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− | '''Isotropic''' | + | '''Isotropic''' is the common name for the online implementation of [[Dominion]] created by Doug Zongker ([[dougz]]). Located at [http://dominion.isotropic.org/ dominion.isotropic.org], Isotropic was the dominant arena for online play of Dominion prior to 2012's release of [[Goko]]. On November 20, 2012 Isotropic hosted its 10,000,00th game. At this point the site featured approximately 8,000 registered users and was averaging almost 20,000 games of Dominion per day. |
− | + | Both Donald and RGG had full knowledge <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> of Isotropic's existence. There was a handshake agreement <ref>[[dougz]], [http://www.reddit.com/r/dominion/comments/sf5y1/i_wrote_and_run_the_isotropic_dominion_server_ama/c4djgpl "dougz Reddit AMA"], Reddit]]</ref> in place that Isotropic was allowed to be freely operated provided that dougz did not profit from it, it did not use the official card art, and that Isotropic would be shut down should an official (paid) version of the game appear. There appeared to be a friendly relationship between dougz and Donald/RGG, as Donald used a private Isotropic server for [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=112.msg1133#msg1133 playtesting] and dougz was informally [http://www.reddit.com/r/dominion/comments/sf5y1/i_wrote_and_run_the_isotropic_dominion_server_ama/c4djxbx approached] about taking the job of creating the official online version. | |
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== Interface == | == Interface == | ||
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A key feature of Isotropic was its skill level estimates. Player skill was quantified using an adaptation of Microsoft's [http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/trueskill/ TrueSkill] skill ranking, itself a variation of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elo_rating_system Elo] rating system. The system assigned players a level rating based off of their results against other players, factoring in the skill level of all players involved in each game. Among the attributes of the system: | A key feature of Isotropic was its skill level estimates. Player skill was quantified using an adaptation of Microsoft's [http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/trueskill/ TrueSkill] skill ranking, itself a variation of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elo_rating_system Elo] rating system. The system assigned players a level rating based off of their results against other players, factoring in the skill level of all players involved in each game. Among the attributes of the system: | ||
* Beyond the win/loss status, end of game score has no bearing on rankings. A one point nail biter is worth just as much as a 100 point blowout. | * Beyond the win/loss status, end of game score has no bearing on rankings. A one point nail biter is worth just as much as a 100 point blowout. | ||
− | * Multiplayer matches get broken down into individual head to head games for the rankings, so getting second place in a multiplayer game is still important. A 3 player game is broken into P1 vs P2, P2 vs P3, and P1 vs P3. | + | * Multiplayer matches get broken down into individual head to head games for the rankings, so getting second place in a multiplayer game is still important. A 3 player game is broken into P1 vs P2, P2 vs P3, and P1 vs P3. More discussion on this can be found [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=2289.msg39298#msg39298 here]. |
* A win against a highly ranked opponent increased your rating more than a win against a lower ranked opponent. Conversely, a loss to a highly ranked opponent damages your skill rating less than a loss to a very low ranked opponent. | * A win against a highly ranked opponent increased your rating more than a win against a lower ranked opponent. Conversely, a loss to a highly ranked opponent damages your skill rating less than a loss to a very low ranked opponent. | ||
− | * A player's displayed (in Isotropic lobby and on leaderboard) skill level was the result of subtracting a player's variance from their skill estimate. This provides a lower bound for a player's skill estimate. There is some debate (especially among elite players) on whether this is the best way to manage skill levels, and the Isotropic [http://dominion.isotropic.org/faq/#leaderboard FAQ] addresses some of these questions | + | * A player's displayed (in Isotropic lobby and on leaderboard) skill level was the result of subtracting a player's variance from their skill estimate. This provides a lower bound for a player's skill estimate. There is some debate (especially among elite players) on whether this is the best way to manage skill levels, and the Isotropic [http://dominion.isotropic.org/faq/#leaderboard FAQ] addresses some of these questions. |
=== Leaderboard === | === Leaderboard === | ||
