Rocket launch? Or site launch.
I am happy to announce that AOL Games is launching a new community gaming platform. This platform is just the beginning of larger changes that are in the pipeline for AOL Games. In this first installment, a handful of our games will have a chat feature wrapped around the game play.
This will allow you to talk to a friend, or make new friends while playing your favorite online games. We want to make our games site the best and most fun gaming experience on the web so feel free to drop me a line, give me your comments or just tell me what's on your mind.
Your feedback is welcome!
72 comments:
Gee, thanks for ruining my favorite game by forcing me into a bogus gaming community room. I don't play the game to chat with or meet people. I just want to play the game. At least make it possible to opt out of the game room without signing out of the game itself.
We thought about this and you are correct. We expect to add a feature that will close the chat so that you do not have to view it. Thank you for your comment and we will make the change that you have suggested.
Why did you have to make it a chat room. I also just want to play the game without having to chat. There are many games I would like to play but the chat feature isn't for me.
Folks. We're listening and should have the option to close the chat added shortly. Thank you for your patience as we work to resolve the issues you have brought up.
UPDATE:
The Chat window can indeed be closed by sliding the bar above the chat window up or down.
Additionally, this is the first version of the new platform and we are working to add more options to the community games platform as we move along. It is going to be a process and we will be taking your feedback to heart. Thanks again to everyone.
you had no right changing our games, it sucks and we want it back to the way it was right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your voices have been heard and our pages have been reverted to the way they were before the roll out. However, we will be trying to move the games back to the platform in a more stable manner. Please do not hesitate to let us know if you continue to have trouble. Your feedback has been invaluable and greatly appreciated.
Our voices have been heard? What about the voices of those who do not like being forced into a chat room when they play a game? The games are working better, but there is still no option allowing me to just play the game and not be in a "room". Yes, I can turn off the chat features, but my screen name still shows up in a list and I still see other members who are there. Your note below says that the chat feature can be turned off without leaving the game - but not on my AOL. There is no bar that slides to allow me to get out the chat room and when I click on "Exit" it takes me out of the game, not just the chat room. Why not have an option when I enter a game that asks me whether I want to be in a chat room or not? Really, does anyone like the idea of the game chat rooms? I think maybe it is time to stop paying for AOL services, take my e-mail address with me and go find some other site that has games I like and doesn't put me in chat rooms when all I want to do is play a game.
Ah... its not working people.
Games don't load, blank black screens.. except for the list of who is in a room. No rooms .. please !!!! Or if that is the new format, at least allow us to opt out of a room and play the game solitairely without room lists or chat.
What is causing us to be booted offline when trying to enter a room ?
What is causing the entire game not to load properly ?.. for instance : Flipwords, the game loads, but the category doesn't ?
Geeze, are you guys/gals working overtime through the weekend ?
I may have to go back to doodling again... lol
Games don't load because the links do not work at all. It needs to better organized as well making it more streamlined.
Again, thank you all for your comments. I will be collecting everyones information and presenting it to our production team. Your feedback is very helpful. This is a development process and there are going to be bumps along the way.
I can't load Cubis 2 since you changed the system. I for one prefer to play the games without the chat.
First off, I apologize for not being on here more and being here to listen in real time.
Second, we are listening to your feedback and are aware that not everyone will enjoy the chat feature on the games. If you would like to close the feature, you may slide the chat bar down and it will be closed. Additionally, you may disable the feature entirely by clicking "settings" and disabling the chat.
Thirdly, thank you all for your patience as we work towards a solution that will be equitable for all. While we understand and sympathize with all of your issues, we have to continue to innovate on our site and make the necessary changes that will allow us to offer online games as we always have.
Our users are what make AOL. We know that you have choices and appreciate that you have chosen to play games on AOL. We believe that the changes going forward will enrich your gaming experience for the future. The community feature is just the first component in larger plan to make our games BETTER. We want you to have a voice in this and hope you will continue to comment as we move forward with our games.
