How Should GoldToken Take Checkers to The Next Level?

[Mary Strazicich]

After having added a large number of checker variations, including 11 Man Ballot, we are ready to take the next step! What would you like to see most at GoldToken? I am open to all possibilities.

Warm regards,
~~Mary

[liam stephens]

How about a games database ( which could be updated on an ongoing basis) of all the checker games played.


The games would have to be grouped by opening.

In the case of Go as you Please games, under the appropriate game opening title

e.g. Alma, Ayrshire Lassie, Cross, Defiance, Laird and Lady etc.,


For Restriction Checkers, under the appropriate 3 move opening.

e.g. 9-13, 22-18, 11-15.

For Restriction Checkers this will, unfortunately, involve quite a significant amount of disentanglement, as on Gold Token the second game of each 3 Move Opening runs on from the first game instead of being shown as a separate game which, of course, it is.

A similar system could be adopted for the other Checker variants.

In the case of 11 Man Ballot the following would need to be specified for each pair of games:

1. The squares from which the two pieces were removed.

2. The 2 Move Opening adopted.


Regards - Liam Stephens.

[EddieMoore]

if that is possible.

[jan bulstra]

i am not sure what is exactly ment by "bringing up checkers to the next level".. the responses i see here seem to just focus on features .. i rather would like to see actions that further increase interest in playing checkers on GT, and increase the significance of the "joint venture" with the ACF.

Mary, how many ACF members have signed on to GT and are active members rightnow? I have the feeling that this is stil rather low ..

[tommyc]

I had a chat w/ Joe from Goldtoken in Las Vegas on this subject and we both agreed that sign ups would pick up significantly after the regular checker was uploaded in the Goldtoken site, as at the mo its 11 man ballot and 10x10 i think, amongst others.

It was nice of Joe to fly into Vegas with the promo for GT during the Ty and he gave away lots of goodies,Bags, pens, key-rings etc.Was nice meeting him...I will def sign -up when the regular checkers are uploaded this is in progress at the minute or at least next on the list.Tommy

[Mary Strazicich]

Great idea Liam! A games database would be difficult but doable. Will talk with Tomas about ways to accomplish this!

A way to email or save game histories will be added to the list John! We can probably have this done in the next month or so.

Jan, I do not have an honest count how many have signed up. Few players tell me who they are when they join and several have surprized me when they finally did speak up to say they were part of the American Checker Federation. This is what we do know:

• * GoldToken has over 1400 active checker players.

• * When viewing GoldTokens best players list, there are a large number of ACF members in the top 25 checker players

• ** This link lists the top 25 tournament rated players. At the bottom of the page, you can check the friendly and provisional rated players too, for even more players listings. The ones with the ACF icon are the ones that have told us they are ACF members and you will find them through out the site: http://goldtoken.com/games/topdogs?game=Checkers

Note to all reading this: I am giving free two month silver memberships and free upgrades to all ACF members this year, so don't be shy, let me know who you are at GoldToken!

....further increase interest in playing checkers on GT, and increase the significance of the "joint venture" with the ACF.

How would you suggest we do this? I have been working diligently to get the word out with press releases, advertizing etc. but am always open to ideas and suggestions!

...when the regular checkers are uploaded....

I am unsure what you mean by regular checkers Tommy. Please explain.

[ae_ted]

i have created a nick name and registered
it will not allow me to log in or register and i have requested new pasword by email.
my point is that i can not enter the site no matter what i do at this point
my email address is tmeriwether@brtc.net

hehe seems like a good site and idea but i have no experience as i can not enter the site

[EddieMoore]

of real time play--that likely means it is out of the question. There is a great real time site for Chess, but no longer for checkers. At least not one I can find.

[Pedro Saavedra]

After having added a large number of checker variations, including 11 Man Ballot, we are ready to take the next step! What would you like to see most at GoldToken? I am open to all possibilities.
~~Mary

I know this is an old beef of mine, but I would like both sides of games to be played simultaneously rather than consecutively. That would correspond to both IYT and Wyllie's style, and I find it much more appealing.

I am neutral about real time, but not at the expense of turn-based which I much prefer.

Pedro

[EddieMoore]

I like turn based too, but real time is more effective for those--like me--trying to improve their play in OTB checkers--this is especially true for 3 move.

[Mary Strazicich]

i have created a nick name and registered
it will not allow me to log in or register and i have requested new pasword by email.
my point is that i can not enter the site no matter what i do at this point
my email address is tmeriwether@brtc.net

hehe seems like a good site and idea but i have no experience as i can not enter the site

ae_ted, I am unable to find that email listed on any account at GoldToken. The accounts close automatically if you are not active in them. A new account has ten days to verify and a verified account without a membership has 2 months before the database will close them for inactivity. What was your account name? I can reopen it for you and email you your password.

of real time play--that likely means it is out of the question. There is a great real time site for Chess, but no longer for checkers. At least not one I can find.

It's not out of the question at all! In fact, if it can be coded, anything is possible!

I know this is an old beef of mine, but I would like both sides of games to be played simultaneously rather than consecutively. That would correspond to both IYT and Wyllie's style, and I find it much more appealing.

I am neutral about real time, but not at the expense of turn-based which I much prefer.

Pedro

Pedro, please go into more detail about how you would envision both sides of games being played simultaneously rather than consecutively. As far as I know, GoldToken's games play much like IYT's with fewer errors with the rules (hopefully none at GoldToken, and unlike IYT, we will fix them if found) .

I like turn based too, but real time is more effective for those--like me--trying to improve their play in OTB checkers--this is especially true for 3 move.

If we could work out a site that allowed you your choice of turn based and head to head games, it would/could be the best of both worlds.

[Pedro Saavedra]

Pedro, please go into more detail about how you would envision both sides of games being played simultaneously rather than consecutively. As far as I know, GoldToken's games play much like IYT's with fewer errors with the rules (hopefully none at GoldToken, and unlike IYT, we will fix them if found).

In Wyllie's and in IYT tournaments two game are played at once in Restriction Checkers when in a tournament (IYT does not do this for ladders). Each white player finds a game waiting for him if he is the first to answer. If the other player got there first, he finds it's his turn in both games. Thus when I play in a tournament at IYT, if there are three opponents I am playing six games at once -- both sides of the same opening with each.

This approach has been used in correspondence play for decades, and it means that tournaments are decided faster.

[tommyc]

Im not really interested in turn-based games ...........it just gota be real time Mary!!.......Tommy

[tommyc]

I been on Wylie for a year and ive never played a turn based game .I was used to playing like 24 games simult when i was doing the Mail Tys,but this is not what im looking!!

[Mary Strazicich]

In Wyllie's and in IYT tournaments two game are played at once in Restriction Checkers when in a tournament (IYT does not do this for ladders). Each white player finds a game waiting for him if he is the first to answer. If the other player got there first, he finds it's his turn in both games. Thus when I play in a tournament at IYT, if there are three opponents I am playing six games at once -- both sides of the same opening with each.

This approach has been used in correspondence play for decades, and it means that tournaments are decided faster.

You are right, it would be better to run both at once, but unfortunately not possible with the way we coded the game. Especialy if we install head to head gaming.

Im not really interested in turn-based games ...........it just gota be real time Mary!!.......Tommy

Hey Tommy, please read my two above posts. Real time games = head to head gaming. It is entirely possible! Shh....I would explain more, but GoldToken has a huge surprize coming in the next few months that will tickle the socks off your checkers!

~~Mary