Monthly schedule discussion

[cracker]

First, Let me make it absolutely clear that nothing in this discussion will apply to Gotm16-Rome or the Qsc16 for the month of February.

Qsc16 submissions are due by February 20th
Gotm16-Rome submissions for complete games are due prior to March 2nd.

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We need to solicit input and player feedback on implementing two changes to the monthly GOTM game schedule at some point in the future to be determined.

This thread is a discussion thread to ask your help in identfying issues as well as proposing things that need to be done to implement these two changes.

The first change relates to the Game release date at the beginning of the month. In the past, we have tried to release the game a day or so early, but this creates an administrative conflict with the main site calendar that drops the news announcement of the GOTM into the previous month. Effectively the GOTM announcment only appeared in the site news for a few days before getting chopped off and placed into the archive where fewer people would see it each month. I would like to formally shift the game release date to being on the 1st of the month the fix this problem but want to make sure this does not create a conflict. (let me worry about time zone and date issues without being too specific).

Related to this issue is the concept that we might release the scope of the game announcement a few days early to help promote positive pre-discussion and game planning, but this release would not include the starting save file in an effort to avoid any possible spoiler risk while allowing for unrestricted discussion.
What do you think of this idea?

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The final issue relates to the submission due date. We are now actively tracking the game download frequency for the original save game files as well as the submission dates for the Qsc games and the full completed Gotm games. An issue we have identified is that we currently cannot release the Qsc results until the Gotm game is closed and also we end up with the closing date overlapping with the new Gotm game being open. We will have more data on the actual submission pace for the Gotm games with this months game, but would like to explore the option of moving the submission deadline forward by two days so that it always falls on the last day of the month.

In particular we need to identify issues that may need to be addressed to smoothly implement this change and then look for feedback as to when it would be possible to change the submission deadline for all games beginning at some point in the schedule AFTER Gotm16-Rome is closed on March 2nd.

What is your opinion of moving the submission deadline forward by 2 days?

and

What issues can you identify that may need to be addressed to implement the deadline change?

 

[flexo]

Why not move the QSC publishing date and turn in limit to say middle of the month. You should be able to get to 1000bc in that time even if you don't start playing the very same they it is released. So at the beginning of the month, release, middle of the month publish qsc results for the month and at the end of the month turn in gotm. So i guess the qsc results will be published at around the same time as previous months gotm ... mmm ... perhaps this wasn't such a great idea after all but still an idea.

 

[Karasu]

I think there should be no problem with the shifting of release and submission dates you propose. If in addition it helps the administrative work, then I would immediately go for it.

I love the idea of anticipating the Scope of the Game and allowing us to have some wild discussion on what we expect the next game to be... Yes! Yes!

 

[col]

Well common sense would indicate to me that a "game of the month" should start on the first day of the month and end on the last day of the month.

It has an obvious neatness.

 

[Ronald]

Scope of the game a few days earlier for preparationa nd discussion: great idea

Start exactly day 1 of the month: why not (only problem I see are long weekends before beginning of the months for players who mainly can play during weekends)

Due date 2 days earlier: Either I have time enough during the month, then the 2 days don't matter. Or I have no time, then I only play the qsc and it also does not matter.

Thanks for all the recent changes and surprises on the GOTM.

Ronald

 

[BoBtheBUILDER]

My only concern about an early release of the scope of the game would be spoliering, but since the save wouldn't be available for download I would guess that this concern is nullified.

As far as the date changes, I think the administration should have the flexibility to set the schedule. My only concern would be to ensure that people have adequate time to complete the game. You see a lot of people posting "I downloaded the game but did not have the time to finish" as it is. A number of posters indicated that they were pleased that the game was available for download a few days early since February was a short month.

Like I said, I'm cool with whatever you decide to do, but you may want to keep those concerns in mind as you discuss schedule changes.

