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Online Games That Redefine Risk

Posted by simoniker on from the get-fragged-can't-afford-groceries dept.

Thanks to the New York Times (free reg. req.) for their article on the growing world of pay-to-play Internet FPS gaming, concentrating particularly on the YouPlayGames and Ultimate Arena sites, the latter of which is run by former Quake world champion Dennis 'Thresh' Fong. The article points out that "...groups concerned about the impact of computer games say that what these sites offer is gambling, which can make the games even more addictive." But according to pay-to-play FPS-er Tyler Hatton, the cash aspect is a positive thing: "Without money, if you're down a few kills, you might get lazy and accept defeat. When you're in a serious game for money, you put all you have into it. You start doing things you didn't know you could do, pulling off great moves."

3 of 21 comments (clear)

  1. Yeah, what a hustle... by EarwigTC · · Score: 2, Interesting

    From the Ultimate Arena ToS:

    Ultimate Arena reserves the right to reset the win-loss record of players suspected of cheating in tournaments offered on the Site.

    Right, because detection has worked so well on free services. These will eventually be used only by the best cheaters out there. The plus is that some cheaters will be there instead of playing casual games.

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  2. it's not gambling.. it's a skill game. by gl4ss · · Score: 2, Interesting

    a big difference between the two(from a legal point too).

    if 3rd parties are betting on the outcome of the match then that's gambling, but it's not gambling for the players to submit a fee and then compete and for the winner then to get that prize.

    horses don't gamble, they compete.. is tiger woods gambling? are football teams gambling? no.

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  3. Try it on a LAN by frenchgates · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Some friends and I did this years ago when we had Marathon on a Mac LAN. We had been playing after work daily until one of us said "Hey, let's each put in a dollar this game and the winner takes the pot." We played a game like this and there was a totally different level of intensity. We never did it again, but could all see the potential. We discussed whether or not implementing this on the internet would be legal or practical, and decided the impossible to stop cheating mechanisms would kill it.

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