− | In conjunction with the skill ratings, a [http://dominion.isotropic.org/leaderboard/ leaderboard] was created which ranked all players based on their skill level. The leaderboard allowed players to compete against themselves by improving their skill ranking as well as competing with others to climb the leaderboard. The leaderboard site was updated each day, but | + | In conjunction with the skill ratings, a [http://dominion.isotropic.org/leaderboard/ leaderboard] was created which ranked all players based on their skill level. The leaderboard allowed players to compete against themselves by improving their skill ranking as well as competing with others to climb the leaderboard. The leaderboard site was updated each day, but archives of the daily updates dating back to March 2011 can be found [http://bggdl.square7.ch/leaderboard/ here]. The leaderboard displayed six factors for each player shown: |
* Level (Skill - Variance) | * Level (Skill - Variance) | ||
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* Level change the last day | * Level change the last day | ||
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+ | [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=1552.50 Unofficially], [[Who's_Who#.231_Players|Marin]] has attained the highest legitimate ranking, hitting a level of [http://bggdl.square7.ch/leaderboard/leaderboard-2012-09-14.html 53.956] in mid September 2012. | ||
=== Level Creep === | === Level Creep === | ||
− | + | While Marin's peak level is a very impressive feat, it is very difficult to compare relative skill levels on Isotropic over time. This is due to the apparent existence of a 'level creep' on the Isotropic leaderboard over time. TrueSkill tries to fit all of the available players skill levels into a normal bell curve. So, the majority of players will sit near some level X, with a tendency to see less and less of a skill level as you move further from that center point. | |
As time goes on, the number of players on Isotropic has increased, pushing the boundaries on the edges of the bell curve. This can be evidenced practically by both the increase in peak skill level over time as well as by the increase of players falling into the high skill level buckets of 35-40, 40-45, and 45+. Of course, this does not account for all skill level increases, as experience and strategy resources (such as this website) will also serve to increase player skill. | As time goes on, the number of players on Isotropic has increased, pushing the boundaries on the edges of the bell curve. This can be evidenced practically by both the increase in peak skill level over time as well as by the increase of players falling into the high skill level buckets of 35-40, 40-45, and 45+. Of course, this does not account for all skill level increases, as experience and strategy resources (such as this website) will also serve to increase player skill. | ||
=== Gaming The Leaderboard === | === Gaming The Leaderboard === | ||
− | Unfortunately, a number of people have decided they want to game the system to leap up the leaderboard. User Paralyzed was one of the first to do this, exploiting the KC/Goons/Masquerade [ | + | Unfortunately, a number of people have decided they want to game the system to leap up the leaderboard. User Paralyzed was one of the first to do this, exploiting the KC/Goons/Masquerade [http://dominionstrategy.com/2011/03/18/combo-of-the-day-24-kings-courtgoonsmasquerade/ pin] every game on unsuspecting players to maintain an absurd win rate. Others (such as [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=1027.0 Karumah] and [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=2053.0 Ozymandias II]) seem to mix legitimate play with high win rates against dummy accounts. These kinds of shenanigans were usually visible to regular players because of the unlikely numbers of levels increased in a single day. |
== History == | == History == | ||
− | + | ==== Creation ==== | |
− | + | ==== Leaderboard Implementation ==== | |
+ | ==== Automatch ==== | ||
==== New Lobbies ==== | ==== New Lobbies ==== | ||
In August 2011 dougz introduced 4 new lobbies to take the place of the old main lobby for meeting players. | In August 2011 dougz introduced 4 new lobbies to take the place of the old main lobby for meeting players. | ||
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}} | }} | ||
− | The change was not well-received by the Dominion community at large, with the | + | The change was not well-received by the Dominion community at large, with the [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=1077.0 majority of players] favoring either a return to the old style or running both styles side by side. It seems dougz listened to the community, as he introduced another updated version on [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=1077.msg17532#msg17532 December 05, 2011] which looked back further than 30 days. |
