Sugar Gamers

The market for gaming accessories is expanding as the desire for the ultimate gaming experience grows.  We want to hear every pin drop, click with deadly accuracy, and have the sweetest hot keys on the block.  First on the list to meet this demand is SteelSeries and they’re right here Chicago.  

SteelSeries employs an effective three pronged attack against their competition and love leaving their footprints on several faces.  Phase one to gaming accessory domination is producing products of stellar quality.  Everything off the SteelSeries line is incredibly sturdy, these aren’t powder puff trinkets.  Next is paying special attention to aesthetics.  SteelSeries knows how to make a looker.

The Siberia V2 is striking in red and incredibly comfortable and lightweight.  The sound quality is like having a professionally installed surround system right in your ears, and you won’t wake the neighbors.  I was fortunate to personally get my paws on it.  

The WOW Shift keyboard has its functions placed specifically to allow for optimum flow of movement.

Subtle silver details and the perfect shade of red lighting are just an added bonus to the incredible comfort and performance of the Diablo mouse.  This was one of the featured products at this year’s E3 and I have to say, this thing feels like butter.      

The third and most enticing prong to the SteelSeries takeover is the incredibly reasonable price tags.  Even the high end headsets stay well under the 200 dollar mark.  Recently Sugar Gamers threw a snazzy Black Mask party at Lure Izakaya Pub in Chicago’s Chinatown and SteelSeries provided us with amazing prizes that had our guests drooling and taking the tournaments VERY seriously.  Thanks a bunch guys, we had three very happy tourney winners.  As a born and bred Chicagoan, I’m more than happy to share this city with SteelSeries who can honestly boast that they are for gamers by gamers. 

Make sure to RSVP right here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=162719673799238&ref=ts

In some circles, a black mask represents darkness and mistrust, for others, it creates mystery and power.  In the whirlwind geek land where I currently dwell, black masks are common place.  If you live in Chicago, you may very well see a lot more black masks come July 28th.  Take a look at the video below to prepare for The Black Mask Party brought to you by Sugar Gamers.

Right now you’re probably contemplating a black mask purchase and you cos players are mostly likely already firing up your sewing needles.  Here’s my top fove favorite black masks of all time to give you some inspiration.

5. Carey Elwes as Wesley/ Dread Pirate Roberts (Princess Bride)

Oh Carey Elwes, young and in is his prime for a decent looking actor, scored the role of lifetime in Princess Bride.  Buttercup’s perfect farm boy dons the black mask of the “Dread Pirate Roberts” and for some reason we all loved the crap out of this movie.   

4. Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman (Batman Returns)

Holy meow, who could forget Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle?  The mask was a delicious homage to all previous Catwoman incarnations and the image is burned into our skulls. 

3. Kirstin Dunst as Marie Antoinette (Marie Antoinette)

Sofia Coppola’s costume designer for Marie Antoinette created a new twist on the black mask with the creation of this simple and yet incredibly sexy fabric mask for the masquerade scene.

2. Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard (Star Trek)

Oh noez!  Captain Picard has assimilated with the Borg!  Rumor has it, the mask and makeup was a bit painful but it looked smashing, any trekkie who ventures past the Kirk years can appreciate this one.

1. Batman

The mask itself is an icon and part of what keeps us geek girls gaga for Bruce Wayne.  Well, besides the fact he’s a loaded bachelor with his own space station.  Every villain knows, when you see those pointy ears, hit the deck or better yet, just come out with your hands up.

I hope that gave you guys some food for thought.  Remember to be at Lure (http://www.lurechicago.com/) on July 28th starting at 8pm and don’t forget your black mask.  Oh, and brush up on your Mortal Kombat.

Chicago’s geek social season is getting bigger this summer with the addition of two new events; Anime World Chicago and Tech Week.  Meaning there are more reasons than ever for us geeks to take a shower, get out of the house, breathe some fresh air and SOCIALIZE.

The days of posting on a forum and calling it social interaction are long gone.  No more festering in front the ‘ol PC, trolling blogs and posting snarky comments night after night.

 Geeks have developed a nasty habit of being more elitist than the pretentious high school bullies of our nightmares.  It seems to be either you’re hardcore or nothing at all.  The whole bit is tired.  If we are to inherit the Earth we must adapt and evolve.  Technology has allowed us to reach the far corners of the Earth, but the future is looking in our own back yards and outside of our comfort zones.  Cons prove that geeks know how and love to party, sometimes a little too hard.  If we can take some of the social skills acquired at our local conventions and translate them into everyday life we can revolutionize our image and our quality of life.  There is no reason for us to lurk in the shadows anymore.      

As Sugar Gamers embarks on its second year, members and fans can expect more events, more coverage, and more bringing Chicago’s female geeks out of the woodwork.

 This year we’re bringing you a new website, and more earth shattering events.  We have a mission to change the way geeks live and interact by turning Chicago into an epicenter for Cons, and events catered to the video game, comic book, anime, table top,sci-fi, larp and cos play obsessed.  And if you’ve only dipped your toes in these geeky waters, that’s okay, we take everything from newbs to old pros.  There is no better time to get involved and support Sugar Gamers than right now.