Special Notes: Mindprobe

Full Stop/Period:   All answers must be preceded by a full stop, period or dot.  This allows the game software to identify an answer as opposed to "just chat".  This is especially important to remember if you are using a "standard" chat client.   However, if you are using our exclusive gaming chat client, the dot is automatically added for you via the game window.

Three Letter Rule:   Answers do not have to be complete.  The first three letters of the answer is usually sufficient.  As long as our hosts can understand what you are trying to convey, you will be awarded points.

Bing:  Bing is a special word at MindProbes.   Any time you are unsure of an answer, or just don't know an answer, you can answer Bing to receive a small token number of points.

Humour Points:  Occasionally, some humourous response may pop into your mind.  To add to the fun of the games, our hosts have the ability to award Humour Points to reward you for your wit.  Again, these are small token points but add to the overall fun of the games.

Hat Trick:  If you are able to correctly answer three questions first in a row, you are awarded a Hat Trick in the form of bonus points.

MindProbe Variations:

Trivia Hare & Hounds:  Hare & Hounds game scores are sent into a central repository and compiled monthly towards our Hare and Hounds tournament games.   See the Monthly Ranks for full details of how to qualify.  Questions in Hare & Hounds games have usually recently been written by our staff of hosts and test your knowledge rather than your memory of past games.   Points are standardized for all Hare and Hounds games as follows:

• First Correct earns 100 points
• Other correct answers earn 75 points
• Partially correct answers earn 50 points
• Incorrect answers are penalized by 35 points
• Bing answers earn 5 points
• First Hat Trick earns a 25 point bonus
• Subsequent Hat Tricks earn a 10 point bonus
• Secondary Hat Tricks earn a 5 point bonus
• Humour points are set to 5 points

The format of Hare & Hounds games is usually seven categories of five questions per category.  Each subsequent category used in the game is either selected by the first person to answer correctly or by a vote of all players.  Individual selection or vote is at the discretion of the host of that particular game.

Trivia for Fun:  Trivia for Fun games are similar to Hare & Hounds games except that the questions may be derived from any questions in the host's database.   Additionally, points awarded in Trivia for Fun games are at the host's discretion.   Points earned in a Trivia for Fun game do not accumulate for monthly tournament play.

Mikado:  Mikado is another Trivia for Fun variation.  However, rather than having a predetermined set of categories, the questions are generated randomly from all questions in the host's database.  Players may also have the added fun of being asked to pick a number in order to determine which question will be next in line.

Sudden Death:  In a Sudden Death Trivia game, each player starts with a set number of points.  The game is run similarly to Hare & Hounds, with category choices, however, the object of the game is to be the first player to reach zero.   Points are set by the individual host and work backwards from the initial score.   Sudden Death is an excellent fill in game for when one host finishes their game somewhat early and the next host is not due to start their game until the beginning of the next hour.

Full Stop/Period:   As with MindProbe Trivia, all answers must be preceded by a full stop, period or dot.  This allows the game software to identify an answer as opposed to "just chat".  This is especially important to remember if you are using a "standard" chat client.  However, if you are using our exclusive gaming chat client, the dot is automatically added for you via the game window.

Three Letter Rule:   The three letter rule does NOT apply in Tangler.  Your answer must match the correct answer exactly- abbreviations and typos are marked incorrect, so answer quickly but carefully!

Bing:  You CAN NOT Bing in Tangler since all answers must be correct and in full.

Humour Points: Ditto.   There are NO Humour points awarded in Tangler.

Hat Trick:  If you are able to correctly answer three questions first in a row, you are awarded a Hat Trick in the form of bonus points.

Tangler Variations:

Tangler Hare & Hounds:  Tangler Hare & Hounds are Tangler games that accumulate points, similar to Trivia Hare & Hounds, to a monthly tournament for Tangler.  As with trivia, the top 25 Tangler players will be invited to play the Tangler tournament.  Points earned in Tangler Hare & Hounds games are set for all games and are as follows:

• First Correct earns 100 points
• Other correct answers earn 75 points
• Incorrect answers are penalized by 35 points
• First Hat Trick earns a 25 point bonus
• Subsequent Hat Tricks earn a 10 point bonus
• Secondary Hat Tricks earn a 5 point bonus

Tangler for Fun:  As with Trivia for Fun, Tangler for Fun games do not accumulate points toward the monthly tournament standings.  Points are also set by the host and do not have to stay within predefined guideline.

Tangler Sudden Death:  Sudden Death, as described above for Trivia games, can also be used with Tangler.