I've updated the site so that you can now create and join Public Dev / Beta games.

To avoid confusion the display of Dev games in the Open games list is done on an opt-in basis - this is done by going to the Settings -> Preferences tab where there is now an option to choose whether you would like to see Dev games in the Open games list.

This should give designers access to a wider range of players to test their boards on in Public without closed reviewer lists. Thanks to Edward Nygma for the original suggestion.

Still the only way for to know about boards in Beta are by the Board Designers telling people correct?

Yes... although when you go to create a beta game all the beta boards will be in the select list.

At some point when the boards page has tabs it will be possible to see Beta games.

should it default to "On" and make people go turn it off so they're aware of it? cus really unless someone reads this thread, how will they know (or care) to go turn it on?

I'd prefer not to - dev games are one of those things I don't particularly want new members to see and once you've been here for a while and become more interested in the site it's one of the things you'll pick up.

tom wrote: I'd prefer not to - dev games are one of those things I don't particularly want new members to see and once you've been here for a while and become more interested in the site it's one of the things you'll pick up.

I agree with that reasoning.

I would these Public Beta games be counted in the game restriction for Standard members?

yeah i was thinking for paid members too.

speaking of which, does the system send out an email to remind when you're about to lose membership and to reup?

weathertop wrote:
speaking of which, does the system send out an email to remind when you're about to lose membership and to reup?

You get an email when you lose membership, don't think you get one when you're about to.

Yertle wrote:

tom wrote: I'd prefer not to - dev games are one of those things I don't particularly want new members to see and once you've been here for a while and become more interested in the site it's one of the things you'll pick up.

I agree with that reasoning.

I would these Public Beta games be counted in the game restriction for Standard members?

Yes they would at present... not sure whether they should be counted, I'd say probably yes given otherwise it could be a loophole to get Public game access without Premium.

tom wrote: Yes... although when you go to create a beta game all the beta boards will be in the select list.

At some point when the boards page has tabs it will be possible to see Beta games.

You speak of creating a beta game as though it is an option.  How does one do this?  It does not appear as an option in create game - I went to Arm Wrestle's board id link, hit create game, but it went into a standard create game mode (only non-beta boards were listed).  Am I missing something obvious?

That was actually a bug which has now been fixed Hugh.

Excellent! As always, many thanks.

is there a way to pull up DEV boards from the create games tab? or do we still have to go from the board id listed in a forum? seems to me that there ought to be a second page in the board browser (not sure how to implement on the pull down) that would list the dev boards open. 

also is there two submit buttons on the design page - one for submit for open Dev games and one for submit for Review?

No, there's a little bug icon which you can click on which enables it for Open Dev (i.e. Beta games).

That's a good idea about having an option to select Dev boards from the Create Game page.

tom wrote: No, there's a little bug icon which you can click on which enables it for Open Dev (i.e. Beta games).

AH, that's what that does (did you recent update what that area looks like? i couldn't tell what the different icons did, but now i can?). maybe thats why i never got anyone to play my Dev board!

That would definitely explain it ;)

That change has been in for a few weeks now...