Update November 28, 10AM EST
Last night, we released an update that addresses several blind nil bid exchange hang ups, along with some minor style issues. Included in this release is a feature that many people have asked for, and many other people may find controversial: Now, when a player stands up from a rated game and is replaced with a bot, the game will switch from a rated game to an unrated game. The reason we made this change was to make game ratings fairer to individuals who compete against one another, human to human, rather than human to bot. If anyone experiences anything unusual as a result of these changes, please let us know.
Update November 13, 11AM EST
We just released an update that addresses several issues including game options not always being saved correctly for subsequent games; some cards appearing "blurry"; and improved overbooks messaging. If you've played Spades today before 11AM eastern time, you must exit all your browser windows, restart your browser, and return to Gamesville to obtain this update.
Update November 9, 4PM EST
We just released a patch that should address the problem many of you reported about not being able to play a second Spades game at the same table or getting stuck when someone departs or disconnects from your table. We are working over the weekend to address other issues you've reported and will have similar fixes and enhancements ready early next week.
As always, we are paying attention to your comments, questions, and criticisms–and working towards making this game work for new and old players alike.
Sincerely,
Chris Cummings
Manager, Gamesville.com
November 8, 5PM EST
Last week, we gave you a preview of the all-new Gamesville Spades. Well–today, the game is live! So it is with great pride that Gamesville proudly presents… the all-new Gamesville Spades!
In addition to changing the game to make it more graphically appealling, we've also introduced a number of new features including:
- The ability select different backgrounds for your game
- Integrating your Gamesville Avatar directly into the game board, so you can better see who you're playing with
- Greatly increasing the number of GV Rewards you can win playing Spades, even in unrated games and games against bots–simply put, the better you play, the more GV Rewards you can win
- New game options, including a turn timer and bid suggestions
- Several bug fixes
We hope you enjoy the new Gamesville Spades and find these new features to your liking. As always, we're interested in your feedback, so please let us know what you think!
RSS
I love the new spades game, but I'm finding a few problems with it. In the rated games, my rating is going down instead of up when I (and my partner) win a game. Also, after playing a game and clicking on "Play Again" the board freezes up and I have to go out and start another game or join one already in progress.
I think it is great that Spade players are getting GV rewards.
Thank you.
Comment by greengirl26 — November 9, 2007 @ 1:12 am
I sure do love the new design of Spades. It is more enjoyable to see that you are getting more gv rewards. However, is there anyway that we can continue to play games after a game is over and I select to play again. For some strange reason the game just sits there and does nothing. Also can you like shrink the board just a tad so we can look at both the lobby and players box? Oh and it would be nice if we could see a lot more of the chat as we are chatting. Four lines is just not going to cut it and people miss out on some conversations.
Comment by sushi-fan.tx — November 9, 2007 @ 2:50 am
This new format is way too busy …. my Spades partner cannot fit the chat on her screen …. I do think that maybe the changes should be a little more subtle …. I have heard only negative comments in the Spades Lobby …. please do something, as this is unpeasant
Comment by "shertoo" — November 9, 2007 @ 2:52 am
Very unsatisfied with new change on gamesville spades.Problem cant play a second game without re setting . It list replay but cards dont load to start playing again. also even changing back grounds cards are harder to see what you have in hand. Do not need suggest bid!This may be final straw to drive me completely to pogo.com
Comment by "sunnylady6" — November 9, 2007 @ 3:08 am
don't click on play again after ur first hand just click on ok button and it will continue.
Comment by dianebrawner0 — November 9, 2007 @ 3:25 am
I think the changes are awful and will be detrimental to the rank ladder. The cards are hard to see, the table is so big that you can't see the lobby during a game (something hosts enjoy) and once your game is completed and you want to play another game, another game will not load. The one good thing about the new site is the wonderful gv points we are earning.
