Not in the Fantasy League? Why not?

redlinederby Thursday, 7/18/2013
Site manager

A simple question I'm not sure I've ever really asked, surprisingly enough. I've just kind of let things happen on their own and people have found the Fantasy League and Community without much trouble. Some of you are active in the forum and play in the Fantasy League...some just play in the game, some just do message boards.

To those of you that hang out here in the forums but don't play in the Fantasy League, why not?

I know games aren't for everyone and some games you might just find boring, and that's fine - but I'd be interested in knowing eitherway. If you've tried it and didn't like it, just wondering what didn't hook you about it? If you did play and quit, why for? And if you do play and keep playing, what keeps you coming back?

I'm in the middle of rethinking a lot about the web site (both forums and games) and just looking for some market research from the most regular people here. This whole site started off as a clump of ideas that I've tried to cobble together but now I'm looking into the future a bit to try and find a way to make things better. Thanks for any feedback, positive or negative.


Discussion

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shadowracer 7/19/13

I play in the league just because its kinda fun. When I'm making my picks, I have no educated knowledge for analysis, so its basically a guessing game. Sometimes I pick well and sometimes I don't. (mostly I don't )

If I had to make a small criticism of the whole deal : as a new guy I found the whole entering a car thing sort of confusing. I don't now, but did earlier. When I get the notice that results are in and the next one is open for picks, I click the tournament...and if it says "You cannot enter a car for this race". I know what it really means is that I can still play, but 16 guys have already filled the field...and it'll take a day or two before I can pick my brackets. A new guy might go "what??" and just write off the whole thing.

And, just to play Devils Advocate: If I was running something like this and wanted it to appeal to the masses. I'd pick the cars and brackets myself for everyone to make picks from. (or randomly generate them) The whole "first 16 guys to log after the announcement goes out get to pick cars and have a chance for some bonus points" seems a little elitist....even if it isn't really. Maybe look at a deal where the top 16 points earners from the last tourney get to make the picks, with no bonus points for it either. (every single player has the exact same chance at the exact same number of points.) You just pick a car, as your perk for doing well. Maybe set a deadline, and if they miss it, then you, or a computer program, pick it for them.

Just a couple of thoughts. As I said, they're not beefs...I'm fine with things the way they are...but I am new here, and still have a beginner's perspective that might be worth looking at.

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redlinederby 7/19/13
Site manager

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated and understood. I'm agree and I'm not happy with how the whole instructions communicate either and I'm trying to find a good way to fix them. I like the idea of having the previous winners pick the next 16 but I'm not sure how to deal with ties. If player 15, 16, 17 and 18 all get the same number of points, how do you decide who gets the last selection? It's stuff like that I'm not sure how to handle best.

Randomly entering cars is always the backup in case 16 people don't show up, so that is always an option too.

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WorpeX 7/19/13


And, just to play Devils Advocate: If I was running something like this and wanted it to appeal to the masses. I'd pick the cars and brackets myself for everyone to make picks from. (or randomly generate them) The whole "first 16 guys to log after the announcement goes out get to pick cars and have a chance for some bonus points" seems a little elitist....even if it isn't really. Maybe look at a deal where the top 16 points earners from the last tourney get to make the picks, with no bonus points for it either. (every single player has the exact same chance at the exact same number of points.) You just pick a car, as your perk for doing well. Maybe set a deadline, and if they miss it, then you, or a computer program, pick it for them.

Yeah, thats my biggest complaint about the fantasy league and I've mentioned it before in the past. What I don't like about it isn't the "elitist" aspect, its that I'm very rarely around at 6pm est on a sunday to make picks. So I literally have zero chance at those bonus points for winning the race. It doesn't help that the slots fill within a matter of hours.

My solution was to allow players to buy a "reserve slot" for the races with credits. These slots can be redeemed between sunday 6pm EST and maybe a few hours before the picking opens. That way, a player who purchased this reserve slot has at least a day to choose a car for the event. If they don't pick, a car is randomly assigned to them.

The only other thing I would like to see changed is to have links to each cars profile in the "car history". I like to be able to look at the profile of cars which beat the car i'm looking at in order to see the grade in which they lost by. That usually gives me a good reference to how fast a car is. For example, if i'm looking at the race history for F-Racer and it lost to the Lumina Stocker by a D rank... I know that the F-Racer is pretty damn fast because the Lumina is one of the top cars and it JUST BARELY lost to it. However, if it lost to the Greased Gremlin in a A loss... it probably is quite awful. I used to be able to do this, but since the overhaul that feature is now gone.

