Game Play Rules

Alienware Arena North American Battlefield 3 Battlegrounds

Game Play Rules 

These rules (these “Game Play Rules”) set forth the rules of game play for the Alienware Arena North American Battlefield 3 Battlegrounds (the “Ladder”) presented by iGames, Inc. (“iGames”).  iGames is the “Sponsor”. Please read the Game Play Rules carefully before submitting an entry or participating in the Ladder as these Game Play Rules contain important information about the rules and format of the Ladder.

1. Definitions.

1.1.  Disputes (or Disputed) - A controversy over a Match where Teams disagree and present to an Official for a decision. 

1.2.  Disqualification - The removal of a Team or Player from the Ladder by an Official for violation of these Game Play Rules. 

1.3.  Forfeit - Surrendering a Match to the opposition, either voluntarily or by the ruling of an Official due to Team or Player violation of the Game Play Rules.  

1.4.  Handle - a Team or Player pseudonym used for identification during the Ladder. 

1.5.  Disconnect - When a Player drops unexpectedly from a Match due to connectivity issues. 

1.6.  Map - One Battlefield 3 virtual environment on which Teams compete. 

1.7.  Match - One Battlefield 3 map played by two Teams with each Team playing one round on each side. The remaining tickets at the end of each round will be considered the score for that round. The total score at the end of both rounds  is the Match’s score and will determine the winner of the Match. 

1.8.  Official - The designated individual(s) presiding over the Ladder and responsible for enforcing the Game Play Rules. 

1.9.  Penalty - A punishment enforced by an Official for a violation of the Game Play Rules. 

1.10.  Player - Any participant who meets the eligibility requirements and properly registers for the Ladder. 

1.11.  Team - A Team consists of at least 8 Players (one of which is the Team Captain). All Matches must begin with at least 6v6.

1.12.  Team Captain - The leader of the Team responsible for creating a Team password and then providing the password to the other Team members so they can subsequently register individually for the Team. The Team Captain serves as the primary contact for such Team.     

1.13.  Warning - A verbal or written indication from an Official to a Team or Player that continued or subsequent actions could result in a Penalty.  

 2. Eligibility.  The Ladder is open only to residents of any state of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, residents of Mexico, and any Province of Canada (other than Quebec) that are 13 years of age or older as of February 3, 2012 and who properly register for the Ladder (each a “Player”).  Each Player may be required to show proof of age, residence and, if such Player is under the legal age of majority in his or her state of residence, consent to these Game Play Rules by his/her parent or legal guardian.  IF YOU DO NOT SATISFY THESE REQUIREMENTS, YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER AND/OR PARTICIPATE IN THE LADDER.  Employees of Sponsors and their immediate families (parent, child, sibling and the spouses of each) are not eligible to register for the Ladder.  The Ladder is void where prohibited by applicable law. 

3. Ladder Structure.  A Season is a series of weekly play for the opportunity for the team (“Team”) to be invited to an invitational playoff tournament for prizes.

3.1 Battlegrounds’ Spring Season:

        3.1.1 Battlegrounds’ Spring Season “Spring Season”: The Spring Season will consist of weekly scheduled single match “Match’ online play (opt-in) with the opportunity to play additional challenge Matches.  If a Team has opted in to weekly Match play, they will be scheduled to play assigned Matches each week between Wednesday, February 22, 2012 and Sunday, April 29, 2012 11:59 PM CST.  If a Team who has opted in forfeits a weekly scheduled Match, they will automatically be opted out from further automatic scheduling, but can opt back in if they choose.  During this period, Teams will also be able to play any number of Challenge Matches (as defined below).

        3.1.2 Spring Season Tournament: The top 32 ranked Teams participating in the Ladder at the end of Spring Season play will be invited to participate in an invitational playoff tournament “the Tournament” with a total of $2,000 USD in cash prizes.  The Spring Season Tournament will consist of single-elimination single Match bracket play Tuesday, May 8, 2012 - Wednesday, May 17, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. Central Time until approximately 9:00 p.m. Central Time or later.

