"Youll soon find out if you on it, when you try to send a message etc. So no need to show it really"

... well then in that case, there is really no need either for the spying "what are people doing at this time" - since you can just wait and find out sooner or later what they have done anyway!

All I'm saying is if this site is going to be a site where you can spy on what others are doing, lets open up the friends/enemies list also!

23.21: cariad runs her bath while eating an apple turnover.

Actually, now that I had some more time to think about it, I would really love to see what IP address people are using to get to this site. (Possible even make a page that list the "last 5 IP's used)

This would be great for the pervs who love to know what everyone else is doing. They would also be able to do their own checking and possible find cheaters and such which in turn would make this site a better place.

Let's open this place up and become one big happy family!

I am not sure I like this, when you piss some off on IRC they start sending DDOS and Ping of Death packets to your machine because they know your IP. This allows someone who you may disagree with to attempt to hack your machine.

I'm sure I'm misunderstanding.. You aren't REALLY saying the people who like the feature are pervs, are you?
I'm assuming you are just continuing to come up with extremes to make your point. Unfortunately, they are too extreme and not the same thing at all. It seems like saying that since the bank knows our social security number, they should be able to have a video camera in our bathrooms. To me, it really doesn't make the point..

Well BrainKing is currently a site that does not take privacy too serious as of right now, so is a person is serious about the privacy now, they probable should not be playing on this site. This would just be another cool feature to break down the privacy issue!

Good grief, who cares what they can see you do on this site? All you can do is read, write, play or sit. I am totally against the IP identity though. Not that I am afraid of anyone, but I'm not niave enough to think there aren't those out there who would abuse that information. Don't forget there are different laws in different countries in regards to this type of information. I do like to know if someone is online though, that way I know that we can 'talk' If I see them reading a certain board, well then I might realize there is something going on there that I want to see. I dont care what anyone sees me doing on this site. Like I said, what can you do?

Yea, I am trying to be "extreme" to make a point. I had another user track me for over a week, and they did it with a privacy issue that is currently on this site - the show last action so called "feature".

I know many users like this, and it isn't something that should be taken away - But if a user is being tracked and bothered by another user who is using this flaw, then I think it is something that a user should be able to turn off. Again, don't get rid of it - just let a user choose if they can play on this game site in peace in a "stelth" mode, where others can not watch and harass you while you try to enjoy this great game site. Possible make the "Stelth" mode only an option for paid members - another benifit for getting a membership.

Midnight - I had another user basicly follow me and post crapping messages about me even after I asked them to stop.

Why can't I just play games, read the board, and enjoy this great game site in peace?

Oh I agree, with you and I understand, but also think that the 'bad guys' can use this feature as well. They can be online and you never know it and still do their thing. I am not tracking you, but I watch for the little red numbers saying there are new messages and go there. I am really sorry that this happened to you and I can understand what you are saying. But I am also saying that just like guns, just because you take them away from the lawabiding citizens doesnt mean that you take it away from the crook. In other words, we follow the rules and only use it sometimes where as they would do it all the time and it would be harder to know if they were online and you could continue to fear to post. Am I making sense?

... and if I person always wanted to stay hidden, I think that would be their choice. Some people leave their house door unlocked, others lock it. Some leave their window shades up, some have them down. Everyone is different, and not everyone likes this "feature".

I'm not saying to take it away since that would upset the people who like it, but to give users an option to use it or not would please most everyone.

I think the view online players is a great feature and I really wouldn't want to lose it, I cant see any way in which it can be considered an intrusion of privacy. Because there's been a bad experience with one member isn't any justification for removing a feature that is generally helpfull for all members, after all, if someone wants to pester you they'll find a way to do it anyway.

Again ughaibu, I agree that it is a feature that should not be removed.

All I'm saying is that there be an option for the few that it is an intrusion of privacy and used against them so this great site is less enjoyable - to be able to toggle that option off for them would only bring more enjoyment to this site. - that is be in a "stealth mode". - and possible just an option for the members who contribute to this site, like buying a membership.

The option should not be removed because I agree, a lot of users do like it. But for others, it brings down their enjoyment of this site - and this site is a great site, and to have an option which has NOTHING to do with game playing that HURTS some players game playing experiance is just stupid, in my opinion.

i'm confused. How exactly can people use the information against you? Who cares if someone can see what action you are doing on the site?

bbw , the more you keep brining it up ,the more you are feeding your followers .

why not just put anyone bothering you on your enemies list then they cant see you and you have your privacy against the bad guys.

Okay, guys, I can see this one running and running. Could I respectfully ask you to move the debate to one of the debate boards perhaps?
The feature request has been made and if this issue continues here other feature requests are in danger of being swamped.

Thanks.

Thanks bumble.

