Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

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2450 days, 7 hours, 19 minutes ago

echoclusterveteran

Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

Since people tend to get really busy with family and travel during the holidays, I would like to propose a yearly "holiday" between December 25 and January 1 during which host only runs if all turns are submitted. Those dates are just a proposal. I am in the USA, and it may be appropriate to offset those dates a bit for those who have different holidays in other countries.

This would give welcome respite for a week during a time when people are very likely to be traveling. But if all players are able to play, the game would still run when all submit their turns.

I submitted this idea on uservoice (go to the feedback tab), and if you agree with this idea, I humbly ask that you vote for it. And vote quickly, because Christmas is coming soon!!!

2450 days, 2 hours, 15 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

good idea - I'm going to vote for it!

2450 days, 2 hours, 13 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

I am not burdened too much by the turns I have to play but I know many will be so I voted for this.

2450 days, 0 hours, 50 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

dito, you got my vote

2449 days, 22 hours, 55 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

+1

2449 days, 7 hours, 3 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

+1

It's just about the only universal international holiday.

2449 days, 6 hours, 14 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

+1

2449 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

I do not agree, that is one of the few times when I can take lots of time to do turns.

2448 days, 20 hours, 57 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

Voted for it!

2447 days, 7 hours, 28 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

this is a joke..right.

2447 days, 7 hours, 19 minutes ago

echoclusterveteran

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

@donald - no.

2447 days, 7 hours, 0 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

I would be against this idea. If anything I have more free time during that time.

2447 days, 6 hours, 25 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

Exactly, I agree. I used to play on a European site and so many of their players wanted to put all games on hold for a month each summer for vacation. Can you imagine, a month? It really annoyed those of us that never took a month off at one time in our working lives and also found that playing an intense game like VGAP was better done when you actually had time to do a proper turn.

As I noted above, I am totally against it.

2447 days, 6 hours, 20 minutes ago

echoclusterveteran

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

Hey, it would be just a week and not a month. And you'd still get to play your turns, but nobody would be forced to finish their turn before the week ends. And you'd have longer to do a "proper turn" and look at all your planets. This seems to be a popular idea so far, judging by the number of votes, but if you don't like it then don't vote for it :)

I just think it would be a nice courtesy to those who want to travel or spend extra time with their kids while they're out of school.

2447 days, 5 hours, 50 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

Where do we draw the line? Do we get thanks giving? Memorial Day? New years and day after or maybe Black Friday through cyber Monday.

I understand where you guys are coming from and I would support voting in individual game if 3/4 choose so but a blanket holiday for the whole site seems heavy handed.

2447 days, 5 hours, 46 minutes ago

echoclusterveteran

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

Wow, you must really like this game :)

2446 days, 23 hours, 13 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

;( guilty

2446 days, 14 hours, 42 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

Maybe as a concession to those of us that refresh the home page religiously, there could also be games flagged as "Runs every day for the duration of the break" so people like baer (and me) can get our fix in while everyone else lags the normally scheduled games?

2446 days, 13 hours, 9 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

I voted for this (on the uservoice) so I might as well explain why ....

I sympathize with the thought that over the holidays people might have more time to spend and thus really want to keep their games going (azzazzello, baer). For me, that reason wasn't strong enough and this is why .... as I relearn the game and get to know this community, I have the most fun in a game when I have the best my opponents can offer (even when they whoop me, I'm looking at you Azzazzello). As I've seen a number of promising game runs into too many droppers - the bottom line for my enjoyment is that I'd rather have strong opponents than basically anything else.

Since a "holiday" wouldn't prevent the host from running if everyone submits; and this would ensure that people aren't playing sloppy turns, I'm totally in favor of a holiday.

Besides, a "holiday" would be functionally equivalent to life for me in December back in the days of old.......

2446 days, 12 hours, 55 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

OK, so all the host has to do is note that specific new games will have a game break and note when. Those that do not like it just do not have to sign up.

