Feature requests
Re: Feature requests
I'd like it if there was a setting in Lexplorer that gave you the option of only viewing words of a certain length in all the boxes when running a search. It probably wouldnt be a great amount of use to most people, but it would be good if you have a fetish for compiling words and listing them in length order.
- Charlie Reams
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9494
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm
- Location: Cambridge
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
I've thought about doing this before. I think it would probably be one of those things like the numbers entry method, which players constantly whine about even though it's the only fair way to do it.Jon Corby wrote:
As an additional safe-guard, how about making the conundrum disappear while you are entering your answer? I suggested this as a possibility to be used on the show (you'd have to put the physical conundrum board out of view of the players, and then just make the monitor shut out on buzzer press) and I reckon it would work pretty well to help stamp out what is essentially cheating.
Thoughts?
- Ben Hunter
- Kiloposter
- Posts: 1770
- Joined: Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:54 pm
- Location: S Yorks
Re: Feature requests
This feature would probably become more useless as time goes by, but I think it would be pretty cool if words that had only ever been spotted once (or only ever spotted by one user) were displayed in the user's profile, sort of like how the nines that people have spotted also appear in their profiles.
- Ben Wilson
- Legend
- Posts: 4551
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 5:05 pm
- Location: North Hykeham
Re: Feature requests
For statland can you add all the good stuff from cdb like 'best winners, worst winners' etc, also stuff like games won with the fewest maxes?
- Charlie Reams
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9494
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm
- Location: Cambridge
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
Your wish... http://www.apterous.org/viewformat.php?format=1Ben Wilson wrote:For statland can you add all the good stuff from cdb like 'best winners, worst winners' etc, also stuff like games won with the fewest maxes?
Similar pages for other formats are under the "More..." links from http://www.apterous.org/statsummary.php .
Re: Feature requests
What is a shut-out?
Steven Briers won to 'love' so i presume it's not that?
Steven Briers won to 'love' so i presume it's not that?
- Charlie Reams
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9494
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm
- Location: Cambridge
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
It is exactly that, yep. But both players have to be humans or it doesn't count.D Eadie wrote:What is a shut-out?
Steven Briers won to 'love' so i presume it's not that?
- Matthew Green
- Devotee
- Posts: 716
- Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 12:28 pm
Re: Feature requests
What about a 'tournament mode' like you get on football computer games?
You start by playing a fictional player and try and win 8 consecutive games. These players have ability level of 1000-1500 as thats about what the average contestant on the show have. Then, depending on how you do, you may make it to the QFs. You could maybe have a 400+ point total to qualify and then your QF ranking depends on your score.
In the QF and DF you play someone of higher ability, depending on your rank (so if you scored 800 points in qualifying you would get a weaker opponent as you'd be #1seed). These opponents would be ranging from Velvet standard to Prime standard for your final opponent should you make it all the way.
Then if you get a certain overall score you get into the CoC and face even better opponents before facing a Rex style end of level baddie.
You start by playing a fictional player and try and win 8 consecutive games. These players have ability level of 1000-1500 as thats about what the average contestant on the show have. Then, depending on how you do, you may make it to the QFs. You could maybe have a 400+ point total to qualify and then your QF ranking depends on your score.
In the QF and DF you play someone of higher ability, depending on your rank (so if you scored 800 points in qualifying you would get a weaker opponent as you'd be #1seed). These opponents would be ranging from Velvet standard to Prime standard for your final opponent should you make it all the way.
Then if you get a certain overall score you get into the CoC and face even better opponents before facing a Rex style end of level baddie.
If I suddenly have a squirming baby on my lap it probably means that I should start paying it some attention and stop wasting my time messing around on a Countdown forum
- Kai Laddiman
- Fanatic
- Posts: 2314
- Joined: Wed Oct 15, 2008 3:37 pm
- Location: My bedroom
Re: Feature requests
I was thinking about a French version of Lexplorer (aptly codenamed L'Explorer) and maybe a Google-style hyper one, Lexploooorer.
16/10/2007 - Episode 4460
Dinos Sfyris 76 - 78 Dorian Lidell
Proof that even idiots can get well and truly mainwheeled.
