So I've been following a few spiders here on the forum and I came across various threads including this thread (http://www.isketchforum.net/has-isketch-gone-t3432.html) that was started not too long ago.

Seeing as a few people thought that iSketch had got worse over time, I thought I'd start a more constructive thread by asking how you think that iSketch could improve. Whether it is a new suggestion for general gameplay or an idea for something a little extra that could be added to iSketch, post your ideas here.

Yes, I know ideas can be submitted to Feedback but hey, this could also be a place to talk about other people's thoughts, perhaps provide possible improvements to other ideas or provide your own opinions about these suggestions.

I'll start off with a couple of my ideas.

My idea 1: Ability to select multiple wordlists when creating a User Created Room, in order to mix the words from a couple of wordlists if you cannot decide on one specific list.
My idea 2: Ability to select exactly how many words you have to guess in UCRs. At the moment you can either select "All Words" or "One Word". What would be nice is being able to perhaps guess 2 words out of 4, for example, thus providing a more flexible way of drawing and guessing.

I propose that there should be more admins with Spanish language.

Many admins sometimes do not understand our language and vice versa. :/

I have a few ideas:
1. Once a player guesses the word correctly, keep him/her from typing. This avoids spam and also keeps them from revealing the answer to others.
2. Have skill levels. It's annoying to be in the same room with people who can't draw a stick figure and keep giving hints before they even begin to draw.
3. Let people know that the ability to draw and spell correctly are what the game is about. That will weed out the trolls.
I guess that's it for now. Great game, but it could be better.

Some nice ideas there Bunji :)

I think the first one is a great idea but people tend to want to chat to others if they are playing with their friends.

I think there should be UK versions of the Anything But, Connections and Blitz! rooms. I suggested that to feedback a couple of years ago but never got a reply. There was probably something up with the email though, because I never got the automated reply either.

They should probably add some other languages to them as well. Blitz has a few already, but not Turkish and Brasileiro which have quite a high number of users in normal rooms (these 2 don't have 5 strokes either).

I have a few ideas:
1. Once a player guesses the word correctly, keep him/her from typing. This avoids spam and also keeps them from revealing the answer to others.

I don't personally see enough spam or answer sharing (I see relatively little actually) to convince me that the annoyance of a 20 second mute (longer in some rooms) every time I guess first would be a nice idea. I don't really want to see iSketch turn into a game only, no chat place (although that's how I originally played it). And dedicated spammers probably aren't guessing the word anyway, so I think the impact on spam would be practically zero.


2. Have skill levels. It's annoying to be in the same room with people who can't draw a stick figure and keep giving hints before they even begin to draw.

I think skill levels have good and bad points. There was some good discussion on it some time ago here (http://www.isketchforum.net/isketch-survey-results-t1696.html?t=1696).

I don't really agree with art skill levels though, which seems to be what you're suggesting. It seems a bit too elitist, and how would these skill levels be decided anyway? Would people need to rank how good someones pictures are? Would there just be rooms called "Expert Artist" where self indulgent people take a day and a half to draw an eyelash (and where anyone could enter anyway, regardless of skill)? Also, why should the less talented people be deprived of seeing other peoples good drawings, which may even inspire them to try harder themselves?

On the hint thing you mention though, perhaps there could be a time limit before the hint button can be used?


3. Let people know that the ability to draw and spell correctly are what the game is about. That will weed out the trolls.

No it won't.

iSketch: Hello, the ability to draw and spell correctly are what this game is about!
Troll: Oh, is it? I'll go troll somewhere else, I guess.

Trolls are people who want to annoy people for their own fun...

Would people need to rank how good someones pictures are? Would there just be rooms called "Expert Artist" where self indulgent people take a day and a half to draw an eyelash (and where anyone could enter anyway, regardless of skill)?

There are already rooms similar to these on iSketch. Famous Faces, Famous Art and Fictional Characters all have an extended time limit so that artists can spend longer to perfect their drawings.

On the hint thing you mention though, perhaps there could be a time limit before the hint button can be used?

Great idea nh :) The number of people that just hint their way to the answer, especially if it is a short word, instead of drawing can be a little annoying.

I have a few ideas:
1. Once a player guesses the word correctly, keep him/her from typing. This avoids spam and also keeps them from revealing the answer to others.


I like this idea but I would tweak it a bit. I'd probably keep that player from typing in the Game box.

While I do believe drawing and spelling correctly are quite valuable assets to have -- especially while playing iSketch -- a majority of people do like the chat when they're done guessing, and wreak general havoc :P.

