Romance Lovers for the Challenge-Impaired discussion

Feedback

So now that our first ever dance party group game is coming to a close, I would love to hear what you thought of the experience! I've set some questions up here which would help us for the next game, or you can just leave your general impressions... We're wanting to make this as fun and interactive as we can, and we need your help to do that!


1. Was it easy to choose a book every week that linked to the songs? Were you happy with the songs to choose from?
2. Did you like having to get validation from the DJ, or would you prefer a more autonomous way of choosing your books for each song link (eg. shelf names with links or a set publication date)?
3. Was 8 weeks a good length for the game?
4. Were the teams a good size? Would you prefer more/less players?
5. Did you feel this game was well supported by the mods / DJ?
6. Do you think this would work better under a points system? How do you imagine we could make that happen?
7. Would you be interested in playing again? If so, how soon?
8. How could we improve this game / experience? Any and all ideas and suggestions welcome!
9. Did you enjoy reading other players' reviews? Did it affect your adding books to your TBR shelf?

ok...I thought the game was a really great idea.
we could also try a spell it out...but this way works well.
I liked the songs being picked at random...I love a lot of the songs that were listed, but obviously one can't do every single song! lol
honestly..I thought we had 1 more week..but this was fine too :)
I would do it again...I got some books off my shelves! :) (all newer books..recently added..but still...)
I think a point system would be more fair...because...just look at the chart...not everyone has the same place in the ranks each week....each week was rated fairly..but I think just because you get to the end first..shouldn't mean you win...what if others have more 1st or 2nd place rankings? don't you think it would be more fair, if someone with a higher average should win?
I don't know how you could make it beter..perhaps someone else has an idea forthat...but I think everyone did a great job...being as life can just get in the way sometimes! and everyone was understanding..
I do think that perhaps...amonst teammates..we should try to push each other in a more encouraging way..not simply wait on each other.......for example..there was one week..where my team(team 7) was gunning for first..I tried to encourage the others to get done...of course I would have been happy no matter what the outcome...but a little encouragement is always good! :)

we could do it again...just need to get teams set...perhaps see if others would want to join...maybe have more teams or keep what we have, and add new members to each...

1. Was it easy to choose a book every week that linked to the songs? Were you happy with the songs to choose from?

Yes, there were lots of options.

2. Did you like having to get validation from the DJ, or would you prefer a more autonomous way of choosing your books for each song link (eg. shelf names with links or a set publication date)?

The current method seemed fine to me.

3. Was 8 weeks a good length for the game?

Perhaps a little long. I have a short attention span. ;-)

4. Were the teams a good size? Would you prefer more/less players?

No opinion. More or staying the same would be fine.

5. Did you feel this game was well supported by the mods / DJ?

Absolutely. You guys are awesome!

6. Do you think this would work better under a points system? How do you imagine we could make that happen?

I do think the way to win is kind of flawed, as I mentioned in the other thread. I think doing it so that the placement in each "race" added up would be more logical. Or perhaps allowing groups to go on to the next book as soon as they finished. The current system is too heavily weighted to the last round.

7. Would you be interested in playing again? If so, how soon?

Could be. I'd probably want to take a break.

8. How could we improve this game / experience? Any and all ideas and suggestions welcome!

Aside from the way winning is set up, I think it's a great game!

My answers to Qs 1to 5 is yes and that I was happy with the way it was.

As for the point system : if we have 7 teams we can give the team that finishes first 7 point , second 6 point , ..., seventh 1 point for each week.Then add these numbers .The team that finishes with the highest point will be the winner. We also can have an extra point for the person who finishes first each week or only for the last week (if there are 2 teams with equal points). Do I make sense?

I'm interested in another round and we can start next week or in 2 months , I'll join.

It was a great game ,I had so much fun .

