What I can complain about is the shut down by Many Players' of their Virtual Regatta's Forum. There must have been some outrageous behavior in those board for MP to have taken those steps. Since I wasn't a party to that, I can't complain about that.
But shutting down the Forum also involved or included shutting down informative news of the game, which also involved instituting a blackout on the rules interpretation which cover changes in times of weather changes. I'll complain about that.
But disputes apparently involve alleged 'cheating' by use of weather-routing software??? I think that discussion could really be interesting, stimulating, not to mention useful. And I think that's a bloody shame to suppress.
I don't get it. In real yacht racing, electronics are legal. Why not in virtual racing? Let the digitalists compete against the seat-of-the-pantists!
ReplyDeleteYeah. What's broken about this game that needs fixing?
ReplyDeleteAnd this is your excuse for the day?
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I could come up with, sadly.
DeleteThey decided to stop robots from steering the boats. And deleted accounts without warning. Which probably caused heated discussion on the forum and they had to handle the PR crisis somehow.
ReplyDeleteI don't know the reasons behind the decision, but would suspect that some kind of third party software became too widely spread and was hurting their autohelm sales.
Thanks for the response, Zezo. I'm wondering what technology MP uses to detect robo navigators?
DeleteThe following is some information I received from a French skipper. Apparently, there was a huge riot going on in the French forum between three RKN groups. Very nasty posts of hate, jealousy, threats...
ReplyDeleteIt was alledged that someone won the Arabia race because they utilized the loophole in 'pixel sailing'. Many skippers have been writing to MP about unfair use of route plannings softwares and the number of skippers buying VR options was decreasing dangerously so they implemented some rules to remedy this.
Previously, I could log on to my boats from iphone and make any adjustments through Ricoo's site http://www.vrtoutoulz.fr/play/
Because of the new policy from VR, Ricco has now withdrawn this free service. The alternative is to use VR's own App which costs €5.99 to play Clipper and €4.99 for Jules Verne. I guess many skippers were using the free sortware to play the game and bypass VR's game interface and advertising.
This application does not allow me to post and image of 'pixel sailing' so I will email it to you.
In the future
If MP catches one doing it they will be banned.
Also using something other than the webgame interface or a MP app will be banned.
Aho! Follow the money!
DeleteIt's only a game dude.
ReplyDeleteIf I make a carbon fiber boom for my Laser and paint it aluminum, will it still be just a game, Dude?
DeleteMaybe an expensive game. Wouldn't that boom just quadruple the price of a new laser?
DeleteSorry Doc. No much to add from my perspective. Paula's overview is all that I've heard on the subject. Sounds like the Forum got pretty nasty at times. I wouldn't know since I've not logged on in a couple of months and never on the French version.
ReplyDeleteBut, I will add that there are some folks out there who have differing opinions on the ethics of using or not using certain soft-wares. I believe that the race committee should list the equipment that one can use or not use for a race. I also think the race committee should take into account whether all participants have equal access to the software or equipment. The goal ought to be to make the "playing field" as level as possible. If a number of boats do not have access to certain software for what ever reason, then they ought to either ban the use or handicap the use of said software to level up the competition.
I also know that the subject can be a little sensitive at times and some folks get a tad defensive just for having been asked a question. I can see how the Forum got out of hand. Weird eh?
Good morning Doc - I thought you knew how to navigate the coast of California! What are you doing at Point Lobos all this time? You just had to see Seal Rock right?
ReplyDeleteI guess now you are waiting for high tide?
We are waiting for you up at the bar!
Congratulations everyone! Seems we all arrived in San Francisco - eventually! Special thanks to my SO competition Belladonna who finished miles and miles ahead of me. Cheers :)
ReplyDeleteHi Doc, just be careful what you say on the forum if and when it comes back, I complained about some mess ups (real cock ups) VR made in the early days and have been banned from the forums ever since, they don't take criticism very well especially from english speakers.
ReplyDeleteThe question on my table is whether to continue with Many Players' Virtual Regatta or retool for United Games' VORG?
ReplyDeleteDoc, you have come this far with Clipper you can't give up now, you know it makes sense to carry on, trust me, I'm a doctor!!!!
ReplyDeleteAre you telling me it would be malpractice to quit now, Fukitol? I know nothing about medicine. All I know is vanilla ice cream. And Dawg knows I can't quit on that.
DeleteWell Doc, as much as it saddens me to say this, it would defiantly be malpractice for you to quit and I would have to get my lawyers (Norfolk and Goode) on to you.
DeletePeople are telling me I should rename my yacht the Geraldton Western Australia, to make my finishes more realistic.
DeleteI was trying to find the best place to post re VR Clipper. I think this is it. So, please Doc, don't quit now. We need you, at least Paula and myself, to guide us along California coast at the start of next leg (even if I stayed in LA for some time when I was younger, I only know about wind-surfing the coastal waves of Santa-Monica). We'll pass in front of your place, you'll be able to send a flag to your wife, is'nt that great ?
ReplyDeleteJust tell me when it starts, Belladonna. And watch for my next post!
DeleteIt's supposed to restart to Panama on April 14th, but i don't know at what time yet. I'll keep you informed.
DeleteOK Doc, I read your next post. So what ??? I love dogs as I hate cats, so what !!!
DeleteHey Virtual Sailors!
ReplyDeleteClipper leg 10 starts on Saturday 14 April at 2100 UTC.
http://www.virtualregatta.com/forums_EN/viewtopic.php?f=155&t=14206&start=0
See you guys back on the water!
Race start is 14:00h local California time = 21:00h UTC = 23:00h UTC+2 GAME TIME
DeleteI'm in the starting blocks, Paula. I hope Doc will be among us !
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWas just going to post about the start but you've beaten me to it.
ReplyDeleteCome on Doc, you'll miss us all if you don't sail, and besides what else is there to do that's better?