I wonder whether it’d be easier to hide all of the extra config options which are too complicating behind an options fold-out menu like “configuration/options”, as it was before ?
And/or to show something simpler or clearer by default ?
It also feels cluttered to me now too (as an experienced Go player with a lot of experience with navigating different sites and configuration processes, and having spent 2+ years on OGS…) and was a bit much to process on first glance, so I imagine it may be like that for some others too, both for experienced and new players.
If a goal was to simplify it for new players and beginners to make an automatch easily, then somehow making it easy to just click something (as little as possible) and understand the settings + play might make it a lot simpler.
e.g. somehow have 3 buttons only for the timesettings labelled something like “Blitz, Rapid, Medium” for clarity ?
(and for beginners or those who would be overwhelmed by what all of the numbers mean ?)
Or; at least 3 more clearly labelled categories ?
(e.g. “Blitz (~5 minutes per game)” ? etc)
Right now, the “~5 minutes” game time estimate, and various Fischer/byo-yomi notations in pure numeric format, also look confusing to me, especially if somebody isn’t familiar with them & what they’re meant to do/indicate or a beginner – and a lot of numbers+info that isn’t necessarily quick to parse without that context.
Is there some way to indicate “Fischer” and “Byo yomi” for them too ? …or would that clutter it more…?
Buttons like this ?
Blitz (~5 minutes per game)
“Fischer
(30s + 3s)”'+
“Byo Yomi”
(30s + 5x10s)
Rapid (~10 minutes per game)
“Fischer
(2m + 5s)”'+
“Byo Yomi”
(2m + 5x30s)
Medium (~15 minutes per game)
“Fischer
(3m + 10s)”'+
“Byo Yomi”
(5m + 5x30s)
This way, when scanning that block of buttons/category headings/numbers, it’s easier to quickly understand the use of the buttons at a glance (with the words).
– we can even somewhat skip over processing the numbers/specifics of timesettings if they’re unimportant, cluttering or confusing, rather than possibly being inundated visually with a lot of buttons/headers with various numbers.
…
And/or use a “more options/configuration” or “choose precise time setting preferences” expanding menu/button (and/or hover tooltip or something to display specific info for fine tuning the time settings/flexibility etc) ?
Maybe it’s the multiple options per timesetting that contribute to it being more cluttered too, I’m not sure.
(showing the byo yomi + Fischer options, even though it seems useful to be able to choose somehow if one has a preference)
(Maybe a part of it is just multiple menus/buttons encountered all at once with further multiple options to understand and set, but clearer labels might at least help…?)