Comment by "annab1215" — November 9, 2007 @ 5:07 am
I have played at this site for many years and have seen many changes but i enjoyed playing at this site because of how easily u could read the cards. Now the set up is awful. Please make another change . thank you
Comment by "v339" — November 9, 2007 @ 5:25 am
I guess the new game is alright it needs a lot of working on. The game is real slow and dregs. When you finish a game, you have to leave and open up a new game it doesn't let you replay on the same board. Its give you a room to play but doesn't show up, will you can play on it and then doesn't let you leave the game. Once you let people in to play it takes for ever for them to get in the game to play. Also when you chose a card it also takes forever for it to play. The box that you can write to talk to the people is a half box you can't see what you are writing on it. It is hard to make the cards out that in you hand, it blends in together to much. Enough gripping I do like the GV points.
Comment by "BillieJuanita" — November 9, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
i think this stinks cant play 2 players please go back to the way it was
Comment by "roberta hall" — November 9, 2007 @ 2:19 pm
terrible spades game
we all do not
like it cant play like be for
Comment by "bertie" — November 9, 2007 @ 3:22 pm
The positives, we get more GV points for playing, and the timer….thats about it…..The negatives: can only play one game , then you have to set a new table. Screen is too big, can't see lobby chat, and only a few lines of the in-room chat. I don't need a suggested bid, been playing spades for a while now. Scoring appears more confusing. After a player leaves table, you can't invite another player. Looks like a rip-off version of Pogo, and if I wanted to play at Pogo, I would play at Pogo, not Gamesville's less user friendly version….Most people in Spades are complaining, just not taking the initiative to voice their opinion….Might as well just shut down Spades at GV and play on Yahoo or Pogo, which is what many players will do, and soon…Could ya not have just "spruced it up" a bit, while keeping it simple, and user friendly??? Why couldn't it just be left alone, straight, simple, user-friendly….We came here to play a card game, not look at all the "pretty" downgrades.
Comment by "husker_4_life0" — November 9, 2007 @ 5:04 pm
Although I don't play the Spades game, I do understand where husker is coming from. I've voiced the same opinions over the years re the bingo games.
If you were to poll the players I think you would find that our median age is not 18 years old. We don't read "Game Informer" and other such magazines. We don't sit here and "ooh" and "ahh" over changing backgrounds or flashing screens or new sounds.
Do these guys actually sit and PLAY these games after they're done writing the programs? Do they try and chat on the screens that are so small your name barely fits in it? I'm sure the guys who wrote the bingo program never played a real game of bingo. If they did, it sure would play a lot different than it does now.
I was hoping to get some support on my post re 3eyed bingo but–alas!–it's like a ghost town @ 3eyed. Seems like it might also be like a ghost town in Spades pretty soon . . .
Comment by "center_ice_lady" — November 9, 2007 @ 5:28 pm
Do you guys read these comments?? There are post everywhere complaining about these "upgrades"! How long do you think players will continue to come in GV and play spades the way it is now ?? Or do you even care??? Its almost like a ghost town already! In fact if it wasnt for the tourney players lobby would pretty much be deserted. Please fix these problems before it is too late!
Comment by "Bre" — November 9, 2007 @ 9:08 pm
please give us back our normal spadesgame this is awfull
Comment by "francienzinkstok" — November 9, 2007 @ 10:34 pm
The patch doesn't work…You cannot click on play again to play a second game.
Comment by "husker_4_life0" — November 9, 2007 @ 11:05 pm
I love the new look. The best part is the deck of cards. I like the deck used in Solitaire and Magic21 — now used here. Very easy to read. The avatars a great too.
nice work!
Comment by theo_444444 — November 10, 2007 @ 12:08 am
You fixed the problem with being able to play again, but my score still doesn't go up. For example, when I win it says my old rating is 1370 and my new rating is 1370. That page is not clear either. It's kind of double.
Thank you.
Comment by greengirl26 — November 10, 2007 @ 1:09 am
Please go back to our gamesville spades , we don't need all the frills,and it doesn't let me play at a table,. i miss alll my friends
Kathy90120
Comment by "kathy90120" — November 11, 2007 @ 9:16 pm
I agree 100 per cent with u. I love the new look, i like the idea of not looking at a name now we see pictures, but the board needs to be smaller. I cant see the chat and everytime i chat i have to stroll up and down. Its just now fun anymore. I love the GV rewards but plz fix the board were we can see everything THANK YOU
Comment by "geridzr" — November 11, 2007 @ 11:23 pm
I had more fun with the old set up than with what u have done now with the spades table. This arrangement have a lot of kinks to fix and i understand that but it's more of a problem now, players are getting kicked out of tables or can't create one at all. We also have to reboot our computers a lot because the initalizing just goes on and on and on. If you are not going back to the old tables than can u bring them back until u have worked out all the problems. You will be losing people who don't like this new way.
