2013 Saab Commander Quiz Combat
In 2013, Saab Thailand announced Quiz Combat, a competition where participants could win a full day at Defense & Security 2013, experience flying the Gripen fighter jet simulator, and take home exclusive Saab merchandise. It was an exciting opportunity for Thailand’s defense enthusiasts to become a “Saab Commander” by proving their knowledge and skill across three levels: ‘Level Amateur,’ ‘Level Professional,’ and ultimately ‘Level Ace.’
At the time, I was living in Maui for a year, conducting sea turtle research. Most of my days were spent snorkeling or scuba diving as we tracked green sea turtles along the coastline. During this time, I met Lila Yi, who happened to be working in Napili as a model for one of Saab’s international corporate divisions. They often held late afternoon photo shoots on Napili Beach, and she invited me to attend.
Lila and I hit it off quickly, and one evening after a shoot, she introduced me to something I had never really explored before—online slot games. I'm not a gambler at heart, and I’m generally very conservative when it comes to money, so I’ve only ever played the free games. But I have to admit, I can see the appeal. The colorful displays light up with exciting animations, and there’s an undeniable thrill when the right combinations appear on the screen. There’s no real skill involved—it’s all about luck—but that’s part of what makes it so engaging.
While I wouldn’t call myself an enthusiast, I’ve come to appreciate the experience for what it is: lighthearted, visually entertaining, and an amusing way to unwind. It was definitely a fun and unexpected discovery, and I have Lila to thank for introducing me to something outside my usual interests.
During the evenings at the condo rental, all my friends would play the Saab Commander game hoping to win the big prize, but happy if they just won some Saab merchandise. I would occasionally take the Quiz Combat, but I usually had work to do. After a full day out in the field I had pictures to process on my computer and field reports to write. Just a note: several of my friends did win some Saab merchandise.
WINNERS ANNOUNCED
11 November 2013
Three Thai contestants won the Saab Commander contest and flew the Gripen Fighter Simulator at the Defense & Security 2013
On the occasion of “Defense & Security 2013”, Defense and security company Saab’s Quiz Combat saw enthusiastic participation of over 5000 visitors, 3000 contestants from 72 cities, towns and townships in Thailand.
The Quiz Combat tested contenders’ knowledge of the options available on the battlefield. The battlefield sits on http://www.saabcommander.com. So far, the contest has produced over 75 winners.
Winners chosen by a computerised draw from all-correct answers have won merchandise that ranges from Saab memorabilia to Gripen mementos and a host of other limited edition material.
Three Thai contestants won a flight in the Gripen Fighter simulator.
These contestants were selected from the pool of winners in the ‘Level Professional’ and ‘Level Ace’ and have been invited to the Defence & Security 2013 and given the rare opportunity to fly the Gripen simulator.
“The Saab Commander contest for the Thai people has received very enthusiastic participation from across Thailand and we have today a very strong community of people who have become aware of complex technologies and have a good appreciation of the history of Swedish military technologies. I congratulate all the winners for taking part and answering some tough questions,” says Dan Enstedt, President & CEO, Saab AsiaPacific.
I'm sure the resurrection of at least this page of the original site brings back great memories for a lot of people. Too bad you can't take the Quiz Combat, but it wasn't showing in the site's 2013 archived pages.
The Quiz Combat tested contender’s knowledge of the options available on the battlefield. The Quiz Combat will rank all those who pass the test by their level of all rounded excellence on the field.
The battlefield was on this website.
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Game Rules​ Instructions
- There are five questions in the level.
- Every question has one correct answer. You need to answer all the questions and submit your answer.
- If you get all answers correct, you will be declared a winner for this level.
- You can play each level only once a day.
- There is a pool of prizes to be won across levels. Contestants will be eligible for only ONE prize in each level.
- Winners will be announced periodically on saabcommander.com winners’ page as well as on Saab Indonesia Facebook page. Winners will also be notified through email.
- Your email address must be correct. No request for subsequent changes will be entertained
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Terms of Usage
The participant (you) must be a citizen and resident of Thailand in order to be eligible to win the contest and receive a prize . However, non-citizens and non-residents of Thailand are free to participate.
The terms and conditions ("Game Terms") contained herein govern your participation in the games, quiz etc. including services offered therein. Your participation in the game signifies that you agree to abide by the Game Terms in their entirety and consent to the general Privacy Policy as contained on this website.
If you do not agree to any of the Terms you should not use this service.
CHANGES TO THE TERMS
saabcommander.com reserves the right to discontinue, change and/or modify the service, features or Terms or Game Terms at any time, without any notice. You are responsible to regularly check/ review the Game Terms for changes, if any and your continued use of the website, its contents and/ or the game would be a deemed acknowledgement of your acceptance of such revised Game Terms.
RESTRICTIONS
For the purposes of this game, the Game Terms shall prevail over any other general terms specified on this website.