Official contest rules and game play rules for the Tournament will be posted on www.alienarearena.com on or before April 29, 2012. Teams will be assigned a seeded position in their bracket based on their Ranking (as defined below).

4. How to Participate in the Ladder and Advance to the Tournament.  

Teams for the Spring Season must register between February 3, 2012 and April 15, 2012. If a Team has opted in to weekly Match play, they will be scheduled to play assigned Matches each week.   If a Team who has opted in forfeits a weekly scheduled Match, they will automatically be opted out from further automatic scheduling, but can opt back in if they choose.  During the regular season, Teams will also be able to play any number of Challenge Matches (as defined below).  At the end of each season, the top ranked Teams per will invited to compete in the Tournament.

The Tournament is a single-elimination format with Teams seeded based on rank into a bracket to play Matches against other Teams. Upon losing a Match, a Team is eliminated from the Tournament.

4.1 Forfeit Losses: If a team receives three forfeit losses within a single season period, they will be de-activated and removed from the Battleground for the remainder of the season. Teams with three forfeit losses will be ineligible to play in the Tournament.

5. Rankings. 

5.1 Rankings: Teams are ranked within their Division based on their individual Arena Rating (“Rating”). Rankings are used to determine the top Teams per Division that advance to their respective Tournament.

5.2 Arena Rating: The Arena Rating is calculated based on a Team's performance in all past Assigned Matches and Challenge Matches.

6. Scheduling.

6.1. Scheduling Assigned Matches: Teams who have opted in to assigned Matches will be scheduled to play against opponents once per week, unless they are in the Tournament. Matches will be automatically entered on each preceding weekend.

Teams must use the communication tools available through the site Control Panel to negotiate their exact Match time, which can be any day and any time as long as it is completed prior to the deadline date. Only communication through the website will be considered genuine and accepted by Officials.

6.1.1 Default Time for Weekly Assigned Matches: If team’s are unable to agree on a Match time, the default Match time will be set as 8:00 PM Central Time on the Wednesday of that week.

6.1.2 Spring Season

Week 1 Deadline: Wednesday, March 7, 2012 – Map: Operation Metro
Week 2 Deadline: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 – Map: Grand Bazaar
Week 3 Deadline: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 – Map: Seine Crossing
Week 4 Deadline: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 – Map: Noshahar Canals
Week 5 Deadline: Wednesday, April 4, 2012 – Map: Damavand Peak
Week 6 Deadline: Wednesday, April 11, 2012 – Map: Tehran Pass
Week 7 Deadline: Wednesday, April 18, 2012 – Map: Grand Bazaar
Week 8 Deadline: Wednesday, April 25, 2012 – Map: Seine Crossing

The top 32 Teams during the Spring Season 11:59 PM Central Time on Sunday, April 29, 2012 will qualify for the Spring Season Tournament to be held Saturday, May 8, 2012 - Wednesday, May 17, 2012.

6.2 Scheduling Challenge Matches: Teams can play as many Challenge Matches as they desire. Through their Control Panel, a Team can select whether they would like to be able to receive Challenge Matches or not from other Teams (known as their "Challenge Status").

Challenge Matches can be revoked by the challenger as long as they have not yet been accepted. Once accepted, Challenge Matches must be played unless both Teams agree to cancel it.

6.2.1 Challenges: When issuing a Challenge, a Team must include one-to-five specific times they can play and none of these times can be in conflict with any accepted matches that are pending.

The opponent can either decline the Challenge or accept one of the proposed times. If accepted, the Match will be entered into the system for the set time.  

6.3 Scheduling Tournament Matches: Teams invited to the Tournament will compete with a live administrator and be given Matches to be play in sequence from 1:00 p.m. Central Time until 9:00 p.m. Central Time or later, depending on the progress of Matches and performance of Teams. No online scheduling is required.

        6.3.1 Spring Season Tournament: Tuesday, May 8, 2012 - Wednesday, May 17, 2012.

7. Team Identity and Conduct.

7.1 Sportsmanship:  All Teams will be required to uphold and observe a universal level of sportsmanship. Unsportsmanlike conduct includes, but is not limited to, racism, use of profanity, rude acts, vulgar acts, acts of belligerence, and disrespect of an Official.