THANK YOU CaroB

It sounds like there's interest in a points system... loving the idea of the points for all teams, not just for the first 3 that finish... hmmm,

I was wondering about including some kind of bonus system. Whether we include colours, country or a word or expression (eg. "shuffling" or "sway") for individual points... I'll have to think more about this, but sometimes we have people that are great players but their team as a whole doesn't do so well. I'd like to find a way that we can reward those players somehow too, while keeping it a team challenge... maybe someone else has had a thought about something similar...

There could a "best in team" award.

CaroB, what others said. I really love the idea of Shosho's point system. Great job with this game, CaroB! I really enjoyed it :)

I agree with all the comments especially the points system that ShoSho suggested.
I would definitely play again and the Mods were brilliant.
Perhaps as a reward, the best team or player at the end of the tournament could pick songs to add to the randomizer.

1. Was it easy to choose a book every week that linked to the songs? Were you happy with the songs to choose from?
For me choosing the books came almost too easy. I believe I read somewhere in beginning that suggestions for links will be given only for the first few songs and then we're on our own, but each week we recieved many possible links to help us. I would find it more interesting and more challenging if we recieve only the name of the song for the week and then the teams have to come up with possible links on their own.

2. Did you like having to get validation from the DJ, or would you prefer a more autonomous way of choosing your books for each song link (eg. shelf names with links or a set publication date)?
I liked this way a lot, there's so many challenges that include only certain shelves, this way we have more options to choose from.

3. Was 8 weeks a good length for the game?
Yes.

4. Were the teams a good size? Would you prefer more/less players?
I like that we have smaller teams, 4 or 5 members seem perfect to me.

5. Did you feel this game was well supported by the mods / DJ?
Yes.

6. Do you think this would work better under a points system? How do you imagine we could make that happen?
Points system is more fair than just racing to the end.

7. Would you be interested in playing again? If so, how soon?
I would be very interested to play again and as soon as possible :) One book per week is not much and I don't see a need for a longer break.

8. How could we improve this game / experience? Any and all ideas and suggestions welcome!
I'm only good for playing the games not inventing them :)

Lauren, that's a great suggestion - letting the best team/players add songs for the next round :)

1. Was it easy to choose a book every week that linked to the songs? Were you happy with the songs to choose from? I am a library user so some weeks it was a little hard that I didn't have an actual book on hand that fit. But I also have a kindle and thanks to the groups freebie thread I have tons of books on there that fit the 150 page requirement, they just didn't fit into any other group challenges I was doing. Overall I would say yes it was easy enough, and I was happy with the songs.

2. Did you like having to get validation from the DJ, or would you prefer a more autonomous way of choosing your books for each song link (eg. shelf names with links or a set publication date)? I don't mind having to get validation, but it seems like it would have been a lot of extra work for the mods. Maybe in addition to the great suggestions provided with each song a shelf could be provided too, a shelf that ties to the song. Then there is a set list of books we know are acceptable plus we could think out side the "shelf" to tie to the song in another way. If the mods are ok having to check each person (even as the challenge grows) I think it works. You all were very timely.

3. Was 8 weeks a good length for the game? Yes, I think it was.

4. Were the teams a good size? Would you prefer more/less players? I think 4-6 players would be optimal

5. Did you feel this game was well supported by the mods / DJ? I think you all did a great job!

6. Do you think this would work better under a points system? How do you imagine we could make that happen? I like some sort of points better than a race to finish the last week. I am not sure I like the first to finish getting 7 then next getting 6 and so on. If one person on the team has a rough week and doesn't get thier book read fast enough then the team gets knocked for just one person. I think though that if they finish in the week the team should get a set point. If they take longer than the week then maybe less points. Maybe adapt a bingo/tic tac toe dance card option, that teams have to get 3-4-5 dances in a row to win. (maybe a 4 in a row card, it make it still about an 8 week game but maybe less maybe more)

7. Would you be interested in playing again? If so, how soon? You bet ya! I would love to say right away. However knowing I have big travel plans the week of Thanksgiving and Christmas I know it would interupt my ability to read as much. I would hate to sign up and then let my team down. If we start right away maybe concider taking those two weeks off for those who do celebrate, or waiting until after the first of the year.

