(EXPERIMENTATION ENDED) Arena mode upgrade

[f00fak]

I think this is a really terrible idea - human beings HATE waiting. The existing system was working fine. It amazes me how this site can break things by trying to fix things that aren't broken.

Perfect example: I just came and wanted to play at 7:16. Next session was at 7:21. I wrote some emails, made coffee. Now 7:22. Whoops, can't do anything, just have to sit here. I am literally boggled that you thought this was a good idea.

Another example: I can't join an Arena match, so I enter a regular match. I'm playing my regular match and see an Arena game is coming up. I try to register - oops, can't play two games at once? And why not? It would be so easy to have two browser windows open.

[sourisdudesert]

I think this is a really terrible idea - human beings HATE waiting. The existing system was working fine. It amazes me how this site can break things by trying to fix things that aren't broken.

When we published the previous system, we got more than 300 feedbacks here explaining that it was a terrible idea:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=13890

Now that we try to fix things we are being told that the previous system was working fine and that this one is not.

- sigh -

[spedia2116]

My thoughts so far.

1. Session system is great. It has got great potential, but you should be able to register earlier. I already missed 3 times a game because of that. I should register earlier and get confirmation that game is about to start. I was online all the time, but I do also other stuff and I don't check time every second. All in all I like the idea, not the realization, but it's a good path.
2. No possibility to play with opponents from same league. What's more after month of starting arena, leagues do not represent players skills. I played as gold league with platinum ones. I had got 380 ELO, and the rest 150, 202 and 237. It was no challenge to beat them. They were so high because of accident or high volume of games already played in arena.
3. Arena mode should not relay on premium accounts to start a game. Unless it's a mode which is made to convert players to premium users, then it's ok. But I prefer to play in swiss tournaments where there is possibility to compete with players regardless of premium status and after 3-4 games you play with players with quite same skills - not random ones.

[Mr_Magic]

I've just started a Turn Based Arena game of Can't Stop.

However, it is flagged as being a Realtime game. It isn't, when I click in it's definitely a turn based game but your system keeps alerting me that I am in a realtime game.

[LoesElska]

I think this is a really terrible idea - human beings HATE waiting. The existing system was working fine. It amazes me how this site can break things by trying to fix things that aren't broken.

When we published the previous system, we got more than 300 feedbacks here explaining that it was a terrible idea:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=13890

Now that we try to fix things we are being told that the previous system was working fine and that this one is not.

- sigh -

I would not call the previous one "fine" but it was better than the current one. The only game I play in the arena has an HOUR waiting time and I have to be back at that exact time.

Normally I register for a game, turn on the sound so that I hear when the game starts and in the meantime I can do something else. What should I do now? set an alarm clock, wait for the right moment and then see that there is nobody there? No thanks, goodbye arena.

[ahclarissa]

I'm also quite disappointed with the Arena update. I started playing on BGA much more frequently after you created Arena mode, I love the competitiveness and dynamics of it, but now I find myself waiting much longer for games. One game I play often is Solo, normally before the update I would have been able to play at least 3 or 4 games by this time of the day. Since the update this morning I've played only once. I was just waiting for a session now, but since there were 7 people and we need 4 per table, I now have to wait another 20 minutes. This is pretty frustrating. Also, it was nice to play one game after the other at times when lots of players are online, it seems that with the new update and the regular intervals between sessions that is no longer possible.

I really appreciate your efforts, your openness to the community's feedback, but I think this update actually made things worse.

[aymaliev]

I have no wish to come to comment on the forums, but the new arena update demands it.

It is terrible!

Having read the "reasoning" behind it, I can say: No! You did not solve problems with this update. You only created problems.

[f00fak]

Glad to see the posters above coming right out with it! Go back to the way it was!

[ahclarissa]

I was just waiting for a session now, but since there were 7 people and we need 4 per table, I now have to wait another 20 minutes. This is pretty frustrating.

It just happened again! Is the right-of-way feature not working? Anyways, a 40 minute wait for a 5~10 minute game is just unreasonable

[dodger_]

I was just waiting for a session now, but since there were 7 people and we need 4 per table, I now have to wait another 20 minutes. This is pretty frustrating.

It just happened again! Is the right-of-way feature not working? Anyways, a 40 minute wait for a 5~10 minute game is just unreasonable

even worse: if this happens with a turn-based game one has to wait another 12 hours!