Searching for the next Frag Doll

(continued from previous page)

In any case, while the auditions will test the women on a number of levels, including their performance in on-camera interviews, answers to game industry-related questions from a panel of judges, writing and ability to demonstrate leadership skills, game play is clearly going to be the most important element as they compete for the job.

There will be game play on Saturday, too, they're told, but it will be unofficial, and free form. The existing Frag Dolls will be watching, looking for the candidates' strengths and leadership abilities.

"Some people are going to be able to improvise off what the leader is doing, and other people are going to be leaders."

--Morgan Romine, Ubisoft employee

But first, all eight women must go through media training with Ubisoft's Beadle--even though only one will ultimately be hired.

Indeed, throughout the training, Beadle refers to all the women as Frag Dolls, likely trying to make them feel comfortable and help them forget that they're in the middle of a competition. In fact, Beadle exudes comfortable, and he seems almost like a den mother to the women.

Later, everyone files into a studio room where eight Xbox 360s are set up for multiplayer game play. As the women listen, Morgan Romine, the Frag Dolls' leader and a Ubisoft marketing employee, explains what the company is looking for in a new team member.

"Obviously, (we're looking for) gaming skills," Romine said. But also, "teamwork and communication. Each person has their own style. Some people are going to be able to improvise off what the leader is doing, and other people are going to be leaders. (It's about) getting along with everybody."

Then the game play begins.

Seven of the candidates are playing with Valkyrie, one of the veteran Frag Dolls. It's team play, four-on-four, and they're blowing each other away in "Halo 2."

The noise of gunfire and explosions are nonstop. But those sounds are overwhelmed by the sounds of the women laughing and talking smack at each other.

The play is spirited, and even though the women know this round of play doesn't count officially, they also know they're being watched. So they're going at it full-bore.

"This is one of the best matches I've ever been in," shouts Shannon Hommerbocker.

Over on one side of the room, six people are gathered to watch Alyson Craghead, a 21-year-old from Mesa, Ariz., play. She's known, I'm told, as one of the best "Halo 2" players around, and sure enough, she is blowing her opponents away left and right.

The banter goes something like this:

"You're lucky, that was lucky," Toyama said.

"That was a double team," Inderied said. "That wasn't fair."

"This is a friggin' beat-down," said Toyama. "You stole my kill."

"Oh my God, I can't aim with this controller," said Heather Boyd, 22, from Vero Beach, Fla.

As the game play continues, Hommerbocker shouts out something that lays out the biggest difference the women here see between themselves and guy gamers, since they sincerely believe they can beat anyone who challenges them.

"The best part of coming into a gaming room (where women are playing) is that it smells good," Hommerbocker said, "because we're all girls and we smell nice."

Up next: Frag Doll candidates battle it out in several hours of formal tournament play.

[jrfabito650]

Frag Dolls

Wow...cool. I first saw these girls at gamespot's G.A.M.E. conference and they're blowing up. All I gotta say is girls + gaming = HOT.

[X99]

What's Gaming Got To Do WIth It?

> All I gotta say is girls + gaming = HOT.

Ugh!! Enough of the obligatoy nods to Political
Correctness, please!! Hey, girls are hot even
if they aren't gaming. In fact, I think you will
find that girls are a lot "hotter" when they are
*not* gamming (think about it).

[X99]

The Okay Kind of Discrimination

Hmmm, once again we see that there are two
sets of rules to play by depending on whether
you are a favored minority or protected class.
Wow, could you imagine if some game company
announced that it was putting together an all
male gaming team that would *purposely* exclude
females. There would be all manner of condemnation
directed at the company.

No doubt someone will chime in and complain that
the Frag Dolls are a sexist expression of the
attitudes held by male gamers towards female
gamers.

[Sadakilla]

08 Fragdoll auditions

Has anyone heard anything about an 08 fragdoll audition?