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Goko Dominion Online / Re: "Should I buy in?" and other questions about Goko
« on: August 13, 2013, 02:33:32 am »Well I use automatch sometimes and I think there are two main things that would help adoption, though, maybe your ideas are better.Also let me briefly plug the ragingduckd's automatch feature in the extension, which doesn't yet have critical mass but is already useful and will be fantastic once more people use it.
Stupid need for critical mass...
I'm actually puzzled as to why more people aren't using automatch. Can anyone who isn't using it help me understand why not and/or what would make the difference for them?
Two features I'm considering adding to address the critical mass problem:
1. Search for and auto-join compatible games in other lobbies when you submit an automatch request
2. (Optionally) send out an automatch request whenever you create a "5000+"-type table
First is if the interface were a little more communicative. When you first click the Automatch link and hit Submit, then the window disappears, and it's not clear that anything is happening. Unless you have an early adopter personality, you may give up at that point and not try it again. Furthermore, even if you do click the link to open the window again, it's hard to know whether you should wait for the automatch or just find a game the normal way.
What I'd suggest for that is having the automatch window permanently stuck on the right side of the UI, where the log appears during a game. That way you can see the "looking for match" message. Also at all times show all players with automatch currently activated, same as the status page would show, which helps give the impression it's working. Then beep when a game is found--this is much more important than you might think, since I don't mind leaving automatch open in the background while browsing (say) f.ds, except that I can't tell when I get a match.
The second thing is the chicken-and-egg problem where if zero people are looking for automatch, then the first person to click it won't get a game for a while. The suggestion I made in the previous paragraph about always showing the players looking for automatch will help, because if you see, hey, someone is looking for a match, you're encouraged to click the button yourself. Wouldn't hurt to show their rating too so that you know whether the match would be successful.
The other thing contributing to the chicken-and-egg problem is that, although the server view shows you the extension users who are logged in, it doesn't tell you which of them (A) actually make use of automatch and (B) aren't in a game. If I were able to see a player who has used automatch in the past, with a rating in the ballpark of mine, and that they aren't in a game, it'd be highly encouraged to click the button because maybe they will click it too and we'll be matched. Even if all such players are currently in a game, if I see a few who have used automatch in the past, I'd still be encouraged.
To sum up, the main point is to show more information that encourages players to try searching for a match. The other point was the beep so that it's not as awkward to wait a while for a match.
These are great ideas. I already use Automatch, and I have been matched up a few times successfully. It does seem to reduce the wait time a little. I really like the idea of showing people looking for a game and their rating. I think making Automatch default is a good idea as well.
But, blueblimp really has a lot of great ideas here.
