Registered 5 days ago, still don't understand interface

[albiinoliivarott]

I just wanted to express my frustration. I registered some days ago and have played a fews games, but I'm sorry to say that I absolutely don't understand the website's interface. This is so confusing. I still haven't figured out how to join an already existing game. Creating my own game I figured out quickly. I have tried to find the correct spot where I can see the already existing tables of a specific game and where I can see who is the opponent and his/her ranking (so I wouldn't go as a newcomer against a pro),but it is just impossible to even understand how to join a game. I'm sorry, this makes me delete my account. But probably I will not even find out how to do it.

[RicardoRix]

click 'PLAY NOW', and then 'REAL-TIME' or 'TURN-BASED'. Then scroll down to see a list of tables to join for the games that you're interested in.

You may need to add some games in the 'Add to my games' selection box.

[Liallan]

I just wanted to express my frustration. I registered some days ago and have played a fews games, but I'm sorry to say that I absolutely don't understand the website's interface. This is so confusing. I still haven't figured out how to join an already existing game. Creating my own game I figured out quickly. I have tried to find the correct spot where I can see the already existing tables of a specific game and where I can see who is the opponent and his/her ranking (so I wouldn't go as a newcomer against a pro),but it is just impossible to even understand how to join a game. I'm sorry, this makes me delete my account. But probably I will not even find out how to do it.

Is it possible you are trying to join a game from the game's page, instead of the Play Now page? You won't find tables for a specific game, but rather all games that are available. I think it's fairly logical to use "Play Now" since that is what you are wanting to do, and as Ricardo pointed out, you might want to add some games to the list of what you want to play. What that will look like depends if you are in simple mode or the more advanced mode. (If you are looking for something very specific, I think advanced is actually easier.) If you start to type a game name in the box, it'll give games starting with those letters and you can choose one. You can add as many as you want. (Fair warning that this list stays and will be the same when you come back, until you specifically delete or add games to the list. This can be a bit annoying for some people.)

In advanced mode, it'll then show a list of tables with those games you picked. It will also show which ones you are eligible for, so if someone requests a high level player than you, and you don't qualify, it won't even show in the top portion of the list. If there is no such requirement, you'd have to open the table to see. Just click on it - that will not auto-join you to the game, but it will show more details. You can then see the ELO level, reputation, etc. of the other players. (Note I have no idea what this looks like in simple mode, or even if you can do this. I think that just automatically joins you in a game that fits the qualifications you set for it. Easy, but you have less control.)

I think the main thing is getting into the Play Now area, and not the Games area. The Games is just a listing of what games are available with some information about them, not a place to join current tables.

[GreenVelvet]

I think I know maybe 20 games on this site.
If, let's say I wanna play Seasons, is there a way to list only the Seasons table ?
Because I get to look through a lot of games that are sorted by creation time and, imho, it makes no sense. It is even counter-productive because that means "older" games get less and less chances to get filled.
Am I missing something ? Is there a way to sort only the Seasons game ?
This site is great, packed with great games but, after few months, I still think this invitation system is really not straightforward and, as a matter of consequence, I much prefer going on an other website where I can create or join much more easily the games I want.

[Liallan]

The only way to get only Seasons to show is if you delete the other games out of your "list." But if, at some other time, you don't want play Seasons and want to play something else, you have to delete Seasons off the list and put something else in. This isn't so bad when you play turn-based like me, cause I just keep all games I know in that list, but I'm also playing several games at once. But there isn't a way to sort them.

Two things that would be nice: one, having a separate list for live and turn-based, which will help people who tend to play both, because for live you may only be interested in one or two specific games on a given day, but for turn based might take a variety of stuff. And two, having a list of games you know or might ever play, and then easily be able to check off the ones you want to see at a given time. That would make it easier to change what games show without changing your overall list.

I also usually start at the bottom of the list so I see the oldest ones first. Yes, some of those end up sitting there for a while, but I've noticed those are also often games that take 5 or more players, and are games that are not as popular.

[sourisdudesert]

Hi,

I don't want to comment all of this but only the original poster post:

Some players, like this thread original author, want a more simple interface to play on BGA. They rarely post here - most of them just leave the website. You may be surprised that 40% of players who register on BGA do not play any game here.

This is why we'd like to have a "simple lobby", and this is why it's going to be the default lobby at some point in the future. This is also why sometimes we have simplify the design, or (more frequently) move informations "one click far away".

I'm saying that because I know it's sometimes frustrating for some long-term BGA players to see that we seem to spend times on "useless features" or "fixing non-existent problem": but the fact that many players do not understand how BGA works is an invisible problem for you, and we have to address it

PS: we are still not-entirely-satisfied by some details of the simple lobby, but if you want to test it you can from:
https://boardgamearena.com/#!gamelobbyauto

[Liallan]

You may be surprised that 40% of players who register on BGA do not play any game here.

No, I'm not surprised.

[GreenVelvet]

sourisdudesert I really thing 40% of people registering is a lot and I get that it is concerning you.
Truth is, I think there are really very good games here.
But I play much much more on y....a for a few reasons. And one (not the more important one but still) is that this is straightforward to see all the invitations of Stone Age (for example). I can see all of them in a clear concise way and decide whether there is a table I would like to join.
Here (and I am probably missing something), it seems I can't so I keep creating new tables every single time and that is not the way it is supposed to be. If everyone create a new table well noone plays
I am probably missing somethinh but even the simple interface is not simple enough for me.
I want to be guided.
What do you wanna play today Sir GreenVelvet would be fine
With the answer being Random (or surprise me) / My#1 game played / My#2 game played / My #3 game played / See more ...
and when you click on Seasons (for example) the choice being Create new table / See all tables you can join (sorted by my preferences of game then the more likely to start soon)
I might miss something. But if I do this is also an indication for you.
Again, in a probably grumpy way, I am just trying to give my 2 cents and I repeat it again & again, thank you so much for the work done !!
Thumbs up guys !

[sourisdudesert]

I want to be guided.

Well... that's more or less what is proposed today.

You can choose "what you want to play today" by adding/removing games from your games list. If you want to play only "Stone Age", then you can remove all games and leave only "Stone age".

Then, below, there are the list of all tables available for your games.

I agree this would be more simple to display one game at a time, but a lot of players here would like to play game A or game B depending on which tables are opened, so we want to display all tables with games you'd like to play.

And again, with the "simple mode", we provide a totally different experience, even more simpler that the one you described (you just have to click "Play" above "Stone Age" to play Stone Age). So you really have the choice here

[GreenVelvet]

I appreciate the time you take to answer me.
I have double checked and there are 39 games I have marked as known.
I simply can't uncheck 38 if I want to play Seasons
That makes absolutely no sense.
So, what I would do now is search for Seasons. ctrl-f + seasons to be clear.
And that would put me the games in reverse order right ? Which means it becomes more and more difficult for a table to get filled.
But again, I will more likely create a new table for Seasons to avoid this
or, Oven more likely, do not play or only with always the 5-6 buddies I have here.

As for the simple mode, I tried it and clicked and it told me looking for new players with absolutely no indication.
So I got scared and clicked on Cancel

I am playing mostly on y....a but I also sometimes play on t........a or even in tts (not sure I can "advertise" other systems here and I don't want). It is just to say that I would like to play more here (I even have taken a premium account because I think this is the best way to support you guys) but, give me a system, where I choose a game typing (you have a good auto-completion system (well you can't start in the middle and that is a problem but still)) and I get the opened tables with a simple sort by and I will spend my day here (maybe not what you or my boss are looking for )