In the mean time there will be changes that occur to your favorite games. The game play WILL NOT CHANGE. You will always be able to enjoy the game play of your games as you always have. You will always be able to close the chat. If you have any additional questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thanks again
Sincerely,
Larry
Community Manager
AOL Games
http://journals.aol.com/lcourtines/AOLGamesLarrysCorner/entries/2006/11/07/games-community-blog/967
Okay, so when you say we can close the chat, that just means that window closes so that we cannot see who is in the chat room. However, the number of players in the room does not change, so I assume that any member who is in the room and does not close their chat window can see that I am playing a particular game. So... I can ignore the chat room, but not actually leave it. That really isn't good enough. I don't particularly want other members to know whether I am playing a particular game or not. Why on earth cannot you not have an option that lets me choose to enter a chat room when I play or allows me to NOT enter a chat room when I play? It can't really be that difficult to address the desires of those who do not want their privacy invaded. I've stopped playing the games as much as I once did - I stop in occasionally to see whether you have fixed your new screwed-up system, but leave again when I find you haven't. This really sucks. Time to stop paying for AOL!!!
Thank you for your continued patience and know your voice is being heard. We are currently in the process of reviewing the option to hide your AOL name when you are logged in. Additionally, you may disable the chat system by clicking on settings.
The new design is terrible! I just played Pat Sajak's Lucky Letters and the jumping advertisement just below the game made it impossible to concentrate. AOL and POGO cost enough, I shouldn't have to be annoyed by constant advertisements while I am playing. It it ain't broke don't fix it!
I have been having trouble playing Zuma. The new format is fine if it would work right. I keep getting a message that says...A Runtime Error has occured. Do you wish to Debug? Line: 38 Error: Invalid argument. I also got a Line: 26 once.
This is annoying when you have to keep saying "no" to clear the box. You can't even say "yes" it won't allow you to. What is the problem and can you please fix it?
I dont want to chat. I want to play . If I want to chat give me the option of choosing. Dont automatically sign me in. Who ever had this idea should be fired.
Please get rid of the chats with games. As far as I can see no one chats. All we want to do is play the games. GET RID OF THE CHAT.
I have been playing Cubis in the new forum. I have not seen one person chat in this room (Family Life, Pets). I personally like the fact that I can chat with somone if I choose. I also have Pogo and, like the new Community forum, people can chat or simply play their games. Since Poppit was the first AOL game out, it has ALWAYS had a chat section. If anonnimity (spelling) is the problem then would it not be easier for people to sign on as a guest. Just my opinion and I am sharing my thoughts.
Folks you conerns are being heard. I understand the frustration but know that your voices are heard and we are working to making private rooms. I just posted a update.
Thank you all for sticking with us as we try and move forward. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all.
Sincerely,
Larry
AOL Games
Community Manager
i miss all my friends since aol has changed it's pogo games. and i don't see why i should have to pay for this.
Sorry to hear about you and your friends. That is sad. I am not entirely sure what you mean by pogo games being lost. As I understand it, Pogo changed their offering on AOL and subsequently some AOL members were left out in cold. If you like you can sign up with Pogo for a fee.
No one likes this new format, all you have to do is read one complaint after another. Does AOL not care what their customers like and dislike? Make it go away, we all like our privacy and if people want to chat, give them that option. I don't like having myself blocked from view, and then see myself show up in a chat room on the side where ALL can see that I am online. Give us an option. And by the way, the games tend to be much slower loading.
desalvo42,
You are totally right, AOL is not doing its best to deliver a remedy to your troubles in real time. With that said, there has been progress made in allowing game players to play in their own rooms. That way any concerns regarding your identity will be alleviated.
As for people just not liking the new format, there are always going to people who do not like things when they first come out. Our hope is that as the features of the community platform become available people will enjoy them and understand why we made the changes that we did.
Again, thank you so much for playing and taking the time to voice your concerns.
