Probably true. I have a heck of a time getting on too and I hate it but I like to be optomistic about the future. IYT has hundreds of thousands of members, years of experience, severe restrictions on non-members, advertising and fancy prices and they still have glitches. I like to think Fencer will do better given some time and support.

Seems to me that Fencer has a lot of time he is on "top 10" for most active player almost every day. Maybe more fun to play games than fixing the site? :)

The issue here for Fencer seems to be money rather than time, Gubbe. As such, cutting down on his playing time addresses nothing of importance. And from a positive standpoint it helps him get to know some of the members. I believe this site will improve. All things take time. Especially good things.

Usurper..I hade the same faith when i joined in march but no improvements at all since then..same "excuses" ..more money..more time..be patient..who will give him the money when the site doesnt work? I've invited people but they come back and tell me they couldnt access..dont think they will pay anything :)

it only took me 5 or 6 hours to get on here again !! now its time for my bed without managing any moves , i am at work again for twelve hours tommorow . if i cant get on again tommorow i could end up timing out on some games as i may not get time to access the site for two days after tommorow ;~(

I cannot believe my previous message got through... because my system showed me a hanging site.

Anyway, i sent Fencer and email about this as well.

Fencer, could you please reset Game ID: 79002 I just ran out of time.. :-((( I especcially woke up, to check in and see about the game.. but i was just too late and its in the middle of the night for me!

Could you please give us some additional time, so we indeed can play our games on regular hours?

Many thanks in advance,
~*Radiant 36 9*~

1) Something's wrong with database server.
2) Liquid's on vacation, he'll be back on Sunday.
3) Until then, I play so often to monitor the site activity and keep it alive when I am on-line. Of course, I must sleep sometimes.
4) I've just added extra 3 days to all games.

indeed I got an explicite guru from the sql server in between too
not sure to remember well but I think it was a 500 or 505 ...

good luck ~*~

I think this site is well worth putting up with the faults. We know they won't last forever. Fencer restores games that time out, he keeps us informed of progress and is ever patient in doing so. He can't do much more than he is.
I have had faith from the start and continue to do so. Access WILL improve. Don't forget, this whole wonderful place is created by just two guys, and those same guys have to maintain the site. It can't be easy. I think support (even just verbal) would be far more constructive than complaints. If I was running a site and received nothing but criticism I would be more tempted to wipe the whole thing than to spend hours of my time fixing it!

I was just trying to avoid complaining so much, but since a tourny game timed out, I couldn´t just stay silent anymore..

You say: "Fencer restores games that time out.."

then I repeat my question: Fencer, could you please reset/restore this game for me - Game ID: 79002 - its a tourny game.. which i would realy like continue playing. :-)

Many thanks again for your updates, your efforts and your hard work on this site.

And thanks harley for your positive note :-)

harley: Thanks :-)
Radiant: I've already done it yesterday.

it should not be forgotten that until summer 2001
average two catastrophical crashes per year took out
also IYT peridodicly ... that's why iyt-town was founded mainly ... ;)
so we could stay in touch during the continueing mess ...

even after that it took them more than a year to get a new server
that still messed up daily then, yet for many weeks ...
still once per day their maintainance casts drop-outs, remember !

reminds me that my club@yahoo indeed is no iyt-club from the principle ...
it's for board-games players in general and, perhaps a good
option to exchange also reports about access problems here ...
whining a bit is understandable and, granted there. :D

even the known iyt-bullies are welcome as long
as they keep their language children-proof ... okay ? 8)

feel invited to visit us not only when BK is down ... :")

Harley founded a special club for the Fellowships-BigBosses -
so we have yet another pivot to stay informed ... ~*~

Yes, the site has its problems, but as Harley said, they are just two guys running it and one of them is out of town. I personally think Fencer does a wonderful job of keeping us up to date on what is going on and not leaving us hanging. He (or they) set up the alternate webpage that tells what is going on with the server and that helps. I realize its frustrating, believe me, but hang in there. I have found no other place that I enjoy near as much!!!!

Keep up the good work Fencer and Liquid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks MidnightMedic :-)
Just to make it absolutely clear, it's more than two weeks ago when Liquid had gone for his vacation in Norway, so it's only me who runs it now. He'll be back on Sunday, I hope.

i am in total agreement with harley and medic, this is a great place to be, yes the site does have its problems, there are only 2 people running it! you cannot expect miracles.. it is not their livleyhood, they have to work too...
so please everyone, be patient, It will get better!!!!!!!!

In light of many email complaints I have received today and Myself only just gaining access to the site now (12:45Pm Friday EST) after trying for 4 hours to get in, I would like to seriously suggest a drive for money to help Fencer get the new server.

Fencer this has been brought up a few times and after discussion with a few people we wonder why you made no comments to this discussion?

IF everyone on the site sent one dollar, Half a £ or something to the equivelant wouldn't that be enough to kick start the new server?


There have been many suggestions which all seem fair to help out.

Today another thought was that since the site is seemingly worse to access any time of day that we cease any new tournaments and limit all DB discussions so that would possibly free up enough room to just let people play their games.

For those that have gained access to the site today let me hear your thoughts on this and hopefully we can get Fencer to join in with this discussion and give us his thoughts on the ideas that have been bounced around.

I would be willing to give a dollar or two. Cant do much more right now, but would if I could an would if it would help.

Thanks Dano, theres also a yahoo group called BK_HOME that Paul71 founded. Its a good idea to join one of these groups then you can at least check with other people as to site access. Plus they're fun! lol!

