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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 X.]] and [[RGG]] had full knowledge of Isotropic's existence.<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> There was a handshake agreement 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.<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> There appeared to be a friendly relationship between dougz and Donald/RGG, as Donald used a private Isotropic server for playtesting <ref>[[Donald X.]], [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=112.msg1133#msg1133 "Isotropic"], [[Dominion Strategy Forum]]</ref> and dougz was informally approached about taking the job of creating the official online version.<ref>[[dougz]], [http://www.reddit.com/r/dominion/comments/sf5y1/i_wrote_and_run_the_isotropic_dominion_server_ama/c4djxbx "dougz Reddit AMA"], Reddit</ref><ref>[[Donald X.]], [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=175.msg2283#msg2283 "All previous turns occasionally visible in Isotropic games"], [[Dominion Strategy Forum]]</ref> | |
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− | Both [[Donald X.]] and [[RGG]] had full knowledge of Isotropic's existence.<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> There was a handshake agreement 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.<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> There appeared to be a friendly relationship between dougz and Donald/RGG, as Donald used a private Isotropic server for playtesting <ref>[[Donald X.]], [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=112.msg1133#msg1133 "Isotropic"], [[Dominion Strategy Forum]]</ref> and dougz was informally approached about taking the job of creating the official online version.<ref>[[dougz]], [http://www.reddit.com/r/dominion/comments/sf5y1/i_wrote_and_run_the_isotropic_dominion_server_ama/c4djxbx "dougz Reddit AMA"], Reddit</ref><ref>[[Donald X.]], [http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=175.msg2283#msg2283 "All previous turns occasionally visible in Isotropic games | + | |
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== Interface == | == Interface == | ||
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=== 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 their is an archive <ref>[http://bggdl.square7.ch/leaderboard/ "Isotropic Leaderboard Archives"]</ref> of the daily updates going all the way back to March 2011. 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 | ||
− | Unofficially<ref>[http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=1552. | + | Unofficially<ref>[http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=1552.50 "Attention-whoring thread.... I did it!!"], [[Dominion Strategy Forum]]</ref>, [[Who's_Who#.231_Players|Marin]] has attained the highest legitimate ranking, hitting a level of 53.956 <ref>[http://bggdl.square7.ch/leaderboard/leaderboard-2012-09-14.html "Isotropic Leaderboard - September 14, 2012"], Isotropic Leaderboard Archives</ref> 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 Karumah<ref>[http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=1027.0 "Karumah?"], [[Dominion Strategy Forum]]</ref>, Ozymandias II<ref>[http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=2053.0 "Ozymandias II?"], [[Dominion Strategy Forum]]</ref> and ottocar<ref>[http://forum.dominionstrategy.com/index.php?topic=1552.msg128127#msg128127 "Attention-whoring thread.... I did it!!"], [[Dominion Strategy Forum]]</ref>) 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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==== 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. The exact date of this shutdown is currently unknown. |
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== Criticism == | == Criticism == | ||
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==== Target Audience ==== | ==== 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. |
==== Touchscreen Devices ==== | ==== Touchscreen Devices ==== | ||
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== References == | == References == | ||
{{reflist|2}} | {{reflist|2}} | ||
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