Worldgaming.com
Videogames as a way to earn a few extra bucks off of your friends
Tags: Categories: PC Previews, PS3 Previews, Previews, Tech Previews, Wii Previews, Xbox 360 Previews
Posted by Daniel "monk" Pelfrey on Apr 12th, 2008
Social networking, videogaming and gambling combine to form Worldgaming.com. the idea came about on New Year’s Day 06 when a few friends are gathered together playing Madden for $100 a game, with some other folks are their laptops playing poker online for money, and the light bulb lit up – is it possible to play the console game online for cash? After some consultants and lawyers, Worldgaming is getting ready to launch.
Visiting the website, users can see who is registered and online, establish a social network and make challenges and see the various tournaments that are going on. During the registration process, users select the supported games and systems that they wish to compete with, then upload and avatar. After this, money gets added into the system (PayPal, credit card, etc.) but it the registration itself is free.
Because wagering on skill based games is not regulated on a Federal level, but instead on a state level, it is up to the individual states o decide whether or not this type of activity is legal. Residents of 11 states will not be able to fully participate in what Worldgaming.com has to offer as a result.
Users will be able to provide user feedback, positive or negative, as see a scorecard of the various matches (win/loss record broken down by game) account history (financial) and games the user is registered to play through the website. There are worldgaming.com achievements, meant to be “use of site” oriented, such as posting in forums, that can be transferred to use to enter tournaments. It is going to take quite a lot to enter a tournament,, but it is conceivable to not put any money into the system and walk out ahead.
Players will use the website to help filter out the random matches and not get stuck playing against 12 year olds that simply scream obscenities. The website is 18 and over, so the community is going to be much more adult in their interactions. The website also keeps track of disconnects and no-shows. Results are automatically sent to the Worldgaming.com servers through Xbox Live. This eliminates the disputes that arise from self reporting games results. It does limit what games Worldgaming.com can track and offer its support for, but rather than work with every single game in an unsecured environment, the folks behind the site are emphasizing quality and security of service. Hopefully more publishers will allow their online game results to be accessible.
Worldgaming.com is going to make money by taking a percentage of the winnings on a per-match basis. The fee structure is a flat 10% with a maximum of $25. This allows the “big money” games to remain that way. All currency is converted to US Dollar.
Every game on the website has its own dedicated game lobby. There users will be able to see who is available and set up a challenge. The various players will have their reputation available to view, but not necessarily their win/loss record. That is an option that users could turn on or off in the registration field.
Clicking on a “challenge” button brings up details about the game as well as allowing the establishment of what time/type of challenge and a comments field (such as “I’m flexible on the time” or the like). Then the challengee gets a message and can directly accept or go see the challenge card for more details.
Worldgaming will also host their own tournaments and plan to have a payout structure that allows for more people to make some money, not just the top person. Maybe the top player will get a smaller purse, but the point is to get more people playing the games in a community setting. All players will need to do in this scenario is to win one game in the ladder to be ahead.
Worldgaming is looking at breaking out of the traditional tournament structure of destination based big gatherings, but to bring that feel to where everybody already lives throughout the world. The folks behind Worldgaming.com saw a lot of the problems that were there with regards to online gaming for money, and have created technology to solve them in a user friendly way. Facebook and email signups have been entering closed beta, but the official public launch is currently planned for mid-April. Currently 18 titles in the system with more to be added regularly. Also shortly after the official public launch support for clans and leagues will be incorporated into the website, as well as a training camp with videos and experts to help players hone their skills to not feel as intimidated.
Play online, play for cash, and just keep playing. That’s what Worldgaming.com is trying to get people to do.
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Posted by Daniel "monk" Pelfrey on Apr 12th, 2008 and is filed under PC Previews, PS3 Previews, Previews, Tech Previews, Wii Previews, Xbox 360 Previews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can post a comment, or trackback from your own site.