Dinos Sfyris 76 - 78 Dorian Lidell
Proof that even idiots can get well and truly mainwheeled.
- Daniel O'Dowd
- Acolyte
- Posts: 178
- Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:40 pm
Re: Feature requests
I really like that new addition in player profile of disallowed words, but could you have them come up in different colours, so that words you played and were disallowed because the letters weren't there *such as alginates for me for example, in a game of hyper with no n...* but are actually valid, come up differently from those which are actually phony because they're not in?
- kevin manthorpe
- Rookie
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2009 5:15 pm
Re: Feature requests
Is it possible to alter the window sizes or layouts so that you can see more of the players list without losing too much of the main chat window?
And at the risk of displaying my ignorance, is there a guide to how (or for that matter, why) items accumulate in the inventory? Would it be possible to trade it on ebay for a polo shirt? What would a teapot be worth??
And at the risk of displaying my ignorance, is there a guide to how (or for that matter, why) items accumulate in the inventory? Would it be possible to trade it on ebay for a polo shirt? What would a teapot be worth??
- Charlie Reams
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9494
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm
- Location: Cambridge
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
Yes, just drag the divider between them.kevin manthorpe wrote:Is it possible to alter the window sizes or layouts so that you can see more of the players list without losing too much of the main chat window?
http://www.c4countdown.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1872And at the risk of displaying my ignorance, is there a guide to how (or for that matter, why) items accumulate in the inventory? Would it be possible to trade it on ebay for a polo shirt? What would a teapot be worth??
-
- Series 62 Champion
- Posts: 775
- Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2008 2:13 pm
Re: Feature requests
How about there being a second duel on some days as a format championship?
For example Letters, Numbers and Conundrum attacks and other stuff and the winner wins the prestige of being declared Letters/Numbers/Conundrum champion and perhaps get an item in the display case
For example Letters, Numbers and Conundrum attacks and other stuff and the winner wins the prestige of being declared Letters/Numbers/Conundrum champion and perhaps get an item in the display case
- Stuart Arnot
- Acolyte
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:34 pm
- Location: Manchester
Re: Feature requests
How about a list, alongside the nines and disallowed words, of the words that only you have successfully declared. I know, for example, that I am the only player to have declared MUNITIONS or DIALOGIC, but are there any more?
- kevin manthorpe
- Rookie
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2009 5:15 pm
Re: Feature requests
Yes, figured that. Given though the amount of "spare screen", might it be possible for the user to drag or customise the layout a bit so that increasing the size of one window is not at the expense of the other?Charlie Reams wrote:kevin manthorpe wrote:
Is it possible to alter the window sizes or layouts so that you can see more of the players list without losing too much of the main chat window?
Yes, just drag the divider between them.
And was there anything forthcoming (another user's request, but a goody) about a flag in the players list of those currently playing games (or not) to help with challenging?
- Charlie Reams
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9494
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm
- Location: Cambridge
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
That would be pretty difficult, because you can't resize applets once they're running. I might add a Large Mode or something for people with large screens.kevin manthorpe wrote:Yes, figured that. Given though the amount of "spare screen", might it be possible for the user to drag or customise the layout a bit so that increasing the size of one window is not at the expense of the other?
That's quite a lot harder than it sounds like it would be, but it's on my to-do.kevin manthorpe wrote:And was there anything forthcoming (another user's request, but a goody) about a flag in the players list of those currently playing games (or not) to help with challenging?
- kevin manthorpe
- Rookie
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2009 5:15 pm
Re: Feature requests
Thanks Charlie. I realise a lot of this stuff can be time consuming and complicated. <Respect>
I don't think I have a particularly wider screen than most people, just that in full window mode there's space on the right that I thought would be better for chat, leaving more room for the player list on the left, or vice versa.
Anyway, not wanting to carry on with this coz i haven't even been here a month! Keep up the good work.
I don't think I have a particularly wider screen than most people, just that in full window mode there's space on the right that I thought would be better for chat, leaving more room for the player list on the left, or vice versa.