For skill levels.. hmm. Interesting concept. Perhaps people's drawings could be rated? I mean personally I wouldn't mind having rooms for people who designate themselves as "advanced artist" but I don't think a system such as this is really worth focusing on right now when there are so many other issues. And we all know how long it takes for the most minuscule problems to get sorted out on iSk...

Hmm I kinda don't see the point in the whole stopping you from typing after you guessed it thing, would just be too annoying to me. :(

But I do reallllly like the um hinting time limit thingy.... :( i can't stand when people do that..

Wouuuuld also be nice of word lists could be fixed... :( theree sem to be quite a few words in some lists that aren guessable cos of brokeness or weird characters we can't type. :( Hmm.. Also some rooms seem to have too short a time limit to draw in... or maybe I just draw slow.. idk but yeah :( seems short still.

Ok, here I go again after having the first post shot right off the sky :).
How about rooms with tweaked rules. Examples:
No hint room - Self explanatory
No color room - Using colors count as hints
Click when ready room - You draw, but nothing shows until you click a button

The last one would even the playing field for people who aren't fast at typing. It's a bit annoying to have people start typing madly, word after word, as soon as they see the first thing drawn, whether it is a dot, a line, etc.
Be gentle :).

Hm, the click when ready room woulda kinda be how 5 strokes is already... as the draws dont appear untill after each mouse click is let go of... that's if people do draw in just one stroke though.. which most seem to do. :)

Yes, but it would allow you to use more than 5 strokes. That would be the main difference.

Oh yeah. haha. I kinda managed to forget about the stroke count :/ ah but still idk. :) might be kinda usefull I supposeee. :)

Uh, I guess I'll use this since the feedback thread is dead. I've always wanted to see a search for player function. Sometimes I meet some really cool people I'd like to play again, but with no way of contacting them.

You can already type "/find [username]" of just "/f [username]" to find if a player you know is logged on, and if they are in a room or not.

You can also add names to your buddy list (in "settings" at the top of the iSketch page) and then when you log on you'll be told if any of them are logged on already, and you'll also be alerted as soon as they log on.

The buddy list can hold up to 10 usernames of your choice. Do be aware though that some people can log in to the server with the same name as your friends, especially if they use quite a common name. A quick /profile command and perhaps an /ip may help determining the true identity of this person.

Although you can probably just tell by their manner of speaking if they are your friend or not.

Just a bit of added info. :)

I would love to be able, if you are unable to draw the word you were given, to have 1 opportunity to 'swap' your word for a new one before having to skip. I think this would be better so that you don't miss out on your extra points if you can't draw the word given.

Ooh, I don't like the idea of a swapping words, it would make it too easy... Sometimes you depend on someone getting a tricky word to get past them in a game though that does go both ways. Also don't you kind of deserve to miss out on points if you cannot draw the word given?

My idea for iSketch is a room that changes its word list randomly for new each game. It could be called Lucky Dip or something. I'm not sure if that would be hard to implement but I think it would be fun and popular. (I realise you can make a user created room and do it but that's not as good).

Not bad ideas at all :)

I'm not so keen on the swapping words one, it seems like a good idea, but I agree with gt. It might make it a bit easier unless perhaps you could swap but then you can't swap back if you choose to swap. Good thinking though :)

I like your idea of a Lucky Dip room, perhaps it could include some of the more speciality rooms like Movies, Music and History and not just "Easy" rooms. I think it could be popular too :)

Oh haha, stupid of me. Never saw that, my bad.

i think it would be cool to have a leaderboard, highscores, most games won in a row etc. maybe the ability to register... some kinda awards system for competitive / serious players could be fun?! ... a time limit b4 u can use hint is a great idea, encourages people to try more or just skip.. :)

ooh, i don't like the idea of a swapping words, it would make it too easy... Sometimes you depend on someone getting a tricky word to get past them in a game though that does go both ways. Also don't you kind of deserve to miss out on points if you cannot draw the word given?

My idea for isketch is a room that changes its word list randomly for new each game. It could be called lucky dip or something. I'm not sure if that would be hard to implement but i think it would be fun and popular. (i realise you can make a user created room and do it but that's not as good).

i bet you would have loved the idea if it was anyone but me saying it

Could there be some way that the game could keep account of the words each user has drawn over the past 24 hours?

So, that way one doesn't draw "nicotine" 3 times in one day.

I think the new updates are fine, with the exception of the game crash, of course.

EDIT: Could there be some way one could list the users by their IP address and not their name with the /whois command? That would make finding duplicate logins much easier.

