What is the ideal PO freerolls password release solution in your opinion?
Are you frustrated yet, with the current freeroll password release system? Have you had enough of watching a clock tick down during your break? Annoyed every time the tournament is already closed by the time you get to register? Irritated that you can't request a refund because the form complains that the tournament hasn't started yet? Perhaps as a PO Mod, you are already bored with the repetitive approving of hundreds of refund requests after every tournament? Imagine we could change all that, what would your dream solution for opting in and registering to PO tournaments look like?
Experts all agree, that the number one cause for losing money at poker is tilt. All the above mentioned negative emotions have been scientifically proven to be catalysts for tilt and should be avoided at all costs, by the serious poker player. Now lets imagine for a second a world in which we have the ideal solution for registering to our tournaments, what would such a system look like? It might not reduce the frequency at which you get tilted but at least you'll have one less thing to blame for your lack of self control. =)
So give me hand in creating this fantasy application by adding your thoughts as we plot out the requirements of this imaginary system in an ideal world setting. Lets not get totally out of hand now as this imaginary world still abides by the same laws as our own reality and keep in mind that the problem we are trying to solve is the release of passwords not curing herpes or gonorrhea. That does not mean it has to be void of creativity and to accommodate the more out of the box ideas we are going to break the requirements into two categories lets call them M and N.
System requirements for PO password releases:
M. Must haves:
These are the absolute bare minimum requirements for a PO password release solution which it cannot be considered functional without.
M.1. Maintain a list of available freerolls including the following details
M.1.1 Date and time of the event
M.1.2 Name or description
M.1.3 Price in PO points
M.1.4 Prize pool
M.1.5 Poker room
M.2 Charge and release
M.2.1 Facilitate a user opting into a given freeroll and effecting the charge
M.2.2 Ensure, as far as possible, that only opted in users may attend the given freeroll.
M.3 Cancellation and refund
M.3.1 Facilitate a user's request and motivation for a refund to a previously opted in freeroll
M.3.2 Facilitate the approval of refund requests and reversing the charge
N. Nice to haves:
These are the bells and whistles in the realm of freeroll password releases whether common or revolutionary the only distinction is that the solution can still function without.
N.1 Additional freeroll information
N.1.1 Event type/grouping repetitions of the same event
N.1.1 Frequency of type (ie. hourly, daily, monthly)
N.1.1 Payout structure per type
N.1.2 Leader board per type/maybe include period
N.2 Charge and release
N.2.1 Auto registration of user in the event with the poker room without the need to release a password
N.2.2 Discounts (ie. early bird) and promotions effecting the price of opting in
Once we have the requirements down we'll have clear goals set and can start pondering some possible solutions which would facilitate these. Comparing the pros and cons of each solution, including the current fix in place, will allow us to compare the possibilities and evaluate the best course of action.
These are only the preliminary requirements based on the current solution from what I managed to deduce. If I missed anything or you have ideas you'd like to add, please speak your piece now or forever hold your peace.