My original feature request of making an option for paid members to play in stealth mode still stands. I mean like Fencer has said, this is a game site - and to have a current NON-GAME "feature" that actually hurts some players game play just does not make since. This is a game site, not a person tracking site! I will be happy to debate/discuss this more with anyone in the debate club.

my vote is forget the spy games.. and bring back the bkr table... :)

I would like to see all the features we had brought back!

What features?

pawn posting/bkr tables/
Fencer statue by the pond on the rockery and Liquid sat on server doing the BBQ ;oÞ

i would also like to see an optional hide button added.

Steves got it:)

how about putting back the big bosses ban/hide buttons for our fellowships?

I was wondering if it was ever brought up about having the Tournament Creator have the option of setting a 1...2...3 wins in place of the standard 3 wins. I myself prefer 1 win, or have all the games rated which would help alot! At least the choice should be up to the Creator of the tournament! What do ya think Fencer?

Actually that option is still there - Fencer just "hid" the buttons! So if you know how the site works, you can still ban and hide a user. (until Fencer reads this and then he actually turns off the option) :-)

lol I have the html somewhere for it, but the buttons are easier lol

Yes, sure.

lovelysharon... I might have got this wrong but I think you can get to the bkr table for any specific game if you go through 'Ratings'.

Cariad, I think she means the one we used to have on our main page, I miss it too, I dont like having to look through each one seperately :o(

Now I'm glad I don't play many different games! My little brain can't cope. haha

Steve ... you are so vain LOL :) (and yes, I know it is off topic, but I couldn't resist :)

that WAS one of the great features we USED to have.In my book,the reason for playing games is friendly competion.Being able to moniter your ratings at a glance,was a very nice option

it will be back

I would like to see the option to be able to turn my brain back on and/or off as need be.

Agreed MoM!!! me too!

MidnightOMedic: I has this option of course. Coffee/ouzo...coffee/ouzo...

And this from a bloke who's anybody's after a glass of Carlberg!
What's the feature request, loggo? Free coffee and ouzo? I think the best you can hope for is a coffee machine in the BK corridor between that room with the nice padded walls and the First Aid room for index finger strain (aka 'BrainKing Finger').

Seriously though, as Vikings pointed out, the ratings feature will be back.

Is the 3 wins match unlimited in terms of the number of games? I am about to be in a 3 wins match for checkers, which can go on forever. Many of the strongest players won by scores of 1-0 with 31 draws, or 2-1 with 48 draws. With days to make a move, the odds are a player could go on forever without winning 3 games.

I agree, in games where a draw is possible a points match is much much better. For games where a draw is impossible (like Backgammon) it makes no difference. Therefore I would prefer if tournaments were points instead of games.

Also, I would expect the matches to count as more than one game for the rankings, and the match score to be counted (e.g if I win 2-1 against a low rated player my rating probably goes down etc). Is this the case?

I think the whole point of the 3 wins match was for games like checkers. If I win 3 and draw 15 against a player on here, my rating would go way down despite having won by a large margin. But, with the 3 wins format, it is like the draws never happened, and the match is rated in a way to keep the ratings balanced.

A 3 wins match in Gothic Chess, in my opinion, is a great injustice. To win 3 games against one opponent is not easy, and to treat it as just one win is unfair.

Also, opponents in a checkers 3-win match have no way to conceed a draw. After 100 games, all draws, can't we just end it?

This format needs rethinking. It needs at least some sort of "stopping condition". Say after 15 games, the one with the most points wins.

Anything but perpetual play.

Sure, why not. Everything can be done.

Sure?..how about auto-pass in backgammon? :)

Ehm ... everything what I want to do can be done :-)

depends who asks? :)

Definitely not.

hmmmm?

Fencer - I know you are still working on it, and I'm not complaining or anything - just curious. How close is BK2.0 to being ready to test/use? Days, weeks, or still months?

Instead of a 3-wins match, how about a "best of" match arrangement?

You can have varying lengths according to the type of game. For example, in checkers, a longer match is usually required to determine a victor. 24 to 40 game matches are typical at the World Championship level, but this is a bit much for online play. Perhaps 13 games would suffice. Whoever has the most points wins the match.

If it ever reaches a point where it is mathematically impossible for the other side to win, then it can be stopped.

For exmaple, if there are 4 wins and 6 draws in a 13 game match, the last 3 games need not be played since if the winner lost all 3 then he would still win.

This is actually what they do in checkers. Since Alex Moiseyev was up 8-2 over Ron King in the last World Checkers Championship, that match was called off early.

Chess would need fewer games, maybe 7.

Gothic Chess would probably only need 5.

Again, the same rules apply. If a mathematical certainty has been reached, like 3-0 in Gothic or 4-0 in chess, the match can be stopped.

I think in drawish games, you should rate the result 1-0 (like checkers). In other games, you should rate each game as they complete.

Just an opinion, but I think the reasoning makes sense.