Anyway, not wanting to carry on with this coz i haven't even been here a month! Keep up the good work.
Re: Feature requests
IAWTP! Or 2 separate lists, please.Daniel O'Dowd wrote:I really like that new addition in player profile of disallowed words, but could you have them come up in different colours, so that words you played and were disallowed because the letters weren't there *such as alginates for me for example, in a game of hyper with no n...* but are actually valid, come up differently from those which are actually phony because they're not in?
"My idea of an agreeable person is a person who agrees with me." Benjamin Disraeli
- Charlie Reams
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9494
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm
- Location: Cambridge
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
Done.kevin manthorpe wrote:And was there anything forthcoming (another user's request, but a goody) about a flag in the players list of those currently playing games (or not) to help with challenging?
- Phil Reynolds
- Postmaster General
- Posts: 3329
- Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2008 3:43 pm
- Location: Leamington Spa, UK
Re: Feature requests
Wow - this is possibly the biggest leap forward in Apterous usability since I've been playing. Many thanks Charlie!Charlie Reams wrote:Done.kevin manthorpe wrote:And was there anything forthcoming (another user's request, but a goody) about a flag in the players list of those currently playing games (or not) to help with challenging?
- Dominic Colley
- Newbie
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2009 10:37 pm
Re: Feature requests
Very impressive! Apterous is class.Phil Reynolds wrote:Wow - this is possibly the biggest leap forward in Apterous usability since I've been playing. Many thanks Charlie!Charlie Reams wrote:Done.kevin manthorpe wrote:And was there anything forthcoming (another user's request, but a goody) about a flag in the players list of those currently playing games (or not) to help with challenging?
- Kai Laddiman
- Fanatic
- Posts: 2314
- Joined: Wed Oct 15, 2008 3:37 pm
- Location: My bedroom
Re: Feature requests
Similarly, I am the only person to have got ABJ.Stuart Arnot wrote:How about a list, alongside the nines and disallowed words, of the words that only you have successfully declared. I know, for example, that I am the only player to have declared MUNITIONS or DIALOGIC, but are there any more?
16/10/2007 - Episode 4460
Dinos Sfyris 76 - 78 Dorian Lidell
Proof that even idiots can get well and truly mainwheeled.
Dinos Sfyris 76 - 78 Dorian Lidell
Proof that even idiots can get well and truly mainwheeled.
- Darren Carter
- What a lot of bling
- Posts: 344
- Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:58 pm
- Location: Shrewsbury
Re: Feature requests
Kai Laddiman wrote: Similarly, I am the only person to have got ABJ.
Blimey.....
- Stuart Arnot
- Acolyte
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:34 pm
- Location: Manchester
Re: Feature requests
hahahahahaDarren Carter wrote:Kai Laddiman wrote: Similarly, I am the only person to have got ABJ.
Blimey.....
- Charlie Reams
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9494
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm
- Location: Cambridge
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
Done. I just eliminated words that weren't in the selection, because that kind of transient error is really not interesting.Daniel O'Dowd wrote:I really like that new addition in player profile of disallowed words, but could you have them come up in different colours, so that words you played and were disallowed because the letters weren't there *such as alginates for me for example, in a game of hyper with no n...* but are actually valid, come up differently from those which are actually phony because they're not in?
- Ian Volante
- Postmaster General
- Posts: 3971
- Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:15 pm
- Location: Edinburgh
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
Hell, that's a lot of disallowed words.
meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles
Re: Feature requests
Fantastic, thank you!Charlie Reams wrote:Done.kevin manthorpe wrote:And was there anything forthcoming (another user's request, but a goody) about a flag in the players list of those currently playing games (or not) to help with challenging?
Although I agree with Ian that it makes horrifying reading, especially multiple entries, it should help me avoid some of them in the future. Thanks again!Charlie Reams wrote:Done. I just eliminated words that weren't in the selection, because that kind of transient error is really not interesting.Daniel O'Dowd wrote:I really like that new addition in player profile of disallowed words, but could you have them come up in different colours, so that words you played and were disallowed because the letters weren't there *such as alginates for me for example, in a game of hyper with no n...* but are actually valid, come up differently from those which are actually phony because they're not in?