EDIT: Could there be some way one could list the users by their IP address and not their name with the /whois command? That would make finding duplicate logins much easier.

Try the /ip command.

I was wondering when you get a joint win with someone else, maybe the win could count in both players' stats, because the game only seems to count solo wins?

Also an increase in the buddy list size would be good.

Try the /ip command.

Theres no difference in the results from the /whois command and the /ip command, fool

Try the /ip command.

Thank you, that is very helpful. I guess what I was looking for was like a phonebook is organized alphabetically -- to have the IP address list be automatically arranged sequentially from 0.*.*.* to 255.*.*.*. Surely there has to be some way to do that.

This is actually a related question to all these proposed changes...

Was there at some point a new system that got implemented for voting? I've been playing iSketch off and on for years, and I am just now noticing that when warning or voting to kick players, it seems to take far more votes from other players for the offending player to be kicked.

This isn't an issue that is unlivable, just a little bit annoying if you're in a room with Newbies that can't vote... Usually they are just as offended and helpless to stop it.

I know the general concencus would be to leave the room if the desired results aren't recieved.. But it's just a shame to let the cheaters/rude people win by letting them stay and you leaving.

This is actually a related question to all these proposed changes...

Was there at some point a new system that got implemented for voting? I've been playing iSketch off and on for years, and I am just now noticing that when warning or voting to kick players, it seems to take far more votes from other players for the offending player to be kicked.

This isn't an issue that is unlivable, just a little bit annoying if you're in a room with Newbies that can't vote... Usually they are just as offended and helpless to stop it.

I know the general concencus would be to leave the room if the desired results aren't recieved.. But it's just a shame to let the cheaters/rude people win by letting them stay and you leaving.

Yes it changed a while back. :)

http://www.isketchforum.net/isketch-new-voting-t3425.html

I hope is ok to unearth this topic. My suggestion:

Maybe you could post other messages together with the starting one.
(Use commmon courtesy, play a fair game and ENJOY!)

Messages like events (tournaments or gathers) that are happening. The admins could warn the staff that the event X happening in country Y in date Z. This "extra" messages could be disabled in settings.

If you don't want to bother all players with that, the game could take the ip of the player and deduce it's country and display the message to him.

The event would be deleted after date.

Some suggestions that I really support:
My idea 1: Ability to select multiple wordlists when creating a User Created Room, in order to mix the words from a couple of wordlists if you cannot decide on one specific list.


I have a few ideas:
1. Once a player guesses the word correctly, keep him/her from typing. This avoids spam and also keeps them from revealing the answer to others.
I like this idea but I would tweak it a bit. I'd probably keep that player from typing in the Game box.

I hope is ok to unearth this topic.

Yes, I'm sure it's ok, it's always nice to see a few more ideas :)

Maybe you could post other messages together with the starting one.
(Use commmon courtesy, play a fair game and ENJOY!)

Messages like events (tournaments or gathers) that are happening. The admins could warn the staff that the event X happening in country Y in date Z. This "extra" messages could be disabled in settings.

I like the concept of this idea, however in my experience tournaments tend to be few and far between and are usually not official or global. If there was an official forum of iSketch, I bet there would be global competitions, and tournaments would be more frequent.

A possible use or extension to your idea could be that if none of your buddies in your buddy list are online, an extra message could display a random room choice based on the IP location. Or even if there are any non-full rooms, the server would send you an invitation. For example, a player from the UK could receive a message like this:

A new game is about to start in the room "English Easy UK 7". Click here to join this room.

Just another idea building on yours :)

Yes, I'm sure it's ok, it's always nice to see a few more ideas :)

A possible use or extension to your idea could be that if none of your buddies in your buddy list are online, an extra message could display a random room choice based on the IP location. Or even if there are any non-full rooms, the server would send you an invitation. For example, a player from the UK could receive a message like this:

A new game is about to start in the room "English Easy UK 7". Click here to join this room.

Just another idea building on yours :)


Random room invites? :S I dunno Deebs, not sure I'm with you on that one.
/me ignores random room invites, it's usually someone trying to mess with her

Random room invites? :S I dunno Deebs, not sure I'm with you on that one.
* elfy;198632 ignores random room invites, it's usually someone trying to mess with her

Lol, maybe, but yeah, it could be an optional thing i.e. you can turn it off or on in the Settings :)

I'm not sure how you could go about this, but maybe add a feature that could help the newbies from guessing in the "chat" window, as opposed to the "game" box?