The newer system offered two key changes. First, the new leaderboard increased a player's variance every day. This is a slight change from the older system, where variance would only increase on days the player played at least 1 game. This variance increase discouraged players from obtaining a high level and sitting on their achievement, as they would gradually fall down the leaderboard. Second, only randomly (or pseudo-randomly) chosen kingdoms counted towards a player's ranking. Any specifically proposed kindgom would make the game ineligible, a move targeted at players like Paralyzed who soared to the top of the leaderboard by exploiting the King's Court/Goons/Masquerade pin against unsuspecting players every game. | The newer system offered two key changes. First, the new leaderboard increased a player's variance every day. This is a slight change from the older system, where variance would only increase on days the player played at least 1 game. This variance increase discouraged players from obtaining a high level and sitting on their achievement, as they would gradually fall down the leaderboard. Second, only randomly (or pseudo-randomly) chosen kingdoms counted towards a player's ranking. Any specifically proposed kindgom would make the game ineligible, a move targeted at players like Paralyzed who soared to the top of the leaderboard by exploiting the King's Court/Goons/Masquerade pin against unsuspecting players every game. | ||
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==== Dark Ages Release ==== | ==== Dark Ages Release ==== | ||
− | With [[Donald X.]] offering card previews for [[Dark Ages]] just as he did with [[Hinterlands]], it was initially expected that Isotropic would feature these cards as released just as it happened with the Hinterlands release. To the dismay of much of the online Dominion community, Donald pointed out | + | With [[Donald X.]] offering card previews for [[Dark Ages]] just as he did with [[Hinterlands]], it was initially expected that Isotropic would feature these cards as released just as it happened with the Hinterlands release. To the dismay of much of the online Dominion community, Donald pointed out <ref>[[Donald X.]], [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=3743.msg76390#msg76390 "Iso being down = preparing for Dark Ages?"], [[Dominion Strategy Forum]]</ref> that this was not the case. |
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==== Shutdown ==== | ==== Shutdown ==== | ||
− | Isotropic | + | The Isotropic server is set to be shut down at around the same time that Goko fully releases their paid version of online Dominion. |
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== Criticism == | == Criticism == | ||
There were few complaints overall about Isotropic, especially because it was a free service with passive approval from the game designer. | There were few complaints overall about Isotropic, especially because it was a free service with passive approval from the game designer. | ||
− | + | === Target Audience === | |
− | Isotropic's overall design clearly favored those who already had experience playing the game of Dominion. | + | Isotropic's overall design clearly favored those who already had experience playing the game of Dominion. The bare-bones construct, fast play, and lack of prominent rules made it difficult for some newer players. This is an area where [[Goko]] Dominion stands out in comparison to Isotropic, as it offers campaign modes and single player play which are more friendly to newer players. |
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− | === | + | === Touchscreen Devices === |
− | + | Another common complaint about Isotropic came chiefly from mobile/tablet players. A few cards implemented a '[http://dominion.isotropic.org/faq/#reorder drag]' feature to reorganize the order of certain cards, a feature which was unusable on certain touch screen devices. dougz was fully aware of the issue and he [http://www.reddit.com/r/dominion/comments/sf5y1/i_wrote_and_run_the_isotropic_dominion_server_ama/c4dsy6s stated] that he was not going to make changes to accomodate a smaller portion of the user base because of doubts about the future of Isotropic. This topic was discussed regularly on the forums. ([http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=805.0 1],[http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=889.0 2],[http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=1019.0 3],[http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=2361.0 4],[http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=2981.0 5]) | |
− | == | + | === Down Time === |
− | + | Because Isotropic was entirely maintained by dougz on a server in his home, Isotropic would occasionally go down leaving users unable to play games. The problems were typically minor (such as loss of power or temporary bugs), but they had to be addressed in person. These outages often led users to speculate on whether or not they had played their last game on Isotropic, as many users knew Isotropic would be taken down once Goko released. | |
− | + | ==References== | |
− | + | <references/> |