POLL: Release Day Queue Positions

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agreedagreed replied on 02-02-2010 6:59 PM

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a few marbles rolling around in my head -

1st - evryone is saying someone who usually gets a top position might get 250 or 500, but they might get 999 as well as 2 or 18.  half of the people would have to fill the bottom half, law of averages.  just saying.  it is more fair to make it random who is where in the list every time.

not sure why the vehemence about the day before adding thing, what does it matter when you add the game to your wishlist or availabilty to the lottery - It doesn't matter one bit when you're added to the lottery, it doesn't affect your chances - advocates of the 24 hr prior thing are just trying to skew it back towards unfair advantage again basically.  not everyone will be aware of the release or have access to it in only the 24 hrs b4 lottery. maybe the entire WEEK before, I can see, you do want to eliminate the people who would change their minds in 6 mos (doubt it would ever be that long)

3rd - the lottery still just gives you a place in line for when the game becomes available to trade, most people will still not have enough points, trade tokens or available slots to get it right away - especially if they are not at all sure they are going to get a top spot.

If someone consistently beats the law of averages by a LOT statistically, it will be obvious they are cheating the system in some way, this should be tracked, who gets what spot each time.  I'm not a tech guy, so not sure if hacking the lottery (after a while when it has been out for some time) is a laughable concept but it needs to be mentioned if possible.  

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TheBigTicket21 replied on 02-02-2010 7:02 PM

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I was really pissed last time, because I was ready for the Mass Effect 2 release, but the site was so slow that the page wouldn't even load until 12:30, 90th place.

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ElfShotTheFood replied on 02-02-2010 7:05 PM

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I'm not in favor of a lottery. The current system isn't perfect, but it's still the best way; a lottery is just too random and will annoy people even more.

Still, I wouldn't object if the clock was pushed back an hour or two.

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TurtlePerson2 replied on 02-02-2010 7:46 PM

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I'm sure that the really hardcore Goozex users would prefer to not have a lottery, but it makes sense for just about everyone else.  I really don't want to have stay up all night in order to get a game a few weeks sooner.

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xBuTcHeRx replied on 02-02-2010 7:48 PM

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LOTTERY!

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Blackcoyote replied on 02-02-2010 7:57 PM

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kevlar51:

At some point will you edit the poll so that the "status quo" also gives the negatives listed in this thread (server lag, west coast bias, abuse potential)?

I've edited and understand your point.  I excluded abuse potential b/c if people try hard enough any system can be abused.

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enderfall replied on 02-02-2010 7:58 PM

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Anyone who votes for a lottery can never, ever, complain when they get position # 493 (or worse) for [insert big name release here] when it comes out. I guarantee all of you will be singing a different tune when you are all the way at the back of the line!

The current system as flawed as it is, still allows for those that truly want the games a decent position.

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mafafu replied on 02-02-2010 8:12 PM

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enderfall:

Anyone who votes for a lottery can never, ever, complain when they get position # 493 (or worse) for [insert big name release here] when it comes out. I guarantee all of you will be singing a different tune when you are all the way at the back of the line!

 

The current system as flawed as it is, still allows for those that truly want the games a decent position.

I would not complain, as I know what a lottery entails. The only people who would probably complain are those who have figured out how to get good spots in line now, and selfishly do not want to even the playing field for all.

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kwaz28 replied on 02-02-2010 8:13 PM

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enderfall:

Anyone who votes for a lottery can never, ever, complain when they get position # 493 (or worse) for [insert big name release here] when it comes out. I guarantee all of you will be singing a different tune when you are all the way at the back of the line!

I wouldn't complain - I'm already getting high places in the queue due to not being able to make the midnight crush, and if I were to get a high spot in line for a high demand game, I'd simply buy it.

To each their own, but here's hoping for a lottery!  I'd love to get a chance to get a new high demand game early.

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Speed Weasel replied on 02-02-2010 8:17 PM

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Voted for the lottery.  To be included in the lottery you have to "sign up" before the release date.

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Solatso replied on 02-02-2010 8:28 PM

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enderfall:

Anyone who votes for a lottery can never, ever, complain when they get position # 493 (or worse) for [insert big name release here] when it comes out. I guarantee all of you will be singing a different tune when you are all the way at the back of the line!

 

The current system as flawed as it is, still allows for those that truly want the games a decent position.

I was actually thinking the same thing.  I can't wait to come back to this thread if they do start a lottery to see who ends up being the first to "change their mind" about it being a great idea because they're #856 in line for God of War 3. (or some other equally anticipated title)

To be honest I'm fine with how it works now outside of the fact that it heavily favors the west coast and the server load crushes the site.  Chances are a lottery would bring in more people adding a game to the queue because it'll be easier to do which is great for attracting new users to the site but I have a feeling we'll just end up with more crybaby threads about impatience.

Whatever Goozex decides to do some people will be happy and some people will cry and complain.  I don't see anything changing other than the "goozex sucks on release night" threads becoming "lottery sucks I'll never get this game now" threads.  But hey, at least it'll be a different set of crying.....right?

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acsguitar replied on 02-02-2010 8:43 PM

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I think a lottery sign up 1 week before game release would be a good idea. Make that tuesday the only day you can sign up for the lottery. The rest of the people can request at 1AM and they get spots after the lottery people have been dived out

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Solatso replied on 02-02-2010 8:49 PM

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acsguitar:

I think a lottery sign up 1 week before game release would be a good idea. Make that tuesday the only day you can sign up for the lottery. The rest of the people can request at 1AM and they get spots after the lottery people have been dived out

I could see that working.  The time frame for entering the lottery is gonna be the biggest hurdle.  Again, you can't please everyone but taking steps to make it as fair as possible is in everyones best interest.

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sterlingdax replied on 02-02-2010 9:15 PM

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I'm all for the lottery, but I think the time to add windows are a stupid idea that show just how much the lottery 'proponents' don't really want a lottery. Sure you might be #546, but at the same time, as was said before, someone has to fill the lower numbers as well.

I use the wishlist as intended, when I hear about, or express interest in, a game, I come to the site and add it to my wishlist as a reminder. I sometimes don't even add the game on release day, coming back a few weeks later to see game 'x' is available, and will add it then. This currently works in everyone else's favor for a Q position. The lottery would help me out there, so I would propose a 48 hour window to add the release, or lose your spot in line, if that's even possible to add to the system.

The 48 hour window, and the fact that a lot of people don't carry point or token balances make all the worries about being #546 in line a moot point. Heck, even leaving out the window helps a lot. How many people do you think are actually going to come and take the game off hold? I've received more than 1 game when my status was still at long wait.

I also think that the lottery should go for everything in the system, having it for a select few games will cause confusion, more headaches for the G-team and lots of 'I don't understand, I'm suing!' types of threads.

The system is broken, skewed towards the West coast, scripters and the like, time for everyman to have a shot.

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Maskim replied on 02-02-2010 9:18 PM

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Word.  All games and movies under a lottery, or none of them.

I would prefer the current system with the lag fixed, but that's not reasonable.  So, lottery.