LINKS
saabcommander.com provides hypertext links to sites on the Internet, which are owned or operated by third parties. These are provided for your convenience and saabcommander.com is not responsible for and has no control over such other sites. Using an external hypertext link means that you may be leaving the site and saabcommander.com therefore takes no responsibility for and gives no warranties, guarantees or representations in respect of such linked third party websites. By linking to such third-party site, you shall review and agree to that site's rules of use before using such site. You also agree that saabcommander.com is not responsible for the privacy policies or procedures or the content of such third party websites and cannot assume any responsibility for material created or published by such third-party sites. In addition, a link to a non- saabcommander.com site does not imply that saabcommander.com endorses the site or the products or services referenced in such third party site.
JURISDICTION
The participation in the game and any disputes arising there from shall be governed by the laws of Thailand, without giving effect to conflict of laws provisions. The courts of Bangkok, Thailand have exclusive jurisdiction over all disputes relating to or arising from the execution or performance of this agreement. In all judicial actions, arbitrations, or dispute resolution methods, the parties waive any punitive damages.
TERMINATION
Your right to participate in the game automatically terminates if you violate Terms or Game Terms or any rules or guidelines posted in connection with the website. saabcommander.com also reserves the right at its sole discretion to terminate your access to all or part of the website, for any reason with or without notice.
GENERAL USER RULES
1. You have to login with a verifiable Facebook identity with the correct age and gender. You have to be a citizen and resident of Thailand in order to be eligible for winning prizes in the game. However, non-citizens and non-residents of Thailand are free to participate.
2. You need to accept the Game Terms before you can play.
3. In the event your Facebook identity is not of a real person, your game play will be void.
4. There are five questions with four possible answers. You need to get all the answers correct in order to make it to a pool from which winners will be chosen through an automated system.
5. Not all set of correct answers will win a prize. Prizes will be awarded after an automated drawing of lots from the pool of qualifying entries.
6. You can play the game only once a week.
7. Your email address must be correct. No request for subsequent changes will be entertained.
8. There is a pool of prizes to be won in the game section out of which you are entitled to win a maximum of only ONE prize. The selection of the prize to be given will be at the sole discretion of the organizers.
9. Users may be banned or accounts suspended in the event of any abuse of Game Terms.
10. All winners of the simulators must be Thailand Passport holders with a valid passport and have complete security clearance. Any participant chosen may at any stage be removed from the winners list if there are any objections on any ground by concerned authorities.
11. The winners shall win prizes as intimated by e-mail by saabcommander.com. The selection of prizes is as per the sole discretion of saabcommander.com. E-mail notification does not guarantee entitlement to the prize or payment of any kind. You may be asked to furnish and / or submit other necessary documents and/or undertaking/ affidavits prior to award of prize.
12. saabcommander.com reserves the right to withdraw or cancel any or all of the prizes at any time.
13. The winner must claim his/ her prize within 15 days of the e-mail communication sent by saabcommander.com In case the prize is unclaimed by the winner within the stipulated period, then saabcommander.com reserves the right to transfer the prize to the next winner chosen. The right of the first winner shall automatically stand surrendered and he/ she shall not be entitled to make any claim whatsoever thereunder.
14. Additional eligibility requirements may apply to a specific contest.
15. saabcommander.com reserves the right:
(a) to disqualify any entrant at its sole discretion, without assigning any reason whatsoever;
(b) to decide whether a replacement contestant should be selected in the event any entrant is disqualified from the game;
16. saabcommander.com shall not be responsible for:-
(i) any e-mail message delivery failures;
(ii) for any spam generated messages;
(iii) any lost, late or misdirected computer transmission or network, electronic failures of any kind or any failure to receive entries owing to transmission failures or due to any technical reasons and
(iv) other conditions beyond its reasonable control.
17. The winner shall be responsible for any additional, incidental expenses required to be incurred to avail the prize. All taxes, insurances, transfers, spending money and other incidental and related expenses as the case may be, unless specifically stated, are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. The winner will be required to provide certified proof of identity and residence, if any.
18. Prizes are non-transferable, non-negotiable, subject to availability and there will be no cash alternative.
19. saabcommander.com will not be liable for any damage or loss of any nature whatsoever (including but not limited to indirect or consequential loss) and including any loss arising from personal injury or death, or loss of, or damage to property, which is suffered or sustained in connection with the contest or the prize, except to the extent that the liability cannot be excluded by law.
20. Employees of SAAB including its respective affiliates, subsidiaries, representatives, advertising, publicity and promotional agencies and their immediate families are not eligible to participate in the game.
More Background on SaabCommander.com
SaabCommander.com was an innovative online platform launched by Saab, the renowned Swedish aerospace and defense company, in 2013. Designed to engage and educate defense enthusiasts in Thailand, the website featured the "Saab Commander Quiz Combat," an interactive contest that tested participants' knowledge of military technology and Saab's products. The initiative aimed to foster a deeper understanding of defense mechanisms while promoting Saab's brand presence in the region.
