Right. As much as some of us love the old pro US 8 and 9 ball, facts are facts and so few people are playing them now that getting a game is difficult, and working up the rankings even more so.

This has been mentioned (and moaned about) on a few threads now so i thought we should have a specific one for the issue.

At the moment, there is no incentive (other than if you like them) to playing the Pro games, as for most users, especially new ones, they are just another game type.

My proposal is to split them away from the current top 3 popular games, with the possibilty of adding a pro UK table (arcade snooker one would be fine), something also asked for on a regular basis.

Different pages for Pro stats and its own chatroom, tournament schedule etc.

This way, someone who has topped the ranks or indeed tournament wins tables in the normal game then has the challenge of doing so in the professional "leagues".

I think it would make the "pro" mean something, and give players something to work towards.

Obviously this can be expanded into great detail but I've tried to keep it simple!

Sure, the userbase would be quite small to begin with but through time, i think more people would enjoy being professional players

Edited at 08:54 Tue 24/04/07 (BST)

Great shout !


you have a realy good point spinner, i think it is a great idea to have profesional players,

it seems to make things alot easyer.

Agree with spinner. I have only played them a few times, and i don't intending to either, yet. It is very hard to get a game and move up the rankings, and what Spinner has said is a great point and it would make it easier and more enjoyable for others. I hope Nick thinks about this.

Josh

well nick looked at droflehzz's thread so he should have a peek at this 1

aussieboy

i think i already agreed with this on another thread but its a cracking idea

Spinner, you're almost talking about 2 different sites? As it is the games are split into separate events / rankings / tournaments. I'm not sure what you mean exactly. Would Pro events only "open up" after you reach a certain standard.

Anyway here's the latest summary:

Games by event
39.5% UK 8 Ball
28.6% US 8 Ball
_1.3% US 8 Ball Pro
28.7% US 9 Ball
_1.8% US 9 Ball Pro

The Pro games are just not popular. If the last tournament slots for pro are removed the number of games will drop to a combined total of approximately 2%.

The lack in popularity has caused the lack of finding available partners for games. However this is a downward spiral effect.

Personally, instead of changing the structure I'd like to replace the pro games eg with something like killer pool on the normal US table.

I agree completely Nick. As I said recently I think they have become more of a hinderance than anything.

the idea carries a little appeal spinner but i think is adding more complexity without the reward.

This game is fantastic in that it caters for every single level as it is, (with the rank system) so I see no need. You also have variation with 3 games, more than enough.

Killer or billiards would be absolutely fantastic!

Well, on a purely personal note, i'd love billiards to replace everything!

I know my proposal was effectively another whole site, certainly another game applet.

I was just trying to propose a scenario where "pro" actually meant something as opposed to being just another table.

Common sense says its time for them to go, but if they do remain then i think they have to be removed from the overall ranking, since no matter how good you are, getting a game, let alone i high ranked one, is nigh impossible, which must be frustrating for new users.

I understand that these games are unpopular, a different pool game altogether could possibly make the other games unpopular? Like jumping ship whenever a new one comes along.

I said all along that US 8 ball (pro) was kinda sucky no offence to all who made it, like it and play it

I like the idea of spinner's idea although can't see it happening to the extent that he's described.

Another thing i'm concerned about if UK 8 pro is introduced...thats 19000 games played by me on what will be the easy table. Don't like that much lol

Killer pool and billiards would be nice to see though

i think the pro games are dying a big death , so good idea to introduce another format like killer for example . there will always be opposition to gettin rid of the pro games 'cause of the time and effort put in by some players , but lets face it u can only get a decent game if u enter the tournies . not sure bout uk 8 pro ?

replace it with bumper pool
wooooo

i say replace the pro games for killer.

Edited at 23:34 Tue 24/04/07 (BST)

Well it was always an "ideal world" solution. I'm well aware the userbase just isnt there to justify it without major incentives (£100 pro tourneys anyone?)



Dont worry Squeezy, in the unlikely even there was another UK table added, the classic table would always be Funkypool Pro

If your gonna replace the pro games then I dont want my stats being deleted too cause am a pro on both of them and there alot of records am proud of there, so i dont want none of that being deleted.

Oh dear....

OK then how about just increasing the size of the current table by 20% or something then? Make it half way between normal and pro so the balls don't cover each other quite as much and the long pots aren't dead certs but easier than on pro.

How about that for a great idea?

i like the idea of having to acheive certain standard's before being able to play the pro games.

having it so you have to be pro in the arcade stlye us games and maybe a tournament win in the arcade style games. might make the us pro games more popular in the sense you have to acheive cetain goals in order unlock them and for the new players that are joining it wold be a whole new experience playing the pro games and could well boost the activity of the pro games. it would make it alot better for the players who already wish to play the pro tables and more reason for the new players to try that bit harder to acess the pro games and succeed in them.

As the pro games only have a small player base, there doesn't seem much point in expending more effort on creating a new site/area for them.

Their rankings are static because nobody plays, so they are now distorting overall rankings as they're not based on recent form. So, I think the ranked version needs to go now, hopefully with rank logged on players profile, but not effecting overall tables.

I hope the games can remain in tournament form, because the pro tournies still seem to attract good numbers.

Edited at 14:48 Wed 25/04/07 (BST)

i know this has been mentioned a number of times but why not remove pro games from the overall ranking board.

Edited at 14:48 Wed 25/04/07 (BST)

Sorry allornothing, I was editing to add the same thing as you while you posted!!