Fencer: I'm just going out on a limb here, but would it be an idea to feature a donation box on the main page, or within the 'support us' section?

With the addition of a donation box, people that are enthusiastic can support brainking financially, even if they can't afford (or have allready bought) a membership. I for one, wouldn't mind chipping in every now and then.

Perhaps the additional income could somehow simplify matters concerning the future of Brainking.

nobleheart: If you go to your profile->achievements and you click on each separate category, you can see all available achievements. Those you have accomplished are lighted on. The rest are darker.

..to have a list of ALL the achievements that are possible to try to acheive.
this would certainly encourage players to strive for them.
maybe in the FAQ or as a commentary in achievements.
I have thought that perhaps this does not exist intentionally,but I can't think of a reason for hiding this.

I have looked to see if this exists.If it does,someone please share a link.

about the Easter Egg bonuses and other special deals-if any.

ThunderGr: $35,000? I wonder what the revenue stream is. How many annual & monthly (not lifetime) memberships are there? What advertising revenue is there?

Thad: Read several messages below.

diogenysos: Has Fencer ever mentioned a selling price for BK? Or is he waiting for someone to make him an offer?

diogenysos: You should keep using the bug tracker. You never know what may happen next and, if something changes, the person that will be fixing the bugs will be going through the bug tracker, most likely, and not the forums.

diogenysos: "This game is private and the players do not allow you to see it." - so what exactly are you talking about?

Cloning Backgammon (diogenysos gegen dr_Brainsurfer)

Wow! A cloning gammon game "gifted" to me 300 points in one move.
Well I am not reporting this to the bug-tracker as I know now we are just paying people without any rights!

Aah, by the way, before someone is mentioning "flame wars" against Fencer now (again) I have to tell you I was writing him a fair E-Mail a couple of weeks ago but - as always - there is no response.

For me as a 12-year BK member, long-term-non-profit traducer and helper (well, many of us helped this site grow a lot without getting back a lot of respect) this is more and more disappointing because a game site without fair games is no longer a game site. Not many places in the business world give the boss the opportunity to treat his clients that bad without consequences :-(

So as a "feature request" I am officially requesting a money-back-system and/or the change of the ownership!

I am not happy to write this, but I am not the only one who tried to communicate with respect and moderately with the "servide provider" and one day even the best patience must have an end.

That'll be it! Caused me to time out unintentionally in 8 games when I was away for three days.

pgt: I think that what happens when you change your "weekend days" is that "automatic vacation" gets turned off, and then you have to go back and turn it on again.

At least that is what happened to me the past time I changed my weekend days....

pgt: According to the automatic vacation help, the feature is only available to paying members.

pgt: I dont think automatic vacation is available to pawns.

Why does automatic vacation get randomly turned off? I set AV and had 8 games "you ran out of time". But I guess the boss is not interested. At least we're not playing for cattle ranches!

Vikings: He stops by every now and then but hasn't played games for years.

Marshmud: Yes, it is OK. Thank you.

Fencer: I've hired someone for advice. Its a member of my Uncles law firm, Covahey- Boozer- Devan & Dore- out of Towson MD. Im not sure what will become of it but I'm interested. Is it ok for someone to contact you if necessary? fencer@ brainking.com?

Marshmud: BK can be deployed anywhere. The migration would take some time (especially the database) but we did it several times in the past.

Marshmud: you move here, and i will take up writing code

Last action: 13. February 2014, 00:23:19 :

MadMonkey: Wish Liquid was still involved. Maybe that would of taken a load off fencer.

If BK was usa based I'd make a offer.

diogenysos & Gabriel Almeida: I have to agree.

There used to be quite a few Code writers here (sadly most have left now) who could have helped. Maybe if Fencer was interested he could look about for someone, make then 2nd in charge (under him of course) or something. It would be such a shame if this site ever has to close just beause there are too many bug problems etc..... to keep it running.

There must be someone interested (if Fencer is of course).....its a shame Tibs started his own site, he may have been.

Anyway, just have to wait and see

I do not see any flame war here and there is no need for something like this anyway. But it must be allowed to write honestly about the disappointment of a paying customer. Personally, I would sugggest employing people - for free or not - in order to guarantee that BK is working well.

I totally happy cuz I only really like Ludo, Hyper, and Backgammon. I guess I'm not much of a gamer. LOL I guess I'm a lamer gamer!