"My idea of an agreeable person is a person who agrees with me." Benjamin Disraeli
- Charlie Reams
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9494
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm
- Location: Cambridge
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
I did wonder about highlighting repeats, because that's the kind of error you really want to eliminate. I haven't come up with a nice way of doing it yet.Julie T wrote: Although I agree with Ian that it makes horrifying reading, especially multiple entries, it should help me avoid some of them in the future. Thanks again!
Re: Feature requests
Lol, Rodolf's invalid words list.Charlie Reams wrote:I did wonder about highlighting repeats, because that's the kind of error you really want to eliminate. I haven't come up with a nice way of doing it yet.Julie T wrote: Although I agree with Ian that it makes horrifying reading, especially multiple entries, it should help me avoid some of them in the future. Thanks again!
Re: Feature requests
The bots are taking the piss now. Maybe i creamed Rex out of a few points in Hypernundrum, but now its getting the answers in 2 seconds, which is unrealistic on the whole and spoils it for me. Will have to carry on play Hypernundrums against Prune.
Just played Velvet and it also has just spotted two difficult conundrums, in a ridiculous time of 0.4 seconds. I don't think its possible for a human to react and press the correct key in this time, so why can the bots?
Just played Velvet and it also has just spotted two difficult conundrums, in a ridiculous time of 0.4 seconds. I don't think its possible for a human to react and press the correct key in this time, so why can the bots?
- Phil Reynolds
- Postmaster General
- Posts: 3329
- Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2008 3:43 pm
- Location: Leamington Spa, UK
Re: Feature requests
Even lollier: Kirk's disallowed words list.Jon Corby wrote:Lol, Rodolf's invalid words list.
Re: Feature requests
I like this idea too, might be an expensive query to run though.Stuart Arnot wrote:How about a list, alongside the nines and disallowed words, of the words that only you have successfully declared. I know, for example, that I am the only player to have declared MUNITIONS or DIALOGIC, but are there any more?
Re: Feature requests
I am the only person to declare ESQUILAXPaul Howe wrote:I like this idea too, might be an expensive query to run though.Stuart Arnot wrote:How about a list, alongside the nines and disallowed words, of the words that only you have successfully declared. I know, for example, that I am the only player to have declared MUNITIONS or DIALOGIC, but are there any more?
- Ian Volante
- Postmaster General
- Posts: 3971
- Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:15 pm
- Location: Edinburgh
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
And I'm the only one to have OSCULATED during a normal game.Jon Corby wrote:I am the only person to declare ESQUILAXPaul Howe wrote:I like this idea too, might be an expensive query to run though.Stuart Arnot wrote:How about a list, alongside the nines and disallowed words, of the words that only you have successfully declared. I know, for example, that I am the only player to have declared MUNITIONS or DIALOGIC, but are there any more?
meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles
- Kirk Bevins
- God
- Posts: 4923
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:18 pm
- Location: York, UK
Re: Feature requests
Paul Howe's disallowed words list for goatdown. Wow. So we know now his secret to success really is guesswork.Phil Reynolds wrote:Even lollier: Kirk's disallowed words list.Jon Corby wrote:Lol, Rodolf's invalid words list.
Re: Feature requests
Ha, I remember that, was awesome.Jon Corby wrote: I am the only person to declare ESQUILAX
Makes me look like a retard, doesn't it? Most of them are just guesses for when AP has conjured up something ridiculous, but very occasionally they turn out to be OK. Happily my words disallowed in standard games look much more sensible.Kirk Bevins wrote:
Paul Howe's disallowed words list for goatdown. Wow. So we know now his secret to success really is guesswork.
- Phil Reynolds
- Postmaster General
- Posts: 3329
- Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2008 3:43 pm
- Location: Leamington Spa, UK
Re: Feature requests
But not successfully. If you're going to crow about uniquely disallowed words, then I am the only person to have declared YARG (a Cornish semi-hard cheese - no jokes please).Jon Corby wrote:I am the only person to declare ESQUILAXStuart Arnot wrote:How about a list, alongside the nines and disallowed words, of the words that only you have successfully declared.