Comment by dianebrawner0 — November 12, 2007 @ 3:35 am
Ps. one of the errors i recieved this morning was "error java.lang out of memory java heap space"
Comment by "bre" — November 13, 2007 @ 3:51 pm
Dear Bre – Thanks for your feedback. If you, or anyone, sees issues with scoring at a given table, please send us a screenshot of that table's options as well as any details about what happened in the game leading up to what you saw. The more specific your feedback is, the faster it can be understood and addressed. Thanks, Chris
Comment by gamesville — November 13, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
having a lot of trouble loading lobby had to at 5 time to get in plz fix
Comment by dawsier — November 13, 2007 @ 8:10 pm
I am so sorry for got to leave e-mail so here it is
Comment by dawsier — November 13, 2007 @ 8:12 pm
Hey Chris, We are all wondering at euchre why there is no more boot option in the game rooms? Now if we have someone join a table we have to find out the hard way that they are rude or what have you and then we are stuck with them until they leave or the game is over. On a few occaisions we have lost points due to deciding to leave a table due to we cannot get the person to leave and just cannot sit there and take their name calling or fowl mouth. Please bring the boot option back!! Sincerely,, Everyone at Euchre
Comment by "euchreplayer" — November 14, 2007 @ 2:01 am
I'm going to play tonight but will be leaving this if you keep this new format.You had the best table setup of all spades sites now you have followed most others. Cards was easy to see on the old format now they glare at you. As far as you gv rewards i have as much use for them as i do for rankmonster tokies so not a incentive for me to play , it was your table set up.
Comment by "nakednerve" — November 14, 2007 @ 5:26 am
This may be a silly question, but I'm going to ask it anyway: would it be possible to allow BOTH versions of the Spades game on the site?
The hardcore spades players who are just interested in a good game and the other spades players who enjoy changing backgrounds, sitting across the table from a person who has a pink cat face, and bidding suggestions could all be appeased.
It would be interesting to see which version pulled in the most people eh?
Comment by "center_ice_lady" — November 14, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
I concur.
Comment by "anonymous" — November 15, 2007 @ 5:48 pm
I have 4 examples so far but I am unable to find an email address to send those screen shots. If you could email with the correct address I would be more then happy to send them.
Comment by "Bre" — November 17, 2007 @ 2:41 pm
i can't load a rated game, get errow code ctrl,,, this is just so nerve racking
Comment by "kathy90120" — November 18, 2007 @ 12:28 am
Send them to members@gamesville.com or upload them through their help site.
Comment by "david-meema" — November 18, 2007 @ 2:27 am
could you please put the chat back on the side of the Game with more lines .so we can keep up with the chat , Thanks
Comment by "Kathy 90120" — November 18, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
Go, I hope you are reading these messages. I have read most of them and they are on the money. People are leaving to go elsewhere. Who ever thought these changes were a good idea needs to be fired. The page is too busy & too big. Can't read the message board. I loved this site because it was simple and easy. Now it's just a pain in the a… Better do something quick.
Comment by "leblanc56" — November 18, 2007 @ 11:11 pm
Hey GV Thanks for bringing back the "boot" option back to the euchre site!!
Comment by "euchre players" — November 19, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
i miss the old spades ..i can see the cards but a little hard to read the way they are set up . as for reward points they are to easy to get now . come on bring our game back we play spades not you
Comment by "green-eyes11" — November 21, 2007 @ 5:31 pm
Comment by lorrieaustralia1 — November 25, 2007 @ 6:23 am
Whoa! Lorrie, you've outdone me in the 'longest post' department. lol
If you get a reply from Gamesville, I will be very jealous. All of my posts are ignored by them. I always envision the cartoon character who picks up one end of the rug to sweep the dirt under it . . . that's pretty much what happens with our comments.