Gabriel Almeida: Respect is furthest from my mind.

maybe we should put Fencer forward for another interview, so people can ask new question about his current life, and in which he can post long reponses without it causing to be a flamewar :)

or maybe a fellowship could be started in which the big boss can moderate the board more strictly than a public board and on which the big boss can put his own rules which the members should post by

(this suggestions are partly kidding, and partly serious)

Fencer: Seriously, I do not think anyone is really interested in starting any "flame wars". What we(the people that like this site) want is just for the site to become more functional and even more interesting. Considering that even the most minimal of efforts(a better stair system, bug fixes) would lead to that, I do not think it is much to ask. Noone is interested in "bashing " you or your choices and it is *absolutely understandable* that you have lost your enthusiasm for the site after the time you spent with it. I am certain that you do understand the point of view of the people here, though. All we ask is to consider a solution so that we can have what we want and you can have what you need. There are ways that everyone can be satisfied here(including you). Accepting offers for help would be one step to the right direction, in my opinion. I also offer my help for free.

Gabriel Almeida: Thanks for your response and offer.
In fact, I've been thinking of posting a long response about "everything what happened here happened for a good reason", but I think it's not necessary because it would only start another endless flame war.

diogenysos:in my opinion, This is a clear situation, and i agree with Fencer in his point of view...  In a "formal" sense. Although, agree with thunderGR, problably is not the most inteligent thing in a "comercial sense". But This is an admissable option of the owner, that we must respect.

Fencer: Well. It is great to be here. Some of us are here for quite a while, some of us even helped translating. We helped to make the site what it is right now!

Leaving us "alone" with bugs and disappointment just because a lack of enthusiasm is not acceptable as we put money in it and are deserving a professional treatment.
As the site is working well more or less there is no big complain, but some things like the bug tracker are essential and should work.
If this is not possible (but seems quite easy to realize), one should think about some moneyback-offers for those who already paid for the upcoming years. And, as a minimum, about lower rates for all those who are thinking of becoming members right now.

Fencer: I would expect that, if you are unwilling to sell to an actually reasonable price and if you feel this site is a burden to you that you would, at least, ask for someone to maintain the site in a sort of "additional revenue" agreement. Something like "without maintaining the site I had this revenue, with you maintaining the site I have this+x revenue, so you can be paid x/y for your efforts"...

Aganju: Actually 35000 USD is close to reasonable. But I agree that the methods used to calculate that are doubtful.

Aganju: I would.

Fencer: The question would be what is 'reasonable'. According to
http://www.worthofweb.com/website-value/brainking.com

it would 35 000 $. But the methods used to calculate that are doubtful. Compared to dailygammon, which I personally see at a about 1/10 of brainking, and which is valued 630 $, 6 300 $ would be more like it.
From my gut feeling, the truth is somewhere between 6 300 $ and 35 000 $.

Anyone willing to chip in?

Fencer: He suggested you employ/engage someone to run the site for you. Selling was never mentioned. Perhaps you could give us an idea of what the site is really worth.

diogenysos: Of course. Whoever offers a reasonable price, can own this site. I have no problem with it (and, honestly, it would be a great relief for me).

diogenysos: Re: You may engage someone with some more enthusiasm, for example.
In order to keep the site respectable!

That has been suggested before.

ThunderGr: I agree with you. And in my opinion it is the best site to play in. But I get disheartened when he admits that he has no enthusiasm. At times I think is it worth staying in this site if the owner cares so little for people who put money into his site.

Fencer: Thanks for the honest answer!

So what do the players do who experience a bug that destroys their effort after competing? This is frustrating for the players and of course unreliable work.

You may engage someone with some more enthusiasm, for example.
In order to keep the site respectable!

Fencer: It is a pity, because you could make this site the top site for playing board games. I have only discovered it recently and I love it but the lack of improvement is obvious.

diogenysos: Lack of time and enthusiasm.

Fencer: why that if I may ask?

diogenysos: Yes.

Is the Bug Tracker inactive?

How about creating a variant in which a player wins when, and only when he/she connects 4 pieces in a row? Creating a line of five or more would not end the game.
Or the other way around: connecting 5 or more pieces would make you LOSE the game.

Raistlin: I'm a terrible line4 player, but I always agree with the best players's opinions. Those who knows the game are particularly able to make it better, and it should be a rule for all games in BK!

SunnY DaY:I totally agree, despite BK stats Line4 is a win for black and 7x7 board (or maybe 9x9, to avoid people using programs) would be a nice change.

SunnY DaY: So I wish to know fellow players' opinions about changing the boardsize either to 7x5 (rows x columns) or 7x7, where only skill (and a bit of luck) determine the winner, not the size of the board.

Baah, I meant (columns x rows)