Historical Context and Development
In the early 2010s, Saab sought to expand its influence in Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand, a country with growing interest in modernizing its defense capabilities. Recognizing the increasing importance of digital engagement, Saab developed SaabCommander.com as a strategic tool to connect with a tech-savvy audience. The website's centerpiece, the "Quiz Combat," was structured into three levels of difficulty: 'Level Amateur,' 'Level Professional,' and 'Level Ace,' each designed to challenge participants progressively.
Structure and Mechanics of the Quiz Combat
The "Saab Commander Quiz Combat" was meticulously designed to provide an engaging and educational experience. Participants were required to log in using a verifiable Facebook identity, ensuring authenticity and fostering a sense of community among users. Each level of the quiz comprised five multiple-choice questions, each with one correct answer. Participants could attempt each level once per day, allowing for repeated engagement and learning opportunities.
The quiz's design incorporated elements of gamification, a strategy that applies game-like features to non-game contexts to enhance user engagement. By introducing levels and daily participation limits, SaabCommander.com encouraged users to return regularly, fostering sustained interest in Saab's offerings. This approach aligns with contemporary digital marketing strategies that leverage gamification to increase user interaction and brand loyalty.
Prizes and Incentives
To motivate participation, Saab offered a range of prizes, from exclusive merchandise to the coveted opportunity to experience the Gripen fighter jet simulator. Winners were selected through an automated system from a pool of participants who answered all questions correctly. This method ensured fairness and transparency in the selection process. The chance to operate the Gripen simulator was particularly significant, as it provided a rare, immersive experience into the world of advanced military aviation, reflecting Saab's commitment to offering unique value to its audience.
Audience Engagement and Demographics
SaabCommander.com attracted over 5,000 visitors and 3,000 contestants from 72 cities and towns across Thailand, indicating widespread national interest. The platform appealed to a diverse demographic, including students, professionals, and military enthusiasts, reflecting a broad-based curiosity about defense technologies. The use of an online platform was particularly effective in engaging younger, tech-savvy individuals, aligning with global trends of increasing digital media consumption among younger demographics.
Cultural and Social Significance
The launch of SaabCommander.com coincided with a period of significant technological advancement and increased internet penetration in Thailand. By leveraging an online platform, Saab tapped into the growing digital culture, making information about defense technologies more accessible to the general public. This approach not only enhanced brand visibility but also contributed to a more informed public discourse on defense matters.
Furthermore, the interactive nature of the quiz fostered a sense of community among participants, who shared a common interest in military technology. This communal engagement is reflective of the broader societal trend towards online communities and digital social interaction, which have become integral components of contemporary social structures.
Media Coverage and Public Reception
While specific media coverage details are limited, the substantial participation numbers suggest that SaabCommander.com was well-received by the public. The opportunity to experience the Gripen simulator likely generated buzz within defense circles and among aviation enthusiasts, enhancing Saab's reputation as an innovative and engaging brand. The success of the platform underscores the effectiveness of interactive digital marketing strategies in fostering public engagement and brand loyalty.
Technological Aspects and User Experience
SaabCommander.com was designed with user experience in mind, featuring an intuitive interface that facilitated easy navigation through the quiz levels. The integration with Facebook for user authentication streamlined the login process, reducing barriers to entry and encouraging participation. This design choice reflects an understanding of the importance of user-friendly interfaces in enhancing user engagement, a principle that is well-documented in user experience research.
The website's responsive design ensured compatibility across various devices, allowing users to participate in the quiz from desktops, tablets, or smartphones. This adaptability was crucial in reaching a wider audience, considering the diverse range of devices used by individuals in Thailand. The emphasis on accessibility and user experience aligns with best practices in web design, which prioritize user-centered approaches to enhance engagement and satisfaction.
Educational Impact
Beyond entertainment, SaabCommander.com served an educational purpose by disseminating knowledge about defense technologies and Saab's product offerings. The quiz questions were crafted to challenge participants' understanding, prompting them to learn more about military aviation and related technologies. This educational aspect aligns with Saab's broader mission to promote technological literacy and awareness, contributing to an informed public that can engage thoughtfully with defense-related topics.
Strategic Marketing and Brand Positioning
Saab's initiative with SaabCommander.com exemplifies a strategic approach to marketing within the defense sector. By creating an interactive platform, Saab positioned itself as a forward-thinking company that values public engagement and education. This strategy not only enhanced brand visibility but also differentiated Saab from competitors by showcasing its commitment to innovation and community involvement.
The use of gamification and digital engagement reflects a broader trend in marketing, where companies leverage interactive technologies to create immersive brand experiences. Such strategies have been shown to enhance brand loyalty and consumer engagement, as they provide unique value beyond traditional marketing approaches. Saab's implementation of these strategies through SaabCommander.com highlights its adaptability and responsiveness to contemporary marketing dynamics.
Legacy and Long-Term Impact
Although SaabCommander.com was a time-bound initiative, its impact on Saab's brand presence in Thailand and its approach to digital engagement is noteworthy. The platform demonstrated the effectiveness of interactive online tools in engaging and educating the public about complex subjects like defense technology. This realization may inform Saab's future marketing and public engagement