Board Game Arena

Hia,

Is it possible to give people a warning if they are joining a fast turn based game that has playable hours during the middle of the night for them? Or just block certain time zones.

Really annoying hosting a game and someone from the other side of the world joins and they invariably run out of time.

Cheers all

As has been pointed out many times, just because two people occupy the same timezone, doesn't mean they play at the same time. People are online at all different times of day, including sometimes in the middle of their night. I think it's been suggested to warn people that games have playing hours set, which would be reasonable - did you look for a suggestion to vote for?

Yes there’s a suggestion for adding a warning, but like so many great and important suggestions, it doesn’t have a lot up upvotes.

Let’s at least try to change that:

https://boardgamearena.com/bug?id=57379

I'm confused. When I join a game, it shows the playing hours before I join.

FrankJones wrote: ↑14 February 2026, 21:33 I'm confused. When I join a game, it shows the playing hours before I join.

There are many things that are shown that people gloss over without actually reading. I don't agree with hiding options, but I do think every game with playing hours should make you acknowledge them, the same way you have to acknowledge your commitment on an "are you sure" pop-up when entering a tournament.

Meeplelowda wrote: ↑14 February 2026, 23:27

FrankJones wrote: ↑14 February 2026, 21:33 I'm confused. When I join a game, it shows the playing hours before I join.

There are many things that are shown that people gloss over without actually reading. I don't agree with hiding options, but I do think every game with playing hours should make you acknowledge them, the same way you have to acknowledge your commitment on an "are you sure" pop-up when entering a tournament.

When I start a turn base game it says, "You are agreeing to play game that will probably last ____ days". And then I need to confirm.

But I suppose it would be more helpful if it also posted the playing hours.

FrankJones wrote: ↑14 February 2026, 21:33 I'm confused. When I join a game, it shows the playing hours before I join.

If you join a game using the new game page lobby and you selected a flexible game speed, BGA will happily throw you into a game with completely inappropriate playing hours.

Shivaware wrote: ↑15 February 2026, 01:59

FrankJones wrote: ↑14 February 2026, 21:33 I'm confused. When I join a game, it shows the playing hours before I join.

If you join a game using the new game page lobby and you selected a flexible game speed, BGA will happily throw you into a game with completely inappropriate playing hours.

Why does anyone use that poorly designed game page lobby instead of the highly functional and far superior old "play now" page?

I'm asking somewhat rhetorically, I suppose ??

But, I examined both options, and saw one option that makes sense, gives me choices and flexibility, whereas the other option gives nothing and sucks.

Yes, fail on BGA for setting up this inadequate game page lobby for no good reason. But, is it really that difficult for people to realize they can still use the "play now" page, and realize that it is superior?

I mean, at the top of each page, the "play now" link is right there.

FrankJones wrote: ↑15 February 2026, 03:00a
Why does anyone use that poorly designed game page lobby instead of the highly functional and far superior old "play now" page?

1) Because some people joined BGA after the single-game lobby became the default and they literally don't even know the old lobby exists; and
2) Some people only do the default thing and don't explore other areas of a site.

Meeplelowda wrote: ↑15 February 2026, 03:33

FrankJones wrote: ↑15 February 2026, 03:00a
Why does anyone use that poorly designed game page lobby instead of the highly functional and far superior old "play now" page?

1) Because some people joined BGA after the single-game lobby became the default and they literally don't even know the old lobby exists; and
2) Some people only do the default thing and don't explore other areas of a site.

FAIL by BGA.

What the heck was the point of the game page interface trying to replace the "play now" interface??

What was wrong with the "play now" interface ???

Is it okay if I bad mouth BGA like this given that I am a volunteer for BGA ??

I just don't get it.