Once we sign up for a game we already know when it will run and we also commit to playing even if we are getting beat. Unfortunately there are more drops here than at any other site I have played in.

Anyway, the bottom line is that if you want to change the rules for new games have at it but don't tell me that things are changing once the game has started.

One other option is to have a vote of the players in any game where a player wants a break and then go with the majority of active players IN THAT GAME. That does sound like a lot of work for the host however.

2445 days, 1 hours, 21 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

Baer: One other option is to have a vote of the players in any game where a player wants a break and then go with the majority of active players IN THAT GAME. That does sound like a lot of work for the host however.

An automated voting feature would make this possible as the 'pause game' function already exists. The automated voting feature has already been requested for voting to end games and could probably be used to enable game holidays too.

Also, I voted for the holiday suggestion.

2444 days, 22 hours, 17 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

-1.
I agree with Baer.

2444 days, 21 hours, 6 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

I'm with Baer & Co. -1.

The holidays are a time when you can play more planets. It's quite enjoyable to have extra time per turn.

2444 days, 3 hours, 43 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

im with bear +1

however, i think an alternative idea would be to put in a voting system into the game. this would work well for other things too like slowing a game down from 3xweek to 2xweek. if the majority of its players passes the vote, than so be it. the problems lies in not knowing who has the time and who does. if all players in the same game wanted wanted the week off for xmas, than i wouldnt see the problem. but if it were to pass for players in other games who did not need or want the time off, then you effectively spoiled it for them. things like this need to be handled on per game basis. and the built in vote system for each game is something would make that work.

besides this, we have a holiday mode switch, which soem of you slackers have abused to the point of being guilty of high treason. and now you want more than a holiday mode switch?

while i can understand both sides of this coin, i dont agree with any idea that will dictate shutdowns globally. without a consensus for the players in each game.

2443 days, 22 hours, 38 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

holidays !!

2443 days, 12 hours, 20 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

A break that week would be great for me too!

2443 days, 0 hours, 52 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

This vote is useless.

It make only sense to vote for a option inside of a running game to activate a host "stop mode" for some reasons (holiday, personal things and so on) so the player inside of a game can made this out.

TED

2442 days, 21 hours, 5 minutes ago

redphoenixchaos

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

With Baer and Co.

More planets during holidays, not less.

And managing how many games you are playing and your time to play them all is part of the game IMO.

-Chaos

2442 days, 20 hours, 46 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

+1

2436 days, 8 hours, 39 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

I have to be against it. I clearly remember when planets games were hosted daily. And that was over a BBS, where you couldn't wait till the last minute to get it in cause you never knew if the line would be busy. The idea of putting host on pause during the very time players should have more time available... well, why did you sign up for the game in the first place if you weren't going to be able to play it through the holidays? did you expect to be out of it in a couple months?

2436 days, 7 hours, 34 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

chaos: that's an unfair characterization given that most games run 4-6 months in length.

The last game that I started got under way over 4-5 months ago, the others have been running longer than that, so in August I wasn't contemplating my Christmas schedule. I suspect others here are the same.

2435 days, 18 hours, 30 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

My 2 cents.

I actually have _more_ time to play during the Christmas week, mainly because I don't have a family (of my own), just a few relatives to visit.

But, I'm voting for it anyway because I think of all people that do have one, especially with children that can enjoy their parents so little time during the "normal" weeks of the year.

As for what to do in the spare time from VGAPlanets, well... this Sunday I planted some bulbs in the garden, and I can ensure you that it wasn't that bad experience... ;)

2434 days, 15 hours, 54 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

-1. Like ecatoncheires, I have more time to play over Christmas. And a whole week without my VGA Planets fix would be detrimental to my mind. *starts shaking*

2431 days, 13 hours, 39 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

ecaton you can see a garden? We've had snow on the ground since mid-Oct :(

2431 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

I agree with teds post
"It make only sense to vote for a option inside of a running game to activate a host "stop mode" for some reasons (holiday, personal things and so on) so the player inside of a game can made this out."

