> > I assume that the tournament goes on unhindered over the weekend for the elimination rounds?
> >
> > *lamenting that all my teams will be going out because of likely lack of computer access...*
>
> There are more than 512 teams at last count, so there should be 10 rounds of single-elimination. Plenty of time for everybody to miss at least one day checking up on their characters, especially with a four-day weekend coming up.
>
> As many of you already know, I was one of the hardcore Murkon's Refuge addicts. I like Monster Arena, except for the timing. It all but requires that you check in every day (unless you have three equal characters with no elemental bonuses, in which case it's still nice to upgrade them daily), and it doesn't occupy me for very long each day. I feel more like an administrator than a player, and I don't even get to see the fights happen.
>
> Maybe I'll try and rig the standings so that my two teams meet in the first round of playoffs. My bad team isn't quite bad enough to face my good team, but there's still time.

I have to agree with your main points, but still, this game is better than "Heavy Metal War" on another site.
"Heavy Metal War" is like "Monster Arena" but without any challenge. Your characters go on a mission, which is handled automatically by the computer, and regardless of whether they win or lose, they survive with enough dosh to pay for their medical bills and install upgrades. Then they go on more missions, and so on.
The game is so ridiculously easy that you're never in any danger of getting stuck, even if you can't play to save your life.
At least in "Monster Arena", if you lose a fight in the elimination phase, you're out. You can only resume playing when another game opens. This gives at least *something* in the game to try to avoid happening.