Unsportsmanlike conduct may be Disputed and may be grounds for Team Disqualification by an Official. Rulings on unsportsmanlike actions are subject to the Official’s interpretation and assessment of seriousness. If a Team is found in violation of this rule the following actions may happen:

Minor infractions as judged by an Official: Warning
Severe infractions or repeat minor infractions as judged by an Official: Disqualification

Any accusations of unsportsmanlike conduct by a Team or must be brought to the attention of the Official by filing a dispute following the Match in which the alleged action has occurred for investigation by a presiding Official.

7.2 Team Handles: Handles may not contain profanity, racism, sexism, references to illegal drugs, or general vulgarity. Teams found with offensive Handles will be contacted by an Official and asked to edit their Handle to something more appropriate.

7.3 Game Accounts/ID: All Teams and participating players on a competing Team are required to have a valid Battlefield 3 account. Accounts associated with a player cannot be changed once registration is closed. If a player does not have an account associated yet, they can enter it at any time.

It is the responsibility of both Team captains to verify that the correct accounts are in use prior to beginning a Match.

7.4 Ringing: Players are not permitted to provide their accounts for use by other Players. Doing so is considered Ringing, which is pretending to be someone they are not, and will result in all violators involved being disqualified from the event.

8. Match Hosting Information and Requirements. For each Match, a Team will be randomly designated as the “home” team. The home team will have the option to host the first round of the Match on a server of their choice. After the end of the first round, the “away” team will have the option of hosting the second round of the Match on a server of their own choice. Teams may mutually agree to, but are not otherwise required to, play both Rounds on a mutually agreed upon server.

8.1 Servers: Teams are expected to use their own Servers, however a limited number of Servers will be made available, first-come, first-served through a special Server Reservation page courtesy of GameServers.com.

8.2 Ping Imbalance: The difference between each Team's average pings should be no greater than 200 milliseconds according to the in-game measurement. Pings must be confirmed by logging into the agreed upon Server and not through 3rd party tools. Ping will be the only determining factor. If the difference between the average Team pings is less than 200 milliseconds, the Server is acceptable. If Teams cannot find a Server that is suitable, an Official must be contacted to make a determination of which Server to use. 

9. Server Crashes. If a Server crashes while a Match is being played, the round must be replayed from the beginning, unless at least one team had less than 50 remaining tickets, in which point the score for that round is equal to the remaining tickets at the time of the server crash. Should a second server crash occur on the same server and the round must be replayed, a new server must be used unless both Teams agree to play on the same server.

10. Match Network Client.   The “Match Network Client” is a client application that communicates with the Ladder database to verify Players, establish contact between opposing Teams, and ensure fair play. All Players must download, install, and utilize the Match Network Client to participate in the Ladder. Players are expected to be actively logged in and readied up in the Match Network Client for the complete duration of all Matches.

The Match Network Client is available for download at http://www.alienwarearena.com/account/client.

All Players are advised to download the Match Network Client prior to start of their Match to ensure it is working properly. If you experience technical difficulties with the Match Network Client please contact an Official immediately for assistance. If a Player is unable to utilize the Match Network Client despite the best efforts of an Official, then that Player will not be eligible to participate in the Ladder and a different Player on the Team will need to be used.

11. Game Environment Requirements.  The game environment consists of any and all files used to control or play the game. The use of any third-party application and/or program to influence of manipulate the game environment is strictly prohibited, including the use of third-party tools, graphics, textures, models, sounds, HUDs, pointers, or any other alterations. Any violations that are deemed by an Official to potentially provide a competitive advantage will result in a Disqualification of offending Teams.  