I did not like or use the chat feature in pogo, nor do I like it here! It is another level of clicks to wade through. I am sorry that you want to expand it.
I hear you. While it does appear that we're emulating Pogo, our system is part of a larger process. Our hope is that as we get farther along in the development people will see the use of chat.
Thank you for your comment.
Everytime I play the Daily Jigjaw Puzzle, it is very slow and most of the time quits on me in the middle of the puzzle, it says it is not available, this is very frustrating and annoying since I would like to finish the puzzle. What is the Problem?????????
what happened to HEXTWIST? love that game and it's not listed anywhere that I can find.
You are doing a fantastic job in improving your game sites. Keep up the good work and I love trying out new games.
what's with the pat sajak's lucky letter game, have tried for 2 days to play and it won't do anything
cannot get fish tycoon to play. it wont come up at all. i have fish in there and they are all going to die if i dont get them taken care of. can you help figure this out? need help.
it would b so nice if u would only add that which doesnt add to the hassle of getting a game to play. one already has enough trouble just getting the game to come up without being reset by remote hosts. often your ads and new chat programs just add to the mess. today is a perfect example.again your games are not connecting.mahjong fortuna
i have been trying to play bookworm for several days now and it will not download onto the computer i do not understand how you can put the games on the computer if they will not play you should check peridocially to make sure games are functionally properly
So sorry to hear about your issue. The best way to assist us in help you is to fill out production team questionnaire for issues:
-What browser are you using?
Is it the AOL Client, or another browser such as Internet Explorer?
-What Operating System do you use?
-Does your problem relate to a game?
If so, which one(s)?
-Please describe the nature of the problem and be as descriptive as possible:
bad example: I cant login
good example: When I try to enter into Text Twist, the game loads fine, but the panel on the right with community does not load. I see a white space there.
- Have you experienced this problem before or it a new problem
- When did the problem begin?
- Does it consistently occur?
If we all can follow these guidelines laid out by the AOL games production team, we'll go a long way toward getting the games working ALL the time, the WAY THEY SHOULD
Thanks and feel free to write me with any questions.
laurent.courtines@corp.aol.com
Someone has posted their picture by my user name at the Bookworm sight. THAT IS NOT ME. How did it get there and how do I get it removed? 05-22-07 jna907
Comment from jna907 - 5/22/07 2:36 AM
Sorry to hear that. I assure you that no one has accessed your account. What may be happening is that some data is getting mixed up and the image is incorrect. I've contacted one of our producers to review the issue.
Thanks!
Can anyone tell me why Gem Drop won't load on my computer anymore? If you are reading this, please try and play it and see if it works on your computer. It won't on mine, and hasn't for over a week. Thanks, Diane
Just returning to aol games and can't find the old "freinds" button. Can anyone help me?
I'm sure you realize in pop in drop as soon as the VERIZON ad pops up that is the end of the game as it instantly freezes! Leave it to them to ruin a good thing!
I do need to look into that one.
We'll see what we can do.
Hi I just bought aol's Atlantis Quest after getting hooked on the on line version but the timer is so fast you can't get past the first map. Is there a cheet sheet out that can help me get through this??
The last several times I've tried to do the Daily Jigsaw puzzle, I couldn't get to the puzzle because of an ad for some intergenerational thing AOL has going. I completed the survey question thinking that would close it out and I could get to the puzzle, but it was to no avail. Can you tell me how to get rid of that drop-down ad?
Thanks
I AM GOING TO CANCEL AOL COMPLETYELY IF YOU PEOPLE DONT PUT BACK OUR SLINGO GAME THE WAY IT WAS. THIS "NEW" VERSION IS MORONIC NOT FUN AND TOTALLY ANNOYING! PLEASE WRITE TO AOL AOLLLC 22000 AOL WAY DULLES VIRGINIA 20166 WE ALL HAVE TO GROUP TOGETHER ON THIS!
