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Frag For Cash Kwari FAQ

Filed under General news and Rants, PC News on October 5th, 2007

[youtube EWbZS_xShg4 nolink]

1. Release Date

1.1 When will Kwari be released?

To coin a phrase, “When it’s done.”

We have a release date that we are working to at the moment, however we’re keeping it under our hats for the time being as many things may change as a result of testing before we hit that date. Be sure, there will be an announcement well in advance of our release date.

2. The Beta Test

2.1 How will I know if I’ve been accepted into the beta test?

The beta test for Kwari will run over several months, starting very small and build gradually. At each stage of the test we’ll bring in more players until eventually we hit open beta at which point all applicants will be invited to join.

You will be contacted by Kwari with details on how to take part in the beta in advance of that stage commencing.

2.2 Will beta testers need to use real money?

No.

All the money in beta testing will be simulated. Every player will have a fixed amount of beta cash to use (which isn’t real!) in order to test the game. At fixed intervals during the test every player’s beta cash will be restocked.

3. Playing Kwari

3.1 Will I be able to play Kwari without paying money?

Yes, Kwari will include a practise mode which will simulate the cash for ammo and game play. Every player who registers to play the game will receive enough practise cash to get to learn the game before playing for real.

When a player then joins the real game they will be credited with further practise funds so they can keep their skills sharp once playing for money.

3.2 Will team play be possible in Kwari?

Kwari has been designed to be a solo experience with every player playing it for themselves. As such it has been made as difficult as possible to identify other players in the game while playing it to avoid people who know each other working together. Kwari is a game which puts your individual ability to the test, not your ability to work as a team.

3.3 What’s to stop highly skilled players taking out new players for easy cash?

Kwari includes a bespoke skill matching system designed to pitch players against others of similar ability. The rating of your skill is not purely based on your accuracy, or the number of kills you’ve gained, the rating is built up from many areas of the game. To that end it is not a rating of how good you are at first person shooters, rather it is a rating of your competency at Kwari – it is entirely possible that you can increase your skill level without ever firing a shot!

This system will not, however, punish long term players. Your skill level will go down as well as up in order to ensure that you are always able to be in a game that you have a good chance of winning.

3.4 How does The Pill work?

The Pill spawns on every Pill mode map at a certain point within the round, these points can be identified by the unique mark on the floor of the level. The jackpot assigned to the Pill is split in two ways – the player who held the Pill longest, and the player who finishes the round with the Pill. If you fulfil both these criteria you win both parts of the Pill jackpot.

When the Pill spawns it will immediately be visible to all players in the level, and if you’re the one carrying it you can be certain it means that you’re a target.

The jackpot for the Pill is fuelled by several elements – self-inflicted damage, damage done by traps and costs associated to the pickups in game.

For every weapon, health pack and other optional pickup in the game a cost is attached, a percentage of this cost is then cycled into the Pill jackpot, as well as all the other prizes in the game. None of this pickup cost is taken by Kwari; it all goes back into prizes.

3.5 Will Kwari contain in-game advertising?

Advertising within Kwari is something that we’re considering, however for the initial release of the game it will not contain in-game advertising.

If at any point advertising is included in the game it will be in a manner which enhances either gameplay or the prizes available in game.

3.6 Kwari Winnings and Tax

Any money made through Kwari will be subject to the laws of your own country regarding taxable capital gains.

Tax in the case of large winnings will not be deducted by Kwari and it will be the responsibility of individual players to ensure they are abiding by their national taxation rules.

3.7 Is Kwari Gambling?

No, Kwari is a game of skill.

Kwari has been developed to ensure at all stages that success is generated by the ability of the player rather than luck in any fashion. This brings the game under the umbrella heading of being a game of skill and not a gambling enterprise.

Everything, from the exchange of cash due to shooting another opponent, to gaining the main map prize associated with the Pill, to winning a monthly key jackpot is down to the skill of the individual player. Nothing is decided through chance, it is the actions of the players in the game that dictate exactly who wins and how much.

Players are balanced in terms of their ability in the game to ensure that at no point should you ever be in a situation where you face someone who will dominate the entire match. As such every game of Kwari you play will see you on an equal footing to your opponents, it comes down to your skills, tactics and decisions you make as to whether you come out ahead or not.

3.8 How do Key Jackpots work?

Key Jackpots are generated over time from the cost of picking up weapons and power-ups in the game. Depending on the length of the Key Series attached to the Jackpot it will payout with a certain frequency, be that hourly, daily, monthly and so on.