8. How could we improve this game / experience? Any and all ideas and suggestions welcome! I think this was great, and just different enough from other team challenges to be unique. Other than some sort of point/ goal as mentioned above I think it was perfect.

I like the points system idea.

This wasn't asked but I am offering feedback on it anyway: I would rather have the shelf call fall in the weekend or maybe Friday night. But I say that as a M-F 9-5er. (well actually 8-4:30 but you know what I mean).

That's a good idea, Mary. And I really liked the
"pick next song as a reward" idea!

I think if I were to play again, it would probably be after the holidays. It's just too "challenging a time" for challenges. ;-)

I am loving all the suggestions! This is great:-) Thank you everyone!! You are all legends!

Catherine - I completely agree on the encouraging each other as team-mates. This is a good general suggestion for any team game really :-) I'm also hoping we might get more people wanting to play next time.

Willaful - interesting idea about possibly letting teams go onto the next song once they're done rather than wait for a set time each week. Something for me to think about... not sure how it would work, or if it would mean that anyone who fell behind would then find it too hard to catch up and therefore be out of the running or de-motivated from early on in the game... hmm, I'll have a think to see if we can make it work somehow... also, the best-in-team award! Loving that!

Shosho - Love the points that would be included for all teams. And you're very welcome, I've had fun doing this, though I'm wondering how I could make it so that I could also play next time... lol!

Vi - Thank you!! :-D

Lauren - I'd never thought about getting teams to add songs for the randomiser. That's a great idea and would make it a little more interactive! Good thinking :-) I'm wondering if I can somehow include that in with willaful's Best-in-team award...

Gea - Really interesting point, and you're completely right. At the beginning of this game, I didn't think I would be adding as many "possible links" as I ended up doing each week. It was meant to be a little more challenging for all of you to find a link yourselves. Something for me to think about and incorporate next game. It may mean there'll be a few more restrictions set out at the outset to give people an easier idea of boundaries... hmm, more to think about, thank you!

Dawn - thank you, definitely something to think about regarding team points and RL getting in the way. Funny you should mention bingo / tic-tac-toe, my first thought was to go along those lines too (great minds think alike!), but decided it would end up being a much longer duration, plus it's being done, and really well too, over at SOS. Having said that, your idea to link to one shelf and then also include "outside the shelf" links is great!!

Mary - I'm hearing you on the timing, I agree that posting time will have to change. I didn't realise it would be so awkward for everyone. Weekends are harder for me to get online, especially in summer, so will have to come up with something that works a bit better for everyone.

I'll have to tweak this game to include some of the awesome suggestions here!

I just wanted to say that I had a lot of fun this round and thanks to CaroB and everyone who helped run the game!

I'm loving all the points talk and I was thinking about it at work. The application I was supposed to be testing was delayed - I had a lot of time to think. I like the 7, 6, 5 points idea and I love the random element of a bingo card or tic tac toe thing. But I can see where those games can go on too long. So I was thinking as kind of a random element how about also assigning points based on the the book connection to the song? For instance, match a word in the title 3 points, match the artist name 2 points, based on a more general connection to the song 1 point. Or something like that. It would make the book selection way more strategic.

Or it could totally complicate things beyond belief. Like I said, I had a lot time to think. :)

Carol, I think doing points for each week would make more sense and be more fair than the other idea I suggested. It would indeed tend to make a group fall further and further behind.

OMG, I love it Karen!!

hmm, let's see, bonus points assigned per player, depending on strength of song link, PLUS a team score depending on how quickly the team finished as a whole...

So link to Cover= x points
Link to Characters / Author name = y points
Link to general plot= z points.

