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The quality of the graphics in "big cards" mode has been improved and we have added three new features that are designed to better facilitate the creation of team matches.
The web-client already contained a nice feature that made it possible to start a team match without having to specify all 8 players. The host could subsequently issue invitations or players could apply to play via the list of pending team matches. Unfortunately this feature was not used very much, mostly because (we think) it was never able to achieve critical mass. We hope the following new features will change that and convince more team match enthusiasts who use the Windows client to finally migrate to the web-client:
1) There is a new option (available both at the bottom of the list of team matches and through "options", "more options") called "notify me when a team match needs players".
If this option is selected, users will receive notifications when a team match that needs players is created. This makes it much easier than it was previously for them to know when a new team match is starting and, after checking out the details, to possibly express interest in playing.
2) There is a new option "show lobby chat" (available through "options", "more options", through the "options" button in the chat area, and by right-clicking in the chat area).
The main reason we added this feature was because many team match regulars claim they will not switch to the web-client because lobby chat is the primary mechanism that Windows client users rely on to accumulate players for team matches. That excuse is now history
3) Windows client users will receive an automated lobby chat message when a web-client user starts a team match that needs players. The message appears to come from the host of the team match.
The theory behind this is that Windows client users will be able to respond to the web-client team match host who will then be able to invite the Windows client user to play in the team match.
Note that the default setting of both "notify me when a team match needs players" and "show lobby chat" is set to off. Users needs to turn these features on in order to use them. Once they are turned on (or subsequently turned off again) the web-client will remember the user's preferred settings for these options on the computer in question (if you use more than one computer to access BBO you will have to set these options on each computer).
As usual feedback is welcome. You can post questions, comments, suggestions, and bug reports here:
Click for web-client comments thread
Fred Gitelman
Bridge Base Inc.
www.bridgebase.com