Don't close group discussion when game goes to beta

[Woodruff]

Hi,

When a game is alpha, when you open a new table, you can post a message in the associated game group to help finding other players to test the game. This is especially important for low audiance games (example: Tichu).
But currently, when the game goes to beta, it is no longer possible to communicate in the group channel. So it can be eventually more difficult to find players... Posting in the global log is not that efficiant and can bring players who knows nothing about the game...

Could it be considered to keep the possibility to chat on the game group when the game is in beta, until it is publicly announced?
I have create a suggestion ticket linked to this, feel free to upvote: https://boardgamearena.com/bug?id=36568

Thanks and take care

Woodruff

[Een]

Some games in beta still get quite large audiences. In general, discussion is disabled by default in the game player's groups, because there are just too many people, and people are in too many groups -> it would become a spam inferno otherwise

This is acceptable only in alpha, because the groups are small due to the nature of alpha being playtesting with a limited audience. So alpha is the exception here, and we cannot extend it to beta without it becoming too spammy (with potential performance issues also).

[Woodruff]

Hi,

When a game is alpha, when you open a new table, you can post a message in the associated game group to help finding other players to test the game. This is especially important for low audiance games (example: Tichu).
But currently, when the game goes to beta, it is no longer possible to communicate in the group channel. So it can be eventually more difficult to find players... Posting in the global log is not that efficiant and can bring players who knows nothing about the game...

Could it be considered to keep the possibility to chat on the game group when the game is in beta, until it is publicly announced?
I have create a suggestion ticket linked to this, feel free to upvote: https://boardgamearena.com/bug?id=36568

Thanks and take care

Woodruff

Hi Een,

Hope you do well, thanks for your fast reply.

I understand the intent to avoid spamming, but while it is beneficial for large audiance games (Nidavellir ) it is the opposite for low audiance games

I have an alternate prosposition then: do you think it would be possible instead to shut down the channel when a certain amount X of players have join the group? This way, games with already large audiance in Beta won't be spammable while low audiance games would keep the additional help to reach the critical mass.

What would you think of that kind of management?

[Een]

Hi Woodruff,

Bit tired but otherwise fine, thanks for asking! Hope you are well too.

Any limit after alpha would be pretty arbitrary. The Tichu group for example is already more than 1000 players strong, so it feels like already a lot. I would prefer to keep a clear and understandable line for this: limited playtesting (alpha) -> player group chat available & members can post in the group ; game open to everyone (beta and released) -> player group chat unavailable and only admins can post in the group.

Discovery of tables is managed by other means (visibility in the lobby, invitations, suggestions). Of course, everything can be improved (and will be, someday, maybe )

[Woodruff]

Yes indeed, 1000+ players in the group is a lot... I understand that would be a good solution.
But we still struggle to make a full table, except in few hours, when there are most players. I have nearly wished it would still in alpha when it was far easier to find opponents ^^

Maybe there is room for improvement here? Using some sort of different mechanism...
More beta games means more feedback for the dev so it would speed up the process of polishing the game.
If you have time to make a thinking about it, feel free to include me in the process, if you think I can help somehow

Thanks for your continuing support!
Take care,

Woodruff