We need a pause option for casual games

So it happened again. I was playing a casual game that had been going on for more than a month. It had evolved from a 8 player FFA into a 1v1. At this point, the game was very interesting and evenly matched until... my opponent had to leave for the weekend! He missed just one of his turns. But just that 1 turn gave me the upper hand and from then on the game was all but won. My opponent was a player I know and respect. If there were some way to pause the game, we would have both been more than happy to do so. But there isn't.

This is not the first time this happens to me. In fact, it happens in pretty much every casual game I've played to date; either I miss a turn or I know for a fact that another player skipped a turn or quit because he could not log on for a day or more. Casual games often go on for many weeks, sometimes months. For some of us, logging on every single day is not a problem. But for most of us, there's exams, holidays, work, etc. Basically, RL can get in the way. IMO this is one of the main reasons there are leavers in casual. It's a shame that a month long game needs to be ruined because of this.

To fix this, we need a pause option for casual games!!!

Here's how I suggest it would work:
1) pause is proposed the same way as a game options change
2) specific pause duration can vary (enter # of hours/days or resume timer starting @ date:time)
3) pause needs a unanimous vote (so as not to be exploited)

Note that adding a pause feature for quick games has been discussed before. Quick games can easily be paused by changing the game settings to casual. It is casual games that really need a pause feature because turns can't be made any longer than 24h. Though an alternative to a pause feature might be to allow 48h turns (this would be a compromise, but probably easier to implement).

What do you think?


EDIT: Added resume game starting at a specific date & time.
EDIT#2: BTW, if you don't play casuals, please don't respond saying things like "you have 24h, that's enough time". At least not without reading the arguments.
EDIT#3: 48h turns is now an option in casual games Thanks Amok!!!

I like it.. Great idea

Pause is not needed for casual, if you can't play don't start a casual game. You have a whole 24 hrs.

Scritto da Xenosapien, 08.10.2013 at 13:22

Pause is not needed for casual, if you can't play don't start a casual game. You have a whole 24 hrs.

Yes it is. Can you predict whether that new world game you just started will last 2 weeks or 2 months? Usually, you can't. Can all players be online every day, without fault, for say 60 days? Most can't. I'm just saying that an option to pause - unanimously voted - would be a nice thing for those of us that need a day off.

And don't tell me you haven't noticed that there are lots of leavers in casual games and scenarios. A pause feature would help remedy that problem.

I support the idea. As Grimm said, logging in every day for some weeks and months is a huge commitment and losing a single turn can change the course of the whole game.

Most casual players like us enjoy this game in a relaxed way and appreciate the time you have to think, plan your strategy and make your moves. Adding a pause or making turns 48 hours long will definetely be useful for that long games when real life unplanned events get in the way and you can't log in.

Maybe some people has no problem logging in every day, but others can't. Maybe you'll have to wait 48 hours because someone hasn't been able to login, but this pause or 48 hours option may save you when you are the one in such situation.

Last summer, when I had much more time but still liked playing casual games; I had about 25 casual games open which allowed me to play for long hours, but one weekend I was out and couldn't login and that changed the course of 10 or 12 games where I lost 2 turns and consequently had to surrender.

Casual games are a very odd setting.

What if not all players unanimously vote to pause it, lets say one person disagrees because the time setting at that moment is the only thing working.

Or let's say not all players are present to vote at roughly the same period of time. This means that a proposal to pause the game may never even be fully voted on until it's too late to matter.

Scritto da Dr Lecter, 08.10.2013 at 19:11

What if not all players unanimously vote to pause it, lets say one person disagrees because the time setting at that moment is the only thing working.
Or let's say not all players are present to vote at roughly the same period of time. This means that a proposal to pause the game may never even be fully voted on until it's too late to matter.

Those are both relevant points.
Unanimous consent is difficult to attain, but at least this would make it possible to pause. If you know you'll be unable to log on, you might PM your opponents to increase likelihood of acceptance.

In my suggestion, I mentioned the vote could be handled as a proposal to change game options. Once the proposal to pause is made, the vote would happen on the beginning of the next turn. The pause would then take effect at the end of the turn where everyone has voted. The pause could take the form of x hours/days added to the following turn's timer. As you mention though, this might not be practical if you need to pause immediately. A good alternative would be to have a "resume game starting at date x:time y". I've added this to the original suggestion.

>pausing a casual game

while we're at it, let's pause a quick game while i go get something from panda express

Scritto da Grimm, 08.10.2013 at 22:18

Scritto da Dr Lecter, 08.10.2013 at 19:11

What if not all players unanimously vote to pause it, lets say one person disagrees because the time setting at that moment is the only thing working.
Or let's say not all players are present to vote at roughly the same period of time. This means that a proposal to pause the game may never even be fully voted on until it's too late to matter.

Those are both relevant points.
Unanimous consent is difficult to attain, but at least this would make it possible to pause. If you know you'll be unable to log on, you might PM your opponents to increase likelihood of acceptance.

