Sudden new arena matching screen?!?!

[blahedo]

Once I realised it wasn't a weird bug (I had it screenshotted and everything I think I actually like it!

In particular, it addresses a concern that has been complained about before: if my BGA window is in the background or I've stepped away for a second and I don't hear the "game starting" bell, previously that's a direct route to ghosting my partner and getting a karma penalty. I assume that now, if I don't click "Accept" for long enough my opponent will cancel, which is fine, and then I don't get a karma penalty! Sounds great.

And of course, if we're able to accept or cancel, it becomes much more important that we _not_ know our opponent's identity in advance (so people can't pick and choose who they arena-game against). Hence the anonymous "Player 2" or whatever.

So on balance I think it's a good move. I do wish it had been announced... somewhere... first, though.

[Meeplelowda]

Having no punishment for players who join the arena queue and forget about it will presumably make that even harder. At least in the past they would be kicked and suffer karma loss (which potentially means they can't join the arena queue any more).

I liked it that you do not have to accept because you could do something different while waiting and just popping in every few minutes to see if a game is started - now I have to sit and wait - what a waste of lifetime.

In particular, it addresses a concern that has been complained about before: if my BGA window is in the background or I've stepped away for a second and I don't hear the "game starting" bell, previously that's a direct route to ghosting my partner and getting a karma penalty. I assume that now, if I don't click "Accept" for long enough my opponent will cancel, which is fine, and then I don't get a karma penalty! Sounds great.

And this is why BGA can't win. Here are two people against it for slightly different reasons, and one person for it because it removes something the first person is against removing.

[OxJabber]

People don't like change. First it was the return to the "home" page instead of the lobby after a game, then it was the logo, and now it's this.

I'm in favour - if someone isn't paying attention and a game starts, I'd rather abandon early without penalties than the game starts and then wait for the whole of their play clock to run down (and on some games that can be many minutes). Sure, they don't get penalised, but life happens and it's always seemed a little harsh to me.

It's going to take a short time for everyone to realise that it's new, and there might be more cancelled games, but in the long term we'll appreciate it.

[Cappa]

People don't like change. First it was the return to the "home" page instead of the lobby after a game, then it was the logo, and now it's this.

I'm in favour - if someone isn't paying attention and a game starts, I'd rather abandon early without penalties than the game starts and then wait for the whole of their play clock to run down (and on some games that can be many minutes). Sure, they don't get penalised, but life happens and it's always seemed a little harsh to me.

It's going to take a short time for everyone to realise that it's new, and there might be more cancelled games, but in the long term we'll appreciate it.

The issue isnt the change, its the lack of communication of said change.

[Countes-Olivia-Manny]

This is a fantastic change to Arena!

No more skipped turns!

[Cappa]

This is a fantastic change to Arena!

No more skipped turns!

Agreed, Ive lost tons of karma waiting for a real time game thats taking 20+ min to start.

Although im still not sure this is 100% intentional because on some screens it just shows Player 1, Player 2, Player 3 etc but other times it shows the players and their ranks.

[Countes-Olivia-Manny]

In Arena I'm only getting Player and no Name.

[Cappa]

In Arena I'm only getting Player and no Name.

I just had an arena game where it shows player and ranks... i have it multiple times. Sometimes they player names are hidden... so thats why I am not sure if this change is intentional or just a bug.

[Countes-Olivia-Manny]

Names do appear, but they are not the names of the players on the table.

[Cappa]

Names do appear, but they are not the names of the players on the table.

Yes they are the names of the players at the table..... why would I make this up?