Editing Goko

{{Infobox Website
|name = Goko
|url = http://play.goko.com/Dominion/gameClient.html
|type = Game
|aka = FunSockets
|founder = Ted Griggs, Kevin Binkley
|admin = [http://www.funsockets.com/#/about Goko Team]
}}

'''Goko''' is an HTML5 gaming platform which holds the rights to create online versions of a variety of Euro style and other games. Initially known to the Dominion community as '''FunSockets''', Goko's Dominion is the official online implementation of the game. The software is currently in a public beta status, and once it is fully released, will cause all unofficial versions of Dominion (including [[Isotropic]]) to shut down.

==Goko Dominion==
===Gameplay===
===Reception===

== History ==
=== Speculation ===
=== Failed Release ===
The official [http://playdominion.com/ online dominion] game was expected to launch to the public on August 16, 2012<ref>[http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=3945.0 "Official Version Launching 8/16?"], [[Dominion Strategy Forum]]</ref>. This date was chosen to coincide with the release of [[Dark Ages]] at Gencon, and Goko's press release found its way to the front page of blogs and news outlets such as The Wall Street Journal<ref>Russ Garland, [http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2012/08/16/the-daily-start-up-goko-emerges-from-stealth-to-launch-html5-gaming-platform/ "Goko Emerges From Stealth to Launch HTML5 Gaming Platform"], WSJ Blogs: Venture Capital Dispatch</ref>, Kotaku<ref>Mike Fahey, [http://www.kotaku.com.au/2012/08/the-age-of-true-platform-free-gaming-begins-with-goko/ "The Age Of True Platform-Free Gaming Begins With Goko"], Kotaku: Australia</ref>, and Mashable<ref>Chelsea Stark, [http://mashable.com/2012/08/16/board-games-online/ "Board Game Classics ‘Settlers of Catan’, ‘Dominion’ Invade Your Social Networks"], Mashable</ref>. However, there were a host of issues at the time of release, so Goko decided to bring the release back into [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=4188.msg90883#msg90883 beta] status. There are a number of blog posts/articles 
<ref>Owen Faraday, [http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-08/20/goko-launch-problems "Launch of Zynga competitor Goko marred by technical problems"], Wired UK</ref> <ref>Owen Faraday, [http://pockettactics.com/2012/08/18/dominion-online-makers-goko-un-launch-retreat-back-into-beta/ "Dominion Online makers Goko un-launch, retreat back into beta"], Pocket Tactics</ref> and forum threads ([http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=4096.0 1],[http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=4188.0 2],[http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=4191.0 3],[http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=4245.0 4],[http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=4287.0 5]) related to the failed release and return to beta status.

=== Public Beta Status and New Release Date ===
On September 21, 2012, Goko quietly [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=4738.msg110578#msg110578 released] their Dominion product in a public Beta. At this point, there are still a number of bugs, and updates are still coming regularly as the problems are solved. They are at a point where they are [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=4738.msg110614#msg110614 accepting] money for the purchase of expansions, with the prices significantly reduced (from ~$6 to ~$4 per half set) from the previous release. 

Goko has at this point not released a date for an official full release. The continuing uncertainty has led to forum members (prior to the beta release) making a guessing [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=4705.0 game] of when the product will fully release.

=== Goko Interaction and Current Online Dominion ===
Much to the dismay of many on these forums, there has been little information flow from FunSockets about their product, a problem which dates back to the first hints of an official implementation. Fortunately, the volume of interaction has increased in recent weeks. There have been two separate Q&A sessions so far, both exclusively catering to members of this forum. 

* Q&A #1 - [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=4080.msg95195#msg95195 Submitted Questions], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxdnHp5_2B4 Video Response], [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=4321.msg95643#msg95643 Transcript]

* Q&A #2 - [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=4735.0 Submitted Questions], [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=4895.0 Answers]

At this point, people are free to play Dominion on FunSockets as well as unofficial implementations such as Isotropic. Trisha from Goko stated <ref>Trisha Lantznester, [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=4250.msg93447#msg93447 "BGG Store Tournament Sign Ups"], [[Dominion Strategy Forum]]</ref> that Isotropic (and presumably all the other versions) would not be shut down until "Goko is completely up and running, open for everyone, and completely stable." Presumably, the Public Beta does not qualify as 'completely up and running', so existing implementations will remain unaffected. [[dougz]], creator of isotropic, stated that the shutdown date would likely be one week <ref>[[dougz]], [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=4203.msg91343#msg91343 "Dark Ages on Iso a Possibility?"], [[Dominion Strategy Forum]]</ref> after the eventual Goko release date. At this point, all online versions would be required to be taken down, per the agreements <ref>[[Donald X.]], [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=175.msg2386#msg2386 "All previous turns occasionally visible in Isotropic games"], [[Dominion Strategy Forum]]</ref> with Donald X. and RGG.

== Other ==
* The game has been shown to work on most browsers and mobile/tablet devices. There are currently some issues with Internet Explorer which are being hammered out. Additionally, there are dedicated iOS and Android apps reportedly on the way.

* The official version features AI in the form of a variety of different bots to play games against. There is also a campaign/adventure mode where the players have to overcome disadvantages to win the game. There are rumors that the product will eventually offer some way for [http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/8421729#8421729 users] to create AI's.

* The base set will be free to play for the public. To offset this free play, there will eventually be a video ad <ref>Trisha Lantznester, [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=4895.msg115363#msg115363 "FunSockets Q&A - Part 2"], [[Dominion Strategy Forum]]</ref> once every 15 minutes or so between game launch and start of game.

* Cards from the expansions will be able to be purchased for use a half set (or full small set, about 13 cards either way) at a time. These mini-sets currently cost about $4 each<ref>[http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=4738.msg110358#msg110358 "so this is out?"], [[Dominion Strategy Forum]]</ref> (slightly cheaper for package deals) and require the use of the intermediary currency of 'Gokoins'.

* Based off of discussion with Goko <ref>[http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=4321.msg95643#msg95643 "FunSockets Livestream"], [[Dominion Strategy Forum]]</ref> <ref>Trisha Lantznester, [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=4895.msg115363#msg115363 "FunSockets Q&A - Part 2"], [[Dominion Strategy Forum]]</ref>, their rating system is functionally very similar to [[Isotropic#Levels_and_Leaderboard|Isotropic's ranking system]] based off of TrueSkill.

* The promotional swipe cards which come inside of the recently released Base Card expansion and Dark Ages allow you to receive a free promotional pack of [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=4586.msg103535#msg103535 5 cards] for use on Goko's platfform. The cards included in this pack are Nobles, Haven, Hoard, and one (yet to be determined) card each from Hinterlands and Dark Ages. It is said that you can also get these cards by accessing Goko through [https://www.goko.com/games/promocard this] website.

==References==
<references/>