I'm commonly using the chat area, so it's bit frustrating when there's someone guessing the word consistently, and they're so blind-sided by the drawing that they don't notice every single other person in the room saying "hit tab," "other window," etc.

Again, I don't really know HOW you could go about this, but maybe if you have vote privileges, you could click their username to redirect them to the chat box? Again, I'm not entirely sure. I know that things have been done to try to keep the word from being typed in the chat box by mistake (like the word "cap" being blocked from the chat box when someone was saying something about being "handicap" - bare with me, this is a fleeting example), and that was rather annoying, but idk. I feel like SOMETHING could be done here. You wouldn't want to make that admin-only, because that would be frustrating to every single admin getting a notification from some kid being in the wrong window... maybe a three-vote option similar to that of the draw warning? If three people see that someone's in the wrong window, they all vote, then it auto-tabs them to the other window. Again, I'm not sure, this is just a thought.

Another suggestion, maybe you could narrow down your own "favorite rooms" list. For example, I regular Blitz!, tandem, English Easy US, 5 Strokes, and a few others. It would be nice if there was a way to have them at the top of the rooms list when I first log in, so that I can see how many players are in the room without checking the users in each individual room. I'm not whining about it, because it really doesn't take me all that long to check all of these, but it's a thought.

Next, maybe there could be an auto-join feature? I know some people are all worried about their stats (I'm not one of them, in particular), but maybe for those people, you could say, "Oh! I want to play in that room, but it's in round 7 of 10, well, I'll put myself on auto-join, so when this game ends, I'll automatically join the room." Then, in the meantime, they could just hang out in the studio, which may increase studio use for regular players.

Also, just because it took me so long to PERSONALLY find the studio, maybe it could just be incorporated on the main page, or maybe have that as an option? You could still have the room list on the right side, and a regular chat box in the bottom, but the large chat window could be your canvas to draw while you're waiting to join a room or whatever.

Finally, just for the fun of it, maybe you could include a players win/lose stats on their profile, so if you have that one person that wins EVERY. SINGLE. GAME. you can check their stats and realize that it's not merely your incompetence. I feel like this could also kind of contribute to the competitive scheme of things, knowing that your stats are always available. Maybe even a win trend or something. At the bottom of Dr.Beat's profile, it could say:
"Today's Stats: Won 9/10" or "90% win percentage today." Something along those lines.

A lot of these I realize are terribly feasible, but I just kind of typed them out as they came to mind.

Not sure I like the idea of auto-tabbing people, with one reason being that it seems to be fixing the problem without actually helping the bottom-boxer realise what they were doing or how to fix it themselves. Maybe if when the person was tabbed they were given a clear message about tab etc it would be ok though...

In my experience, a lot of the time people who think they are helping really aren't. Often people just type "TAB", and if you're new to the game then single unexplained words which aren't even clearly directed at you is unlikely to help (and that's if you even notice them at all).

A better way to help is to PM (it stands out more than the other chat and has a sound to alert them) with proper sentences explaining what they are doing and how to sort it.

I like the idea of a players stats displayed in their profile. And I think having the stats apply for just that day would work well as oppose the the entire time they've been playing. Many people have shared computers or, like many regs, spend too much time chatting and not enough playing :P It'd be far more accurate if it was only relevant to the past 24 hours. It might be one of those things that are easier to implement when/if registrations become available. But yeah, nice ideas n that :)

Yes agreed, there are some nice suggestions there.

I was wondering if that is why the /effi command is there; to tell you your daily stats:

'Games Won x 100
Games Played

otherwise it becomes pretty much redundant because it would always return "Your magic number is 100.0".

With regards to the chat guessers, PMs would be the way to go, but I do think just a simple message to them asking to type in the game box instead would be better than a generic PM :)

maybe add a feature that could help the newbies from guessing in the "chat" window, as opposed to the "game" box? .....Again, I don't really know HOW you could go about this, but maybe if you have vote privileges, you could click their username to redirect them to the chat box? ... maybe a three-vote option similar to that of the draw warning? If three people see that someone's in the wrong window, they all vote, then it auto-tabs them to the other window.


Great idea, i personally like it. My opinion is just give it to regular players.



Also, just because it took me so long to find the studio, maybe it could just be incorporated on the main page, or maybe have that as an option?

Another great idea, just for players who want it though.

Finally, just for the fun of it, maybe you could include a players win/lose stats on their profile, so if you have that one person that wins EVERY. SINGLE. GAME. you can check their stats and realize that it's not merely your incompetence.
Again just for players who want it.