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gandresch
Last seen 13 years ago
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2012

2012-02-17 14:27:10
rating 3.3
2012-01-04 15:23:36
rating 5

2011

2011-11-21 23:07:15
rating 5.3
2011-11-15 18:08:13
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2011-03-18 14:03:07
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2011-02-19 14:59:39
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2009

2009-12-08 10:03:02
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2008-04-08 20:01:50
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2008-01-06 00:22:56
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2007

2007-08-03 15:40:03
rating 4.3
2009-12-08 10:03:02
45 votes, rating 3.2
fumbbl dies out!?
Hi,

after that nice letter from GW, Christer did all that he can to keep the site running. But now, one month after the publication of the letter here on fumbbl, some major changes in the history of this site appeared.
This month usually 350 games per day were played, while one month ago the number was about 500. During the time, that cyanide's game is available, the number has already reduced, but not by 150 within one month. So I asked myself, what happened to the site, that so many coaches quit playing here. When I opened the Games-page a few minutes ago, there were 2 games running. I remember times, when there were 15-20 games running even at such an early time of the day (here in central Europe :-) ).

At first, it is reasonable, that some of the "old" coaches have different things in mind - family, different hobbies and stuff. Some might be more interested in the new cyanide game, which has implemented most parts of LRB5 (no cards, no choice to use skills, most of the teams are missing, no RR2008, very predictable AI, and so on). Some coaches (like me e.g.) got rid of the LRB4 and don't want to play that rulebook any more. The result is, that fumbbl dies out over a certain time - it bleeds to death.

The Skijunkie client is no longer available and most important, the support for the client, that could be found in the Help section has been deleted. It is still not clear, what happens, if the fumbbl-Login gets part of GW's list in c&d, because it is certain, that this client is only used to play here at fumbbl.
The BOTOCS client is a very good one (like the one K. did here, no question) and has implemented all LRB5+RR2008 (without Animosity), but has the same problem than the Skijunkie client and is no longer available and supported over the internet.
Therefor new players will not be able to get support for their clients and this will lead to less new players, because not everybody is interested in a complicated configuration of java/client and so on to try this out.

What can be done to not totally disappear after all these years? There has to be a quick change in the mind of those, who manage the site. The client works for those, who have already installed/used it on their system.
Perhaps cyanide is a good possibility, to keep the page running. With a huge number of coaches playing here, cyanide might allow fumbbl an interface, so that at least the game and fumbbl work together. I don't think, that this idea is so unlikely, because fumbbl has a great infrastructure for BB games and cyanide has a (well, lets say) working game and is interested in selling more copies of this game.
There might be a result upload for all people, who want to host their rosters here on fumbbl, play in groups...
Make an xml upload for a certain xml pattern would be another possibility, that allows people to upload their games in a certain way. The BOTOCS client uses a nice pattern for this. Of course, the results can be manipulated, but perhaps we find a way, to make this possible.
The most important thing for me would be, that LRB6 (or 5 with RR2008) is available for this site, because otherwise I would prefer not to play - like all the others, who have already left fumbbl.

There has to be done something soon. But the most important thing is, that it is done before this site vanishes in the internet.

Greetz,
gan

Addition: http://fumbbl.com/FUMBBL.php?page=stats&op=games&type=week
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Comments
Posted by Mr_Foulscumm on 2009-12-08 10:13:53
No.
Posted by Mr_Foulscumm on 2009-12-08 10:15:53
Let me rephrase that: You have no clue what you are talking about.
Posted by gandresch on 2009-12-08 10:18:11
Ok, then tell me, why the number of games reduced?
Posted by Melmoth on 2009-12-08 10:18:55
You have to know that Foulscumm hates germans...So dont care to much.....
Posted by SvenS on 2009-12-08 10:20:59
While I agree there has probably been a slight dip, I dont think its that bad (yet?).
I think a lrb5 client might still be possible after GWs had their (somewhat silly) IPs renewed.
So we'll need some patience Im afraid.
Posted by pythrr on 2009-12-08 10:21:02
Fouly bin ein n00b.
Posted by pythrr on 2009-12-08 10:22:04
And cyandie will be dead in 6 months anyway.

It is already in the bargain bins.
Posted by James_Probert on 2009-12-08 10:22:17
Skijunkie's client IS available, if you know where to look for it.
Posted by shadow46x2 on 2009-12-08 10:22:56
you do realize...

the decline in games started *LONG* before any of the C/D stuff started, right?

--j
Posted by gandresch on 2009-12-08 10:25:17
Imagine you are new to this site and you are not in irc ...
I would not have the idea to ask on the forum for a client to play with. So of course you know, where to find it, but newbies don't and that's the main problem in this case.
Posted by gandresch on 2009-12-08 10:26:23
@shadow: sure I do, but it's very obvious since then.
Posted by Mr_Foulscumm on 2009-12-08 10:26:33
If you don't know and don't ask, you're probably to dumb to play anyway.
Posted by arw on 2009-12-08 11:13:00
Well...
I donated.
I still play.
There are lots of others to satisfy my appetite for BB.
I love LRB4.

