Help with the TOS (Terms of service)

Hello, I just have some problems that I don't understand (about T.O.S) and I can't start without fully understand what is legal and what is not.

1) I want to create a game (like Zyngo but not that game) but I'm not sure if I can let the people play for money (i.e.: L$10 or L$50) or if it needs to be free (I have seen that some Zyngo machines aren't free to play)

2) Can I use llFRand function with to generate the random numbers? (if not, I'll use a 'random' library)

3) Must it be approved by Linden Labs or something like that?

Well, I don't know if I'm forgetting anything. Thanks in advance.

The basic rule - as far as I understand it - is that if the game is about luck, then no gambling. If skill is involved as the primary decider if you win or lose, then it's okay. Random can have an effect on it, but it has to be possible to win with skill, regardless of the random factor.

You might want to wait for someone else who is more familiar with that part of the TOS though. But, in a nutshell, that's how I understand it.

avoid using llFrand as much as possible.. make a list with outcomes and use llListRandomize (llRandomizeList??)

and try and outweigh any random elements with skill. the more interaction a player has with the game the better..

oh.. and no more zyngo clones.. really..im a game creator.. the market is full of zyngo clones.. if you want to make a major name for yourself .. create a new skillful element.. something that will WOW people.. THATS how you get your name out! trust me on this

*embarassed* i just realized i was saying all this under my SL Wifes acct... lol all that above was said by me.. sorry

I totally agree, my idea is not to develope another zyngo clone, I want to innovate
Zyngo is a good idea, but too many clones can start annoying.

Well... I think that I understood the most important part of the rules:

1) Never gambling even if it is not a skill based game
2) Try to avoid the LSL random functions as much as possible

If I'm forgetting something, please tell me (I wish a Linden could get me in the right direction and confirm this doubts)

Oh... and thank you all =)

I am a game developer. I want to develop games that are legal.
i can find no clear definition of requirements.
I can find no games that Linden has said are legal, nor can I find a process to have Linden decalre the games legal.
I had games returned to me, declared not legal, and threated with expusion. Linden would not explain why the game(s) were not legal.

What can I do? Has anyone got a clear definition (from Linden) as to what is valid , skill based definition.

Don't charge money to play or give out money as prizes?

I operate a game store called Celestial Game Tower and this is a non stop topic but the official policy from LLs blog is

It is a violation of this policy to wager in games in the Second Life (R) environment operated on Linden Lab servers if such games:
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(1) (a) rely on chance or random number generation to determine a winner, OR (b) rely on the outcome of real-life organized sporting events,

AND

(2) provide a payout in

(a) Linden Dollars, OR

(b) any real-world currency or thing of value.
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Note the word "rely" a game can have random aspects but its a person's ability to play a game ie skill that has to determine the outcome. Take the game backgammon for example there is a dice involved but the players ability to play the game is what determines if you win or lose much more than the roll of the dice. Skill games are allowed where you pay money to play and for the chance to win like say a chess competition which is an obvious game of skill. Games of chance is what was banned not games involving money. But there seems to be confusion from Linden to Linden on this subject. I heard some odd interpretations of the Wagering TOS from a arcade game designer who was afraid to have pay and pot options even though it was without a doubt skill based and not even in the grey area. Another who made a pool table who made wagering through the hud because he thought of the owner of the pool table made money that would be against TOS etc and so on. And of course not using random number generators for a game would make it ok is one I saw in here as well. Thats not entirely right a game just can't rely on them but still doesnt hurt to avoid them but to the other exteme in theory someone could make a blackjack game without using random number generators and LL probably wouldnt like that hahaha. That would definitely be against TOS given the much over looked on the rely on Chance part. I mean in real life you dont have random number generators to shuffle a deck of cards.

But no the game isnt approved by LL and they won't even look at it if you send it to them. I believe they will only if it has an abuse report on it or through some random wandering about see it though not sure exactly but definitely they wont approve it or offer opinions for liability issues obviously.

For my game store I seen more games than anyone else in SL. Over 200 alone in my own store. But if you have a prototype I can take a look. But for all game makers which deal with money design precautions into it. Put a stop loss PLEASE!!! Some game makers don't because well they think their games are flawless but if the most popular game in SL has a stoploss feature ie Zyngo why not all of them. It helps protect againsts unforscene exploits. Stoploss is basically the game shutting down if it loses X amount of profit as a safety catch or if a game owner is experimenting with a setting.

Here is a link to the full original blog on wagering by the way https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/features/blog/2007/07/26/wagering-in-second-life-new-policy

Lindens don't have a clear defiintion for themselves let alone for us

If you show me the game in "world" I can take a look. It wouldnt be the first time a linden sent back a game that might not been within TOS. There is no clear definition in TOS what a skill game is just that it can't be a game of chance.