I've written quite a few times re complaints and suggestions for 3 eyed bingo, never to get even a "Shut up, ice" thrown at me from Gamesville. Now you can be the Spades crusader–although it's pretty much being ignored by them, it does make one feel better just to vent for a few minutes.
Comment by "center_ice_lady" — November 25, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
Dear Lorrie_Australia -
Thanks for your feedback. As "ice" points out, there is a lot in your message and I'll do my best to address each point.
1) Are we going back to the old Spades format? No, we are not reverting to the old format. We certainly will address technical issues with the game (and have been), and we will make enhancements as time goes on based on your ongoing feedback, but we are not going back to the old format. We are working to make the best Spades game possible, and the old Spades format simply was not capable of meeting the demands of the marketplace.
2) Doesn't Gamesville care about Rankmonster players? We care about all players, new and old, and aim to provide the Gamesville community with the best games possible. However, we are not going to cater to one niche group or another; we are striving to build a site that is enjoyable and fun for everyone, no matter where they come from or whom they're affiliated with.
3) Why the "ongoing" problems? We do our best to test games on many different platforms, but, as you can imagine, there are many different kinds of computers and platforms and browsers and versions of Java out there. The reality here and at other games sites is that we test our games on as many different configurations as possible, but there are bound to be certain real-world setups that have some kind of issue with a particular game. That is not an excuse; that is just the honest truth.
If you–or anyone–is having trouble with Spades or any Gamesville game, the fastest way to get the issue addressed is to contact customer service and provide them with the information they request. For the kind of issue you're having, our customer service team will most likely ask for your browser, computer type, and Java log or Java console output.
Providing this information helps our team identify common issues and then resolve them for anyone who is experiecing that particular problem. (For example, many of you helped us debug the issue with Java version 1.6.0_03 back in October.)
The Java log or Java Console may be a new concept for some people. Here are instructions on how to view your Java Console's output:
a) Start loading a Gamesville game (in this case, Spades). Then look for the Sun Java icon in your system tray near your computer's clock. The icon looks like a coffee cup.
b) Right-click the coffee cup icon and choose "Open Console" from the resulting menu.
c) Click the "Copy" button and paste it into a message to customer service at help.lycos.com.
If you do not see the Sun coffee cup icon in your system tray near your clock, then you may not have the latest version of Java, or the icon may not be enabled. To enable the icon again, simply go to your Control Panel, click "Java", then on the Advanced tab, click the plus sign (+) next to Miscellaneous and check the box next to "Place Java icon in system tray". Click the "OK" button and follow the instructions above to provide our customer service team with your Java log.
- – -
Finally, I want to thank everyone for their feedback, no matter how it has gotten to us. The positive feedback in chat and customer service has told us that we are on the right track, and the constructive criticism has shown us how we can keep moving things to the next level. We appreciate your passion and your patronage, and are looking forward to a great holiday season and an exciting new year.
Sincerely,
Chris Cummings
Manager, Gamesville.com
Comment by gamesville — November 26, 2007 @ 3:55 pm
Ice – Thanks as always for the ongoing feedback. For the record: My subscription to "Game Informer" had lapsed; thanks for reminding me to renew
Chris Cummings
Manager, Gamesville.com
Comment by gamesville — November 26, 2007 @ 3:58 pm
lol !
ice
Comment by "center_ice_lady" — November 26, 2007 @ 4:50 pm
Just this evening i've learned that 'four humans have to start game to make it rated.' Until this is changed, many others we feel the frustrations that I've been experiencing. I'll be back in a few days to see if it's been corrected. If not, it's been great playing with you guys and we'll have to find another site! matt
Comment by "demattman" — November 28, 2007 @ 12:40 am
Is it me, or is EVERYONE still having problems with the "improved" spades? Still, if a player leaves you at the table, you can only invite another player, there is no option to put a bot in. Also, why is it that most the people I play with are ALL having problems with either getting booted, tables not loading, or games freezing up? If it were just a few people having these problems, I wouldn't question anything. But I know that just about everyone has been having problems. Other then that I can't think of any other major bugs that need fixing. A little more tweaking and GV should be good to go.
