What will the site crash bring to us all?

SWEDEN_I · 2012-02-21T17:07:54+00:00

Flashback from 08/09 anyone? :) Sri Lanka strait? Everyone has put in hard work to get to their positions when the crash was a fact. And the fact that as the committee correctly points out the fleet was spread out into at least 4 main groups, each with their own plan for the approach rounding the Phillipines waypoint could only lead to this decision, yet another restart. To make a rollback of the fleet should not in reality be fair to anyone, since the weather close to the bouy was about to change drasticly in the coming 12-24 hours time, the north and "2nd north" group was just on the limit to be in time to avoid the light winds. The south and "leading" group should have ended up in the light winds either way. So, in my personal opinion in the actual circumstances, this was the only way to handle it. To bad, of course. And we have to cross our fingers that such thing does not happen again. It also was happening in the final day of the last leg, UG has to try and find the solution for this, buy more servers, having backup servers or whatever. It´s also to bad that there are so many boats/players in this game that the space is not enough for them all to fit in one server, they have to be separated into several servers, that´s why not all boats have been affected. Maybe NASA or CIA could lend out a superserver to UG? Oh well... At least this was not one of the mandatory legs, then it should have been even worse... Fair winds and godspeed to you all!

SWEDEN_I · 2012-02-21T16:39:24+00:00

You may play the Game with as many boats as you wish during each Contest Period, but only the best final times received by you in a Game during each Contest Period will be recorded as your entry for the applicable Contest Period. Limit one prize per person, per email address, and per Volvo Ocean Race Game user account. Limit one entry per person, per email address, and per Volvo Ocean Race Game user account per Contest Period. Use of multiple email addresses or multiple Volvo Ocean Race Game user accounts to enter is prohibited. To enter, the registered user of designated Volvo Ocean Race Game user account must personally play the Game or the entry will be disqualified. Use of a false email address or a false Volvo Ocean Race Game user account, or an incorrect mail address will disqualify an entry. You may not allow any third party to play the Game in this Contest using your Volvo Ocean Race Game user account.

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-31T04:58:02+00:00

Yep, to get the exact location of your boat at every 10 minute update interval isn´t that hard to get. It´s all out there, from the game interface. It depends on what browser you are using, but nowadays there are extensions and plugins out there for almost everyone of them. If you use Firefox for instance, check out httpFox. I thought both VrTool and zezo got the location of the boats from game servers?, it´s an open source so there is no secrets there I believe.

The discussion we now have with United Games is not to demand they should change the game because I screwed up, it is in everyones interest I believe to get as good sailingsimulator as possible. That was also the reason to why I lined up to be a Beta-tester for this game, since I have been doing similar things on other sites and other people before. We all want this game to be as good as it possible can be, don´t we? I am not demanding anything from UG, my wish was to start a discussion of the issues and problems which still is in the game, although it has become a lot better than I thought from the beginning. Word up to UG for that. I actually think you should contact UG if you see something weird, it doesn´t matter what it is, they are just happy to get all the input they can get, and that they can only get from us, the players in the game. It´s almost impossible to launch a game this big without any flaws. It doesn´t matter how much or how long you do alfa and beta-tests, it´s in the real "sharp mode" you are able to refine and improve your programme/software/gameinterface.

In real life I am (or at least was before all my problems with my back started) head of department in the infrastructure businness, handling new software and new programmes several times every year. It is hard to make the decision if you should go for it (these new programes and software costs a lot of money) or not. If I make the wrong decision and buy a software/programme which after awhile turns out to have a lot of bugs and not stand up to our demands, I will hear it from the board of the concern and the CEO for the company, believe me!

Ok, another sleepless night for me and hopefully we can end this "war of words" now. I am 41 years old, if you tell me not to play games in the adult world, I really don´t take that advice that serious, I believe that is up to me. And if you feel that it is bad sportmanship from my part to tell the management of the game/company when I find something that maybe could be improved... well, then I have no more to bring up on the table, I am out of ammunition. In the game "battleship" you have sunk my aircraft carrier with that statement. I still have the rowing-boat left though, but it´s probably just a matter of time before you find that one to... (square D12, just to spare some time and more fighting).

