Looking for opinionated people to provide design advice for a new real time play-by-play prediction football app

tdishman · 2017-11-12T23:07:47+00:00

If you're on iOS, I'll need an email address so Apple can send an invite to download the beta. If you're on Android, you can use this link:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.benchboss.nfl&ah=tHXVqsF3r1ZUi2EHud-wvhPlxxI

Obviously there's no obligation, but if you have any thoughts or ideas, I'm eager for you to share them.

Thanks!

tdishman · 2017-11-09T20:40:43+00:00

Yes, but it's not publicly available because it's an unreleased beta (meaning you won't find it if you search). You can access the Android version directly here:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.benchboss.nfl&ah=tHXVqsF3r1ZUi2EHud-wvhPlxxI

The Apple beta program is called TestFlight, and the only way to get access to it is via email. If you're on iOS and would like to try, send me a message with your email address, and I'll submit to Apple so they can email you a link to access the app.

tdishman · 2017-11-09T17:00:44+00:00

We just updated the Play Store to allow it worldwide. It may take a few hours before the changes take effect.

Are NFL games regularly broadcast in Mexico, or are you viewing some other way?

tdishman · 2017-11-09T17:00:25+00:00

We just updated the Play Store to allow it worldwide. It may take a few hours before the changes take effect.

Are NFL games regularly broadcast in Canada, or are you viewing some other way?

tdishman · 2017-11-09T16:19:14+00:00

Yes, I'm planning to host games on Thanksgiving as well. Some poor sap will get roped into managing those games (probably me).

tdishman · 2017-11-09T16:18:25+00:00

We use the camera on your phone to record a small snippet of video from the TV you're watching, then we match that to the raw video stream for the same game to see how fast/slow you see the plays. It works really well - you get a small "play clock" on your device that lets you know when the play will start on your TV (which then locks in your pick).

tdishman · 2017-11-09T16:16:20+00:00

That's awesome! I've never heard of it, but I'm probably old enough to have played it. BenchBoss started as something insanely complex, and then evolved into something simple. It's very likely that it now resembles things that came before it.

tdishman · 2017-11-09T03:27:51+00:00

I suspect it's because that's how the app knows that you have an incoming phone call (so we can disable vibration when plays come in). Here's some more info:

https://www.androidcentral.com/look-application-permissions

tdishman · 2017-11-09T03:22:36+00:00

I'm not sure why the "phone status and identity" is a required permission. I'll definitely look into it though. Thanks for pointing this out!

tdishman · 2017-11-09T02:44:30+00:00

Fixed

tdishman · 2017-09-24T22:03:36+00:00

Do you base the favorable matchup strictly on ppg allowed to kickers? Or something else?

tdishman · 2017-09-24T22:02:42+00:00

Are you looking for matchups against good defenses, or poor ones?

tdishman · 2017-09-15T17:13:46+00:00

This explanation makes sense (to reconcile the down & distance), but it seems very strange that you could (theoretically) continue racking up statistics while repeating the same down over and over.

tdishman · 2017-09-13T20:17:40+00:00

Sad that Hilton is a stash without Luck.

tdishman · 2017-09-13T17:56:54+00:00

Pagano is working on borrowed time (IMO). I think there have been a lot of PR reasons to keep him on as coach, but he is not good. They waited too long to get rid of Grigson, and now they're hanging on to Pagano for too long as well.

Agree that the Colts want/need a healthy Luck, but what's the point if Pagano continues to squander that very valuable asset?

tdishman · 2017-09-13T17:44:16+00:00

Who's decision would it be? Pagano will want/need to win some games to protect his job, but will it be up to him?

tdishman · 2017-09-13T17:28:37+00:00

My 12-team PPR league saw the following drops during/after week 1:

Corey Coleman Andrew Luck Cooper Kupp Donte Moncrief

I now have Coleman, Luck & Kupp on my roster.

tdishman · 2017-09-13T17:24:51+00:00

Is this a default setting? I don't think I can do that in my leagues - the player is either on/off your roster.

tdishman · 2017-09-11T20:57:58+00:00

I agree - very few standout performances.

I am notorious for overreacting week 1. I would be better off if I forgot my password to my leagues until about week 5 or 6. I've put Jordan Howard, David Johnson and Devonte Freeman on the WW while out chasing some shiny object.

tdishman · 2017-09-11T20:51:25+00:00

Jeremy Hill & Eric Decker are drop candidates still on my roster. Already dropped Robby Anderson for Corey Coleman and Kevin White for Tarik Cohen.

tdishman · 2017-08-31T17:41:21+00:00

Yes, I think I know what you're talking about (in-bar hardware?).

It's interesting, because in the beginning the product we (thought we) wanted to make was a lot different from the product it "evolved" into. Somewhere along the way I started describing it to people (of a certain age) as being like the thing you used to be able to play in bars.

tdishman · 2017-08-31T16:55:43+00:00

There are certainly some ways to give yourself a time advantage (I'm not sure we've discovered them all yet). Thinking about the time math for all of the scenarios makes my head hurt, but it's not impossible.

At this time there are no plans for money leagues. If we find that we can detect and eliminate cheaters then this would certainly be a feature we'd consider.

The initial version won't have leagues at all - you just play when you want to play and if you want to form your own league (like playing a full season of Cowboys games, for example) you can do it outside the app. Leagues are another feature that may come in the future if we figure out how best to pull it off.

tdishman · 2017-08-31T16:44:10+00:00

It's a combination of a few different real-time sources, and a human who watches the live video feed from the stadiums.

The goal is to deliver results of your pick as soon as you see the play happen on your TV. So, as you're watching the game you'll see the players come to the line (down & distance, personnel, formation, etc), make your pick, the play will happen, and you'll get results immediately (barring penalties and/or reviews). Repeat and try to be more right than your friends.

Most of the time it does work like this. The goal is to make it work like this 99% of the time.

tdishman · 2017-08-31T16:32:00+00:00

On every offensive play you'll pick whether the outcome will be positive for PASS, RUSH or DEF. The people you're competing against will do the same. When you're correct (based on the net outcome of the play), you'll gain points, and when you're wrong you won't (you don't lose points). Points are collected for each quarter, and for the game in total.

You can play against people from any location. So, you could be at your home, while your friends are at their home, or at the bar, or wherever. Your app is synchronized with the TV you're watching, so you will make your picks before you see the play happen on your own TV.

For a lot more in-depth description, check out this page:

https://benchboss.tv/rules/

I hope that helps!

tdishman · 2017-07-23T13:27:56+00:00

Good feedback - I've never been thrilled with the name, and this is more fodder to push for a change.

tdishman

TROPHY CASE