Thanks for all your hard work!
BoB

 

[Borealis]

Either way would be fine with me- as others have said, one or two days won't make much difference to whether I finish the game or not. As for 'Scope of the Game' issues, I don't think letting people know the parameters (difficulty, water %, etc.), will give them that much extra time to practice beforehand, especially with games with altered terrain/land percentages. Or, you could leave the terrain/land information secret, as I opined in the 'terrain' thread, and just release the difficulty level as public information. It'd be like going all random in a normal game, where at 4000BC you don't know more than your starting location.

 

[Nightfa11]

Looks like two questions that need answers:

Release the "scope of the game" before releasing the game save?

Sounds like a good idea. I can't think of any good reason not to. It might even be fun to see folks debate on city placement within the viewable area. Newbies (myself and others) might learn something

Move the GOTM release date to the first and the submission deadline to the last day of the month?

I'm not really sure why you are doing this. I don't know all the stuff you have to do in order to make all this work, but it seems like the way you do it now is better. Here are comparisons of the two schedules:

Now:
1. Release GOTM 2 days before end of month.
2. See inevitable flood of spoilers (I did this on this month's )
3. Cure flood of spoilers (over a couple of days)
4. Wrap up old GOTM submissions (over a couple of days)
5. Release first spoiler thread

New:

1. Release scope of game
2. Wrap up old GOTM submissions
3. Continue wrapping up old GOTM submissions, release new GOTM, deal with spoilers
4. Release first spoiler thread

It seems to me you've got it spaced well apart now. There is always going to be some overlap and I think it's minimized the way it is, and not so minimized with the new schedule. JMHO

There are ways to fix the scripting error on the front page so that the news doesn't fall off so quickly. You could always just announce it that way on the first rather than earlier, or just announce it twice. It's not like the blog fills that quickly (one or two items a day on average)

However, Col has a point as well. GOTM release on the first submit on the last has a neatness to it.

If you want to do it that way, I recommend a "Spoiler Nazi" that has nothing to do with release, submission, map creation, or anything else because that area requires so much attention.

JM .05 (wrote more than .02 worth )

 

[hotrod0823]

I think getting the scope out early is a good thing. By giving the group something to talk about before release day it may help convince some players to play the current GOTM. As far as the release dates the Beginning and the end of the month make sence. The only thing that I think would be better would be a reslease of the previous months QSC timelines and results on the first as well. If players are looking to improve there early game the best way to do that is by comparing techinques of the other players. Yes, you can get some of that from the early spoiler threads but I know that some players are waiting for the QSC15 results before even starting QSC16. If the results are not out until next week the time to finish the QSC and thus the entire game is shortened. Do I have a solution, no. But if the QSC is due on the 20th and maybe just maybe results can be out the same day the next GOTM is released.

IF more time is needed to get the result perhaps the best solution is to cut the submittal date back for the QSC to the 15th. 2 weeks should be plenty of time for the players to start the QSC and hopefully 2 more weeks for the results to be completed. The only difficult thing is that more and more people are submitting QSC games and timelines.

 

[cracker]

Originally posted by Nightfa11
If you want to do it that way, I recommend a "Spoiler Nazi" that has nothing to do with release, submission, map creation, or anything else because that area requires so much attention.

I just want to observe that this statement implies that you don't feel that this job title is an accurate description of what I have been having to do anyway.

In all seriousness, I have used this exact same term when describing the level of intervention that has sometimes seems necessary. We;ll all get better as the "standard of performance" gets clearer but in the short run I hope that the historic view of these actions will be more "Werner von Braun-ish" than "Himmlerish".

 

[Nightfa11]

I just want to observe that this statement implies that you don't feel that this job title is an accurate description of what I have been having to do anyway.

True

I just think that with other duties you could use someone in this function. It would have to be someone willing to give up playing the GOTM for points or score because they would have to know what was a spoiler.

And that brings me to another possibility for a post along these lines:

I think we need to come up with a working faq of what a spoiler IS. My definition of spoiler is different than yours (as is obvious from my mistake on the GOTM 16 post). I have adjusted my definition of spoiler for this board to fit this board, but I feel we might be able to reduce the number of "edits" that you need to make if we have a nice working definition. If there is one, I can't find it (and I've looked everywhere I can think of).