We shouldn't make a blanket change, but rather add the option for a change on a game to game basis.

2431 days, 5 hours, 46 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

I think at issue here is what people have already agreed to. You joined the games you did knowing that they could well run into the holidays.

Now, going forward (think next year) if you wanted to propose games that took holidays off, I could vote for that (though I wouldn't play in them).

2431 days, 5 hours, 28 minutes ago

echoclusterveteran

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

Well there's been no statement from the administration, so it's probably not happening this year, but we may yet be surprised.

Holy smokes, 45 positive votes – I'm shocked and humbled that so many people agreed with my idea and 45 votes unquestionably trump all the negative responses in the thread.

Thanks everybody for your votes, and keep voting. Hopefully we can get this to happen in 2013!

2431 days, 5 hours, 15 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

If there is going to be a break in a game for holidays I would like to know it before I sign up as I would not then sign up for that game. I would hope it would be at least left up to the players in each specific game and not be a blanket shutdown.

2431 days, 5 hours, 9 minutes ago

echoclusterveteran

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

Baer, I believe that's a double post? Triple post? We get the point :P

And (no sarcasm intended) I think it's awesome that you love Planets so much that you are so passionately opposed to 2 or 3 turns being delayed if all your colleagues do not mark their turns ready :)

A vote of the players would be \satisfactory in my opinion, and that may indeed serve as a reasonable compromise – and perhaps could then happen at any time of the year.

2431 days, 4 hours, 57 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

And I will keep saying it so make it a damn quad post. I work 60 hours a week and travel a lot and the best time for me to really play is when I get some time off because my clients are closed down. Besides, there are other holidays, and what about the month off that some in Europe take off, stop the games then also? That will damage this site.

Yes, I feel very strongly that changing the schedule after we have signed up for a game is pure B S. On the other hand, I would have no issue with a vote of the players in a specific game as long as someone else in that same game can not then call for a new vote 30 days later because they then want a pause. One vote for a pause per game in any given year and all live with the result of the vote, that would shut me up but pausing all games on the site and you have not even imagined the number of posts you will see.

2431 days, 0 hours, 59 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

I play only one game at a time for a reason - 2 young kids and hectic work schedule. At holiday time I actually have more time available.

So I'm very unhappy with any general Planets holiday initiatives, play less games if you can't handle it! Game-specific pause mechanism with voting I can support.

2430 days, 23 hours, 36 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

Something else that not everyone may have thought of.

Some of the players purchased subscriptions for a specific period of time. If such a holiday was enabled, those players would be well within reason demanding that their subscription be lengthened by the same period of time as the holiday.

I mean, if your cable provider or athletic club shut down for a week, wouldn't you demand a refund for that period? Hell, I seem to recall getting an extra month subscription in one of the MMO's I used to play when it had a few days unavailable due to a server crash.

2430 days, 16 hours, 45 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

Perhaps in USA or in northen America should stop seeing them as THE WORLD.
Those things should be game related, not that some zipface things that its comfort to him that 25 and 1st of january is good time to halt all games.

How about muslims, jews, etc?

Go your local store and buy iPad that make you smartern.

2430 days, 8 hours, 29 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

Plague, the point being that the vast majority of players live in communities that change their daily schedules for this week.

If 90% of the players in the game lived in the Middle East (regardless of their devoutness) I'm sure it would be a reasonable request to put games on hold during Ramadan.

I'm pretty sure no one is asking for religious reasons. It is because their lives and schedules will be turned upside down for a week.

2430 days, 6 hours, 49 minutes ago

RE: Give a "Planets Holiday" between December 25 and January 1

I agree with Chaos and Baer and others. If there is going to be a time out for any game say so in the description of the game. I have little time to play being a college student and I am learning the game. Over the next few weeks I will be able to pay attention and maybe even start ma second game. I do not want a break from the fun stuff over holidays and the summer. How about a break when I have finals????