Yesterday Hearts got the first update since 2016.
As there were lots of changes from the previous version, I will explain the reasonings behind them while writing down comments from players.
- The previous version was perfect. This whole thing is unnecessary!
No, it was not as these bug/suggestion reports say: https://boardgamearena.com/bugs?game=36
After all, 'perfect' in this case is a relative term.
If you are OK with the current implementation it can be considered perfect for you, at least.
- Old version was much better. Revert right now!
- I hate this version.
Actually these comments solve nothing and do not help anyone as they did not address what the problems are at all.
I received a grand total of 0 bug reports/suggestions through BGA bug report system regarding the update.
To fix something, first you have to tell what you don't like. If not how can I know what the problems are? I can't read minds.
- This is a completely different game, I propose to make 2 versions, one classic, the second new.
No reason to make 2 implementations as the default Hearts rules did not change at all.
Please select or join the default Hearts tables if you don't like specific variants.
- New cards are irritating/ugly.
- New cards are harder to read.
- New cards are smaller than old cards.
- New cards are too large and do not fit in a single row.
- New cards less resemble the real cards.
In fact, old card sprite is a modified version of Microsoft Solitaire cards. They do not resemble the real cards.
Also, new cards are definitely larger than the old cards. If not why they wouldn't fit in a single row unlike old cards?
As I didn't receive these comments in any other playing card games I implemented, I guess Hearts players prefer accustomed card sprites.
Anyway, this change has turned out to be a dire mistake and the default sprite has been reverted back. Sorry for confusions.
- The play logs are not clear.
- The texts are in English.
The old play logs were messier as there was a translation bug and they didn't properly address the suits or ranks in some languages.
So I changed them directly into the suit icons and rank numbers/alphabets.
Indeed some translations have been lost, but you can add translations yourself if someone else hasn't done it yet:
https://boardgamearena.com/translationhq
- The game plays itself.
- I don't like auto play.
- Preselecting cards is unnecessary.
These changes were the most demanded features in this update.
You can check the list of implemented suggestions from the link on the top.
In the first card play and the last trick players do not have a choice at all, so clicking cards manually is completely unnecessary.
Likewise, automatic round end (TRAM aka the rest are mine) happens only when the round result cannot be changed regardless of choices.
This one can be turned off in lobby option though. Set 'Skip uneventful final tricks' to 'Disabled'.
Card preselect also speeds up the game. Besides, preselection is the player's choice. This one is not automatic.
If you are afraid of clicking mistakes, use confirmation mode from player preference.
- Card highlight is an eyesore.
- The animations are nauseating.
I changed shading of unplayable cards into a non-default preference option and added some delay between the last trick card plays.
Hope the changes solve these issues.
- I passed cards across the table twice in a row. What happened?
The pass cycle has been changed to left - right - across - hold - ... to make it adaptable for all player counts.
Because of this change, in turn-based games temporary back-to-back across passing might happen (maximum once even if it occurs after all).
The previous version adopted left - across - right - hold - ... order which is NOT the most common passing cycle.
So, this change corrected a bug.
This will not happen in new games, games which were not in across passing round, or games already went through double across passing.
- The game play is slower!
You managed to detect 0.1s delays between card plays and 0.5s delays between card passes added to fix animation bugs. Congratulations.
- Remove game logs.
- Clear game history.
- The game should rely on memory!
FYI, the previous version also had this issue and I did not change this (yes, I received these comments even though I didn't change this).
These comments say 'the game should resemble real life version'.
However, it's an unachievable goal as erasing game log does not prevent anyone from recording played cards at all.
Almost all games on BGA keep the game log intact, including games which hide scores like Puerto Rico.
In contrast, plenty of requests for 'live scoring' which is hard or impossible in real life have been posted and some games adopted them.
Also, removing logs screws turn-based players obviously. Thus, rejected.
Related discussion: https://boardgamearena.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28497
- Remove 2/3/4rd place distinction!
FYI, the previous version also had this issue and I did not change this (the same goes for this one too).
All 3+ player games on BGA rank players by the final score, unless the game rule explicitly prevents it (e.g. Quantum). Hearts is no exception.
Related discussion: https://boardgamearena.com/bug?id=13918
If you have something to suggest, please post a suggestion through BGA bug report system.
I'll be immediately notified by mail and other players can share their opinions too.