I have to apologise!!! I am very sorry, Fencer.. I see the game now.. thought it would appear on top of my list... but you have been so generous of providing all of us many many days, so I just saw the game somewhere in the middle of my list!

Again, I apologise for being such a nuisance today.. I know you do excellent work.. and I appreciate it! And as I said earlier: I very much enjoy playing on this site and I knOw the work will be lighter when we all send you encouragements!

Stay cool, màn and yes, keep up the good work!!!! TGIF: Happy weekend!

Yes, I can spare a few bucks, not much as $5,- but when Fencer is okay, start the sponsoring! :-)

Of course it is okay. But nobody can expect new server within a week :-)

Using this link Support Brainking

You can donate any amount of money in any form of currency, any credit card, or use paypal (larger fee to use paypal then to use direct payment)

If you can only afford ONE Dollar - Half a £ - or the equivalent if your own currency,
it all will add up..and be very much appreciated and just think! How kool would it be to have a faster running site with no more down times???

Cant wait til Liquid is back from Norway!!!! :)

Have a little patience, Gubbe!! All great things are worth waiting for :o)

Harley..If i have waited since march im sure i can wait til sunday :)

Damned computers! For example, BrainKing is currently [22:44 GMT+01:00] incredibly fast for no apparent reason. Which is good news because the problem obviously can be solved. Within some days ;-)

MODERATOR!! Fencer said a naughty word! Ban him - I dare you!

1) The puter shalt be serving the human ...
2) The earth shalt be a disk ... :D ... ~*~

I am playing a tournament game with Eliot61, game number 124540.
He last moved on the 2nd July and i replied to his move on even date.
For me the date is the 19th June and he STILL has 16 days to make his move...UMMMMMM???
bit unfair???

*uhmmm - errrm* Could you repeat your question ?? :P ~*~

ROFL @ Cariad!!! *big grin*!!

brave girl Cariad

Please don't look and dates and times in games. I've stopped them in order to prevent any more timeouts until the database server bug is fixed.

Will this include vacations? I'm leaving Monday and am hoping to make it online once while gone, but can't promise. Just checking :)

It includes everything :-) No timeouts until I turn it off.

((((((((((((Fencer))))))))))) THanks :) Harley will know when I'm back...or Aragon.

Great.. thanks!!

lmaooo - perhaps THATS why the server suddenly is running better - no pressure on time and dates anylonger..

~*LetsPlay!*~

I will know when your back alright!! Casper will stop sending me messages once you return LOL

this is for all the members whining....how do you think the pawns feel and everyone else!!! i just renewed my Rook membership for one year and my wife just up-graded from Knight to Rook and we HAVEN'T been able to move a game. my wife got so frustrated she just gave up and she has only 22 games, i have over 140, plus tournaments to start....we need to get the problem fixed before we lose paying members, and Fencer is doing his best....i used to B*%&$ all the time but it does not do any good to do that, it most probably just up sets Fencer.....he knows what the problem is, be patient....and i'll add this, i will never pay for membership at IYT again, that is the most unfriendly site in this Galaxy save for a few who play there and here!!! thanks for a great site Fencer, hope it is fixed soon......

I think it would be nice if there could be a "running total" of what has been donated so far. I think it would encourage others if they saw they wouldnt be the only ones doing it.
I will DEFINITELY be donating. This site has become a significant part of my day, and i love it!!!!
Fencer, I am another who appreciates all you do!

I also think the people who donate extra money to the site should get a special note in their profile.

For example - right now for the few users who are part of the "customer service" have a special note under their profile name. To have a special note for the user who support this site over and beyond the membership would be cool.

Okay let us consider how the Brainking-community can help itself! And therefor we have to help fencer to get a better server! How can we realize a special budget and how can we bring all users of Brainking to give only a little bit money for this purpose?
My suggestion: Fencer creates a special cash box only for this purpose and every user will be asked to give money (one time,1-10 Dollar, or more if he want).
Fencer informs us how much is in the cash box and names the users who gave money.
Because this is a very important fact there is a headline in the mainpage of Brainking and so let us look if we get the money together.

I dont think the amount of money donated by any given person should be advertised...
reason :- those that gave little would be embarrassed or at the least feel mean...those that gave lots would lord it over the rest....it is human nature to do this.
Unless someone comes up with $100 or more all donations should be acknowledged by name but not by anount...
just my 2 cents worth...OOPS that isnt my donation LOLOLOL

Its so good to see this site is alive and kicking!!!

GOOD JOB, FENCER

~*Happy Playing Weekend*~

Thanks Rose and yes, I support the idea of adding something to the names of the users who has donated; but without the ammount. I agree with Bernice. It should be enough, to know who donates :o) That IS a wonderful thing on its self, I think!

A link on the mainpage to the ammount of collected money would be neat! :o)

Thanks for the morning chuckle, enjoy your games while I enjoy my life:)

TTjazzberry, is your morning churckle from the poor server doing its best to keep running? Or are you laughing at people who care to help make this site better? I was just wondering.

One thing to keep in mind of the cash box idea, is that we are all from different countries with different currency. It might be a little confusing to list the amount raised unless he simple lists the percentage of total needed.

Oh I don't know, Eriisa, if its listed in USA dollars the conversion should be quite easy. There are lots of sites that does conversion for you (XE.com is one). And even if it just gives us a vague idea, like "We currently have $500 raised, we need to reach $1000" (for example).. people who do not have dollars as their first currency can see roughly how much is needed.

And a Euro is just about equal to $1.