The simplest way to explain how this system works is through example.

The Bronze Key Series is a Jackpot prize that pays out once an hour and is usually worth between K$50 and K$60 in value. In order to win the prize you have to be the first person of all active Kwari players to collect the entire Bronze Key Series, which in this case is 3 keys.

Keys are found in destructable crates in every Pill map in the game, and this is the only way to get them, however keys are not the only thing that can be found in crates. Crates also contain regular weapons and pickups, and cash prizes, which while often quite small can make the difference between a round in profit or not. There is a small cost for each one you destroy (the Kwari Corporation takes a dim view of people blowing up their containers!) However this charge will be minute and, as with other game charges, be cycled into more prizes you can win.

When picking up a key you won’t know which series it belongs to right away - maybe it will be the elusive last one you need for the week jackpot, maybe it’ll be another one for your collection toward the big 6 month prize. At any rate it’s always worth picking up as the biggest prizes in Kwari come from key jackpots!

Keys spawn in the every game on a constant basis, and there is no advantage to be had by playing at a certain level or certain game type - every player has an equal shot at getting all the keys first.

4. Money

How does Kwari make money?
We generate money from the game purely through the sale of ammo. The price has not been finalised yet, but it will not be expensive - after all, charging too much to play the game would severely dampen the interest in playing it. The ideal that we’re working towards is that the cost of ammo will be significantly outweighed by a successful, profitable single match.

This ammo charge allows us to provide the servers and infrastructure for players to compete on as well as financing further support, development and improvement of the game after it has been released.

How are prizes funded?
There are several ways the game creates prize money; the first and most frequent being a cost assigned to all weapons and pickups. The exact price will vary between different games, but for the sake of the following example we’ll say that every item (weapon, health, power-ups and so on) costs 5 Kwari cents to pick up.

From this 5c the majority is immediately cycled straight into the map jackpot, a share of which can be won either by carrying the Pill for the longest time or finishing the map in possession of it.

The remainder of this charge is then pooled into the other prizes in the game, such as Key Jackpots, Trophy Rewards and Crate cash drops.

100% of this 5c charge is cycled into prizes, none of it goes to Kwari.

Crates also cost a small amount to destroy, as they are the only place to find keys and cash drops, but once again the cost of this is put straight into the total prize fund.

In the event that a prize is not won at the end of a match, the Pill being left entirely alone for the duration of a match for example, the money is put straight back into the prize fund so it can still be won. Once again, none of this prize money goes to Kwari, the only time Kwari makes money is when you buy ammo.

4.1 How does Kwari allow me to handle my money?

The first part of your account is your Bankroll. This account is the one you transfer money from your payment system of choice into and out of the game from. This account is never touched by the game unless you authorise it, unless you win a Key Series Jackpot, at which point your winnings are put directly into your Bankroll.

The second account is your Game Account, often also referred to as Game Balance. This account sits with you in game and collects winnings from shooting other players, the Pill, crates and so on. Any charges for pickups, fines for self damage or traps, or costs from being shot are deducted from this account. Each stake level (1c per health point, for example) carries a recommended minimum Game Balance before you can join. Transfers between Game Balance and Bankroll happen in the lobby area of the game. If at any point your Game Balance drops to zero while in game you will be ejected from the game.

Finally is your ammo, which while not strictly an account does tie to the others. Ammo can be bought in batches of 5000 (currently, this may be subject to change) from the lobby and in game, the charge for which (is being finalised - but won’t be expensive) deducted from your Bankroll.

4.2 Who is Kwari aimed at?

Kwari is intended to be playable and potentially profitable to anyone who can play a first person shooter. It is not just aimed at elite first person shooter veterans, although they’re as able to make a killing in the game as anyone else.

Through skill matching players will face off against players who have performed to an equal level of competence as themselves which means that in every match you have an equal footing to those you’re playing against.

A new player entering the game for the first time will find that within very few rounds of play they will be able to hold their own in the game and make a profit without it seeming impossible or even too difficult as they’ll be playing against players of their own standard.

Additionally, there will be several different game stake levels to play at and over time better players will choose to move to higher stake games to increase the amount they can win. Even then skill matching is in effect, so the lowest skill-ranked player can still find a way to game when playing for more money.