Thanks for playing BGA Hearts
As there were lots of changes from the previous version, I will explain the reasonings behind them while writing down comments from players.
- The previous version was perfect. This whole thing is unnecessary!
No, it was not as these bug/suggestion reports say: https://boardgamearena.com/bugs?game=36
After all, 'perfect' in this case is a relative term.
If you are OK with the current implementation it can be considered perfect for you, at least.
- Old version was much better. Revert right now!
- I hate this version.
Actually these comments solve nothing and do not help anyone as they did not address what the problems are at all.
I received a grand total of 0 bug reports/suggestions through BGA bug report system regarding the update.
To fix something, first you have to tell what you don't like. If not how can I know what the problems are? I can't read minds.
- This is a completely different game, I propose to make 2 versions, one classic, the second new.
No reason to make 2 implementations as the default Hearts rules did not change at all.
Please select or join the default Hearts tables if you don't like specific variants.
- New cards are irritating/ugly.
- New cards are harder to read.
- New cards are smaller than old cards.
- New cards are too large and do not fit in a single row.
- New cards less resemble the real cards.
In fact, old card sprite is a modified version of Microsoft Solitaire cards. They do not resemble the real cards.
Also, new cards are definitely larger than the old cards. If not why they wouldn't fit in a single row unlike old cards?
As I didn't receive these comments in any other playing card games I implemented, I guess Hearts players prefer accustomed card sprites.
Anyway, this change has turned out to be a dire mistake and the default sprite has been reverted back. Sorry for confusions.
- The play logs are not clear.
- The texts are in English.
The old play logs were messier as there was a translation bug and they didn't properly address the suits or ranks in some languages.
So I changed them directly into the suit icons and rank numbers/alphabets.
Indeed some translations have been lost, but you can add translations yourself if someone else hasn't done it yet:
https://boardgamearena.com/translationhq
- The game plays itself.
- I don't like auto play.
- Preselecting cards is unnecessary.
These changes were the most demanded features in this update.
You can check the list of implemented suggestions from the link on the top.
In the first card play and the last trick players do not have a choice at all, so clicking cards manually is completely unnecessary.
Likewise, automatic round end (TRAM aka the rest are mine) happens only when the round result cannot be changed regardless of choices.
This one can be turned off in lobby option though. Set 'Skip uneventful final tricks' to 'Disabled'.
Card preselect also speeds up the game. Besides, preselection is the player's choice. This one is not automatic.
If you are afraid of clicking mistakes, use confirmation mode from player preference.
- Card highlight is an eyesore.
- The animations are nauseating.
I changed shading of unplayable cards into a non-default preference option and added some delay between the last trick card plays.
Hope the changes solve these issues.
- I passed cards across the table twice in a row. What happened?
The pass cycle has been changed to left - right - across - hold - ... to make it adaptable for all player counts.
Because of this change, in turn-based games temporary back-to-back across passing might happen (maximum once even if it occurs after all).
The previous version adopted left - across - right - hold - ... order which is NOT the most common passing cycle.
So, this change corrected a bug.
This will not happen in new games, games which were not in across passing round, or games already went through double across passing.
- The game play is slower!
You managed to detect 0.1s delays between card plays and 0.5s delays between card passes added to fix animation bugs. Congratulations.
- Remove game logs.
- Clear game history.
- The game should rely on memory!
FYI, the previous version also had this issue and I did not change this (yes, I received these comments even though I didn't change this).
These comments say 'the game should resemble real life version'.
However, it's an unachievable goal as erasing game log does not prevent anyone from recording played cards at all.
Almost all games on BGA keep the game log intact, including games which hide scores like Puerto Rico.
In contrast, plenty of requests for 'live scoring' which is hard or impossible in real life have been posted and some games adopted them.
Also, removing logs screws turn-based players obviously. Thus, rejected.
Related discussion: https://boardgamearena.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28497
- Remove 2/3/4rd place distinction!
FYI, the previous version also had this issue and I did not change this (the same goes for this one too).
All 3+ player games on BGA rank players by the final score, unless the game rule explicitly prevents it (e.g. Quantum). Hearts is no exception.
Related discussion: https://boardgamearena.com/bug?id=13918
If you have something to suggest, please post a suggestion through BGA bug report system.
I'll be immediately notified by mail and other players can share their opinions too.
Thanks for playing BGA Hearts
any workaround I could use?