So, over in the discussion forum, there is a thread raging about why the wait screen was introduced, and how bad it is. I'll leave it to that thread for anyone to complain about it.
It was introduced, though, to try to raise membership levels. BGA seems to be wanting more funds.
BGA has listened to our suggestions before, and implemented a bunch of functionality that we, the player, wanted. It is time we return the favor.
BGA wants to raise funds. We need suggestions on how to do that.
Please, let's keep it to suggestions. No bashing them for what they've already done. No suggestions that they don't need to make enough money to pay for a full-time administrator. No beliefs that hosting a website takes no money and therefore should be free. Thanks.
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As to my suggestion, I'm repeating someone else's and to implement Ranking and Trophies only to members. Apparently membership levels were acceptable when ELO was shown only to members. When ELO was shown to everyone, membership dropped. Most people who care about ELO do not really care about that number -- they care about what that number represents. Having an ELO of 376 by itself means little. Having an ELO of 376 and be on a list showing that number 1 is rated 377, you are number 2, and number 3 has 285 means much more. Having everyone who visits your profile page and seeing a "Ranked #2" trophy means a bunch also.
For those that play the games for fun, (OK, for me...) ELO knowledge is nice, but not important. It was necessary so I could know if I could join games limited to skill level (Average, Good, etc.,) but that was about it. It is also nice, but not necessary, to know how I'm ranked among BGA players.
For those that play the games for prestige, I believe they need to have others know that they have attained their level. They want people to see them on the rankings page. They want people to see trophies in their profiles. They might even pay (become members) to do this.
ELO doesn't need to be removed. It is still needed to see skill level (unless skill level alone was made known to each player). However, having an ELO higher than the highest ranked member is quite different than having the highest ELO. One says "I'm very good, but if you go through every player profile you might find someone better than me." The other says "I'm the best of everyone on this site, no question."
It was introduced, though, to try to raise membership levels. BGA seems to be wanting more funds.
BGA has listened to our suggestions before, and implemented a bunch of functionality that we, the player, wanted. It is time we return the favor.
BGA wants to raise funds. We need suggestions on how to do that.
Please, let's keep it to suggestions. No bashing them for what they've already done. No suggestions that they don't need to make enough money to pay for a full-time administrator. No beliefs that hosting a website takes no money and therefore should be free. Thanks.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As to my suggestion, I'm repeating someone else's and to implement Ranking and Trophies only to members. Apparently membership levels were acceptable when ELO was shown only to members. When ELO was shown to everyone, membership dropped. Most people who care about ELO do not really care about that number -- they care about what that number represents. Having an ELO of 376 by itself means little. Having an ELO of 376 and be on a list showing that number 1 is rated 377, you are number 2, and number 3 has 285 means much more. Having everyone who visits your profile page and seeing a "Ranked #2" trophy means a bunch also.
For those that play the games for fun, (OK, for me...) ELO knowledge is nice, but not important. It was necessary so I could know if I could join games limited to skill level (Average, Good, etc.,) but that was about it. It is also nice, but not necessary, to know how I'm ranked among BGA players.
For those that play the games for prestige, I believe they need to have others know that they have attained their level. They want people to see them on the rankings page. They want people to see trophies in their profiles. They might even pay (become members) to do this.
ELO doesn't need to be removed. It is still needed to see skill level (unless skill level alone was made known to each player). However, having an ELO higher than the highest ranked member is quite different than having the highest ELO. One says "I'm very good, but if you go through every player profile you might find someone better than me." The other says "I'm the best of everyone on this site, no question."