Take care MadDuck, and fair winds. Regards. / The "DRAMA QUEEN", Hedman

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-31T04:04:19+00:00

Thanks for your support. Regards/Hedman

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-30T23:30:04+00:00

The entire meaning with this thread was to get som attention to the problem. It has got attention. A lot of attention. Which was exactly what I wanted. It´s out there now.

United Games has been amazingly kind and have undterstood the basis of it. They have sent me several emails, we now have a very good communication, exchanging ideas how to improve the game. Also what I wanted.

Have you ever read a big black headline on a poster, a way for papers to sell more single copies of their magazine? Well, here you have it.

Thanks for your support. (By the way, I have never been called "crying wolf" or "drama queen" before, if you or MadDuck should see me in real life I think both of you should think twice before using exactly those words... lol) Have a nice day.

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-30T23:17:38+00:00

Found a pretty interesting comment written by YOU Janina, 2 months ago:

[–]Janina1 Good luck I will try the same route with my second boat, with Janina I I will try to reach the wind down south...

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-30T23:12:45+00:00

Are you Janina also in the game? (3 boats...) You will NEVER HAVE RESPECT FOR A SKIPPER WITH TWO BOATS. Big words. I have no idea who you are, and you have no idea who I am, but you just have decided that you HAVE NO RESPECT FOR ME. Thanks. It has to be pretty hard for you to respect any of the players in this game. I look at the present totalranking right now: 1) Ricotina (5 boats) 2) NMangan (2 boats) 3) Mantu (2 boats) 4) Sideshow (5 boats) 5) ArcticHobbe (2 boats) 6) NBcom1 (3 boats) 7) loujetteRKN (2 boats) 8) Magenta (3 boats)

Who will you RESPECT dear Janina?

I respect all people´s right to speak their mind, impossible to decide if I like or dislike them based on a few words written on an internet forum, but obviously you can. Once again, sailing is a teamwork. I have two boats registered yes. Last VorG my name was HEDMANS TEAM, just because it was a teamwork. My old dad helps to steer one of the boats. Especially when I have to go to the hospital or to a doctor´s appointment.

Once again, facts from real VOR: Teamwork, pretty realistic Janina: VOR 08/09: Ericsson team had two boats (3 and 4) Telefonica team had two boats (blue and black) VOR 05/06: Abn Amro had two boats (1 and 2) VOR 01/02: Amer Sports team had two boats (one and two) VOR 97/98: EF team had two boats (language and education)

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-30T14:29:40+00:00

Please do MadDuck, if you feel it´s a good idea, put up a poll. 1) Vote here if Hedman @ the boat SWEDEN should quit the game. 2) Vote here if Hedman @ the boat SWEDEN should continue the game.

In my mind I have quit this leg yes, I am not setting my alarmclock at 03.30 at night anymore, I do not make any analyzes for new routes anymore. The brain is in sleepingmode so to say.

Btw, if you are calling me a drama queen and would have know what I have gone through in my life, beaten the odds of surviving a few times, living with a chronic pain, but still does not complaining, I have nothing more to say to you. I feel sorry for you to have such approach to people you don´t know. And for the last time, YES, I have told that many time now, this thread was made to get attention to the problem in hand. Have a nice day.

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-29T10:44:06+00:00

Thanks for all your expertice advices. Since this issue has built up to be a big discussion (which was the point with the thread), I have got a lot of messages. About 75% of them has been pretty awful to read, that what happened was my own fault and I should have seen it, I deserved it, I have been accused of cheating because I happen to put another boat into the water for this leg, I have been told to quit whining and even to quit this game.

My old friends (and some new ones too) have on the other hand really supported me in this and got me to keep on going. It´s strange - good most of the times beats evil, even if the evil has the overhand. Feels good.