- Ian Volante
- Postmaster General
- Posts: 3971
- Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:15 pm
- Location: Edinburgh
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
Originally made by pirates?Phil Reynolds wrote:But not successfully. If you're going to crow about uniquely disallowed words, then I am the only person to have declared YARG (a Cornish semi-hard cheese - no jokes please).Jon Corby wrote:I am the only person to declare ESQUILAXStuart Arnot wrote:How about a list, alongside the nines and disallowed words, of the words that only you have successfully declared.
meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles
- JimBentley
- Fanatic
- Posts: 2820
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 6:39 pm
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
Pff, that's nothing. You should see mine!Ian Volante wrote:Hell, that's a lot of disallowed words.
My favourites are SALTATATATATED and MOORRRRRRRRRRRR.
- Charlie Reams
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9494
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm
- Location: Cambridge
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
MUXINW was also a pretty bold guess.JimBentley wrote:Pff, that's nothing. You should see mine!Ian Volante wrote:Hell, that's a lot of disallowed words.
My favourites are SALTATATATATED and MOORRRRRRRRRRRR.
- Phil Reynolds
- Postmaster General
- Posts: 3329
- Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2008 3:43 pm
- Location: Leamington Spa, UK
Re: Feature requests
The cheese or the jokes?Ian Volante wrote:Originally made by pirates?Phil Reynolds wrote:YARG (a Cornish semi-hard cheese - no jokes please).
-
- Series 62 Champion
- Posts: 775
- Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2008 2:13 pm
Re: Feature requests
On the list of top players (overall), I am not on the list of the top 25. However, I think I have got a max % reasonably close to the bottom player of around 50%. For players not on this list, could there either be a section on that page which displays the top 25 and just you (possibly with a ranking) or put the % max from the past 30 days as an area of the user page.
- Charlie Reams
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9494
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm
- Location: Cambridge
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
That would be pretty difficult, because the top players page is generated once a day and then stored, since it takes quite a while to compute, and the same version is then presented to everyone. However that might change with some changes I have in mind.Oliver Garner wrote:On the list of top players (overall), I am not on the list of the top 25. However, I think I have got a max % reasonably close to the bottom player of around 50%. For players not on this list, could there either be a section on that page which displays the top 25 and just you (possibly with a ranking) or put the % max from the past 30 days as an area of the user page.
-
- Enthusiast
- Posts: 327
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:18 am
Re: Feature requests
Loving the new colour-coded player status thing (ie the ability to tell who's playing and who isn't). V useful indeed - thanks for that.
- Kevin Davis
- Acolyte
- Posts: 117
- Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2009 1:02 am
Re: Feature requests
Stuart Arnot wrote:How about a list, alongside the nines and disallowed words, of the words that only you have successfully declared. I know, for example, that I am the only player to have declared MUNITIONS or DIALOGIC, but are there any more?
[/quote]Jon Corby wrote:And I'm the only one to have OSCULATED during a normal game.Paul Howe wrote:I am the only person to declare ESQUILAX
I'm still proud of PAROCHIAL.
Oh, cackwires!
- kevin manthorpe
- Rookie
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2009 5:15 pm
Re: Feature requests
On the main apterous menu index page, how about an option with INSTRUCTIONS?
I am grateful for help I received familiarising myself with shortcuts and inputting tips (thanks esp to lesley) and spent much time trawling the forums for others, eg FAQ, that seem fairly basic now. And yes, there are practice games, but could many of you be bothered?
As a result I always share these with new players, especially before the numbers round, but think you'd get a better retention rate if you didn't have to rely so much on self-discovery. You may (or may not?) be surprised how many new-ish players, even with more games than me, are unaware of these. eg clicking on <=subtotal> tile at right in numbers to put it up the top, saving having to use brackets etc. I'm guessing btw that apterous subscribes to BOMDAS, not regular calculator maths?
And in the interests of fairness, should Des's patience after the letters rounds start up before declaring, coz it's possible to take one's time checking the selection is valid, contains no phantom letters, etc. Or is this (shock/horror) a cheat?
