Intentions:

Note: No real hacking should be going on, this is all make believe. We are calling solving some computer like puzzles hacking for the purpose of fun. Hacking other players means using the hack option on their profile, not actually getting their password by some means. Please respect this community and do not mess with it in any negaive way (well, there are some intended negative effects, but other than those). Thank you.

Hack Wars is intended to be an online community of players, who can join one of two factions (White or Black hat hackers). The players may participate in many activites to raise the score of their faction, from "hacking" an opposing player to gambling. The team with the highest score at the end of the week wins. Individual players shall be recognized as well for outstanding achievements. The game will revolve around a small community economy of which money can be gained from a variety of sources. Your options on cash flow are entirely up to you, and technically to play you don't need an "income" at all, you can just go at it with the opposing team.

Possible sources of income are:
Hacking Missions - These can sometimes get very difficult. They will be computer related puzzles that will allow you new abilities. Some of the Master Level ones will effect the entire community (stocks and item prices). You will gain cash and items from these missions as well as experience.
Gambling - The in-game casino will feature Blackjack and Slot Machines. Honestly, just because I think it's a good way to try and make cash. There will also be a lottery, depending on how many tickets are sold the jackpot will increase.
Stocks - The economy in Hack Wars will try to simulate reality as effectively as possible (by that I mean I would like it too, but I'm lazy and not an economist). There will be companies to invest your money in, depending on the state of things in the game world, the stocks can go up and down. If someone hacks the credit card storage database of a major company, you might see a change in a lot of stocks, some for good, some for the worse. Keep an eye on these, they will update every 5 minutes.
Hacking opponents - You will gain cash from a successful hack.

Your goal in the game is to get as many points as possible within a one week period (beginning Sunday morning at 12:00AM EST and ending 11:59PM Saturday night EST). The faction with the most points will be declared the winner. Points can be gained from "hacking" opponents (only of the same skill level as you. No Master levels will be allowed to hack the newbies), from contributing money to the cause, and by hacking certain companies that have things to do with one faction or the other. The player with the most points at the end of the week (From each faction) will get a special in-game prize.

The money can be used to buy items and to buy points for your team. You can buy new computer hardware (makes it easier to hack and allows you to get into higher level missions). You can buy security devices (to try and prevent yourself from being hacked). and Stocks (obviously).

Hacking Opponents:

The purpose of hacking an enemy is to gain a point for your team and yourself, but there are also other incentives. You will gain money for each successful hack (not from the other player, just from the almighty Hack Wars money printer), you will also gain experience which can lead to the ability to buy better hardware and grant you access to higher missions. The downside of hacking others is that if you fail, your defences take a hit and it is much easier for you to be hacked. To prevent (or stop) a hack you need defense, you will be able to buy things like firewalls, antivirus, security patches, and other security tools. There is a fierce calculation that goes on when somone tries to hack you and unless they are unnaturally lucky, if your defenses are incredible they will have trouble hacking you. Hacking will take some form of intelligence and a little computer knowledge, it will not be as easy as hitting the hack button and letting it go. This will be a learning experience for everyone who is not a die hard computer geek. You will learn some real hacking skills (later, in Master Missions) as well as some other interesting computer knowledge. Instuction manuals will be available as items on some subjects, but google will also be a very helpful resource (Although not as specific as my instruction manuals since I wrote the problem obviously).

Have fun, and keep it clean guys and gals. This is for entertainment and learning, not to be a jerk. -Kevin