This system allows Kwari to be playable by anyone who can play a first person shooter, regardless of how good they are, and while in every game some players will come out ahead and others behind, the system is designed so that nobody should be on a losing streak for long.

4.3 How can I make money from Kwari?

Shooting other players – The most straightforward way to reap financial rewards is to point your weapon at choice at the nearest opponent and fill them full of lead/rockets/whirling blades/superheated plasma.

Any damage you deal to other players will instantly make your bankroll rise, you don’t have to kill a player to make money, just damage them. Obviously, everyone else will be doing the same thing, so make sure you inflict maximum damage while minimizing the damage you accrue.

The Pill – There are several strategies around the Pill, which you are well advised to review on www.kwari.com. You don’t have to hold the pill the whole time to win the map jackpot; just holding it for the longest or being the player that has it when the map ends will secure you 50% of the money. Of course, the ideal scenario would be to hold it the longest AND end the map with it in your grasp, but with 15 other players all thinking the same thing that is going to be a hard fought exercise.

Cash In Crates – Located throughout the levels in Kwari are destructible crates, which can contain anything from weapons to pickups to jackpot keys to money! Shooting a crate will make it explode revealing its

Jackpots – A complete explanation of jackpots is available on www.kwari.com

So there’s a broad spectrum of ways to make money in Kwari; from the instant gains from shooting players and finding cash in crates, to the strategies and tactics around the Pill, to the longer term goal of winning a Jackpot.

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Unreal Tournament 3 limited collector’s edition Details

Filed under PC News on September 27th, 2007

ut3_logo2.jpgMidway today announced an exclusive PC collector’s edition for the highly anticipated first-person shooter, Unreal Tournament 3. This limited edition is encased in a special tin hard cover. Included is an Art Book featuring the flawless art style found in the vehicles, characters, weapons and environments that are signature trademarks of the Unreal Tournament 3 universe. In addition, the limited collector’s edition includes bonus DVD extras, featuring:

  • Unreal Engine 3 Toolkit Video Tutorials - More than 10 hours of in-depth tutorials about game modifications that can help players break into the game development business
  • The History of Unreal Tournament - Take a look at the history of Unreal Tournament, while hearing first-hand interviews with the creators and team behind the legacy.
  • Behind the Scenes of Unreal Tournament 3 - Get a deeper look behind the making of the FPS giant and how the dedicated team at Epic Games crafted its return.

The limited collector’s edition will be available in limited quantity at select retailers for a suggested retail price in the U.S. of $59.95, available November 2007.

This limited collector’s edition will also be available across the UK, Europe, South Africa, Russia, Australia and most other territories.

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Clive Barker’s Jericho Demo Download

Filed under PC News on September 26th, 2007

The playable demo for Clive Barker’s Jericho is now available, providing a sample of the upcoming horror-themed shooter from popular author Clive Barker.

The demo premieres on GameSpot (registration required), where word is: “This demo includes an introductory Jericho video and lets you play as three of the Jericho squad members through the sewers of Al Khali.” The 1.1 GB download is also mirrored on ActionTrip and FanGaming.

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Dusk2Dawn Interactive Announces LOCKDOWN

Filed under PC News on September 19th, 2007

In the spirit of Pirate day here is some space pirate action with LOCKDOWNlockdown.JPG

Dusk2Dawn Interactive Limited is pleased to announce LOCKDOWN, a first person shooter (FPS), which promises lots of frenetic shooting action elements and an explosive storyline that features a cast of characters who might be your best friends – or maybe one is a traitor.

Developed by StarFish Game Studios, the wholly owned subsidiary of D2D, players will take the role of Cale Mollens, a new recruit, recently assigned to be the ‘trigger-man’ on the Earth’s most powerful spaceship.

The game features an explosive plot with some great movies throughout that help the story to take its many twists and turns.

“I’m really excited about the ‘trust’ element in this game,” said Neil Cotton, Director at Dusk2Dawn Interactive Limited.

“Along the way the player will get helpful briefs and radio comms from fellow crew members, but one thing that should strike players quickly is: if this is the most powerful spaceship in the galaxy, how did the pirates get on board so quickly? Maybe there is a traitor in the ranks?

“The crew members will try to help in a situation, but they won’t always give the right answer, however does that mean that they were trying to kill you, or were they simply wrong, maybe they’re panicking under the pressure. That’s for the player to work out!

“The script has been cleverly written to keep the player alert when taking advice.”

The game will feature 21 levels and boasts some excellent characters to interact with.