PLUS
1st team to finish per week = 7 points
2nd team = 6 points
etc

By golly, that could work... hmmm... you've got my mind turning for sure now...

That's a great idea, Karen! Maybe you could get more than one set of points? I really liked linking my books in as many ways as possible. :-)

I know at first I said I wasn't a fan of the points, it would leave a team in last place to hard to catch up. But upon further thinking maybe it would have the oposite effect that players would try harder to get done faster.

Maybe not so far spread of points. If first place has 14 points and last has 2 they are never going to catch up. But maybe if it was grouped 1st 2 teams get 4 points, next two teams get 3 points, next 2 get 2 points etc. Or do it by days it takes to finish. If a team finishes in 2 days they get 7 points, 3 days 6 points, 4 days 5 points etc. Then more than one team could get the same points for same day.

Adding Karen's idea of bonus points would give teams a way to add in extra points. I really like that.

I like this idea too! it makes it all around...more equal footing....then every team has a chance to accumulate more points. :)

Just thought of another question: Did you enjoy reading other players' reviews? Did it affect your adding books to your TBR shelf?

well..not really...lol...I have just added a whole slew of books today....Jean Plaidy, Victoria Holt, Philippa Carr....(all pseudonyms for same author)...I read a few of hers a long time ago...and knew she had quite a few....so I just added them !!!!!! as if I need more books! I don't necessarily go by reviews..plus if the book is shown on the home page...I will add it if it looks good! :) no assistace needed here! :)

CaroB wrote: "Just thought of another question: Did you enjoy reading other players' reviews? Did it affect your adding books to your TBR shelf?"

I loved reading the other players' reviews.....and of course it is and probably still will affect my TBR LOL

Now that I have a little more time I want to go back and look at the reviews again. It's nice to see what your group members are reading and what they honestly think about the books they read. I for one don't post reviews on the books I have read for all of GR to see LOL I'm a little shy like that because I don't feel like I write good reviews but didn't mind writing reviews for my fellow group members to read while participating in this challenge LOL

I like the ideas you ladies are coming up with for a point system. Will be interesting to see what the mods can come up with for the next time ☺ This last 8 weeks must have flown by as it really doesn't seem like we have been playing that long LOL

I do have to say.....I don't write reviews normally...because it's my opinion....I do rate books...and let people form their own opinions. :) I think on random reviews I've read....I often find I disagree with negative reviews....because I tend to see something good in most stories...
I did enjoy teading reviews here.....and at least putting something myself....I tried not to give things away in my reviews....and....I think I added a few books to my list....not based on reviews...but because I liked the synopses!!

Catherine wrote: "I do have to say.....I don't write reviews normally...because it's my opinion....I do rate books...and let people form their own opinions. :) I think on random reviews I've read....I often find I ..."

I rate books too but don't write reviews. I feel the same Catherine....it's my opinion. If someone asks me I will tell them what my opinion is but I feel others should read the book because they may actually love or hate it.I usually find something positive even with books I didn't like, but there have been rare instances where I didn't find anything positive. In fact one of the books I read for this challenge I didn't like it and gave it a one star rating...not because it was a bad book and not because I didn't like the author, in fact I have read books by the author and liked his other books. When I wrote my review for the challenge I stated that I wasn't the target audience and really couldn't give it a fair rating. The book was a political thriller which isn't my cup of java at all. The norm for me is usually being the "odd man out", lol what everyone else loves I usually don't and vice versa. That's why there are lots of authors with a wide range of books...there's something for everyone and not everyone is going to LOVE the same ones.

I agree Catherine and Robin about the reviews I don't write them either.

Loving the last set of points you've worked out it would make the game more exciting.

1. Yes I found it quite easy to find books.

2. I didn't mind but would probably be quicker with a shelf or something, especially when it comes to time zone differences would mean impatient people like me would be able to start straight away.

3. Yes especially if there's a next round :-)

4.Team size was ok think no more than 6 that way you still get to chat to everyone.

