Improving Checkers and Tournament Attendance

[dustinbelcher]

I believe that everyone including me never want to see the game of checkers dying out. However, I do believe that we would all agree that the game has declined over the past years. I've noticed that the majority of players that play offline play at kurnik. The other day when Kurnik's site was down, I dropped by at Yahoo just to pass time and played a few games there. I did mention to a few players that I played there about Kurnik and the ACF and offline tournaments etc and none had even heard of any of it. I thought of an idea that may or may not help improve online checkers at kurnik and also improve more tournament attendance. Maybe we could get a group of people to go to other websites such as yahoo, pogo, facebook, wherever people are playing at and try to recruit them to kurnik? Also, let them know more about the ACF and their tournaments. Because like I was saying, a lot of players that play on other sites have never even heard of the ACF. If there was a better way to advertise on some of other websites that should definitely improve. I just think if people would stop being so negative about the game dying out and try to help and do something to improve things, we would be in a lot better shape than we are now.

[Eric Strange]

What is with you and timer John? Timer has no difference on someones love of the game or whether or not they are going to play in tournaments. I played strictly 1/0 for 8 years and have played in 3 tournaments. I do agree that getting a website off the ground that promotes the ACF is a very good idea but if you don't offer a wide range of timers like 1/0 then your not going to get any players. Dale Rumpf and Heath pierson played strictly 1/0 and they did good in tournaments. Clayton Nash, Clint Olson, and Steve Jones all played 1/1. Sure eventually players should slow down their play to improve further but even Alex agrees that 1/0 playing can jump start someones skill level massive amounts in a very short time. Facebook does not have 1 minute games and 90% of their players cheat. In any case I'm just trying to figure out how blitz games make people bad for checkers??

[dustinbelcher]

I agree and disagree about forming a site for ACF members to play at. I think it's a great idea for the current members of the ACF but how is that going to attract more players to the ACF and live tournaments? I myself would be up for the idea and would help out anyway that I could but I don't see how it will send and improve more players to the ACF. Will their be a way to advertise the site and also about the ACF? My post earlier wasn't just to lure players from other sites to Kurnik, but to help them learn about offline play and the ACF. Like I stated before, a lot of the players on other sites have never heard of the ACF and state tournaments. I think until we come up with a way to get a site for ACF members to play at, Kurnik should work fine for now. I still believe we should get a group of people to go out to other sites and teach the players about the ACF and encourage them to play offline. Even if they aren't great players, they can always practice and improve. I mean we are trying to improve checker attendance right? Who says all the players have to be masters players? Everyone has to start out somewhere.

[Eric Strange]

I don't have a 1/0 fetish.... I have no problem with tournament paced games or 1/0... I enjoy both very much... I am saying that with younger people fast paced video games like call of duty, halo and other things are exciting because of the adrenaline rush... you get the same rush playing 1/0 in checkers... fast paced online games should not mean that they wont be interested in tournaments or that there is something wrong with them being a part of the ACF which it seems you keep implying.

The point is we have to get players hooked first... A lot of players get hooked on 1/0 and eventually slow the speed down on their own because they find they enjoy it more... Once their skill is high enough that they know what they are thinking about.

I often go to yahoo and recruit some of their better players to kurnik. The problem is the 1900's at yahoo are 1100's at kurnik and they get discouraged very fast by our level of play. I will start going there more often and teaching players about ACF and offline tournaments. Good idea dustin

[Danny_Alvarez]

the timer is another issue altogether so i'll let it be.....

the idea of having an ACF site is great conceptually but it probably brings in more headaches than its worth for the higher ups...
I personally would like to see a site where i can chat with somebody else on the main lobby without some haired knuckled neanderthal telling me to shut the f*** up .... my little proposal for such a hypothetic playing ACF place is make it NON RATED.... no ratings at all..... in my humble opinion most of the problems that arise in online sites are due to ratings. You get rid of ratings and multiple nicknames dissapear, and most forms of cheating would go with it as well.

cheers from rainy queensland
Danny Alvarez

[Eric Strange]

no ratings and telling people to STFU... you just ruined internet checkers for most people.... ratings gives players goals and talking crap is half of the fun for most.

[Danny_Alvarez]

no ratings and telling people to STFU... you just ruined internet checkers for most people.... ratings gives players goals and talking crap is half of the fun for most.