In my suggestion, I mentioned the vote could be handled as a proposal to change game options. Once the proposal to pause is made, the vote would happen on the beginning of the next turn. The pause would then take effect at the end of the turn where everyone has voted. The pause could take the form of x hours/days added to the following turn's timer. As you mention though, this might not be practical if you need to pause immediately. A good alternative would be to have a "resume game starting at date x:time y". I've added this to the original suggestion.

hahah irrelevant haha

No it's very relevant. It means that if a vote is proposed it may not be fully voted on in time to even matter.
It's like a false promise. The kind the Christians make.

Scritto da Dr Lecter, 08.10.2013 at 23:11

hahah irrelevant haha

No... read it again:

Scritto da Grimm, 08.10.2013 at 22:18

Those are both relevant points.

Scritto da Skittzophrenic, 08.10.2013 at 22:56

>pausing a casual game
while we're at it, let's pause a quick game while i go get something from panda express

Did you even read my post?

I failed

.-.

Yeah Grimm I support this. This is a good idea. I understand things do happen. I think it would be great.

I support a pause button.

I can see how this will help, but as people have already said i see problems with having everyone on to vote to pause the game, but if the vote came up the next time you came on like a change of options does then that's a easy fix. The real problems lie when you need to UNPAUSE. Will that be unanimous too? If so what if you get that one douch who doesn't want to unpause?

Making longer turns seems like a more viable option, i can still think of problems with that too, but much more viable.

Scritto da Acewall, 13.10.2013 at 04:44

I can see how this will help, but as people have already said i see problems with having everyone on to vote to pause the game, but if the vote came up the next time you came on like a change of options does then that's a easy fix. The real problems lie when you need to UNPAUSE. Will that be unanimous too? If so what if you get that one douch who doesn't want to unpause?

Making longer turns seems like a more viable option, i can still think of problems with that too, but much more viable.

The pause would be of fixed duration. For example: "48h will be added to the next turn's clock" or "game timer will resume on 14-Oct at 12:00". This way, no need to vote to unpause.

I agree with you that longer turns may be more viable, but for different reasons; I think it would just be much easier to implement.

Support whole-heartedly. I've gone from having great & challenging games to being a kick dog because I've had to work over-time & missed my turn more than once. Quick games don't need this option because (as was said before) if you can't spend a few hours on a game, don't start one. Casual games can last months & in that time anything can creep up & bite you in the ass.

I sort of see the point now, but the thing is, it could just stretch the game on too long, they already take a long time as it is.

I support the pause option for Casual games.

Yes, when a game goes on potentially for months, rather than have it fall apart, it would be better to be able to pause it.

Scritto da CanuckMike, 14.10.2013 at 11:18

Support whole-heartedly. I've gone from having great & challenging games to being a kick dog because I've had to work over-time & missed my turn more than once. Quick games don't need this option because (as was said before) if you can't spend a few hours on a game, don't start one. Casual games can last months & in that time anything can creep up & bite you in the ass.

Scritto da Xenosapien, 14.10.2013 at 17:51

I sort of see the point now, but the thing is, it could just stretch the game on too long, they already take a long time as it is.

That's a good point. I think though, that requiring a unanimous vote would make it difficult to pause frequently. There could also be a limit to the duration and number of pauses. Say, once every 10 turns. That or every player gets only 1 pause.

I don't think there should be (n)
anyone would know in the coming days his schedule.. It's days people, 1 log in, some clicks.. and out.

Scritto da nightslasha, 15.10.2013 at 16:10

I don't think there should be (n)
anyone would know in the coming days his schedule.. It's days people, 1 log in, some clicks.. and out.

No. It's can be at least 30min to play a turn in a world game, towards the end. Even then, in the course of a game that lasts for a month, it's quite reasonable to assume that not everyone can log on once every day, for 30 days straight. And many games are even longer than that...

Scritto da Grimm, 18.10.2013 at 13:01

Scritto da nightslasha, 15.10.2013 at 16:10

I don't think there should be (n)
anyone would know in the coming days his schedule.. It's days people, 1 log in, some clicks.. and out.

No. It's can be at least 30min to play a turn in a world game, towards the end. Even then, in the course of a game that lasts for a month, it's quite reasonable to assume that not everyone can log on once every day, for 30 days straight. And many games are even longer than that...

Imagine you're playing a game of 7 which is called a small game. 4 of this game voted for a pause, the other 3 should go too ? Well it sucks to pause it for a simple majority... I would leave if my game was paused I mean why did u start it then..?

Scritto da nightslasha, 18.10.2013 at 15:13

Imagine you're playing a game of 7 which is called a small game. 4 of this game voted for a pause, the other 3 should go too ? Well it sucks to pause it for a simple majority... I would leave if my game was paused I mean why did u start it then..?

Read the initial post again It says the vote has to be unanimous.

I support this
its crucial for the reasons grimm and lockate have stated

48h turns is now an option in casual games Thanks Amok!!!

And to those that think that Admins don't read the ideas & suggestions, well this proves you're wrong.

Scritto da Grimm, 16.11.2013 at 16:40

48h turns is now an option in casual games Thanks Amok!!!

And to those that think that Admins don't read the ideas & suggestions, well this proves you're wrong.

Along with other things like the new victory condition display.