Transformation is Complete

After years of neglect I had to do something with the software that ran Marquand.net. It was highly customized by me, hard to upgrade, non-responsive (mobile unfriendly), etc.

I spent about 40 hours exporting content, massaging data, running software locally to get everything the way I wanted it (given the time I had), installing new CMS software, and importing content.

I dropped most non-board gaming content and removed years of cruft from the server, but I think everything important should be back working again. I suspect I’ll get some rocky reports concerning this or that (probably regarding the online games 🙂 ) but from the way everything turned out, it looks like it was a success.

I’m not in love with the theme but it serves its purpose, is low maintenance, and appears responsive.  I’m particularly happy with how the games moved over and the dynamic collection/wishlist pages that use the BGG XML API moved over.

Don’t hesitate to drop a comment on this post if you see something amiss and I’ll do my best to make things right. I can finally post some items I’ve been holding back until the upgrade was complete.

Happy Gaming everyone.

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7 thoughts on “Transformation is Complete”

  1. Hello – I found your online games about six months ago, and quite enjoy playing Lexio and Callisto. I likely play each of them a few times a week, when I need a little break.

    I noticed that you cleaned up your website – I had the games bookmarked, and it took a moment or two to find them after your clean-up. However, I’ve noticed the Callisto has developed a bug: when I place my columns on my first two turns, the software moves the column down one space and to the left. If I place my column on the lower left edge of the game field, the software actually moves my column off the board and locks it there. I thought you’d want to know.

    And while I’m writing… I appreciate that ‘bot logic is a challenge to write. However, I know that in Lexio, if a single-card meld comes up, the ‘bots will keep playing until the Red 1 is played – that’s always the top card for the single meld (until the last few cards in the game, of course). This is so consistent that it’s something I’ve come to exploit.

    Thank you for providing these games – if you ever make it up to Toronto, we have a couple of excellent game cafes up here (Snakes & Lattes – there’s a game library of over 2500 games).

    -Andy

    1. I’ve noticed the Callisto has developed a bug: when I place my columns on my first two turns, the software moves the column down one space and to the left. If I place my column on the lower left edge of the game field, the software actually moves my column off the board and locks it there. I thought you’d want to know.

      Drat. Sorry about that. Obviously that wasn’t the intent but thanks for the feedback. I should have some time tonight to take a look.

      This is so consistent that it’s something I’ve come to exploit.

      Hmmm, I probably won’t have time to dig into the bot logic 🙁

      Thank you for providing these games – if you ever make it up to Toronto, we have a couple of excellent game cafes up here (Snakes & Lattes – there’s a game library of over 2500 games).

      I’m glad that you enjoy them. I had a lot of fun writing them back in the day. Sounds like Toronto is a really happening place. Road trip!?

      1. I’m not seeing this Callisto behavior or maybe I’m not understanding your description. What browser are you using, platform, etc. and maybe any other ancillary info that might help.

        Never mind..now I see it!

          1. You did, in fact, solve the positioning problem. Well done you.

            There’s actually another bug, if you want the “fun” of tracking and crushing it. It allows a cheat – I don’t play with the cheat (and it’s not much of a cheat), but you might be interested anyway.

            This is harder to describe. However… when rotating tiles, every tile has a… a “square” (multiple squares make a tile) that it rotates about – its sort of “center of rotation”. If you place a tile in a legal space and then rotate it so that one of the non-center-of-rotation squares overlap an already used space *of the same color*, you can still place the tile.

            Does that make sense?

            And yes, Toronto is a pretty serious board gaming town.

            Thanks again – Andy

          2. Does that make sense?

            Yep, that makes total sense and I’ve recreated the problem for myself. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the code but I’ll see what I can do.

            Thanks for the feedback. It’s funny how something can sit out there for years and thousands of plays and no feedback and then bam… 🙂

            Ingenious had been played about 3.5 million times so far and knock on wood, I haven’t changed that code in many, many, years.

          3. Yep, that makes total sense and I’ve recreated the problem for myself. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the code but I’ll see what I can do.

            I’m pretty sure I squashed that “cheat”. Let me know if you see anything else…much appreciated.

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