5. Yes got loads of feedback and encouragement from mods and other players.

6. Points would be better for example some weeks I got through my books quite fast but then the last 2 weeks i've been slow. Also goes the same with our team being within the top 3/ most weeks so that would have meant we would have had quite a few points through a point system.

7. Yes definitely, i'm ready :-)

8. I agree with Catherine about the team interaction I had more fun the weeks when we chatted/encouraged each other.

9. Yes made me add a few books I would not normally read because of the genres.

I totally enjoyed this challenge...Will definitely play again....I ended up finding new authors and books....Loved the recommendations from my fellow team members....

1. Yes, I was able to find books easily to fit the song choices.

2. I didn't mind having to get approval from the DJ.

3. Yes,the 8 weeks seemed to fly by pretty quickly lol

4. Yes, the teams were a good size. I think having bigger teams could be a challenge for the team captain especially if their time is limited here on GR due to "Real Life" issues. I also think smaller teams promote better interactions between players.

5. OH MOST DEFINITELY!!! All the mods did a great job cheering us on☺ I also thought all team players were very "sportsman" like in helping each other out with book recommendations and cheering/congratualating each other.

6. I like the idea of the point system. I just didn't think it was fair that the first team finished was the winner. I know the mods tried to keep the teams as equal as possible(which would be really hard) BUT a lot of the players have full time jobs and don't have as much time to be on GR or have as much time to read as those who may not work etc.... I like how you had back up players JUST IN CASE a team had a player who had to back out...."real life" does happen especially when we would prefer it didn't☺

7. I would like to play again. How soon? Ohhh IDK.

8. I don't work a M-F job, I have to work every other weekend and often have days off during the week BUT like Mary said, it would probably help those who do work a M-F job to have the new shelf/song called on Friday or the weekend.

9. Yes, I liked reading players' reviews. I added some books to my tbr and gave me some other books to ponder ☺

I enjoyed playing this game and would be interested in playing again. I'm not sure if it matters when the new song is called as there is a possiblity that it won't be a 'weekend' for someone...I think you post on your Tuesday evening which is my Wednesday...so I get up early to find the new song as not to get to far behind.

I do like the idea of a point system and new players.

I would also like to say that everyone done a good job at playing and I hope most players will return for the next round.

I would like to say..it doesn't much matter to me when the next book is called...as I work 7 days a week :( Wednesday is as good a day a s any for me.

1. Was it easy to choose a book every week that linked to the songs? Were you happy with the songs to choose from? Totally!

2. Did you like having to get validation from the DJ, or would you prefer a more autonomous way of choosing your books for each song link (eg. shelf names with links or a set publication date)? I like the getting validation. I dont want to be limited to a shelf if possible.

3. Was 8 weeks a good length for the game? Perfect length.

4. Were the teams a good size? Would you prefer more/less players? Awesome! No more than 5 is best.

5. Did you feel this game was well supported by the mods / DJ?
Yes I do! Everything went smoothly once we fell into routine and I just had a blast!

6. Do you think this would work better under a points system? How do you imagine we could make that happen? Yes I do! Somebody already mentioned a great idea in regards to setting a specific point for each item like song link, author name, ect... I think it would be more fairer than the mad dash at the end.

7. Would you be interested in playing again? If so, how soon? Heck yea! Right now Hook up that Beatbox and let's get ready to Rock again!

8. How could we improve this game / experience? Any and all ideas and suggestions welcome! Really it is not that big a deal for me but I do try to match up books for different games/challenges when I can and it was a bit hard because most begin on Fridays and either I would have to read a totally different book or start later and that would put me a bit behind on one challenge or another.

9. Did you enjoy reading other players' reviews? Did it affect your adding books to your TBR shelf? OMG yes! I kid myself into playing thinking I am gonna shorten my TBR but always wind up doubling it! But that's okay because I have had a blast and had fun getting to know my team members!