BETA: Arena mode (Season 0 - BETA)

[ripwaxmaster]

I find it harder to get games since Arena mode started. The number of available players is less in BOTH Simple mode and Arena mode. I spend most of my time at BGA waiting (and inviting scores of players) for opponents.

[Frederick de Grosse]

I don't like that Russian Railroad is only 2 player and Puerto Rico is only 3. Both are far superior games as 4 player. I do realize that it is harder to get 4 players.

[J-Effe IV]

(English follows) Il y a un bogue en ce moment lorsqu'on attend qu'une partie Arène se remplisse. Il est impossible d'ouvrir d'autres fenêtres (par exemple envoyer un message privé) ou créer une partie en mode normal... sauf en sortant de la partie pour laquelle on attend.

Je trouve aussi que les parties se remplissent plus lentement (particulièrement celles où il y a plus de deux joueurs), que ce soit en mode arène ou normal.

There is an issue currently when waiting for an arena game to fill. It is not possible to open another windows (for instance send a private message) or create a game in normal mode... except by exiting the game we're waiting.

I also find it's harder to fill games (especially those with more than 2 players), either in normal or arena mode.

[MalyFarciarz]

Hello,

It's a possible to open tournament in arena mode?

[DoubleSpliff]

When waiting to find opponents in an Arena game i am unable to leave the start page without losing my place at the table. in simple mode i can create a game and then take my turns at my "by turn mode" games whilst waiting for other players to join my table. it would be good if we could do that in Arena mode as well.

[onyx puffin]

So I am finding this discussion about the Arena mode interesting. And I pulled out the following quote because I think it is important for site managers to hear.
1. The site needs to Show the tables available to join and looking for people, with Arena mode. Develop it.
Right now, let's say I sign in for one of the games that has a longer wait time, and may sign in for 2 or 3 of those games like Nimmit or Oh Hell. I sign in and I am only 1. Then there is waiting. So I think ok, may I look at something like Can't Stop or Backgammon or other 2 player. That game kicks in immediately and so no longer am I in line waiting. That is a huge drawback to my playing games I would prefer. Especially when as knockando wrote back a few writings, I do not have any idea how close to my level the person you are matching me up with will be.

2. While you may not see a drop in game play numbers yet, I believe you will eventually. Many of us are giving it a try. (But I know I personally don't like it.) And what I have found with other game sites over the years, when a change is made whereby people cannot choose to play with people they have come to know and respect, they drop out of the site. (This was especially true with Ticket to Ride site.)

by Meow1 » 17 January 2020, 12:22
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sourisdudesert wrote: ↑
16 January 2020, 15:00

RicardoRix wrote: ↑
16 January 2020, 13:59
Show the Arena tables as the normal part of the lobby, just don't show the player names \ level.

Good question.

At first, we wanted to do that too.

However, what is the point? You're going to see one Arena table for each game, with anonymous players, which you can join. We cannot of course allow you to invite/suggest player so all you will be able to do is waiting.

So at the end, it is not different than using the automatic mode, except it needs more click and is more complicated.

Beside this, if there are several Arena tables, there will be all the same, so there is no way you can decide which one is the best for you. In the contrary, our matchmaking algorithm is making you join the right table in such a case.

TLDR; it brings zero additional value, while it has drawbacks.

A key element is that some people may prefer to play manual mode with settings different than are used in the Arena. If they can't find preferred players for their manual table, they may be willing to join the Arena queue. As currently implemented, they must abandon the manual table to enter the Arena queue.

[ringersoll]

I come to BGA to play games. Since Arena Mode has been implemented it seems that I have a harder time getting a game.
Two times I have opened an Arena Mode game and in a short period of time the game has opened, but my opponent never makes a move.
One of the players is a friend and later told me that he never heard the game open. In both cases I had to wait until my opponent ran out of time, time that I would MUCH rather be playing.
I guess that I could have skipped my opponent's turn and maybe the game would give me a win, but that is not very sportsman-like. So I chose to abandon the game. Happily the game could be abandoned.

My first reaction to Arena Mode is NOT GOOD.

PS - I am a Premium Member

[Grey Lord]

BGA had issue with "number of players / number of games and variants". Arena mode is worse by spliting players into two lobbys when waiting. I think that lot of players who prefer arena would accept to join a game in simple mode and vice versa just to reduce the waiting time.

My suggestion: Only one lobby as is for simple game now but button "Play in arena mode now" do not kick you into arena lobby but only add you to players waiting for arena table to fill.

[Forester30]

I'm a good to average Seasons player. So far out of the 10 or so games is Arena I've played all my competitors are 300+ELO while I'm in still in bronze. Very frustrating. I was just matched against someone in the highest group Epic or something like that.

So, while I enjoy competition I feel this is too Imbalanced for any players less than a certain skill level. The number of star won or lost should take into account the skill of you competitor. For example losing to another bronze player will cost you two stars while losing to a player two or more ranking groups above you should lose you less stars.

Same with winning, it should gain you more stars if you beat a higher ranked player. Either that or only allow within same group pairings. Otherwise you will isolate most players who don't enjoy constantly losing to players of much higher skill.

[RicardoRix]

Show the Arena tables as the normal part of the lobby, just don't show the player names \ level.

However, what is the point? You're going to see one Arena table for each game, with anonymous players, which you can join.

This is not true. If the players waiting have different time-frames, then there are going to be several tables. And what about level, are you pairing Elite Players with first time Bronze players?

I can only assume that a lot of single players are sitting in time-stasis waiting for an Arena game. I'm ready to play them...but won't ever find them.

You can find here the average waiting time for the Arena games, which make me think that the time-stasis is not so big

That's just real-time games not turn-based, and ONLY counts the tables that have been created. Very skewed statistics, what about all the tables that are waiting and waiting and never get filled?