+ of media to organize, it may take us another few days to get everything online.  We appreciate your patience though, so we thought it would be good to at least get the official tournament results online.  Click the images below to see each division’s full-sized bracket.

TIPGC 2011 CHAMPIONS – UoR Invictus

2nd Place – Walk of Shame

3rd Place – Extreme Rainbow Hunter

TIPGC 2011 CHAMPIONS – JuKeD

2nd Place – Resistance

3rd Place – Pheasant Pluckers

Also, we’re planning to weave in so many of the neat testimonials from the community, into the official highlight video.  If you’d like to share your feedback, drop it over onto the Jet Set Studio Facebook Page and maybe we’ll include it!

GoGcast LIVE I — RECORDED 2.22.2011

GoGcast LIVE II — RECORDED 3.1.2011

GoGcast LIVE III — RECORDED 3.8.2011

SPONSORED BY

Whether it’s talking about a specific game division, travel arrangements, general questions, or even finding teammates for your own team, this is a good place to be as March approaches.  Anyone can browse the conversation, but you must be a verified GoG member to jump into the fun.

TIPGC 2012 DISCUSSION