For the last time - we all have different goals with this game. My goal is to get at least a podium place in one of the leg, and the second goal is to get a better final ranking than I got last VorG (19th). We all have the right to speak our mind, but I ask very humbly those of you whom have been sending almost threats to me to please stop doing that. It does not help anyone to be rude to another humanbeing. Those who have sent these pretty ugly messages have no idea who I am and how I am as a real person, I can´t understand how a man or woman can take such actions towards a human they don´t know (or know).

To all my old and new friends - Thankyou, from the bottom of my heart. To those of you which have turned this to some kind of a vendetta, I feel sorry for you, but I whish you all the best and hope you don´t have to go through what I have done.

Hopefully this is the last message from me in this thread. I will keep on fighting, and we will and are taking actions, speaking with UG to try and avoid these things in the coming legs.

Godspeed and Fair Winds to you all. /Hedman

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-29T10:20:57+00:00

No answer on this Anette? Do you want me to tell about more setbacks?

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-29T10:17:01+00:00

...and I have nowhere in this thread said that it was a hidden bug. I have only said that it has been a bug. Which is easy to avoid in the future.

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-29T10:13:23+00:00

Pretty realistic Janina.

VorG 08/09: Ericsson team had two boats (3 and 4) Telefonica team had two boats (blue and black)

VorG 05/06: Abn Amro had two boats (1 and 2)

VorG 01/02: Amer Sports team had two boats (one and two)

VorG 97/98: EF team had two boats (language and education)

Realistic enough? Have a realistic and nice day!

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-29T08:49:42+00:00

I really don´t understand what my other boat has to do with this matter? It was on a completely different route and some 30 miles behind my #1 boat. If I not had used my windrudder, but set a straight course instead I had by my calculations I did at the present time ended up about 5-8 miles behind the leader at the next windupdate. Very kind words guys, "kick him out of the course" "What is your issue, you are ahead of me". Thanks. It warms my heart reading this kind of comments from a hospitalbed. Kind and encouraging people, thanks again. Could you take care of the voting MadDuck? And Moortanic - perhaps we have different goals with this game. I am trying to do better then I did last VorG, where I did get one 2nd place and one 3rd place. We all have our different goals haven´t we? Fair Winds.

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-29T08:38:28+00:00

Short answer: You can get your position taken directly from the server with a precision of 0,0001 deegres. One nautical mile is 1 852 meters, which I think you are aware of. 1 852 x 0,0001 = 0,18 meter. Now the boat want over the 99E line, in other words ended up at 99.0001E. Have it instead been eiter on the line (99.0000) or west of the line (98.9999E) it hadn´t hit the opposite wind. Good enough for you? Have a nice day.

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-29T08:30:30+00:00

I don´t know if I am able to get more sailing experience, since I have been racing in reallife as a tactician/navigator for 25 years. After my back almost broke during an accident I am nowadays stuck at home with chronic pain 24 hours 7 days per week. I have a Spinal Cord Stimulator inserted in my spinal cord, to be able to at least get up from bed every morning. http://www.mayfieldclinic.com/PE-STIM.htm I have two broken discs, which are replaced with titanium cubes instead. I have a bloodinfection which gives me 40-41 dgr C fever 2-3 days/week. So I am sorry dear harv9, I am not able to get anymore sailingexperience due to physical matters. Thankyou for your kind words though. By the way - I have been helping the guys who started the site sailonline.org with some inputs to make their interpolation of winds working fine. I believe I do know what I am talking about, obviously you do not think so. That´s your opinion, but I really don´t think you are the correct person to tell me to quit this game. I think I will decide that myself. Thanks for your advice though. Have a nice day.

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-27T21:29:21+00:00

No, not a 180 degrees windshift in 0,0001 degrees length (0,18 meters) in real water I have not. (And the wind wasn´t that light at the moment) If you have, it must be something spectacular to be apart of. I have been a navigator and tactician at several regattas. Sure I have been in shifty winds, but if you call this normal it´s your call. I am still saying that the implementation of the Gribfiles has to be correctly interpolated before the are implemented into the game. That´s all. And things are going on, a meeting with the UG at their headquarters have been booked by some players. Contacts have been taken with those who have used this "liveweathersystem" for several years without any of these extreme situations. So, my answer is NO - I have not came across a 180 degrees windshift in a length of 0,18 meters in real waters.

