New Stat & Game Option - Average Wait Time

[ScrantonBranch]

Concise description:

• Many players take most of their turns, but only check in once a day. Others also take most of their turns but do it very quickly after they are alerted by e-mail. Enter a game with the first type of player and the game drags on. Play with the second, and it flys by.
  
  I suggest that CC keep track of the average amount of time it takes players to take their turn, and then allow an average wait time to be specified in the game set-up options.

Specifics:

• It could work like this:
• The average wait time (AWT from here on out) would be calculated for each player based on how quickly they took their turns. For example, someone that frequently takes the turn as soon as possible may have an AWT of only 32 minutes. Someone that checks in daily may have one of 14 hours and 32 minutes.
• The stat would be listed next to the point total, win ratio, etc.
• When creating a new game, the creator can choose from a few different levels of AWT as criteria of who can join. So, if the creator specifies that the game requires an AWT of 2 hours or less, the first player above would be able to join and the second would not.
• Note that the game would still allow 24 hours for a turn. The difference is that the faster players could group together without having to commit to a speed game.
• It may be a good idea to have the average only take into account the last 30 days or so. That way, if a players habits change the AWT score will reflect only the most recent (and important) type of play.

This will improve the following aspects of the site:

• Players with different levels of dedication will be able to group together without actually altering the rules of the game. In other words, there is still 24 hours available if needed.
• Knowing that AWT is being calculated may subtly provide incentive for all players to take turns sooner, and discourage dead-beating.
• Could be added as a premium feature (at least the ability to create the game with a AWT restriction).

[yeti_c]

As has been said before - this stat is unfair as it depends on your opponents. - I'm from the UK - so my playing hours are between 8AM - 10PM GMT/BST.

If I play someone who plays once a day at 10:30 PM GMT - then my average time against that person will be 8 hours.

Also - if I play someone who is in my time zone - but the wake up an hour later and go to bed an hour later - then my average time will be short during the day - but the time when I'm sleeping will be attributed to me.

So - In summary - any type of stat like this needs to take into account more factors than just average wait time.

C.

[FabledIntegral]

Shouldn't matter to players who have premium and can play as many games as they want. They'll have constant turns. Only really affects freemium's like you, and there's no incentive to make buying premium less appealing to the freeloaders.

[ScrantonBranch]

As has been said before - this stat is unfair as it depends on your opponents. - I'm from the UK - so my playing hours are between 8AM - 10PM GMT/BST.

If I play someone who plays once a day at 10:30 PM GMT - then my average time against that person will be 8 hours.

Also - if I play someone who is in my time zone - but the wake up an hour later and go to bed an hour later - then my average time will be short during the day - but the time when I'm sleeping will be attributed to me.

So - In summary - any type of stat like this needs to take into account more factors than just average wait time.

C.

Clearly something like this has been suggested before. Sorry, I didn't see it when I did a quick scan though the suggestions.

Anyway, I see your point. Time zone can effect the stat. However, I don't know that it would make as much difference as you think. We're talking about a rolling average here - so extreme cases (hitting the sack just before your GMT counterpart takes his turn) would be diluted. We all sleep at some point. I get that. My thought was that there is a fundamental difference between those that live online while they are awake, and those that don't.

How would you suggest structuring it (other factors)?

[ScrantonBranch]

Shouldn't matter to players who have premium and can play as many games as they want. They'll have constant turns. Only really affects freemium's like you, and there's no incentive to make buying premium less appealing to the freeloaders.

I disagree. I'm not really interested in playing 15 games at once. I would be interested in playing four more efficiently. I'd see it as an additional incentive to join premium. Maybe that's just me though...

Thanks for the feedback.

[max is gr8]

Play freestyle, you're guaranteed to get a turn within 24 hours

[yeti_c]

How would you suggest structuring it (other factors)?

I'm unsure on this one...

Perhaps something to do with when someone is online - but that wouldn't show what you are desiring - as if you are only online for 30 minutes a day - then your time taken would be short...

