Is this game right for you?

[Judge Sam]

Spies is a slightly different kind of mafia game. First, I welcome everybody: experienced, previous players, or totally new players to play the game. I have had many totally new players play for me before and most have had a wonderful experience. Anywhere from 50-66% of the game is selected returning players, so you won't even be close to alone.


Spies is a fast-paced game. Two players are eliminated every five days. Half of the players will be eliminated after the first four weeks. The maximum length the game could last is nine weeks, and even then there would only be three people left after this time in the final round.


Some games last 3-6 months and as such they are more laid back. Because this game goes so quickly, I need players to play the game on a daily basis. It's perfectly fine to miss a day or two every so often, but you should attempt to visit the board at least once daily.

The most important part is that you must try to log onto your game AIM name as much as possible. I cannot stress this enough. A major part of the game involves talking to the other players on AIM. Please try to log onto your game AIM name every time you possibly can. Minimum would be approximately a half-hour, though it is recommended one hour (some stay on more). You don't have to log on and stare at the wall for an hour, but if you just log on whenever you are doing other things on the computer and just chit chat when an IM window pops up, you should be good.


I will provide you an alternate AIM name to use for this game and a proboards account.


This game is not for you if any of the following apply:


* You do not have or are not willing to download AOL Instant Messenger or a variant (pidgin, trillian), and are unwilling to try to log onto an alternate screenname on a daily basis. You can log on to both this and your normal one at the same time. There are very easy to use programs which allow you to log onto both your AIM name and your MSN, yahoo, google, ICQ, or other IM program using the same thing.

* You are going on vacation without access to a computer for eight consecutive days or more from mid-June to early August.

* You are unwilling to commit yourself to the game for the weeks you are in it by visiting the board often and logging onto your game AIM name as much as possible.

* You are not able to keep your alias a secret and your true life name completely secret from all of the other players.



Most people won't have a problem with any of these things. The two big things are activity (AIM and board), and keeping your alias a secret.