12.  Game Play:

12.1 Match Settings: The settings for all Ladder Matches are as follows: 

Game Type: Conquest
Team Size: 8v8 (Minimum 6 Players on Each Team)

3D Spotting: OFF
Friendly Fire: ON
Health Regeneration: OFF
All Unlocks: ON
Squad Leader Spawn: OFF

If you would like to have the settings every time you restart the server, copy the following server settings into the file: "/cfg/AdminScripts/startup.txt". The specific server settings file, can be found here:

admin.password "*******"
punkBuster.activate 
vars.gamePassword "*****"
vars.serverName "Infamy Alienware test config"
vars.bannerUrl ""
vars.serverDescription ""
vars.3dSpotting false
vars.3pCam true
vars.allUnlocksUnlocked true
vars.autoBalance false
vars.bulletDamage 100
vars.clientSideDamageArbitration %
vars.clientSideDamageArbitration%
vars.crossHair true
vars.friendlyFire true
vars.gameModeCounter 86
vars.hud true
vars.idleBanRounds 0
vars.idleTimeout 0
vars.killCam false
vars.maxPlayers 18
vars.minimap true
vars.miniMapSpotting true
vars.nameTag true
vars.onlySquadLeaderSpawn false
vars.playerManDownTime 100
vars.playerRespawnTime 100
vars.regenerateHealth false
vars.roundRestartPlayerCount 0
vars.roundsPerMap 2
vars.roundStartPlayerCount 1
vars.soldierHealth 100
vars.teamKillCountForKick 900
vars.teamKillKickForBan 900
vars.teamKillValueDecreasePerSecond 0.05
vars.teamKillValueForKick 900
vars.teamKillValueIncrease 1
vars.vehicleSpawnAllowed true
vars.vehicleSpawnDelay 100

It is the responsibility of both Teams to verify that the Match settings are correct prior to starting a Match. Once a Match has begun, Teams may not restart or replay due to incorrect Match Settings, unless both Teams mutually agree to do so. 

12.2 Maps: Matches must be played on the following maps based on the week of the season:

Week 1 Map: Operation Metro
Week 2 Map: Grand Bazaar
Week 3 Map: Seine Crossing
Week 4 Map: Noshahar Canals
Week 5 Map: Damavand Peak
Week 6 Map: Tehran Pass
Week 7 Map: Grand Bazaar
Week 8 Map: Seine Crossing

12.3. Victory Conditions: A Match is complete when both rounds are over. The total score, based on remaining tickets at the end of each round, will determine the winner.

12.4. Item Restrictions: All IR scopes are banned (does not include Thermal Optics for vehicles). Due to a game bug, the M26 Dart and M26 Mass are banned until the bug with those weapons are fixed. Use of any banned item during a Match will result in a match overturned and possible suspension/banning of the offending Player. Items that are introduced into the game after the start of the season are allowed unless specifically banned. 

12.5. Minimum Players: No Match may start with less than six Players per Team, which is the required minimum number of Players. If Players leave after the Match has begun, the Team may continue to play without them.

12.6. Roster Changes: Roster changes, including additions or removals of Players are allowed and enabled on the site only until Sunday, April 15, 2012. To have a roster change done, use the website or contact an Official.

12.7. Game Chat: Game chat is permitted as long as it is done in a sportsmanlike manner. All chat should nonetheless be kept to a minimum. Chat violations fall under unsportsmanlike conduct and may be disputed, resulting in an Official enforcing a Penalty.

12.8. Outside Voice Applications: Teams are permitted to use outside voice applications, such as Ventrilo and TeamSpeak.

12.9 Match Delays (Tournaments): A Match may be delayed from starting only if so directed by an Official, or preceding Matches in the bracket are incomplete. Under no other under circumstances will a Match delay be accepted, including but not limited to personal emergencies, power outages, Internet instability, etc.

12.10 Match Reporting (Ladder): At the completion of the Match the winning Teams must immediately report the Match final Score through the online reporting tool. Matches that go unreported for an extended period of time may result in a double Forfeit being issued against both Teams.

12.11 Match Reporting (Tournaments):  At the completion of the Match both Teams must immediately report the Match final Score to an Official. Matches that go unreported for an extended period of time may result in a Forfeit being issued against Teams in violation so that Officials can proceed with the Tournament.