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Halo 3 Believe the Hype?

Filed under General news and Rants, PC News, Xbox on September 4th, 2007

We should demand something new, something different in our games. Don’t just add a number to the title, change the graphics and the maps and maybe adding a new weapon or two, and then call it “NewOldGame 3” **cough, Halo 3**. It’s almost like what is going on with the movie industry now days. How many remakes or sequels have you see at the box office in the last 5 years? (Way to many to even count)

I just don’t think the game has changed from halo 1 to halo 3 that much too even warrant having a halo 2 at all. Halo was never the First at anything in the game world, other than one of the first FPS games on Xbox. That was the ONLY reason it was one of the top selling games 4 years running was due to the fact it was also only 1 of 5 launch titles for the Xbox.

Halo 1 is well just a good game and not the end all be all in the FPS market, as a Xbox exclusive yes, the gaming world No. I just see little if any advancement in the game to justify a new Halo about every 2 - 3 years.

  • HALO 1 Xbox was released November 15, 2001 | Windows on July 12, 2002 *Update* September 30, 2003 Thanks to spiffv2
  • HALO 2 Xbox on November 9, 2004 | Windows Vista May 29th, 2007
  • HALO 3 Xbox 360 September 25, 2007 | Windows ???? Someday

If you look at Halo Wars it is a RTS not a FPS and I think pushes the title in a new and refreshing direction. I think it would have been great if you could have played an alien in Halo3. But noooo it looks to be the same old game play, just with a new suit on. My overall point is that so many games are going down the same road of “let’s keep pushing out the games to keep the buzz until we can really make something good” I just don’t think they will be able to make a game to live up to the hype they have built around HALO Brand. I sit and hope and pray to be impressed for my 60.00, but some how I KNOW I will be sorely disappointed.

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EA’s Medal of Honor Airborne Ships

Filed under PC News, Xbox, ps3 on September 4th, 2007

moha.jpg

Medal of Honor Airborne, the latest installment from EA’s critically-acclaimed Medal of Honor franchise has shipped to store shelves across North America and the UK for the PC and Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system. Medal of Honor Airborne is set to redefine the series and will change the way shooters are played. Medal of Honor Airborne offers a dramatically different approach to FPS games with its unprecedented non-linear gameplay.

“In recreating the largest airdrops in history, Medal of Honor Airborne brings a dramatic change and opens up the FPS genre with the innovative airdrop experience,” explained Patrick Gilmore, VP and Executive Producer at EALA. “Players have the ability to land anywhere on the battlefield, and choose their own tactics to achieve victory, delivering unprecedented variety and freedom to the combat experience.”

For the first time in a FPS game, players airdrop into combat from a C-47 and land anywhere in an open battlefield. The first step is everything and the player’s landing spot can dramatically change the course of battle. Conflict on the ground offers unprecedented tactical choice in vertical, open battle spaces with a wealth of attack routes and flanking opportunities.

Medal of Honor Airborne is rated ‘T’ for Teen by the ESRB, 16+ by PEGI, and 18+ by USK. The Xbox 360 version has a US MSRP of $59.99 and the PC version has a US MSRP of $49.99. Medal of Honor Airborne for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system will ship in November. For more information on Medal of Honor Airborne and the Medal of Honor franchise, please visit: http://www.moha.ea.com. Please visit EA’s press site at http://www.info.ea.com for information about all of EA’s games.

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Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars Has Gone Gold

Filed under General news and Rants, PC News on August 30th, 2007

enemy-territory-quake-wars-1.jpgid Software and Activision, Inc. announced today that Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars for Windows PC has gone gold and will be available in retail outlets in Europe and Australia on September 28, 2007 and on North American store shelves beginning October 2, 2007. Developed by Splash Damage, the prequel to the futuristic wars in the QUAKE II storyline pits the armies of Earth’s Global Defense Force (GDF) against the invading alien Strogg in the multiplayer action shooter that transports players to the front lines in the battle for Earth.

“After months of testing, tweaking and balancing Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars, I’m pleased to finally be able to say ‘It’s Done!’” said id Software CEO Todd Hollenshead. “We’ve had a ton of fun getting the game ready for the masses and I’m looking forward to seeing the massive battle for the top of the online leaderboards begin!”

To date, Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars has won more than 15 awards and has been heralded as one of the mostenemy-territory-quake-wars-2.jpg anticipated new titles in 2007 by nearly a dozen publications.