I am grateful for help I received familiarising myself with shortcuts and inputting tips (thanks esp to lesley) and spent much time trawling the forums for others, eg FAQ, that seem fairly basic now. And yes, there are practice games, but could many of you be bothered?
As a result I always share these with new players, especially before the numbers round, but think you'd get a better retention rate if you didn't have to rely so much on self-discovery. You may (or may not?) be surprised how many new-ish players, even with more games than me, are unaware of these. eg clicking on <=subtotal> tile at right in numbers to put it up the top, saving having to use brackets etc. I'm guessing btw that apterous subscribes to BOMDAS, not regular calculator maths?
And in the interests of fairness, should Des's patience after the letters rounds start up before declaring, coz it's possible to take one's time checking the selection is valid, contains no phantom letters, etc. Or is this (shock/horror) a cheat?
Last edited by kevin manthorpe on Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Charlie Reams
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9494
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm
- Location: Cambridge
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
You're absolutely right, it's just so boring to do stuff like that that I've totally avoided it so far.kevin manthorpe wrote:On the main apterous menu index page, how about an option with INSTRUCTIONS?
I am grateful for help I received familiarising myself with shortcuts and inputting tips (thanks esp to lesley) and spent much time trawling the forums for others, that seem fairly basic now.
As a result I always share these with new players, especially before the numbers round, but think you'd get a better retention rate if you didn't have to rely so much on self-discovery. You may (or may not?) be surprised how many new-ish players, even with more games than me, are unaware of these. eg clicking on <=subtotal> tile at right in numbers to put it up the top, saving having to use brackets etc. I'm guessing btw that apterous subscribes to BOMDAS, not regular calculator maths?
Not sure what you mean here, there's no patience bar on choosing which word to declare.And in the interests of fairness, should Des's patience after the letters rounds start up before declaring, coz it's possible to take one's time checking the selection is valid, contains no phantom letters, etc. Or is this (shock/horror) a cheat?
- kevin manthorpe
- Rookie
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2009 5:15 pm
Re: Feature requests
Fair enough, but how many new financial members might you be losing because they run out of patience trying to figure things out? Or if they can't, just give up totally? I'm prepared to help (in trade for financial status) by offering to design a menu tree and commentaries, if this were to save you time. Basic guide only, no idea of programming!Charlie Reams wrote:You're absolutely right, it's just so boring to do stuff like that that I've totally avoided it so far.
ie The true order. 3x4+6x3=30, not 54!! I'm not really prepared to experiment in a rated game, given there's not many practices played.Kevin Manthorpe wrote:I'm guessing btw that apterous subscribes to BOMDAS, not regular calculator maths?
What I'm saying is that perhaps there should be. Especially when the system is running slow, players have the opportunity to take ages to double check words are valid, contain no phantom letters, etc, etc, before declaring. I don't think this is in the spirit of the game, hence the use of Des's patience to set a time limit. FYI I double check for phantom letters, but would never consult an online dicitionary or the like before declaring. Hence I missed out on UNBRAIDS today!Charlie Reams wrote:Not sure what you mean here, there's no patience bar on choosing which word to declare.
P.S. Thanks for the (yellow) Easter egg, though I have no idea how I got it!
Last edited by kevin manthorpe on Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Matt Morrison
- Post-apocalypse
- Posts: 7822
- Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:27 pm
- Location: London
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
Charlie - I meant to offer you help with this before, but I didn't. I'm good at writing instructional shit so I'm your man if you want some. Help, that is.Charlie Reams, whilst discussing an Instructions page for apterous, wrote:You're absolutely right, it's just so boring to do stuff like that that I've totally avoided it so far.
Had to re-read it to confirm but Kevin's definitely saying that he thinks the Patience Meter (should be rebranded or 'Des' changed to 'Jeff') SHOULD be introduced to the word declaration dialog box to prevent too much thinking time. I'm inclined to agree, especially as this is another touch that would make it more like the show. Presumably if you don't choose a word within five seconds the top word is chosen automatically.Charlie Reams wrote:Not sure what you mean here, there's no patience bar on choosing which word to declare.kevin manthorpe wrote: And in the interests of fairness, should Des's patience after the letters rounds start up before declaring, coz it's possible to take one's time checking the selection is valid, contains no phantom letters, etc. Or is this (shock/horror) a cheat?