Comment by "husker_4_life0" — November 28, 2007 @ 1:00 am
this is messed up.cant even play a rated game here cuz bot screw it up.
Comment by "anonymous" — November 28, 2007 @ 3:50 am
Hi There,
You have spades and I like the format.
Is it possible for you to also have a room for suicide spades, you will find this game very addictive and good sports absolutely LOVE it.
Format is as spades but one person must bid nil each hand. There is a double nil allowed with passing 2 cards to your partner but you must be at least 200 pts behind.
Please send me some feedback to this game.
Great Thanks,
ratsmousey
Comment by "ratsmousey" — November 28, 2007 @ 8:24 pm
There seems to be a problem with the scoring when you win. Sometimes your score goes down, or doesn't change at all. I've noticed this in euchre and in spite.
Comment by "jetcitywoman2" — November 28, 2007 @ 11:51 pm
keep up the good work techs now we cant get a rated game even if 4 players are in . wow same in hearts . we play spades for the ratings not the rewards . sad day in gamesville . plz fix the rating chris . its been 2 days now
Comment by "green-eyes11" — November 29, 2007 @ 8:00 pm
Dear green-eyes11 -
We recently made a change so that when a player stands up from a rated game and is replaced with a bot, the game switches from a rated game to an unrated game. Is this what you're experiencing, or are you saying that you are completing a rated game, with four human players all the way through (never a bot), and the ratings are not adjusting at the end of the game? If it's the second scenario, please send us the game options you're using.
Thanks,
Chris
Comment by gamesville — November 29, 2007 @ 9:29 pm
Dear jetcitywoman2 -
Our rating system takes into account the difference between two players' ratings. If you have a much higher rating than your opponent, a win actually will lower your rating (and a loss will lower it a lot). To avoid this, make sure you only play opponents with a rating that is similar to yours.
Chris
Comment by gamesville — November 29, 2007 @ 9:31 pm
yes chris, I'm already aware of the scoring system in gamesville I've been a player for over 3 yrs now, what I am reffering to is similar to what greeneyes explained. These scorring issues have been happening within the past 3-4 days. Everyone in euchre plays non rated games now due to no matter what your score is, if you win you lose points. It is impossible to only play people with similar scores. Some weeks my score is in the 1,200's some weeks it is in the 1,000's. So we can all keep adjusting to these issues but would it not be easier just to adress the issue and fix it rather then to lose a lot of gv members?….Just a thought
Comment by "jetcitywoman2" — November 30, 2007 @ 3:39 am
When there are four people playing a rated game on multiple occasions the stupid thing will be in the wrong spot to bid or no bid box causing someone to have to stand so it will move around. Now go figure why the ignorant thing boots you back to an unrated game. Shoot, sometimes also you can't find four people to play and that is so unfair for you not to get your ratings. Besides the rusty bot sometimes plays against its very own partner.
Comment by sushi-fan.tx — November 30, 2007 @ 4:03 am
Is there anyway to get the old spades game back? Now the games are unrated unless you have 4 people and since you've changed the Spades format, there is NEVER 4 people to play. If you don't fix this, your really gonna lose more people than you already have. Listen to the players and put it back like it was.
Comment by "anonymous" — December 2, 2007 @ 2:48 pm
Good Grief. Now if someone quits because they are losing, the game goes to unrated. I quit-gonna find another site.
Comment by "anonymous" — December 3, 2007 @ 1:26 am
so now we cant get a good rated game going because we have to weait till we get 4 players lol joke then if bid bar is wrong and someone stands to put bot in to make it move .. guess what chris UNRATED . all because you think the reward points will do the trick .. lol cant get a table because 1 person gets a table and plays unrated and wont let anyone in . all a losing game to me . let me knoe when you get your thinking caps on . off to pogo
Comment by "green-eyes " — December 3, 2007 @ 5:00 pm
I have played here for six years but with this change i can't get into a rated game. You start one and something is wrong and you have to stand and put a bot in to get it straightened out and then the game isn't rated. Have tried for 3 days to finish a rated game and still have not been able to. The other changes are great. Think i'll just leave and find another site.