I think a post asking for definitions and clarification of the word spoiler, along with a FAQ page would be a good idea.

 

[Moonsinger]

About the start and end date, it doesn't affect me in anyway. However, I agree with Borealis; it may be best to keep the terrain/land information a secret.

 

[Justus II]

I agree that the Scope of the Game coming out a few days early is a great idea. Even in this GOTM, I spent most of the first two days planning my strategy from the Scope info, I have only played the first 10 turns. (I am out of town many weekends). Having the scope available for discussion sounds great. As for the 1st and the end of the month, makes perfect sense to me, I thought it usually was anyway, with occasional exceptions. Like maybe February, since only 28 days, could get an extra day or 2 at the end. But definitly starting on the first is a good idea.

 

[RufRydyr]

I like the proposed changes.

I'd go further and move the QSC deadline to the 10th and then post the results ASAP. I don't think that they should have to be kept secret until the next month. Just put a warning that you can't read the thread until you've submitted your GOTM. You could let people look at the results, though.

 

[DANGERBOY]

If the QSC was moved to the 10th, I likely would not be able to finish it on time. I could see the 15th, maybe. As I said elsethread, it just takes me a long time to play.

 

[thd]

I agree with col and more: I think it's the only right thing to do. Those who cannot complete a gotm in one month either have to change their priorities or simply not submit. Or not spend so much time milking... ;-)

 

[AdelaMae]

It makes sense not to release the QSC results until the GOTM is closed, but is there a way we can work it so that they can be up on the first of the month? Since the idea is improvement by learning from the group experience, I'd like to be able to spend some time going over the QSCs before I start the next game. As it is, my impatience has gotten the best of me and I'm already working on GOTM16.

Like some others, I dislike the overlap between GOTMs... I prefer to be able to clearly delineate where one project ends and the next begins. So I am in favor of these schedule changes. I especially like the idea of having the Scope of the Game out a few days early - it would build up the anticipation and, one can only hope, help reinforce the understanding that there will be *no spoilers* in the Scope of the Game thread.

I wish there was a way to convince people that reading the instructions is in their best interests.

Also, I am wondering, as a newcomer to the GOTM - why is it that the first spoiler thread isn't published until several days in? Why not start it right away, and give these people who have a deep-seated psychological need to give away game Easter Eggs someplace to burn off steam?

 

[Matt P]

I think that releasing the scope of the game a few days early is a great idea as it will certainly create plenty of discussion and intrigue amongst GOTM enthusiasts and may even encourage others to give it a go.

Starting on the first day of the month makes sense and if by bringing forward the submission date by 2 days helps the administrator, then that's cool by me.

I'm amazed by the progession and changes that have occurred in the GOTM already. I can only imagine what things will be like come GOTM 25 .....

 

[pilferman]

Cracker-

I think that a pre-release discussion is a good idea. As soon as the file is released, however, that thread will undoubtedly become a spoiler thread. An infinite number of "NO SPOILER" warnings can not prevent that. The only way to effectively regulate early spoilers would be to close the primary threads relating to that month's GOTM. Simply hoping that people will do their part most likely will not work.

Another option is the elimation of the waiting period. I would highly discourage this, however, as I am a big fan of the early GOTM silence. :love2:

When you consider that this is merely a "friendly competition," the old method of simply releasing the game and allowing the players to post whatever they want seems like a good idea. When you consider that you are trying to maximize fun (without the use of Calculus ), closing discussion threads seems to be the idea of choice. There may not be one real solution to this problem.

The one thing you must do is stand by your decision. Changing your policy frequently is a good way to bring about confusion (see sentence #3).

That's my 14 cents. May the force be with you:worshp:

 

[drewshark]

I like the proposed changes. I do think that a couple of days either way shouldn't have an effect on those that are GOTM players. If it help the administrators then I'm all for it as we should be able to adapt, as long as it is consistent each month. Has anyone discussed a QSC site with a direct link and archives available. In the past they have been scattered and maybe could be more centralized.