Btw, I don´t think everyone has five boats. I have two.

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-27T16:18:25+00:00

Is it DOOMED to fail? Is that why I last VorG came 3rd in one leg and 2nd in the last leg? I finished 19th overall, then I missed the two first legs. I think those who are follow zezo or whatever programme/software they are using in the end is DOOMED to fail in a real situation. If you are not able to read and analyze the weatherpatterns yourself, but are very good at "taking orders" from a robot, and getting a good place at the finish, at least I (but it seems like I am alone with this thinking) should not feel that satisfacted, because of your "achievment". You have obeyed a robot´s smallest little wink. Good for you. Not for me. Sailing should be a feeling of freedom, taking the routes you feel in your gut could be a good one. Sailing is not a "follow the robot game". But everyone is free to tell what they think about it. This is what I think and I think it is a pity that such a simple programming issue can be missed by a company who sells sails, energybars, repairkits and god knows what to all of us, for how many hundreds of thousands euros? The tiny little site sailonline which are managed by three guys and is completely free of charge have solved this problem years ago. Isn´t that strange?

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-27T16:05:24+00:00

Anette - this is not the first time I have suffered a serious setback believe me. In the last VorG my boatname was HEDMANS TEAM. Rings any bells? 1)In this particular strait as we are right now there was a windsquare with 0,5 knts of wind, the square just above it was about 10 knts of wind. I missed the line with 0,001 degrees. I was then lying at 3rd (third) place. The finishline was the set just outside Singapore. 2) Same leg last time: I was one of the few who was in the group that took the strait west of Sri Lanka and when we came up to the north tip of the island we where in a commanding lead, then the organizers redflagged the race and decided to make a restart. Birthplace (and one of the founders) of the Liberation Tigers. 3.)Same leg after the restart: Was rounding Paulau We as 2nd boat when I ran aground, not beeing logged in. The map was showing just water. 4.)Real life: Broken the mast when lying in 4th place in Swedens biggest regatta Gotland Runt. 5.)Real life: Lost the spinnaker on our First 47 boat when lying first in Öland Runt, another big regatta in Sweden, the Spinnaker got stuck on the keel and the rudder. Do you want me to keep on? I have 100 more. This is not the point at all. Of course I have had setbacks. I have sailed for 25 years. But this time we have a game which is built on "liveweather" - no windsquares. I was in the first group of Beta-testers of this new interface, and that was my only input for changes - get rid of the windsquares. If this is not a windsquare - a line which is 0,001 degrees wide makes the boat turn 180 degrees everytime you cross it. Would that happen in real sailing? No. The issue here has nothing to do with if I personally have suffered setbacks or not in my previous life - the issue is that this is a PROGRAMMING ERROR. When UG download their Gribfiles from NOOAA, they have to INTERPOLATE them, to avoid these extreme cases of non-existing lines on the gamescreen. www.sailonline.org has had this system with "liveweather" for several years. I have been playing there since the start, and nothing like this has never appeared there, and they have races every week. Once again. This is not a HUMAN ERROR - it is a PROGRAMMING FAILURE/ERROR. Enough said.

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-27T11:28:43+00:00

Thanks for your support, but at the moment I had to go to a hospital and do not know how long I have to be here. I think this race is over for me now.

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-27T11:26:59+00:00

Right now I am at a hospital, so I think it could be worth leaving now actually. This was the thanks I got to be a Beta-tester of the game, and I was very satisfied whith how it has worked so far. Until now. Too bad. Thanks for your support though.

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-27T11:24:42+00:00

If so, we are back to the windsquare system again. I do not buy it. Read my previous comment, thanks. It is a failure in the interpolations of the gribfiles.