LOL Eric i agree.... i mean there is no way to disagree with your statement

but i think we may have to also agree that ACF members are not (let us hope so) like the rest of the checkers population and bragging and trash talking are not what we are about.... what John mentioned about atmosphere is spot on.
I remember very fondly the KINGS ROOM atmosphere ..... that was the best and most people there played unrated (there was no ratings in that room) and it was very civil and instructive for players.
As far as goals the goals should be to be a better player

cheers
Danny Alvarez

[Danny_Alvarez]

all the progs were in RATED ROOM 1 .... and the real people were in KINGS

I know i used to spend a lot of time there. Anyway.... the point is this, the atmosphere there was friendly, and good players like Leo Levitt and others used to help people improve their playing ability and show you lines . perhaps i am being nostalgic but in my humble opinion, KINGS ROOM was the best as far as online playing goes.... better than VOG, and better than Playok..... the interface was crap and there was no PDN or saving games.... but atmosphere was great and it was a place that made you want to go and play.

These are the the 3 most common words in Playok right now... and that is sad

1) Rape
2) Bitc*h
3) Provie
there arent many more words used that is the tragedy.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

I played in Kurnik in the past several days. I can confirm that there is no so much hate atmosphere like we have it here. Number of jerks and idiots on Kurnik is at acceptable level (much less than here), and noone used a program against me for long, long time because it is much more honorable to beat a World Champion in honest game. Online play greatly helps me with my preparation for match and allow to find and fix weaknesses.

Atmosphere on Kurnik is more intellectual and professional than here - I haven't heard anything smart on this forum for long time, just the same s**** another day: "why not promoting woman" and "checkers are on decilne and we need young players". On Kurnik we have these young players along with all other ages.

I heard all this promotional trash talk 15 and 10 and 5 years ago.

Most posts on this board - not what people really think and want to say, but an attempt "to look nice" in public eyes. So, we should probably say in conclusion, that number of provies on this forum is much higher then on Kurnik.

Kurnik players came to this forum just trying simply to help us and this forum, they don't need us but we need them, because they are future, not us.

Regards,

Alex Moiseyev
Kurnik guru

[Danny_Alvarez]

It seems to me you are contradicting yourself Alex.

You have stated several times that checkers is on the decline and we need young players..... yet when somebody else says it in the context of promotion that is "sh*t" , but when you say it, it is a fact.

And secondly, you have repeatedly stated that your dream is for checkers to be professional and provide enough income so you can live off of it. How can that happen without promoting the game to a higher audience??????

[Alex_Moiseyev]

it in the context of promotion that is "sh*t" , but when you say it, it is a fact.

Danny, I think I said s**** and number of asterisks is the same as number of letters. I just wanted to say "the same stuff another day" but using asterisks is easier and shorter.

I think we understand and view things differently and in particular - promotion

If I would want to say "sh*t", I can do it easy. Maximum worse - my post will be edited and censored, minimum worse - I will be banned from this forum.

[Eric Strange]

Sounds like Alex is starting to understand where us online players are coming from given his week straight of playing with us and having some good challenging matches. He is right about us coming to this forum to help. We came here to try and keep the game alive to say HEY WE ARE HERE AND SUPPORT YOU. Although most don't listen to anything we say... we are stubborn enough to keep repeating it. Don't get frustrated Alex!!! It is all for fun right?

[Danny_Alvarez]

Alex I am not trying to convince you to think exactly like me. I think the world would be a pretty boring place if we all thought the same way. I was just asking something in the hope that i could understand (even if i still disagree with it i would like to understand where you are coming from) your side of the story a bit better.

As far as the S word goes.... my apologies, i guess i have a dirty mind and the first word that came to mind was that instead of stuff.

But can you at all see what i am pointing out in regards to contradictions>>????

Also i think another contradiction is to keep calling others jerks and idiots several times and then complain about an atmosphere of hate. I am not throwing stones in a glass house, i do know that my argument in the other thread got out of hand, and it was ugly.

If you care to explain it would be appreciated.

Best Regards
Danny Alvarez

[Dennis Cayton]

So, we should probably say in conclusion, that number of provies on this forum is much higher then on Kurnik.

Regards,

Alex Moiseyev
Kurnik guru

Greetings To All:

Please forgive me for my ignorance.

During the years of my advancing age, I have apparently become out of touch with a lot of modern day slang.

This leads me to the following question:

What exactly is a "provie?"

I conducted a Google search on this word and even consulted a number of online slang dictionaries.

I was unable to find a definition of this word.

Please enlighten me.

Thanks in advance.

Best Wishes,

Dennis Cayton

[Dennis Cayton]

Also i think another contradiction is to keep calling others jerks and idiots several times and then complain about an atmosphere of hate.

Greetings Danny Alvarez:

Bravo!

I agree with you fully on the point you have expressed above.

Best Wishes,

Dennis Cayton