- Charlie Reams
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9494
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm
- Location: Cambridge
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
Hmm, good arguments, although this would probably scare the n00basaurs even more.Matt Morrison wrote:Had to re-read it to confirm but Kevin's definitely saying that he thinks the Patience Meter (should be rebranded or 'Des' changed to 'Jeff') SHOULD be introduced to the word declaration dialog box to prevent too much thinking time. I'm inclined to agree, especially as this is another touch that would make it more like the show. Presumably if you don't choose a word within five seconds the top word is chosen automatically.
- Daniel O'Dowd
- Acolyte
- Posts: 178
- Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:40 pm
Re: Feature requests
I agree with the concept of a patience bar for declarations, having experienced some rather long waits recently, however, this tends to run into the problem that people (well, I do) will often note words they won't play ahead of equal length words they then can declare and which exist. Often something that seems risky leads to finding an anagram, so perhaps simply have, say, a 7 second countdown after which you aren't alllowed to declare at all?
- Charlie Reams
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9494
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm
- Location: Cambridge
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
I didn't understand any of that. Also why are you naked?Daniel O'Dowd wrote:I agree with the concept of a patience bar for declarations, having experienced some rather long waits recently, however, this tends to run into the problem that people (well, I do) will often note words they won't play ahead of equal length words they then can declare and which exist. Often something that seems risky leads to finding an anagram, so perhaps simply have, say, a 7 second countdown after which you aren't alllowed to declare at all?
- Daniel O'Dowd
- Acolyte
- Posts: 178
- Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:40 pm
Re: Feature requests
Oh I'm not naked. It just looks like that. Apologies; it can't look very candles.
What I mean, is that you typically make notes on several x-letter words you might declare, in the same way you'd perhaps write down common endings from a selection in real. But you subsequently feel most of them are risky, and at the last minute find a legal word. When declaration comes, words are listed in descending length and earliest written. So if we implemented the patience bar with the followup that after 5 seconds your highest-up word were autodeclared, it would not be as fair when people get awarded points for words they'd never usually declare. Think of it as similar to when on the show the host will sometimes (albeit rarely) stop a contestant midway through an overstumbly numbers solution, like Jeffrey.
If people saw that they had a finite time to declare, but then would be defaulted to no declaration whatsoever, they may be far more likely to declare promptly even when having to decide which of two words is more likely in the dictionary.
What I mean, is that you typically make notes on several x-letter words you might declare, in the same way you'd perhaps write down common endings from a selection in real. But you subsequently feel most of them are risky, and at the last minute find a legal word. When declaration comes, words are listed in descending length and earliest written. So if we implemented the patience bar with the followup that after 5 seconds your highest-up word were autodeclared, it would not be as fair when people get awarded points for words they'd never usually declare. Think of it as similar to when on the show the host will sometimes (albeit rarely) stop a contestant midway through an overstumbly numbers solution, like Jeffrey.
If people saw that they had a finite time to declare, but then would be defaulted to no declaration whatsoever, they may be far more likely to declare promptly even when having to decide which of two words is more likely in the dictionary.
- Charlie Reams
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9494
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm
- Location: Cambridge
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
I see what you mean, but I think that has the potential to be just incredibly annoying, if for example you look away for a few seconds and the game just declares nothing. The rare occasions when players might pick up extra points for wild guesses are compensated for by the much more common case that they offer something ridiculous and look like an idiot.Daniel O'Dowd wrote:Oh I'm not naked. It just looks like that. Apologies; it can't look very candles.
What I mean, is that you typically make notes on several x-letter words you might declare, in the same way you'd perhaps write down common endings from a selection in real. But you subsequently feel most of them are risky, and at the last minute find a legal word. When declaration comes, words are listed in descending length and earliest written. So if we implemented the patience bar with the followup that after 5 seconds your highest-up word were autodeclared, it would not be as fair when people get awarded points for words they'd never usually declare. Think of it as similar to when on the show the host will sometimes (albeit rarely) stop a contestant midway through an overstumbly numbers solution, like Jeffrey.