And what is your problem?
kk- I know. No Client download sucks. This C&D stuff is still fresh. However: stop crying. At least stop crying for LRB X- Many ppl are fine with LRB4 and most others accept it. Maybe one day the same is true for LRB5. I don't look forward to it but don't whine about it either.
Beginners will have an even harder time finding the client and all...
Oh and imagine you'd be a beginner and read this blog...
that really helps.
While you whine however I introduced some friends to fumbbl and made sure they find the client.

Stop pessimism and put your criticism along with that Cyanide idea to the Forum if you must.
There will be a solution.
Have faith in Christer & the community!
Posted by bobafettsmum on 2009-12-08 11:56:00
Your idea that fumbbl and cyanide linking up is far more ridiculous than this site dieing. Fumbbl will only die if GW really wants to close it down. I dont think they actually want to close it down. If they did, it would have happened years ago. Yes some people are trying Cyanides game including myself (I have purchased it for the DS and XBOX360) but it hasn't stopped me from continuing to play on fumbbl.

Cyanide won't link up to fumbbl. I think that is just your wishful thinking. If you dont like LRB4 or the Cyanide game then i guess you are just gonna have to stick to TT.
Posted by Araznaroth on 2009-12-08 13:09:23
And cyan"die" will be dead in 6 months anyway.

Misstype or pun intended?:D
Posted by Cloggy on 2009-12-08 13:16:17
I don't understand the level of resitance to this message.

Fact: people are always leaving or becoming less active, due to RL (especially women and work :P)

Fact: the influx of new coaches will have lessened due to the fact that Cyanide, despite all it's apparent faults, is more accessible to n00b coaches than Fumbbl.

It's a simple equation and does support the conclusion that the games volume on Fumbbl will decline as long as the Cyanide game is widely played.

That doesn't mean Fumbbl will die out I think, since the Cyanide game seems simply not good enough to sustain interest in the long term. We might get quit e afew Cyanide refugees coming to the site in a few months time.

Poor admins :D
Posted by koga49 on 2009-12-08 13:36:20
don't forget paul hicks declared he was going to play more seriously that must have caused around a 50% drop off :)
Posted by Russo on 2009-12-08 13:51:09

WOW I did not know me getting a life would have such a big impact on FUMBBL :p

To be honest though I am playing about 30 less games a month than before now that mkeans you only need 5 coaches who were high-volume players to mirror my life-style changes and you get a 150 game per month decline in games played.

Its part of life, I would love to play more games but am more restricted than I used to be, I am sure I am not the only one to have that situation.
Posted by gandresch on 2009-12-08 13:52:12
per day, Russo ;-)

150 games per day
Posted by gandresch on 2009-12-08 13:53:06
Watch the link below. Cyanide came out on 26. june, which is about week 24-25 somewhere.
Posted by Calcium on 2009-12-08 14:35:10
If only all responses were as measured as Cloggy's, rather than the usual bullshit that hits every blog entry from the same old dikwads.....
Posted by Shraaaag on 2009-12-08 15:37:54
Fumbbl will never die as long as someone is willing to keep it alive, and GW don't go all apedoodoo on it.

I think as soon as the GW horsepoo AND the holidays are over, things will pick up again.

But it's probably true that there are fewer people joining FUMBBL than before, mostly due to some try out Cyanide and figure online Blood Bowl isn't worth their time. I know the friends I tried to get interested in Blood Bowl didn't find the Cyanide game good enough to try out Table Top or Fumbbl.
Posted by maysrill on 2009-12-08 15:47:55
I'm personally probably down by a game a day just from the holidays. Shopping, parties, family events, etc.
Posted by Flix on 2009-12-08 16:24:27
well Fumbbl will not die, but it wont grow anymore, and the reason is Cyanide.

Fumbbl > Cyanide but LRB 5 > LRB 4
Posted by Cloggy on 2009-12-08 16:45:30
Now you've done it Flix :)
Posted by Calcium on 2009-12-08 17:19:35
Cyanide's ok! Not as good as FUMBBL blackbox, but far superior to the Retarded division
Posted by Zombie69 on 2009-12-09 00:28:33
Here's something else people forgot to mention in the comments. The sentence "it is certain, that this client is only used to play here at fumbbl" is completely false, like most of your blog. The JavaBowl client is used outside of Fumbbl.
Posted by gandresch on 2009-12-09 15:01:39
What i mean is: The client has a fumbbl(!!!!)-Login, which means, it works together with fumbbl. This could be a problem, working with GW and cyanide.
Now tell me please, what are the other things, that are wrong ... you said "most of your blog"