I am hearing everyone LOUD AND CLEAR on the Slingo issue. It was not well done and you all have every right to be upset. AOL voiced its concerns to Slingo and will continue to do so on your behalf. I'll be sure to keep everyone updated.
It is't just 'Slingo', it's ALL of them!!!
Crossword
Astropop
Rocket-mania
Be-jeweled
Flip-words
Super Collapse
Cubis (and Cubis 11)
etc., etc.
PLEASE, GET RID OF THE 'CHAT' ROOMS AND GO BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHEN THE SO-CALLED 'CHAT' ROOMS STARTED, SUDDENLY I COULD NO LONGER ACCESS ANY OF THEM!!
NOT EVEN THE GAMES I DO NOT USUALLY PLAY!!
It isn't just 'Slingo', it's ALL of them!!!
Crossword
Astropop
Rocket-mania
Be-jeweled
Flip-words
Collapse and Super Collapse
Cubis (and Cubis 11)
Daily Jigsaw
Shape Shifter
Ocean Express
etc., etc.
PLEASE, GET RID OF THE 'CHAT' ROOMS AND GO BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHEN THE SO-CALLED 'CHAT' ROOMS STARTED, SUDDENLY I COULD NO LONGER ACCESS ANY OF THEM!!
NOT EVEN THE GAMES I DO NOT USUALLY PLAY!!
Can someone tell me how to get my game back???? I purchased Jewel Miner, had my computer cleaned and debugged and now...I only get a white screen...no graphics...nada, nothing! I wrote the online help people...I tried to chat..but nobody has helped me. Can it be reinstalled? If so, do I have to pay again????
H-E-L-P!!!!
oops...and by the way...don't like the chat feature...don't use it...it's a waste of time, if I wanted to talk to someone, I'd invite friends over....while I'm gaming...that's all I want to do....just my two cents.
What happened to Slingo? I've been playing Slingo for years and this "new" Slingo is slow and boring.... I played Slingo about a week ago and it seemed to be a new version and very fast. It was great. I don't know what happened but you've lost me! This game is soooooo boring!!
I have been pllaying 5 card Slingo for a long time,, chat with people,, got to be good friends... WHERE DID IT GO???
I would like to see it back
MK
IT SEEMS YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY ONE IS TELLING YOU TO BRING BACK SLINGO XPRESS....YOUR NEW GAME IS SO BAD AND IM JUST UNABLE TO STAY AND PLAY IT....SO ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE BRING BACK SLINGO XPRESS....WE ALL WANT IT BACK....GET RID OF THIS NEW SLINGO, AND BRING BACK THE GOOD ONE.....THANK YOU, LUCY
We're aware of all the issues and there is a push to get changes made to the current game. It is not likely the game to be rolled back. However, we will be making changes to the new game to improve play.
Thank you!
Hey Larry,
1000+ signatures on a petition is not a few people, it's a lot of people, and we haven't reached everyone yet......see what you can do old boy...AOL is listening to you, cause they ain't listening to us.
No comment Larry, whats wrong, AOL have a gag order on ya? We're looking for a response, cat got your tongue? Let me help ya here......Yes , we screwed up, yes, we're sorry.......all is forgiven and a 1000+ people are happy again. Make it happen, We'll be forever indebted....JUST MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!!!!
I am here. Unfortunately VERY BUSY. While it does not appear there will be a roll back of the Slingo changes, there will be changes made to the game.
As it is presently constituted it is a VERY POOR experience. We've received word that Slingo plans to make changes to the game that SHOULD improve the game significantly. I expect to hear from them soon once I can come up for air!
Thanks for your patience and I appreciate all the feedback!
This is ridiculous,can't even find the games I would play for back-up. Not to mention, the new Slingo has gone into hiding, can't even checke on the numbers of whos not playing. Larry, told you I would back off you, but, it's open season on AOL and Slingo. I don't hold you personally responsible, Larry, you know, don't shoot the messanger, but, I want the messanger to get back to the fools making all these changes, they have no clue.
