Ranks are Up: SUGGESTION (easy one Admins)

[Shaman]

Can we get games played re-listed?

I, and some others, take some pride in knowing we broke top 100 with very few games. While I also know some of the people at the very top inched their way over a LOT of games.

It would be interesting to see.

Thanks

[Shaman]

Some people seem to think this is a new request.
Originally posted in February 2004.

[Jeffery]

So you have said several times. Want a cookie?

[abyaly]

Shaman, it's been proven time and time again that noone is actually going to DO the things suggested here, no matter how easy or popular the idea is. There have been several very easy and very popular ideas that have been totally and completely ignored - why should your ideas be any different?

[Aro23r]

There is one problem with this. Under the current system, there is no count. There is no program or memory allotted to remembering how many games have been played. It simply takes your current score, runs it through the equation, and out comes your new score.

If this was going to be implemented, it would have to have everyone start from scratch in the games played department.

[Shaman]

There are multiple points now coming into the thread.
1... the original post was from a long time ago.
I could not find the one where we asked for counts to be maintained even after the new ranking system.
It would have made sense to track both and that is what asked for.. a LONG time ago in TAO timeline.

2... I dont anticipate changes at THIS point, but again. This was posted when SEED WAS making changes, so at that point there was a slim glimmer of hope available to us that were around when the game first started.

Originally posted by Aro23r
If this was going to be implemented, it would have to have everyone start from scratch in the games played department.

Problem with that is?

3... A wipe would only help the game at this point, see mine and others multiple threads on that idea as well.

Happy Weekend.

[Link712]

do u like cookies?

[imagination]

if there is a sytem that lists the ranks why not also add a search thing or something so that if your not in the top 100 you could see where you stand i.e. ~someplayersname~ is ranked 150 out of 750 or something

[Jeffery]

Originally posted by imagination
if there is a sytem that lists the ranks why not also add a search thing or something so that if your not in the top 100 you could see where you stand i.e. ~someplayersname~ is ranked 150 out of 750 or something
\

I am pretty sure that the ranks are done manually. There is no database of ranks that would be easily searchable from the webpage.

[imagination]

Originally posted by Jeffery
\

I am pretty sure that the ranks are done manually. There is no database of ranks that would be easily searchable from the webpage.

if there is no database then they should make one ... it would make the ranks more accurate and it would make the mods job easier.

[thrdflrmshr]

Some sort of database exists somewhere. How else would you be able to recall your score when you log on?

[Jeffery]

And i again say there is no database THAT WOULD BE EASILY SEARCHABLE FROM THE WEBPAGE.

Note the second half of that sentence. At no time did i say there is not a database.
Also, how would having a database make the mods jobs easier? They have NOTHING to do with people scores.

[imagination]

ok well whatever we have establiched that i dont exactly know what goes on behind the scenes. i do know DR puts the ranks up but they should make something where you could look up your rank if your not in the top 100.

[Shaman]

Originally posted by Jeffery
And i again say there is no database THAT WOULD BE EASILY SEARCHABLE FROM THE WEBPAGE.

Note the second half of that sentence. At no time did i say there is not a database.
Also, how would having a database make the mods jobs easier? They have NOTHING to do with people scores.

I really tried to let this one go.
But, you are so wrong in your philosophy it is not even funny.
EVERYTHING on the web that is data driven is done via tables (access, foxpro, oracle, peoplesoft - just to name a few).

How can it make things easier?
If they have the scores in a db on their webserver, they can set it to report on regular intervals, they can give people the ability to call data, and they can automate just about every function of the game. If there are tables holding data, you can EASILY get it from the web. I can make an access db and link it from a webpage with FrontPage in no time.

The question becomes whether or not they want to spend the time and/or money in the initial set-up and whether or not they want to provide the services people are asking for. Since this is largely a not for profit (seriously, they are not raking in the $$ from this game), they just may have decided not to bother investing in functionality that would benefit everyone but not necessarily drive people to getting a gold account.

The balance would be to create some real time data reporting that would and could only be access through a web portal using your gold account name and password. Then there would be another benefit to being gold and it might (doubtful) drive up subscriptions.

But really, their business marketing is lacking. So they are either just running this as a hobby, or they are not aware of what drives online gaming in this niche area.

They really should have a CafePress presence and more than just this: One item? (http://www.cafepress.com/cp/browse/?Ntt=tactics+arena+online&Nao=1&Ntk=All&pv=digisonline.10546954&No=1&N=0&zoom=yes#zoom)

All they have to do is upload pics, and pick some products.
Advertise it like crazy and let people get into it.
Do some art promo contest where people in the forums do original art and the winner gives up rights to the art and has it featured on the website and in their shop.. etc.
Create a community that is more than just the game.
Create a TAO cult, with the people interested in the game become part of it.

But now I am on a totally different subject.
Asta

[Jeffery]

But here is where your logic goes awry.

There is no database of players and players scored in, on, or near the website.

Player information is kept in a database, in the GAME servers, which is completely different system. And if you designed a webbased program to enter the game database, it would quickly be abused, as that would in effect be opening up the game programing to any wanna be hacker. The stats you see on the website are pulled MANUALLY from the game server, and written into the website.


And yes, this game is a for profit business. It makes money (not a whopping amount, but enough) and does pay the staff for working on the game. Should there be more marketing?? YES.
The cafepress idea has been suggested, and ignored, many times.

[Shaman]

Originally posted by Jeffery
But here is where your logic goes awry.

There is no database of players and players scored in, on, or near the website.

Player information is kept in a database, in the GAME servers, which is completely different system.

EA allows players to view their Character stats online for Ultima Online and there is no ability to 'hack' your account by viewing stats.
The game servers and the web portal exchange data on a regular basis and they do not allow a person to 'hack' the game server.

It looks like they did do something, since that is Digis own CafeExpress entry. Too bad it is only one mouse pad.

[Jeffery]

Yes. But is this EA? No. This is a small time game designed by ONE person with limited resources. There is no design and devolpement team working on the game.
As such, there is no current database available to do what you ask, so it is NOT asimple thing to be done. It would require the structuring of the database, as well as access to it.

Won;t happen, move along.

[Shaman]

Originally posted by Jeffery
As such, there is no current database available to do what you ask,

Where do you think player ranks are kept?
in a text file?
it has to be kept in a table (ie. db) that runs a rudimentary algorythm everytime a game ends.

Do you even work with web based systems? I do.

If they are maintaining a table, then it is not too hard to run a web portal and query the data from the game server to the portal. It would not be 'real time', but it could be updated nightly.

Just stop saying it is not possible, because it is.
It might not be PLAUSIBLE, but it is certainly possible.

[Jeffery]

possible yes.

But the game system and the website are completely seperate entities. The player files are kept in a database, in the game server. The rank listings are retrived manually from that, and then put manually into the webpage.

Considering the amount of developement the game is receiving now, adding any web portals will happen about the time that all the greys are given dragon tyrants.

At this time, in THIS game, it is not possible. All the wishing and comparing it to games that actually have game support will not make it so.