Fury Challenge: Interview with Michael Hampden
Recently, Auran, the makers the the upcoming PvP MMORPG, Fury, announced that they would be holding a tournament with $1,000,000 in prizes up for grabs. Today, I talk to Content Designer Michael Hampden about the upcoming event.
| MMORPG.com: |
This week, you guys announced something called the "Fury Challenge". Can you give us a quick idea of what that's all about? |
| Michael Hampden: |
FURY Challenge is a massive beta event beginning on the 14th of September. We've teamed up with major sponsors like NVIDIA, Dell, Logitech, and more to offer over $1,000,000 dollars worth of prizes for FURY Challenge participants. |
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MMORPG.com: |
Can you explain to us how the tournament will work? |
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Michael Hampden: |
As I said it all starts on the 14th of September weekend. The first weekend is for practice, the games will be highly competitive, but performance is not recorded. The weekends of the 21st and the 28th are competitive weekends. Overall we expect a turn out of over 500,000 players worldwide participating in the FURY Challenge event! |
;) |
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MMORPG.com: |
How did the idea for this challenge come about? |
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Michael Hampden: |
In FURY, we have created the ultimate competitive online RPG. There is no better way to showcase this than a massive tournament the likes of which gamers have never seen before. Not only will gamers be able to try out FURY for free, they have a chance to win some great prizes as well. |
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MMORPG.com: |
So, you're offering over $1,000,000 worth of prizes. Are these prizes being donated, or purchased by Auran? |
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Michael Hampden: |
We have some excellent corporate sponsors for this event. In addition to the prizes being donated by our sponsors, Auran is going to offer some seriously excellent prizes as well. |
;) |
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MMORPG.com: |
This isn't the first million dollar contest to be announced in the MMO world. The last contest, held by Risk Your Life: Path of the Emperor, was cancelled due to cheating and exploiting. How do you plan on keeping this from happening with this contest? |
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Michael Hampden: |
I can't really speak about RYL. What I can say is that from the ground up, FURY has been developed as a Player vs. Player game. We have focused entirely on PVP, and as every gamer knows, competitive gameplay ceases to be fun if it isn't fair. We have spent a great deal of time balancing FURY and making sure it is exploit free. Due to this focus we believe we can avoid issues that have plagued other competitive games. |
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MMORPG.com: |
This is a Beta event. How can someone who isn't currently in the Fury Beta take part in this event, or is it for current Beta players only? |
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Michael Hampden: |
FURY Challenge is open to everyone. We want to get as many players as possible logging on and checking out FURY! Game retailers around the world will offer the FURY Challenge DVD in their stores, so picking it up is just that easy. FURY Challenge is also available for download from August 28th 2007. Head to www.unleashthefury.com for details. Remember, there is no charge for entering FURY Challenge. |
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MMORPG.com: |
If I don't have a clan (guild), does that put me at a disadvantage? |
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Michael Hampden: |
No. We have ladders for clans and individuals - everyone has a shot at winning some great stuff. |
;) |
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| MMORPG.com: |
Will someone who plays for 12 hours straight have an advantage over someone who can only play for a few hours? |
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Michael Hampden: |
No. Ladders are limited by player Rank and prizes are rewarded more for skill than time spent playing. |
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MMORPG.com: |
As of right now, what's the coolest prize that you are offering? |
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Michael Hampden: |
Personally I'd love to walk away with a FURY gaming rig (PC) - if only I was allowed to get online and compete! Check out www.furychallenge.com for the latest info on the tournament and prizes. |