Comment by "crnbrdnchikn" — December 4, 2007 @ 10:32 pm
I tried for 3 hours today to play just one rated game. IMPOSSIBLE. Spades at Gamesville is no fun anymore. I'm gonna join the rest of the players and find another site. You guys really messed up.
Comment by "JAIME" — December 5, 2007 @ 9:54 pm
Hello Chris or whoever, Are you people listening? We can play a rated game cause you screwed up. Are you gonna listen to the players and fix your screw-up? This is getting very old.
Comment by "anonymous" — December 7, 2007 @ 11:13 pm
Dear Sweet Sweet Chris,
Please oh please listen to the wonderful people who play in your terrific upgraded with flaws site. I am begging of you. These are what I have found to be the problem with Spades:freezing game, won't load or forever loading, too small of chat box, unrated when 4 ppl are not in(there are times when you can't get 4 ppl or when the bid box is not on right person or won't pop in at all therefore making you exit so it can do what it suppose to do), table too big so you can't see lobby. There are other problems if you would just pay attention to us and answer our needs. Plus read all of my past messages along with everyone elses. I also notice that in other games in Gamesville such as Miami Dice, Frantic Fish, Magic 21 and others that they seem to be freezing up or lagging in slow motion. It gets on my nerves along with everybody else's. It seems to me that there wasn't many problems until you created this updated one. I do love it but I would love it better if you just please Love fix all the headaches. Thank you very much and have a very good evening.
Comment by sushi-fan.tx — December 8, 2007 @ 2:25 am
i agree with nakednerve in his 11/14/07 comments. I played here because the tables were so easy to see and you could play and have fun. I love to play rated games but now can't even finish one. Players see they are behind and leave. Who then will come to a table and play when they know they will lose, besides waiting for half an hour to get 4 players.
I don't think i'll stay here much longer. Just as soon play somewhere else. Why did you have to copy the other sites? Your site was the best until the changes. This STINKS.
Comment by crnbrdnchiken — December 10, 2007 @ 4:57 am
I really don't understand the change that has been made at 28 november. It's said that many people have asked for this change and it makes the game fairer. I haven't heard from a single person here they wanted the rating system to be changed. I only heard people complaining and saying they want to leave the site. Secondly the former system was already fair. You wouldn't get as many rating points from winning from a bot as when you would win from humans.
It actually only has become unfairer now. When someone's losing now they can leave during the game or right after finishing a game, which makes the game unrated. Like stated before in early posts when the bid bar isn't up, you have to put in a bot to make the table work and the game becomes unrated. Also it takes forever before there are 4 people willing to play. Furthermore some people only want to play 1 or 2 games and I used to play for hours at one table all night. Now I don't do that anymore, because then I have to make a new rated table every 1 or 2 games after someone leaves, which makes the old table unrated. Many people come here to improve their rating. It's very hard now to play a rating game, so it isn't an improvement.
The new lay-out wasn't really necessarily, but I can undestand you won't change it back, because you've put a lot of work on it. However I don't get why the game windows have to be so large. The bottom half of the screen is completly green and useless. I can't see why you can't remove that. It really aren't only the rankmonsters who need to watch the lobby. Especially with this new rating system I have to keep checking if the table is still rated or not.
I really hope the change of 28 november will be changed back, because I hardly have fun anymore playing like this. When you make new improvements in the future, make it something that makes it easier to play a game instead of making it worse. For example make sure the tables don't get stuck anymore by the bidding part.
Comment by "miss-ninja" — December 10, 2007 @ 10:58 pm
this new floormat is not so good ,if someone quits you have to wait for someone else to join or it becomes unrated.it takes a lot of fun out of the game…..thank you
Comment by "wendi bent" — December 15, 2007 @ 1:21 pm
you need to re-evaluate the way the robots return cards when their has stated NIL. i receive the ace of spades. and other high cards. reprogram their part in this please.
love the game and am enjoying the site. i have 12 grandchildren. thank you
barbara nosker
Comment by nananono212 — December 6, 2008 @ 4:31 pm