Larry, Most of us know that Slingo could go back to the old format and upgrade it under the hood while still giving us almost the same screen etc. You still have the old format on your service servers. I am sure Slingo does too. I would think it would be to AOL's advantage to press Slingo very hard on this. I have talked to other players who live around me and I can tell you something you probably already know. There are some very unhappy seniors and they are fighting mad.
One member was getting close to being the high score only to have all her points wiped out. We know it isn't your fault but you are the spokeperson for AOL.
Thanks
Larry, having read over the highlights of Eric's (Slingo Inc) conversation that lasted almost a hour with Dan (Bringback slingo Webmaster) It has been more or less confirmed that the main problem lies with AOL. Something most of us suspected from the start. I have read around the web of a boycott of AOL including pickets in front of your New York office. Think this will get the main media's attention? I do. I can see it now....Grandmothers and Granddads walking a picket line with a sign that reads 'Bring Back Our Slingo'.
I sure can't demand anything but it seems to me the best and safest course for AOL to take is to listen to their members. Simply put bring back the old Slingo or give us a product that on the surface looks like the old product.
Thanks
I totally understand everyone's frustration. I acknowledge all the issues and have been trying to make sure everyone is aware of what is going on. I posted on several posts the latest goings on with Slingo but it seems they were buried among the complaints.
I am letting the powers that be know about the transcript that was posted on http://www.bringbackslingo.org/
We'll get this rectified for sure. Maybe not today, but sooner rather than later.
Slingo and AOL are partners in this game launch. I have been reviewing some of my posts on this matter and if I have been conveying a blame game I should not have.
It doesn't matter who is to blame. The issue is that the game is not as good as it should be and needs to be improved.
AOL takes responsibility for the games on our site and we're working to improve the experience.
Here is the latest from Eric of Slingo:
Good morning Dan and company,
I am happy to have a chance to address you and the 1000-plus members of the AOL community who have found a home playing the Slingo games. We here at Slingo are honored to have such unbelievably dedicated fans such as you. Slingo has enjoyed years of success thanks to all of you and for that we are appreciative.
In response to your letter, it is important to understand that these changes were indeed necessary and that it will be impossible to bring the “old games” back. So, in order to move forward in improving the game play experience with the new games, we are more than willing to do what is reasonable in order to accommodate the needs of our players.
Regarding your suggestions:
1) We are adding a “Quick Play” option to the lobby which will allow players to quickly be placed into a random room that is ready to start a new game.
2) All of the games do have a chat function and you can chat in the lobby as well. Also, the smallest room size that would be able to reduce it to would be 25 players.
3) The game play experience was designed to replicate what we have on our Slingo.com web site. In fact the only modifications that were made to the game play can give you more points (joker bonuses, the devil takes less, and the cherub can double your score). There will only be 2 versions moving forward which are the Slingo and 5 Card you see now on AOL. Here is where your suggestions would help immensely (write to aolsupport@slingo.com with any of your suggestions).
4) The “new” games will be the only versions available moving forward, we are unable to offer the old ones anymore.
5) At this time, it takes 3 clicks to enter a game (Click on the Link on the AOL Play Now page, Click on the “Play” button in the lobby for whatever room you want to play in, and Click on the “Join” button that comes up during intermission). We will be removing the “Join” button so it should only take 2 clicks to enter the game from now on. Or you can use the Quick Play button once it is developed.
6) Advertising keeps the games free as they have been for 11 years. However, we will be shortening the intermission time from 60 to 40 seconds in order to cycle into new games faster.
7) We will be removing the “Join” button in the next update.
We should have these updates to the game available around Thanksgiving which should include all of the changes discussed so far. We will also be working with AOL in order to provide some more instructions on how to enter a game and how to find your friends. In fact, finding friends is easier than ever since you aren’t put into a random room and can tell people what room you are going to be in.
