Private Challenge Contests

[Webman]

I just implemented an improved notification system for private challenges as well as some other improvements.  If you are playing a game as usual  and someone challenges you, you will see a nicely annoying  invitation on the right side dashboard (so you don't easily miss it).You can choose to accept or decline the challenge at that time.This is obviously much easier than checking your contest page repeatedly since everyone is usually playing the games any way.Please everyone give these challenges a shot and see what you think.  They have not been tested very extensively and it's a necessity that we get these tuned before we can implement the site-wide sponsored contests that folks have been asking for. Please give them a try and let us know what you think or any bugs that you find.Your private challenge scores do not affect your main scores, so in the event that you are inclined to take some risks you do not have to worry about squandering your overall winnings. I'll even open myself up to some private challenges if you dare. Find me in the player directory. For the sake of time, I will only accept challenges of 50 deals at this time. But certainly enjoy challenging one another most of all.Have at it!

[Webman]

It looks like people are enjoying challenges so far but we need a lot more people testing them.  Please try to play at least one (and hopefully several) over the next few days and report back.  We may have to run a "challenge only" period of the beta next if there aren't enough reports and data. Thanks!

[cddenver]

I just got through my first challenge, from faygo, and thought I'd report on how it works for those who haven't tried it.  It's really pretty painless.
 
It's fun!  Since faygo issued the challenge I can't yet describe that part of the process, but here's what I saw -
 
I was just going into STP to try to salvage my day there, and the bottom right of the screen began blinking with a Private Challenge message, showing *faygo* as the challenger.  I clicked on it, and got a screen saying that I could accept it now, later, or decline.  I accepted, and was switched from STP to Triple Play, which (I guess) is what faygo picked when he issued the challenge.  The other player does NOT need to be playing at the same time, so no arrangements need to be made about being online at the same time.  You can pick whatever game you want to play that's available on the machine the challenger has chosen.
 
The points being played don't come from our own kitty (whew!), but start at 10000.  Freebies.  On the bottom right of the screen it showed how many hands were to be played.  I don't know if that's set by the challenger - in this case 100 dealt hands were to be played.  As you play, it shows your score in +/- fashion.  I assume that if the other person is playing at the same time, his or her score is shown also.
 
It's neat!  I see one big benefit to it.  If a player has reached his or her "optimal return" for the day on regular play (wink, wink) but still wants a little competitive fix, get some challenge play in.
 
So, I say it can stay as a supported feature on the site...

[Webman]

To initiate a challenge, just click on their name in the player list or on any of the top scores screens and there will be a button to challenge, which will take you to the various settings.Or, visit the contests tab.

[MikeA]

I just got through my first challenge, .I just made a similar post in "tournaments" before seeing this one.  Sorry for the redundancy.   I do not think it will show both your scores and your opponents scores until after the round is completed by both players.  It would be an unfair advantage to play after you opponent and know what score you had to beat.  You could take advantage of a situation where you were behind to through strategy out the window and go for broke (shades of Guaranteed Play!)And "yes", the initiator selects the machine and number of hands for the challenge though I didn't see a way to lock in a particular game on the chosen machine.Oh, and WM....that "chopiness" the other day during my first session seems to be gone now.  Maybe it was just the time of day or the load on my connection.  Or maybe you fixed it.  Whatever it was, it's gone now.

[faygo]

I don't recall setting the game or number of hands. I thought that was a function of the programming. I did see cddenver's score as he played before me.(Time Zone Thing) It helped, because I could whip out all my "Special Plays". 
 
Anyone that hasn't tried this, should. Fun and painless.
 
"When I woke Up"------ I revisited the contest area and found that indeed the challenger picks the machine and number of hands.

[oej719]

Faygo I see you have abused your knowledge of "Special Plays". The "Special Plays" to my understanding are for taking huge amounts of Cash from casinos not for drubbing your forum brothers and sisters.

[cddenver]

Faygo I see you have abused your knowledge of "Special Plays". The "Special Plays" to my understanding are for taking huge amounts of Cash from casinos not for drubbing your forum brothers and sisters. 
 
Faygo did indeed use his mastery of Special Plays to whup me - he lost less than I did.  I think he plans to practice them on the brothers and sisters before hitting the casinos.  I've just put in for a rematch.  Double or nothing.
 
Oh - I think you can select 50, 100, 200, or 500 hands when you challenge someone. 

[MikeA]

 
Faygo did indeed use his mastery of Special Plays to whup me - he lost less than I did.  I think he plans to practice them on the brothers and sisters before hitting the casinos.  I've just put in for a rematch.  Double or nothing.
 
Oh - I think you can select 50, 100, 200, or 500 hands when you challenge someone.  Yes, Faygo abused me also!  BADLY!  I think I had -230 credits after 100 hands and he had -20.  I think there may be some collaboration between Faygo and WM.  I must say though that since we didn't play at the same time, Faygo may have detected a "hot cycle" and jumped on it!

[oej719]

Well there you go Faygo. Seems like you are causing all kinds of anamosoty here among your forum brothers and sisters with those "Special Plays" of yourns.
I guess it is bout time to hop on the scooter and ride off into the nite with your bags of cash.