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What happened to live games

Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 6:18 am
by ILN
I've been really wanting to play a live game but it seems impossible. They never fill up. Even on Saturdays I couldn't get one going. What's going on? I remember I used to be able to log on to the site any day and find a live game.

Re: What happened to live games

Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 6:56 am
by jmo1121109
I think a few things happened, but the main one is I added 1 vs 1 games, and those seem to have largely replaced people's itch for live games.

Re: What happened to live games

Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 6:59 am
by mhsmith0
Live gunboats fill up sometimes too i think.

Re: What happened to live games

Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 6:18 pm
by thdfrance
Has there ever been discussion on setting up a live game league on a set night of the week? I can't imagine that idea hasn't been brought up before.

Re: What happened to live games

Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 7:12 pm
by Vom Kriege
I enjoy live games, but there are two things off the top of my head that would be improvements and would make me more inclined to play in them:
1) Boot out players as quickly as possible in live games when there are NMRs as to not hold up the game for people that are actually playing (I'm not sure how the program does this - perhaps it is already as 'strict' as it can be).
2) Permit for a shorter build/retreat phase than the diplomacy phase (in live games only). Trying to balance these phases so the build/retreat phase isn't too long, while the diplomacy phase is a meaningful length is difficult with only one time for all. Sometimes players drag these phases out intentionally.

Both of these suggestions would help to keep games moving imo, and consequently make me more apt to play them.

I'd love to hear your opinion on the above jmo1121109 - you'd definitely have more insight. :)

Re: What happened to live games

Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 7:34 pm
by KalelChase
Not sure this information will help anyone, but I generally spectate a game a few hours out from start because I'm not sure I can play that far a head of time... however when it comes time (<5 min) before start time, and I'm free to play, I go back to the game and it's full, so I just watch. However, inevitably (as I watch the game), there are 1-2 NMR during spring '01... so there are some who sign up a head of time, and then miss the start (as opposed to me that doesn't sign up, but would have been there at the start). Just an observation... happens almost every time.

Re: What happened to live games

Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 8:35 pm
by Tom Bombadil
I have some thoughts swirling on how to get live games going strong again - but they will have to wait until next week. It’s very much a momentum situation. Once they start happening, it gets easier and easier

Re: What happened to live games

Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 8:37 pm
by Claesar
Yup, I've played a lot of live Gunboats. They seem to fire best at 7PM GMT and 2AM GMT.

If you announce it in advance, I'll let you know whether I can warp my schedule to join.

Re: What happened to live games

Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 9:21 pm
by Mr. Green
thdfrance wrote:
Fri Jan 18, 2019 6:18 pm
Has there ever been discussion on setting up a live game league on a set night of the week? I can't imagine that idea hasn't been brought up before.
I would do something like this. We could do some vetting beforehand to try and be a little stricter about NMRs and not dragging out retreats/builds intentionally, I think.

Re: What happened to live games

Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 9:30 pm
by thdfrance
I think it would be cool to do like a Tuesday or Wednesday night league. It would be a bit difficult given how international our player base is. I might put up another thread about this topic specifically to see what there is for interest.

Re: What happened to live games

Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 10:33 pm
by ILN
Thdfrance, the idea for a live game league on a weekday night is genius.

Re: What happened to live games

Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 10:39 pm
by ILN
Personally, I've pretty much always preferred to join live games when the start time is 30 min or less. I find that if the start time for a live game is hours ahead, when the game starts you will almost always end up with at least one CD. I too am guilty of this lol. Worst is when the game starts in a couple hours, you join and the game gets full and doesn't let you leave, but something irl comes up and you can't play. That's why I prefer joining a game around 30 min or less before it starts.

Re: What happened to live games

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2019 12:00 am
by bartogian
I would be interested in trying a live press game. If there was an attempt to organise one at a time known in advance, I'd be more likely to participate as I don't check this site that often.

Vom Kriege in #5 makes some very good points about the software. At the moment, I believe the software where we want it to be to be good for live games.

I've played in one live game but it was without press and not enjoyable.

"weekday night" doesn't make sense given webdip's playerbase is spread over so many time zones. Ideally you'd have live games starting at as wide a range of times of day as possible so as many people as possible can participate.

Re: What happened to live games

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2019 1:39 am
by thdfrance
Not a ton of action on the other thread discussing the idea unfortunately

Re: What happened to live games

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2019 3:53 am
by ILN
thdfrance wrote:
Sat Jan 19, 2019 1:39 am
Not a ton of action on the other thread discussing the idea unfortunately
What thread?

Re: What happened to live games

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2019 3:24 am
by Your Humble Narrator
I’d like to join a live game group. Gunboat or press is fine by me.

Re: What happened to live games

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2019 6:01 pm
by thdfrance
Your Humble Narrator wrote:
Thu Jan 24, 2019 3:24 am
I’d like to join a live game group. Gunboat or press is fine by me.
We'd love to have you!

Re: What happened to live games

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 4:33 pm
by ILN
https://webdiplomacy.net/contrib/phpBB3 ... f=7&t=1215 is the thread for a live game group

Re: What happened to live games

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 6:52 pm
by Your Humble Narrator
Thanks, ILN. Hope the idea takes off.