Poker Mavens 4.25 Released

[Kent Briggs]

Upgrade page:

http://www.briggsoft.com/patches.htm

Changes:

Implemented new permissions system for restricting table and chat access to specific players. This gives a site administration better control over table (and chat) access without having to use passwords. For example, you may want to setup a "newbie" table that only new sign-ups can play on. Or implement a satellite tournament where both registration and/or unregistration is limited to specific players.

Each player now has a "Permissions" setting which can contain a comma-separated list of permission tokens. There is no limit to the number of tokens but each one must be 15 alphanumeric characters or less in length. Tokens are also case sensitive. Ring tables now have a "Play permission" and "Observe permission" setting which can be blank (giving everyone access) or can have a single permission token, giving access only to players who have a matching token. Likewise, tournaments now have "Register permission", "Unregister permission", and "Observe permission" settings. In the Client Settings group on the System tab, there is a new "Lobby chat permission", allowing you to restrict write access to the lobby chat feature.

The old Password and Private settings in ring games and tournaments still work but you cannot combine password and permission access together at the same table or tournament. Also, the old "Player chat" and "Observer chat" settings have been replaced with corresponding "Player chat permission" and "Observer chat permission" settings. So if you previously had either of these disabled, you will need to specify a permission token (that no one has) to replicate the disabling of those features. You can simply call that token "No" or any non-blank string that you want.

A new AccountsPermission command has been added to the API to facilitate adding, removing, or querying for individual permission tokens assigned to a player. The existing AccountsAdd and AccountsEdit can be used to set multiple tokens for an account. In the client lobby, a new "Show permissions" command has been added to the Account menu.

Bug fixes:

Fixed ring game add/clone bug that prevented table opening. In versions 4.21 through 4.24, if you created a new ring table and did not keep the default name, an index mismatch occurred internally that prevented the table from opening in the client (until it was edited).

Fixed table graphics rendering bug in client. Previously if you happened to open an active table in the middle of an animation, sometimes the table would not render any graphics elements.

Fixed TournamentsMessage recording bug in API. Now this command will correctly record the message in the hand history file if "Save player chat" is enabled in the log settings.

Fixed error message format bug in API. Previously there were several error responses that returned in legacy format even if JSON format was specified in the parameters.

[social]

That is all great news, Kent.
Will the API allow me to write some code that will take all of the VIP Members on my site and give them all a Special Token to enter a Specific Tourney or Table?
Can the Tokens be changed and applied to Tables or Tourneys which are already in progress?
For example, you could withdraw the privilege to play at a table while the player is sitting there?

Can you extend this Token Function to other features, like whether Players are permitted to do Rebuys or buy Addons? Please?

[Kent Briggs]

Will the API allow me to write some code that will take all of the VIP Members on my site and give them all a Special Token to enter a Specific Tourney or Table?

Yes, call AccountsList to retrieve a list of all your players. Then loop through those and add the permission token to each account using AccountsPermission. See the help file for details on how to use AccountsPermission in the API.

Can the Tokens be changed and applied to Tables or Tourneys which are already in progress?
For example, you could withdraw the privilege to play at a table while the player is sitting there?

Like all tournament settings, they can only be changed offline. But you can edit a player's settings (including their permissions) at any time.

Can you extend this Token Function to other features, like whether Players are permitted to do Rebuys or buy Addons? Please?

I don't have any plans for that at the moment. Why would you deny rebuys for some players and not for others?

[social]

But you can edit a player's settings (including their permissions) at any time.

So, what will be the consequence if you edit a player's permission to be at a table while he is sitting at that table?
None? But - after leaving the table, the next time he tries to play at that table he would be denied?

Why would you deny rebuys for some players and not for others?

Analogy: why would a Poker Room allow high rates of Rakeback to only some players and not for others?

Why do the #1 Seeds in NCAA Final Four Tournaments get to play the Lowest Ranked teams in the first round?

Why are players at certain levels in various online Games allowed to purchase extra lives, or more health, or more power?

As a Privilege, or a Bonus, or a Service that is only available to Players meeting certain Criteria...

One obvious reason might be for Monetization via Membership Subscriptions....
VIP members are allowed Re-buys or Addons in certain Tournaments....

Guest Members are NOT.

[Kent Briggs]

So, what will be the consequence if you edit a player's permission to be at a table while he is sitting at that table?
None? But - after leaving the table, the next time he tries to play at that table he would be denied?

For ring games, the permission is only checked when the seat request is made and for tournaments, when the registration request is made. Once pass that point, a removal of the permission will have no effect until they leave and try to come back.

Analogy: why would a Poker Room allow high rates of Rakeback to only some players and not for others?

That has no effect on the outcome of the game.

Why do the #1 Seeds in NCAA Final Four Tournaments get to play the Lowest Ranked teams in the first round?

You have to pair up the teams one way or the other. But once the game starts, the rules apply equally to both teams.

[social]

We all appreciate whatever flexibility you can give us in terms of options we can use to enhance the choices we give our customers.

The fact of the matter is that under the current system the only people allowed to Rebuy are those who are willing to pay an extra fee - if one has been set.

On a virtual currency based site, that fee does not earn much money for the site - however, allowing the Site Owner to charge a Real Money fee for
Re-buy privileges amounts to the same thing...the only people who will be allowed extra chips are those who pay the real-money fee ahead of time.
Anybody who wants to buy a rebuy can buy the rebuy...so, your criticism that somehow the rules are not being followed fairly after the game has started is really moot.

This system of tokens which you have come up with is very similar to the one which I have on my own site...where Members have lots of choices
to engage in and there are lots of ways to give them badges, achievements and other forms of recognition.

There is already a Hierarchy of Permissions on most social-oriented sites...including Forums, where certain users are restricted from posting until certain milestones,
and Users are given different amounts of Points for posting and other activities depending upon their seniority and membership levels.

Your new system of tokens will make it easier for your customers to make more money by "Gamifying" their sites and thereafter buy more licenses...

I hope you will continue to be open to assisting your customers to use innovative methods to monetize their sites.