Google Earth War (GEWar) is a strategy-based multiplayer browser game. The aim of the game is to use your armies to attack and "win" cities around the world and defend the cities against other players. GEWar is the first truly interactive game built using the "virtual globe" program Google Earth.
The basic idea of the game is this: You recruit armies to go around the world and conquer cities. The cities all have a "value", which is based on their real world population. The combined value of all of the cities in your control is called your "total value". The person with the highest "total value" is the one that is currently winning the game (See Top Players list). You can attack (and capture) cities using your armies. Armies (and other items) can be purchased using "Geos" that you can earn.
Most players are organized in Alliances. Alliances have different strategies, prefer fighting in certain parts of the world, etc. Diplomacy, strategy, and collaboration between players are important aspects of the game.
Alliances are ranked on the Top Alliances page.
Note: This document only provides a basic overview on how to play the game. You can find much more useful and detailed information by visiting the GEWar wiki. Every member of the GEWar community is invited to help writing it.
On this page, click on the text that says "To get started, simply click here!". This will get your account set-up. You will be given some basic items to get started. The first thing you have to do is to set your homebase. Your homebase is where you can build your first armies and start your conquest.
You can either place your homebase next to one of the many cities in the game, or download a custom KML file that will allow you to put your home base wherever you'd like it to be. Open the file in Google Earth and move to your desired location. Once set, you can move your homebase only for a large sum of Geos, so choose wisely.
Details can be found here. If you are having problems creating a homebase, have a look here.
Next, it will ask you to "download your custom KML file". This file has to be opened with Google Earth as well and it allows you to plant resources (fishing boats, oil wells, cotton fields, diamond mines, uranium enrichment plants), collect jewels, and display armies, cities, and homebases in the game.
The objective of this game is to wage war and fight for owning cities. This chapter explains how it works.
First of all, note that the GEWar kml file displays armies, cities and homebases in the game by activating the according check box. It is crucial for success in the game to view the earth carefully before start fighting.
Most players in this game play in alliances to be stronger and more successful. Several alliances have a long history and persisted over several versions of the game.
Alliances help each other out in defending and attacking so for beginners it's recommended to join an alliance as well. Participate in conversations of the GEWar forum, try to get in contact with other players, for example by private message. View the Alliance Talk forum and check if alliances search for members or post there himself to find an alliance to join. It's also a good idea to check the players with cities around your base or your city (cities), most alliances like to recruit players in their vicinity.
In order to join an alliance you need to receive an invite from the alliance leader, you can accept or deny invitations by accessing Your Alliance Page which can be found in the "Home" drop-down menu in the upper menu bar of the game pages. You can only receive invites if you are currently not member of an alliance.
If you want you can as well create your own alliance and find other players who want to join you. This option is available on the Alliance Page as well. The name of your alliance must not be offensive or inappropriate.
You are able to get bonus geos through the Games for Geos forum. Here you will find both Official Games (run by Staff members) and Unofficial Games run by other players.
From time to time it is needed to start the game new from scratch, for example in order to introduce some major changes.
If that happens all data is erased from the database and all users wishing to play again must download new .kmz files and place their homebase again, they will be given some startup-cash and oil. Everyone will have to start fresh and build up their empire again. All alliances must be reformed.
Users will be given some warning before the reset (between a week & 3 days) in which they can go all-out and dispose of all their hard-earned geos in an armageddon-style mayhem.
Resets will be occurring less and less as we make our way out of beta, they are very rare, and only occur when extremely necessary.
Donating to the Game
Donators are people who donate money to pay the bills which accrue for the server's maintenance. To run the server costs alot of money which cannot just be cleared by advertising. That's why voluntary donations are needed. Donators and Non-Donators can be distinct from each other by taking a look at the player's nickname-color. Non-Donator's is blue, Donator's is turquoise.
Donators have several advantages in the game such as custom user title, unlimited jeweling and much more.
If you come across a bug or a glitch, please report it to us right away. If you discover a way to cheat the system, please don't exploit it. Let us know about it, we will fix the hole, and we will give you a nice number of jewels in return. If you are caught exploiting a glitch for your own gain, you will be banned from the game.
If you want to do this anonymously, use the Help Center. The Help Center is also the quickest and more personal way of getting your problems solved. Note that you have to check the help center regularly if you posted a question there as you won't receive a notification a staff member gives an answer.
Questions/Problems/More Info Needed?
If you have any questions about the game or if you experience any problems, please search in the GEWar support forum first before posting a new thread there. Use the Help Center if you think your question/problem shouldn't be discussed in public.
More info about the game can be also found on the GEWar Wiki! Every member of the GEWar community is invited to participate in the wiki project.