13. Match Media Coverage Guidelines.  Sponsors reserve the right to utilize Match broadcasting which may include shoutcasting, IRC, or any other media. By registering for this Ladder, each Team consents to allow their image, performance, media, and likeness rights to be used.

14. Game Exploits and Violations.  It is illegal to intentionally utilize any game exploits for the purpose of generating a competitive advantage. Officials have discretion to determine the intention and extent of the violation and Penalty.

14.1 Hacking:  Hacking in any form is considered a violation of these Game Play Rules and will result in immediate Team Disqualification. Hacking includes but is not limited to map hacks, unit hacks, or any third party program not deemed legal by an Official.

15. Dispute Rights, Requirements, and Guidelines. A Dispute is a controversy and/or difference of opinion over which Teams debate and present to an Official for a decision.

15.1 Dispute Process:  A Team has the right to Dispute any opposing Team they feel is in violation of these Game Play Rules.

Disputes must be filed by submitting a dispute through the control panel on the website within 1 hour of the conclusion of a Regular Season Match or Challenge Match. During Tournaments, all Disputes must be filed with an Official directly within 5 minutes of a Match ending. If a Dispute is raised to an Official too late, the Dispute may be disregarded.

A Team who is disputed has the right to subsequently file a Dispute against the other Team as well. A Match must be reported regardless of whether a Dispute is being filed.

15.2 Dispute Tokens: To file a Dispute against an opposing Team, a single Dispute Token must be used (except during Playoffs). All Teams are initially granted 2 Dispute Tokens and earn an additional token after every ten Matches played (excluding Tournaments and forfeits).

If a Dispute is valid, the disputing Team gets their Dispute Token reissued to their account upon the resolution of the Dispute. Otherwise, if a Dispute is considered invalid, the Dispute Token is lost.  

15.3 Evidence Requests: If a Dispute has been filed, Officials will contact Teams involved in the Dispute to request additional evidence, which may include screenshots, logs, and/or replays. If so the Teams will then be required to promptly begin submitting all requested evidence to the Official in charge of the Dispute.

15.4 Discussion of Disputes:  Disputes should only be handled in private between the Officials and those Teams directly involved. Raising a Dispute as a public matter for the purpose of appealing, criticizing, or complaining about the verdict may result in Team Disqualification and/or Match Forfeit, depending on severity and malicious intent as determined by the Official.

16. Contacting Officials. Officials are the designated individuals presiding over the Ladder and responsible for enforcing the Game Play Rules and Ladder Official Contest Rules. Officials will be available to contact via e-mail, live web support, and Ventrilo through the means listed at http://www.alienwarearena.com/event/bf3-na/support/.

17. Exploitation of Rules.  If a Team attempts to manipulate or exploit these Game Play Rules in any way other than for its intended use, Officials reserve the right to make a final ruling on the rule in question for the given Match and\or Dispute.

18. Use of Information.   Each Player consents to use of his or her name, information and image by Sponsors, their respective agents and assignees for display and publishing in any media, now known or hereafter developed, without compensation, in any and all advertising and promotional materials relating to the Ladder, and in conjunction with other promotions that may be offered by Sponsors.  The information collected to enter the Tournament will be used to contact each Winner.  Additionally, each Player agrees that Sponsors and their agents and assignees may use this information for marketing purposes and to contact Players regarding offers, promotions and other contests related to products or services distributed by Sponsors.  In addition, any such information also may be used and disclosed as set forth in the Alienware Arena privacy policy located at http://www.alienwarearena.com/legal/privacy/.

19. General Release.  Sponsors and each of their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies, and all of their respective officers, directors, agents and employees (collectively, “Released Parties”) will not be responsible for: (a) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to telephone, electronic, hardware, software, network, Internet, or any other computer and communications related malfunctions or failures; (b) any Tournament disruptions, injuries, losses or damages caused by events beyond the control of Sponsors; (c) any technical or human error such as typographical, printing, or administrative errors in any materials associated with the Tournament; or (d) the use of any Prize.