[smoore]

Hi all.

I want to head a project that will end in a full featured tournament clock and league system hosted by chiptalk.net. I have the go ahead from Ten to do this. My vision:

Configurable rounds, blinds, antes
Player, buyin, rebuy management
League management, web hosted, integrated with client
Output also available in straight XML for people to use themselves
Downloadable, themable client
Completely cross platform, flash, java or javascript
Configurable through both GUI menus and XML files
Usable and accurate on old, obsolete hardware
optional - client/server system for larger tournaments

I need programmers! Either PM me or check my email addy in my profile.

I think flash would be a great medium, because it's so damn pretty and it'll work on windows, mac and linux. This is a HUGE requirement for me, I despise software that can only be run in one environment, we need at least the big three. Before any flash/shock coders get all excited, shock WILL NOT work under linux so it's flash only.

I will provide all crossplatform testing, no need to worry about that.

As far as the league system goes, I'm sure I can wrangle any type of FREE database that's required. No SQL server, no mySQL (horrible license). postgres or sqLite spring to mind. This is also a large requirement in my mind... there are lots of clocks but I don't know of any that are integrated into a web based league tracker.

As of now, this will be a completely free (as in beer) system. Ten hopes to not have to EVER charge fees.

What do potential users want to see?

1) Scheduling / invite system
2) Forum
3) Payout per participant "templates"
4) Preloaded blind schedules like popular tournaments
5) Sound databse
6) Seat / table managment

[Spaceman Spiff]

Scheduling/evite would be excellent. It's a pain right now flipping between evite, mail, Excel, etc.

A message board for the league would be sweet as well. Need a nice place for the trash talk.

And one last thing, I'm not sure how big of a deal this is for people, but I gave tournament director a try and couldn't do this easily. I have a set payout schedule depending on number of players. It would be nice to have a way to specify that payout schedule. In tournament director, I had to create different templates for each break point in my schedule.


I'd love to help with programming, but if it can't be done in basic HTML in Frontpage, I'm the wrong guy to ask.

[SpaceMonkey]

Originally Posted by Spaceman Spiff

Scheduling/evite would be excellent. It's a pain right now flipping between evite, mail, Excel, etc.

A message board for the league would be sweet as well. Need a nice place for the trash talk.

And one last thing, I'm not sure how big of a deal this is for people, but I gave tournament director a try and couldn't do this easily. I have a set payout schedule depending on number of players. It would be nice to have a way to specify that payout schedule. In tournament director, I had to create different templates for each break point in my schedule.

Yes, yes and yes!

Some more minor things, no where near as important as the above three:

I don't think it would be a bad idea to have a few different preloaded blind schedules as well, like some Foxwoods ones, WSOP, etc. Or should I say similar type structures without the names?

Sound database built in or easily downloaded and added in for custom sounds.

Seat management for multitables (wasn't mentioned in the OP)

I'm sure I'll think of more.

[smitty]

I am pretty sure that Dr Neau's Tournament Manager is integrated with a web based league tracking system or two. It's also cross platform capable.

[SpaceMonkey]

Originally Posted by smitty

I am pretty sure that Dr Neau's Tournament Manager is integrated with a web based league tracking system or two. It's also cross platform capable.

But it costs $40/year.

[smoore]

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

But it costs $40/year.

And, as everything, is subject to change without notice. It's a one-man-band, with the ensuing possibility of dying. You can't kill a group project once it starts rolling... say I get sick of it in a year, the group elects a new coordinator. Say a programmer gets tired of working on it after three months, his/her code is still there and other developers can actively work on it.

I wish all the best to Dr. Neau, he really does have a superior product to the alternatives but besides his and TD, I haven't been impressed with anything else.

I want this product to be "sponsored" (probably not open suarez). The only fees a user would pay would be for subscription services like the league rankings, invite system, forum, etc. If all they want is to download it and use it locally (or in conjunction with thier own web hosting), more power to them. All development will be on a volunteer only basis, no compensation offered or expected for now. Any fees collected should only be used for bandwidth and hardware. Yes, this means that some advertising will be involved, it will definitely be discreet. If there is demand, perhaps a "premium" no-ad version will be offered.

Keep the suggestions coming... I'm going to edit them into the OP, no matter how weird they may seem to me. After I get some code monkeys on board we'll start to solidify what the system should accomplish and in which stages.

Someone find me a flash coder! Don't make me try to learn that shiznat! I can beat a database until it complies but that artsy-GUI-feely stuff blows my mind.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Not sure if it would be useful for this project, but I used a program called Swish a few years ago to make some flash movies. It was super easy to use especially for an extreme programming novice like myself. I thought it was pretty powerful for what I wanted to do, but I don't know if it would be enough for a project like this. Just a possible lead.

EDIT: Did some checking. The version I used, Swhish2 is discontinued. Too bad, because it was priced very reasonably. Looks like the latest and greatest, SwishMax, is close to $100.

[TenPercenter]

Originally Posted by smoore

I want this product to be "sponsored" (probably not open suarez). The only fees a user would pay would be for subscription services like the league rankings, invite system, forum, etc. If all they want is to download it and use it locally (or in conjunction with thier own web hosting), more power to them. All development will be on a volunteer only basis, no compensation offered or expected for now. Any fees collected should only be used for bandwidth and hardware. Yes, this means that some advertising will be involved, it will definitely be discreet. If there is demand, perhaps a "premium" no-ad version will be offered.

I want it to be hosted from the site, and never charge any fees for it's use. The last thing I need is to be keeping track of subscription fees! It will probably get banners on it or something, simply because the bandwidth will be outrageous. But no fees.

All coding will belong to ChipTalk.net, not open source. I think that;s what you were saying anyway... But I dont want the system downloadable. I want people to use the site and become part of the member base here. This should just be a new tool for members, among the many that we have planned.

[SpaceMonkey]

Having the client customizable and downloadable is key, IMO. I certainly don't want to HAVE to be connected to the internet to run my tournament.

[Wooderson]

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

Having the client customizable and downloadable is key, IMO. I certainly don't want to HAVE to be connected to the internet to run my tournament.

I concur.

That said, another idea you could integrate is a PayPal type service. A number of buddies of mine in Austin had a weekly tournament. All of them that plan to play each week PayPal their entry fee to a tournament PayPal address. When the tourney is over the co-ordinator sends the prize money from the tourney accounts to the member accounts. Pretty cool.