Those are the only 2 complaints of mine really. Everything else with the league is amazing. I love the team features which were added. They give me a lot more incentive to play because I don't want to let my team down! I also really want to get the Firebirds to a championship... eventually. haha.

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Preacher 7/19/13

I'm thinking... I really like the idea of picking a car that is actually going to race other cars. To be honest...its another thing to do...and I haven't really taken the time to do it! I've been gathering information on how to make our races here in Canada a success. And I tell all our racers about this site, and some of them have either joined, or checked it out. This is a great idea...I just need to do it!

Preacher

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Preacher 7/19/13

I'm in...and made my selection for the next two races!

Preacher

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redlinederby 7/19/13
Site manager

@Worpex - I think this is what you're talking about...but the "More stats" link on the bracket should open up a window that shows you the car's history. And you can even filter out by track.

Diecast Cars, Hot Wheels, Matchbox

Otherwise, a car's complete history should be on their individual profile pages as always.

If you're talking about something different, let me know.

@All - Thanks again for the feedback. You guys have me rethinking the entire concept of the game and hopefully some ideas will come out that make things fun and more accessible for everyone. I think there is a balance between player-controlled actions and automatic/random things...just gotta find it.

Brian, I support the forum, and do not participate in the fantasy league. here goes why....

Mail in series is the big draw for me. My car, my build vs other builders and their cars. I feel like I have more input in the outcome of the races. The fantasy races seem like more of a game of chance at this point for me. Yes there are stats, and lots of historical info on each car etc...but then I need to put in the time to do the research to have a better chance at performing well in the fantasy series. I prefer to build and cusomize cars, rather than study stat sheets. I hope that does not sound too harsh, or make me sound lazy.

In another thread the question was asked "what make a good HW club" I feel that answer is simple like minded indviduals with similar interests. The mail in series give me that ...access to the a bunch of folks just a crazy about racing and cusomizing toy cars as I am.

Bottom line I appreciate the oppurtunity you've given me to do that. I'll support this site and your efforts.

Chris.

btw maybe we can make a trade...you enter a mail in race, and I'll try a fantasy race?

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model40fan 7/19/13

hmmmm...maroon '56 pick-up, bed filled with scattering pennies... went pretty good !

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redlinederby 7/19/13
Site manager

@Traction - Totally understand, dude, and that's cool. Like I said, I know it's not for everyone. I love seeing all the mail-in tournaments despite not having the time to enter them myself. I'm hoping to be able to make some apps to cater to the mail-in racers as well because I feel I'm not serving you guys very well at this point.

@Smitty - Thanks, totally forgot about my old truck...too bad it didn't win! I have entered a few mail-ins prior to being a dad, when I had that thing called "free time". Hopefully I can join the fun again soon.

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WorpeX 7/21/13

@Worpex - I think this is what you're talking about...but the "More stats" link on the bracket should open up a window that shows you the car's history. And you can even filter out by track.

I am talking about that menu, yes... but i'm talking about having the cars names in that menu linkable to their profile. So we can easily go to the profile of cars which aren't even competing in the bracket.

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markkaz 7/22/13

My YouTube channel takes a lot of my free time. I can't dedicate weeks on end to a tourney. If I can't do every week, then there isn't much sense in competing. Even when I did, some people wound up hundreds of points ahead of me after only a few weeks. How they were getting so many points, I have no idea. So far behind in points, what's the point?

If you still use the system where contestants can lock up cars for the week, then that gives a huge advantage to those people who can get in early every week. I remember trying to pick cars and nothing was left but dogs. After a while, one starts to get the feeling, why am I even trying?

In horse racing, anybody can place their bets on any horse they desire. In auto racing, fans can cheer on any team they choose. In Redline Derby, why can't multiple people pick the same car they think is going to win?

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redlinederby 7/22/13
Site manager

In horse racing, anybody can place their bets on any horse they desire. In auto racing, fans can cheer on any team they choose. In Redline Derby, why can't multiple people pick the same car they think is going to win?

Interesting insight! If there's anything I've learned from the feedback so far, it's that the biggest problem with the game is simply how it is communicated...and frankly, that's something I've had a hard time trying to get right (with no shortage of trying). I say that because the bulk of the game is making bracket picks, which is something every player can do all the time...entering cars is really very minor to playing (and winning) but clearly that's what people are interested in.

I started a brainstorming thread for the League to explore some thoughts and ideas...
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1422

Anyway...the game itself might not have any major problems after all. Maybe the answer is just clarity.

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