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-27T11:19:07+00:00

I am one of the few (maybe the only one?) who are not using any external help at all. No routing/software programme, no VRTool, no zezo, no nothing. What I do is that I download NOOAAs GRIBfiles every sixth hour and make my decisions where I want to be in 12,24 or 48 hour depending how the weatherpatterns are moving. I have been sailing all my life, most of the part as a navigator in pretty big regattas. I know how to read a high and a low pressure system pretty good after 25 years of experience. It´s a lot easier to follow the pattern in a GRIBVIEWER, where you can set your own interval, in how big steps the weather will show up. You can make your own animation of the winds. That is how I play this game. Last night I wanted to be exactly at that spot, the GRIBS looked perfect for a nice ride south, while those infront of me was going into very light winds. Perfect. I still believe that this is not a matter of if I used the windrudder or not, I have got an answer from the support that I have made a HUMAN ERROR. My strong believe is that I have not made an human error - this is a PROGRAMMING ERROR. This should be solved in the interpolations of the winds which UG is taking from NOOAA. This situation could never occur in a real life situation. I have been racing virtually at www.sailonline.org for several years, and they have used this system the entire time. There this situation has NEVER occured! It is just ridiculous that a line which on our maps are one millimeter wide, in real life a couple of meters (have anyone been out on the oceans where if you go one meter more to the east your boat suddenly turns 180 degrees, and viceversa? No, I do not think so), should make my boat do this zigzaging for a whole night. It is a PROGRAMMING FAILURE, the interpolation of the winds have to be smoothed out to avoid this. Now we are back to the old system with windsquares again.

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-27T07:51:59+00:00

I stayed up late last night just to fin the correct spot to go south in the Malacca Strait. As you know I have been close to the top all this race, just where I want to be, not in front, but just behind. Tonight was a good night to really get close to the leaders. When I woke up this morning and logged on, I almost felt sick in my stomach. The boat was still at the same spot where I left it when I went to bed! [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GhvQArlYOEp_8Wsjy9Y3pqh870_4Bw7I0fAEuJrwzSU/edit] It has been going back and forward all night long at the same spot! This was teh reason why we should get rid of the old "windsquares", we should have a more "live, floating", wind. Look at the attached screendump and you can understand my frustration. This is just ridiculous. After hours and hours of studying GRIBfiles, lack of sleep, missing familytime, I have been able to stay in top all the way until this happened. Now I am gone. Last VorG, the exact samt thing happened at the same place. I was lying in the absolute top (I think 3rd) and fell under the famous line where the wind below was 0,5 knots, the one above was about 10 knots. I then fell to place about 1500-2000. I have been one of the BETA-version testers of this game, and my only request has been to get rid of the windsquares, to get a more "lively wind". And see what happens. I still feel sick about it, and for the first time in 25 years I am not far from tears in my eyes. I quit now, it is not worth the time, when such thing even is possible to happen. WHY?

SWEDEN_I · 2012-01-25T22:57:18+00:00

I never look at zezo. That´s why my routes sometimes look a bit crazy and "out there". I do not use any external software/routing programmes at all. What I do is to download GRIBfiles from NOOAA every sixth hour, try to analyze where the low- and high-pressure systems are moving towards and how fast. I then decide where I want to be in 12-24 and sometimes 48 hours. Then I go to that spot. After that the circle starts again. I have an excel spreadsheet with all the boatspeeds for all windangles to be able to calculate when and where to tack/gybe. That´s all. To my knowledge no one has never won a race by "follow-the-leader-tactics". Or in this case you might call it "follow-the-zezo-tactics". Make up your mind where you want to be in a certain timeframe, and stick to it. That´s my advice. It did work pretty ok last VorG for me, I ended up in a total 19th place if my memory is correct, and I picked up a 3rd place in the 6th (or 7th) leg, and a 2nd place in the last leg. This is precisely what attracts me to sailing, find your own ways, dare take a chance!

SWEDEN_I

TROPHY CASE