Game Menu Suggestions

[mickmackusa]

Broadcast your suggestions and constructive feedback regarding the Power Pinochle Game Menu page in this thread.


http://www.powerpinochle.com/forum/gamemenu.php

There is much to do!

[TigreLXIX]

Nice start!

I'd recommend making the site names that host online pinochle clickable links, and for the ones that have downloadable software having the "download" text be a clickable link that automatically starts the file download. (There may be drawbacks for the downloadable software - i.e., if the .exe filename changes, the link would have to be updated. Maybe check with the site's administrator as to how file revisions are handled or, rather than having a "direct download" from Power Pinochle, have the link redirect to the download page.)

[mickmackusa]

(04-13-2016, 11:36 PM)TigreLXIX Wrote:  Nice start!

I'd recommend making the site names that host online pinochle clickable links, and for the ones that have downloadable software having the "download" text be a clickable link that automatically starts the file download.  (There may be drawbacks for the downloadable software - i.e., if the .exe filename changes, the link would have to be updated.  Maybe check with the site's administrator as to how file revisions are handled or, rather than having a "direct download" from Power Pinochle, have the link redirect to the download page.)

I've added hyperlinks to Company/Program's name.
I'm going to hold off on adding hyperlinks that hold .exe files -- I want to think about that a bit longer.
I've added a more games.
Still much growing to do.

[marya]

I'm just a little unhappy that the sites are sorted in alphabetical order. I guess World of Card Games should have been named AAA World of Card Games I don't really have a suggestion for fixing this, though :/ But as you add more game sites and programs, I can see many of them getting pushed below the fold, which will lead to some bias in click-throughs.

[marya]

PS I don't think it's a good idea to directly link to a downloadable exe. Linking to the download page, which might include a T&C, seems good enough to me.

[mickmackusa]

(04-14-2016, 07:48 AM)marya Wrote:  I'm just a little unhappy that the sites are sorted in alphabetical order. I guess World of Card Games should have been named AAA World of Card Games I don't really have a suggestion for fixing this, though :/ But as you add more game sites and programs, I can see many of them getting pushed below the fold, which will lead to some bias in click-throughs.

When I list anything I like things to be in some kind of order -- this is not merely my personal preference; having logical order makes things easier to find.
I always aim to be fair on Power Pinochle.
I understand your perspective and perceived disadvantage from being low on the list.
I could have just as easily used descending alphabetical order, but that would have looked a bit suspicious.
I'm very happy to re-order the list based on other column values, but as I just built the list today, I went with simple site/software alphabetizing.

I now have the majority of sites and softwares represented in the menu, so attention should shift to the column headings.
Let's discuss what is important, what terminology should be used, and the column orders.
...Then we will know which columns/cells we will be comparing/arranging, and we can rework the table structure.

Now, I obviously have my own agenda in this project.
I want to influence/incentivize sites and software to:

• use the most modern meld scoring (unofficially called "Web Standard") because I think it is the most logical/simple/balanced/fair.
  
• homogenize rules for the common good of Pinochle (the little stuff like: Heading Tricks, Bidder Out, Numeric Bids Only, etc.)
  
• offer hand histories to their players in Pinochle Notation (progress has slowed waiting for information on other variants)
  
• become cooperative affiliates of Power Pinochle (linkage on their site, presence on our site, etc.)
  

So, I'll be looking for ways to reward those things without being harsh to non-aligners.

I visited each of those sites and software providers today, and I can comfortably say that some of them don't run any risk of stealing players from else where.  Some look stuck in the 1990's.

I apologize if making players aware of their options represents some level of threat to your site; I think you know that don't intend to do any damage.  
World of Card Games is probably the most actively and frequently updated game on the list.
By knowing your competition, you can advertise your unique features, adopt features that others provide, and put inferior software to shame.
I hope this doesn't read like "political spin"; it is certainly a "glass-half-full" mindset and I hope it encourages you.

[mickmackusa]

I just found some more sites/software.
I guess I don't know how big this menu is going to get.
Perhaps I should break it in half, dividing Non-downloadables & Downloadables.
Maybe I need to refine the column first.  Some require a download but are played online against Humans.
Also, as far as the row headings, I have tried to use Site and Software Name, but maybe I need to list the Software Company.  I found that some Software Company's have multiple versions/years of their Pinochle software.

At this point, I don't know how much of the menu info is correct.  I mean, I didn't go into each game and check their rules and player pool.

[mickmackusa]

Check out this dinosaur, it's called "Power Pinochle"!
http://takegame.com/gamblings/htm/pinochle.htm
(I assure you it's not ours, and I haven't yet dared to click the download link!)

[rdwrites]

I would suggest order: Online free tables, Online free no tables, Download free, games that cost money.

Within categories I think it's your perogative to list games that adhere to site goals ahead of others, probably helpful to have a recomendation based on adherence / non-adherence. Yes, it's judgemental but your site has a purpose.

I say this knowing that my site will not be 100% adherent and will rank near bottom as a paid site but the better to point those things out in the listing.

I know my Double Deck Pinochle DOS version is free and downloadable, not sure how many are comfortable playing games in a DOS emulator these days.

[nmaguire75]

I think it would be nice if it showed the average ranking given by players who have used by each format and a link to reviews people can read or make about each format/site.