Perhaps then - a conglomeration of the two...

i.e. something like Percentage of time online - Speed of turns taken during that time?

C.

[yeti_c]

Play freestyle, you're guaranteed to get a turn within 24 hours

Such a lame response.

C.

[ScrantonBranch]

Perhaps something to do with when someone is online - but that wouldn't show what you are desiring - as if you are only online for 30 minutes a day - then your time taken would be short...

Perhaps then - a conglomeration of the two...

i.e. something like Percentage of time online - Speed of turns taken during that time?

Hmmm. You're right, it gets tricky.

I think the stat as proposed makes sense. The underlying concern (if I'm understanding you correctly) is that you don't want to be penalized (by being blocked from a bunch of games) for being in another time zone.

To address that, maybe the answer is to only have a couple different AWT settings. Ex: Under 2 hours, under 8 hours, and all. That would keep it from being too elitist, and leave plenty of games open for people in all situations.

I don't know. Just thinking out loud...

[cicero]

Clearly something like this has been suggested before. Sorry, I didn't see it when I did a quick scan though the suggestions.

It has, or at least a variation of it has, come up before. Check out the Statistic for average time before user starts turn thread for some extended discussion on why/why not the average wait time is/is not the absolute answer here.

You'll see I come down on the "is not the answer" side, but there's nothing to be gained I think by repeating those arguments here. As yeti almost summarises "this stat is unfair as it depends on your opponents [location]". Actually I think there may be something in one of your posts ...

My thought was that there is a fundamental difference between those that live online while they are awake, and those that don't.

How about a simple percentage of time online?
Those of us who "live online" at CC could sometimes have percentages of 30% or 40% when indulging our addiction most ... Perhaps a percentage of time online in last 28 days statistic would be useful?

Then again all the arguments in the other thread regarding different time zones still apply. Just because I am online for 25% of the time and so are you - because we are both obsessed with this CC thing - if we are in different time zones (like UK/US) and our online periods don't over lap there will still be big delays between some turns and so, as I've argued in the other thread, the stat may well become meaningless.

I don't know. Just thinking out loud...

Me too

Cicero

[max is gr8]

Play freestyle, you're guaranteed to get a turn within 24 hours

Such a lame response.

C.

The persons complaining that games aren't efficient only play speed games (via getting premium or through live chat)
Or play freestyle
Or play 2 or 3 Player Seq.

[cicero]

Yes, there are ways of avoiding the problem. This thread is (trying) to discuss ways of addressing the problem.

[yeti_c]

My thought was that there is a fundamental difference between those that live online while they are awake, and those that don't.

How about a simple percentage of time online?
Those of us who "live online" at CC could sometimes have percentages of 30% or 40% when indulging our addiction most ... Perhaps a percentage of time online in last 28 days statistic would be useful?

Arrrgh - I'm hoping this stat doesn't get implemented - I'm not sure I want to see my addiction stat staring me in the face!!!!

C.

[FabledIntegral]

Yes, there are ways of avoiding the problem. This thread is (trying) to discuss ways of addressing the problem.

What problem? Another freemium complaining that he can't take his turns soon enough? "I'd rather play 4 games efficiently." blah - what a joke. I can play 50+ games efficiently if I want to, it's not that hard.

[ScrantonBranch]

Yes, there are ways of avoiding the problem. This thread is (trying) to discuss ways of addressing the problem.

What problem? Another freemium complaining that he can't take his turns soon enough? "I'd rather play 4 games efficiently." blah - what a joke. I can play 50+ games efficiently if I want to, it's not that hard.

So, if they changed casual games to allow 7 days instead of 1 you won't mind - right? You'd just play 3500 games at the same time? .....Apparently we have different definitions of the word 'efficient'.

No worries, I can see this isn't going anywhere. Thanks to Cicero and Yeti_c for the constructive feedback.
Please feel free to lock this thread.

[cicero]

Locked at OP's request.