Without getting too technical, it is important to realize that the newer games were designed to run using Java and were designed to be run on a monitor using the larger resolution setting (1024x768). Many people who have complained about not seeing the chat or being unable to join a game have had problems due to not seeing the bottom of the game. Make sure you install the latest version of Java (from www.java.com) and change your screen resolution so the screen is large enough to see the games.
Slingo has enjoyed game play by a very diverse audience over the past 11 years and we are happy to do what we can in order to accommodate all of our players.
Sincerest regards,
Eric Lamendola
Here is the latest from Eric of Slingo:
Good morning Dan and company,
I am happy to have a chance to address you and the 1000-plus members of the AOL community who have found a home playing the Slingo games. We here at Slingo are honored to have such unbelievably dedicated fans such as you. Slingo has enjoyed years of success thanks to all of you and for that we are appreciative.
In response to your letter, it is important to understand that these changes were indeed necessary and that it will be impossible to bring the “old games” back. So, in order to move forward in improving the game play experience with the new games, we are more than willing to do what is reasonable in order to accommodate the needs of our players.
Regarding your suggestions:
1) We are adding a “Quick Play” option to the lobby which will allow players to quickly be placed into a random room that is ready to start a new game.
2) All of the games do have a chat function and you can chat in the lobby as well. Also, the smallest room size that would be able to reduce it to would be 25 players.
3) The game play experience was designed to replicate what we have on our Slingo.com web site. In fact the only modifications that were made to the game play can give you more points (joker bonuses, the devil takes less, and the cherub can double your score). There will only be 2 versions moving forward which are the Slingo and 5 Card you see now on AOL. Here is where your suggestions would help immensely (write to aolsupport@slingo.com with any of your suggestions).
4) The “new” games will be the only versions available moving forward, we are unable to offer the old ones anymore.
This was posted on Dan's fine message board. I had the information but unfortunately, did not have the time to get it on the site.
1) Make SURE you have the latest version of Java by clicking here (www.java.com) and installing Java (the games need Java to run properly)
2) You will see more of the screen if you use Internet Explorer or Firefox instead of the AOL browser. Just sign onto AOL, minimize the AOL running but leave it running in the background and then open Internet Explorer and go to (www.games.com) You will find Slingo in the Casino section of the AOL games site.
it is important to open those games in a browser OUTSIDE of the AOL environment. IT WILL CRASH AOL if they are opened in AOL.
3) If you cannot see the entire game screen, adjust your screen size (the resolution) to 1024x768. Then you should see the game AND the chat.
4) You can play in ANY of the game rooms regardless of what state you are from by clicking on the “Play” button in the lobby
GLAD TO SEE YOU'RE STILL HERE
Me too! Sad that so many people lost their jobs. Glad to be here for everyone.
Told you, I know the feeling to see friends and family lose their jobs.......things happen for a reason.....we lost Slingo and all this other stuff came out with it, Maybe AOL will get it, maybe, not.........
In memory of a great human being who fought for all the Slingo players........we will miss you Batmanlvegas.
Happy New Year Larry, to you and your's!!
So here's the thing. We once had a nice game on AOL called Slingo. It was quick and easy to play. It wasn't brain surgery, click on a few boxes and hope for the best. A very nice group of people played the game, and you could chat with them while you played. The game loaded quickly and you could polish off a quick game in a minute or two.
Well, a few thousand players was not enough to pay the bills, and AOL's decision to go with web based content, ditching the old AOL client software, made the old game's obsolete.
They pulled the plug and replaced it with something else called Slingo. We bitched, moaned, complained, and made some really constructive suggestions on how to improve the new game with the Slingo name, but the end result was it's just not the same. It's not even close. We lost the battle and lost the war. What a shame.
Anyone wanting to buy this domain contact npceditor. It cost me 9 bucks.
The statement below is from NPCEDITOR's BRING BACK SLINGO SITE........You won AOL......hope it's everything ya wanted.
Post a Comment