WWII Gaming News

In this thread I'll post some interesting news and updates about WWII games and simulations. There are no strict guidelines here, basically whatever I feel is cool, I'll post.

 

Return to Castle Wolfenstein Deathmatch for Dollars?

Synopsis:
You Play Games is an online wager service where you can bet and earn money for each kill or injury to opponents. You can even cap how much money you can lose in a 24 hour period. The popular WWII First-person-shooter Return to Castle Wolfenstein is the first title. The press release can be found here. More info here too. And they said that spending days on end playing first person shooters wouldn't pay off...

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From: Yahoo Finace
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030304/latu045_1.html

Press Release Source: YouPlayGames

YouPlayGames Signs Exclusive Deal With id Software and Even Balance, Inc. to Provide First-of-Its-Kind Multi-Player Online Gaming Service With Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Tuesday March 4, 6:01 am ET

CURACAO, Netherlands Antilles, March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- YouPlayGames today announced that it has signed an exclusive deal with id Software(TM) and Even Balance, Inc. to offer Return to Castle Wolfenstein(TM) as the premiere title available through the company's new skill-based online gaming service. YouPlayGames is pioneering the world of professional online gaming by bringing massively popular multi-player licensed titles into homes and providing everyone with the chance to make money while playing their favorite computer games.

Through the agreement, gamers at any skill level can play Return to Castle Wolfenstein and vie against each other over the Internet for the opportunity to win money and prizes. Participants who connect to YouPlayGames' servers to play Return to Castle Wolfenstein will be required to have the latest version of Even Balance's PunkBuster Anti-Cheat software on their systems in order to compete.

"We chose Return to Castle Wolfenstein as YouPlayGames' first title because of its amazing gameplay and immensely popular following. There are more than one million Return to Castle Wolfenstein players in the world, which provides YouPlayGames with an extensive fan base to launch its service," said Chris Grove, executive director, YouPlayGames. "Even Balance's PunkBuster software also helps to ensure an enjoyable, cheat-free gaming experience."

"Return to Castle Wolfenstein games are already intense, but with cash and prizes on the line over the YouPlayGames service, your next battle in the trenches will be more exhilarating than ever," said Todd Hollenshead, chief executive officer, id Software.

"Even Balance has been serving the online gaming community for years by fostering fun and fair competition," said Tony Ray, president, Even Balance, Inc. "YouPlayGames participants can rest assured that their opportunity to profit while playing Return to Castle Wolfenstein will be maximized due to the presence of our PunkBuster Anti-Cheat software."

Upon signing up for an account on YouPlayGames.com, players begin gameplay with a free life that is 100 percent intact. There is no entry fee to participate, but players who are fragged or who leave the game in a damaged condition are charged for the life at the game's life cost rate. Conversely, for each frag registered, players receive a percentage of the life's cost. Life cost rates will vary from game to game.

YouPlayGames plans to launch the service in late-March 2003.

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From: The Miami Herald
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/5423630.htm

Posted on Tue, Mar. 18, 2003

Service to offer cash, prizes for online gamers
Associated Press

DALLAS - A new source of income - or debt - could soon be a mouse click away for PC gamers.

Players 18 years and older can win cash or prizes while playing against each other in the online World War II action game Return to Castle Wolfenstein.

It's part of a deal between YouPlayGames and two Texas companies - Even Balance, Inc. of Houston and Id Software, Inc. of Mesquite.

After registering with YouPlayGames, gamers can place their wager.

The cost of entry generally will range from a few cents to a few dollars for each kill or injury players incur on their opponents, YouPlayGames creator Chris Grove said Tuesday.

No money limits have been set, but that could change, Grove said.

Another feature will let gamers cap how much money they can lose in 24 hours.

"If two players want to play a game for $100 a life, then we'll open up a server for that," he said.

Grove said prizes eventually will include games, vacations and money.

YouPlayGames' system remains in beta-testing but should be released later this month.

Subscribers will have to connect to online matches hosted on YouPlayGame's servers, and for security reasons use Even Balance's Punkbuster anti-cheat software.

Negotiations are under way to bring the cash-for-kiling scheme to other games, and eventually, online consoles like Xbox and PlayStation2, Grove said.

YouPlayGames is headquartered on the Caribbean island of Curacoa in the Netherlands Antilles, just off the coast of Venezuela.

U.S. players in 11 states won't be able to wager any money due to laws against fee-based online gaming. The states are Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, Tennessee and Vermont.

-edit: some links fixed-

[ 07. June 2003, 07:13 PM: Message edited by: Peppy ]