More pools are planned, there just needs to be more than 2 pools with any appreciable usage before that happens. :)
I don't agree about disabling tournaments. If anything, they're more fun than the pools... in my opinion.
I'm sure Admin won't agree, but the reason for dearth of players in the pools is nothing to do with football and everything to do with the fact that they attract way too many higher-ranked players compared to lower-ranked players. The level of competition and the side-by-side rating that is so at odds with the 'standard' rating puts off many lower-ranked players. Of course, the more popular the length of play, the higher the number of competitors.
In my opinion you should consider 'market forces' and ask the players (not just the 2000+ ranked ones but the 1100- ones too!) what they want. Evidently, players don't want two of the pools. There are people playing in the tournaments, so they do want those. Maybe many players just don't like the pools. If you don't like my explanation, then find out why.
Taking away tournaments to try and force people into pools is a dangerous game to play. You've come so far. Don't wreck it.
I'm sure Admin won't agree, but the reason for dearth of players in the pools is nothing to do with football and everything to do with the fact that they attract way too many higher-ranked players compared to lower-ranked players. The level of competition and the side-by-side rating that is so at odds with the 'standard' rating puts off many lower-ranked players. Of course, the more popular the length of play, the higher the number of competitors.
In my opinion you should consider 'market forces' and ask the players (not just the 2000+ ranked ones but the 1100- ones too!) what they want. Evidently, players don't want two of the pools. There are people playing in the tournaments, so they do want those. Maybe many players just don't like the pools. If you don't like my explanation, then find out why.
Taking away tournaments to try and force people into pools is a dangerous game to play. You've come so far. Don't wreck it.
the pool swill become popular whitout boosting them....everything is allright now in the site...leave it like that...people will come from other chess sites..;) !
I haven't personally played in tournaments yet but I do see good participation in them, so I would consider the system one of the site's positive features. I also like the monthly tournament idea with the special reward - thought that was pretty cool when I heard someone talking about it.
I don't think a feature should be removed just to promote another unless it's really unpopular. As the site grows then the pools and tournaments will have healthy numbers.
One thing that might increase the overall participation in the pools is Instead of actually visually seeing them in a tab you could put alongside the list tab (by create game or something) "Seek 1" + "Seek 3 + "Seek 5" buttons. Then you don't have an extra tab, and people can either click the seek buttons or the general list games as they pop up.
You guys probably considered this already, but it might alleviate the problem of people being nervous to play in the pools based on the list of players they see.
Might need to drop the wave feature to make that work though and tweak how the system pairs and rewards/punishes players based on ratings and rating discrepancies.
I don't think a feature should be removed just to promote another unless it's really unpopular. As the site grows then the pools and tournaments will have healthy numbers.
One thing that might increase the overall participation in the pools is Instead of actually visually seeing them in a tab you could put alongside the list tab (by create game or something) "Seek 1" + "Seek 3 + "Seek 5" buttons. Then you don't have an extra tab, and people can either click the seek buttons or the general list games as they pop up.
You guys probably considered this already, but it might alleviate the problem of people being nervous to play in the pools based on the list of players they see.
Might need to drop the wave feature to make that work though and tweak how the system pairs and rewards/punishes players based on ratings and rating discrepancies.
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