“The opportunity to develop Enemy Territory QUAKE Wars has been mind-blowingly cool!” said Splash Damage Owner and Creative Director Paul Wedgwood. “The passion and effort put in by our team at Splash Damage, combined with the amazing direction and mentoring we’ve received from id Software has led to an award-winning game that we’re incredibly proud of. Our team can’t wait to join fans across the globe to fight in Earth’s battle for survival!”

Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars for Windows PC is rated “T” by the ESRB and carries a suggested retail price of $49.99 for the regular edition and $59.99 for the Limited Collector’s Edition.

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Beta Signup For Kwari A FPS with a Twist

Filed under General news and Rants, PC News on August 29th, 2007

Kwari, today announced and released details of its new multiplayer online gaming service, which will potentially change the PC gamingkwari.jpg landscape forever.

Kwari’s game of the same name is a first-person shooter (FPS) with a difference; players make money off each other in real-time. The game will ultimately be free to download online, but instead of being subscription-based it will use a unique free-to-play/pay-to-play model whereby Kwari sells the player ammunition in place of flat rate charges or monthly subscriptions.

The skill-based game has been built from the ground up around the concept of money changing hands at a tremendously fast rate, and was developed using some of the most advanced technology available to ensure total financial infallibility fused with benchmark playability. 

Kwari flies in the face of the social network gaming ethos, which hinges on projecting an identity online, and for others to be able to interact or engage with that online persona. Bring money into the equation, however, and the rules have to change. Anonymity becomes necessary as well as psychologically appealing to a point where Kwari is virtually diametrically opposite to the core values of social networking.

“Money changes everything,” said Eddie Gill, founder and creator of Kwari. “I wanted to create something that had more of a buzz than a traditional FPS. The concept of playing for money is not a new one. However, these games tend to be an existing multiplayer game with a cash prize tagged on the end, much like clan tournaments, which means only a minority walk away with cash winnings – and usually a small amount at that.”

Gamers playing Kwari for cash set up an account, are matched on the basis of skill, and enter a game at a pre agreed stake level ranging from one cent to one dollar a hit. During the four-round matches (3x 16-player maps, 1x 64-player last man standing map called ‘The Killing Floor’) every time a player hits another, money is decremented from the target’s stake and added to the shooter’s. In a way, the player’s money stake mirrors their in-game health, except it’s exchanged from one player to another.

There are also jackpot prizes which require keys to unlock. These jackpots are fed by self-inflicted damage sustained by the players in all games being played globally. For example, if a player jumps from the top of an arena or takes damage from a hazard, their stake is decremented and this feeds into the jackpots, which are then released hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly - the latter are expected to pay out millions of dollars. Most importantly; all money paid in to the game by players is won out of the game by players.

Being a game of skill, how much money a player can win depends partially on their in-game performance. So to ensure a level playing field, all games are skill-matched so that only players of equal ability are able to compete.

“This is an inevitable evolution for online gaming,” commented Al King, Global Marketing Director for Kwari. “Like most skill-based or competitive games, once played at a professional level or where money is involved, it’s unappealing to return to an amateur status.”

The game will be available for download towards the end of the year. Until then, the company has opened a sign-up website for the beta test program starting next week.

 

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Crysis Demo To Go Head to Head with Halo 3 Demo

Filed under PC News on August 28th, 2007

crysis-box-art.jpg A demo for Crysis is set to be released on September 25th Head to Head with Halo 3. The demo will include the entire first level of the single player campaign. Crytek is hoping this will quench the appetites of gamers everywhere until its full release on November 16th.

Consisting of the entire first level in Crysis’ epic single player campaign, “Contact,” gamers will get to finally experience first-hand the stunning visuals, revolutionary Nanosuit gameplay and open-ended level design that make Crysis one of the most anticipated shooters and PC games of all time. The demo is also poised to include a huge surprise from Crytek, but for now you’ll just have to wait and check out the latest Crysis Nanosuit trailer by following the link below.

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Medal Of Honor: Airborne PC Demo Download

Filed under PC News on August 23rd, 2007

moha.jpg

Medal of Honor Airborne, the newest installment from EA’s critically-acclaimed Medal of Honor franchise. Medal of Honor Airborne is set to redefine the series by introducing players to an entirely new way of experiencing a WWII FPS – namely the fully interactive Airborne experience.

Medal Of Honor: Airborne Demo, at the small size of only 1.3gb.


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