If people saw that they had a finite time to declare, but then would be defaulted to no declaration whatsoever, they may be far more likely to declare promptly even when having to decide which of two words is more likely in the dictionary.
- Charlie Reams
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9494
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm
- Location: Cambridge
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
Correct, yes. Although if you use the = button, you can make it behave like a calculator.Kevin Manthorpe wrote:I'm guessing btw that apterous subscribes to BOMDAS, not regular calculator maths?
ie The true order. 3x4+6x3=30, not 54!! I'm not really prepared to experiment in a rated game, given there's not many practices played.
This is implemented now. Five seconds seems plenty.Kevin Manthorpe wrote:What I'm saying is that perhaps there should be.Charlie Reams wrote:Not sure what you mean here, there's no patience bar on choosing which word to declare.
- Ian Volante
- Postmaster General
- Posts: 3971
- Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:15 pm
- Location: Edinburgh
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
I like the feature where it flags up your longest untried word - no doubt some laughs to be had from this feature!Charlie Reams wrote:Correct, yes. Although if you use the = button, you can make it behave like a calculator.Kevin Manthorpe wrote:I'm guessing btw that apterous subscribes to BOMDAS, not regular calculator maths?
ie The true order. 3x4+6x3=30, not 54!! I'm not really prepared to experiment in a rated game, given there's not many practices played.
This is implemented now. Five seconds seems plenty.Kevin Manthorpe wrote:What I'm saying is that perhaps there should be.Charlie Reams wrote:Not sure what you mean here, there's no patience bar on choosing which word to declare.
meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles
- Charlie Reams
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9494
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm
- Location: Cambridge
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
ThanksIan Volante wrote: I like the feature where it flags up your longest untried word - no doubt some laughs to be had from this feature!
-
- Enthusiast
- Posts: 462
- Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2009 10:43 pm
Re: Feature requests
I (think I) have sent Charlie a start on some documentation, in the hopes of getting a kick-start.Charlie Reams wrote:You're absolutely right, it's just so boring to do stuff like that that I've totally avoided it so far.kevin manthorpe wrote:On the main apterous menu index page, how about an option with INSTRUCTIONS?
I am grateful for help I received familiarising myself with shortcuts and inputting tips (thanks esp to lesley) and spent much time trawling the forums for others, that seem fairly basic now.
As a result I always share these with new players, especially before the numbers round, but think you'd get a better retention rate if you didn't have to rely so much on self-discovery. You may (or may not?) be surprised how many new-ish players, even with more games than me, are unaware of these. eg clicking on <=subtotal> tile at right in numbers to put it up the top, saving having to use brackets etc. I'm guessing btw that apterous subscribes to BOMDAS, not regular calculator maths?
- Michael Wallace
- Racoonteur
- Posts: 5458
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:01 am
- Location: London
Re: Feature requests
My only thought about this is that there is a difference between the show and apterous, in that on the show you don't have to spell the conundrum answer correctly, I know that I find myself occasionally spotting what the word is but then being a bit slow in typing it in whilst I make sure I get all the letters in the right order. Not entirely sure how I feel about this - should the contestants have to spell the word on the show?Jon Corby wrote:As an additional safe-guard, how about making the conundrum disappear while you are entering your answer? I suggested this as a possibility to be used on the show (you'd have to put the physical conundrum board out of view of the players, and then just make the monitor shut out on buzzer press) and I reckon it would work pretty well to help stamp out what is essentially cheating.
Thoughts?
- Charlie Reams
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9494
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm
- Location: Cambridge
- Contact:
Re: Feature requests
Yeah, that can occasionally be annoying, e.g. NANOMETER. Think it's just the nature of the beast really, it's useful to practise spelling them correctly anyway in case they come up in a normal round.Michael Wallace wrote: My only thought about this is that there is a difference between the show and apterous, in that on the show you don't have to spell the conundrum answer correctly,