New Alamaze Game Utility?

[Kronin]

And for the record (and no offense intended) but it seems that challenging the game creator, and threatening to start a poll about how the CREATOR should run his own game (one that he has devoted a good portion of his life to) is pretty arrogant.

[Jumpingfist]

I do not see this as threatening. HH is just trying to make a point and the forum has the tools to allow for it. why not have a poll it only shows players interests. I would actually like to see polls from time to time.

I am all for challenging the creator. I think good things come from these types of discussions. Sure sometimes Ry Vor puts his foot down and that is fine. Other times the game is better for it.

[HeadHoncho]

And for the record (and no offense intended) but it seems that challenging the game creator, and threatening to start a poll about how the CREATOR should run his own game (one that he has devoted a good portion of his life to) is pretty arrogant.

LOL! You call me arrogant and say no offense intended? Come on now, you have to admit, that's pretty funny.

Of course Rick can run this game however he wants. I've said that repeatedly and often. But the reality is that first, being a human being he is not always correct (and neither am I, and neither are you), and second, sometimes data and sound argument can persuade.

If you want, I can cite a number of examples of both, but otherwise, JF gives a pretty good summary as well.

This is low-hanging fruit, and would be greatly welcomed by the player community, I have no doubt. Rick obviously disagrees. This is why I suggest a poll, as that will help provide hard data on a subjective matter which can then be measured to gauge reality rather than assumption.

And I don't know about you, but I've typically found that decision making is greatly benefited by understanding reality rather than assumption or misimpression.

I could be totally wrong, and I embrace that possibility. I welcome the process, however. The kicker is, it looks like the poll function is not working, at least not from a Safari browser.

No one is slamming the team or the product, and frankly it gets tiresome to continually receive that type of pushback. I am simply suggesting an easy "gimme" enhancement and questioning a fundamental assumption of Rick's. Last I checked, that is part of a sound intellectual process and still allowed here.

[Ry Vor]

Now its mainly Mike. 

Not to get too sappy, but I did Alamaze as a personal challenge in 1984.  The IBM original PC had just come out.  I did a six player game about two years later, and the IBM AT came out, which allowed me to finish programming Alamaze.  So in two plus years from  84 to 86, Alamaze came out commerically, and in 87, came out of nowhere to win Origins and GAMA Game of the Year. 

When we did Fall of Rome, that was going to be Kingdoms of Arcania.  It was the same phenomena that happens with all outsiders that can't believe how complicated Alamaze things are.  So to get something out, after spending way, way two much money, we had Fall of Rome, which I would still say, and maybe with Michael Gray's blessing, is one of the best serious strategy games of all time.  Sorry. 

[Kronin]

Lol. Calling someone arrogant and asking them not to take offense are not incompatible statements. I for one am proud of my arrogance! Seriously though sorry if my bluntness offended.

[HeadHoncho]

No worries and apology accepted. Most of us are passionate about this game, and it helps not to take things personally.

I've said it before, I would hope Rick would take requests for faster pacing as a compliment, because it means people want more Alamaze and can't wait for their games to develop more quickly.

[Kronin]

And I don't think your pole would be a fair representation of overall opinion. I would hazard a guess that only the most hard-core players frequent the forums regularly. That would skew the results.

[HeadHoncho]

And I don't think your pole would be a fair representation of overall opinion. I would hazard a guess that only the most hard-core players frequent the forums regularly. That would skew the results.

That is a totally fair point. That said, in the absence of a better sample, it is still data, and I would also posit that the most passionate participants will also have an outsize influence on the future health and vibrancy of the game.

[Ry Vor]

I Love Passion.

[bananas]

Ah, but do you love passion, passionately?