What IS the Abandon rate anyhow?

[rommager]

I noticed that I have an abandon rate of 67%.  The only thing I can see that caused this is trying to watch games then disconnecting.  I did not participate in any tourney games where I have quit, so I should not be penalized for that.

The only exception is that I was trying to type and accidentally joined a game, but the host stopped the game.  We should also not be penalized for dropping out before a game gets underway too.

I suggest an abandon not be counted unless you actually begin gameplay, and also not count for leaving a game you are watching.

Also, there seems to be an issue with games with spectators hanging, as if it's waiting for spectators to participate.  Has anyone else noticed these things, or is it somehow my imagination?

Thanks

[rommager]

Ok - I looked at my stats, and found one of the abandons is from a game that the host shut down (not my fault!).  I think I remember comments on a prior post about this, but thought it was supposed to be fixed?

One of the abandons was a visitation, and the third was the game that was shut down before it even began.

The games are:
http://www.planetmule.com/hi-score-game/game?game_id=14294
http://www.planetmule.com/hi-score-game/game?game_id=14196
http://www.planetmule.com/hi-score-game/game?game_id=14308

[rommager]

One other thing...  I just looked at a couple of games where I know of players who bailed out, and those games are listed as finished for those players, and the scores go into their stats?  Why should someone get scores for a game that the computer finished for them?  What is the real definition of an "abandoned game" anyhow?  

For instance, this game had 2 players leave before the game was finished:

http://www.planetmule.com/hi-score-game/game?game_id=14204

If I'm a serious player who is willing to stay in a game till it's done, then perhaps I would want to play with other players who don't have a history of turning all baby and bailing on a game at round 3 just because they didn't get the plot of land they wanted.  The abandoned rate is really useless as it is written right now.  Who cares how many games were crashed for a player.  I want to know which players have a track record of going the distance, even if luck and other players crap all over them.

Anyone else have any opinions?

P.S. Mods: I originally posted this in the bug forum, but now I'm not convinced it's a bug, since the number seems to actually represent games that never finished at all.  It's a handy statistic to have for tech purposes (for crashes, etc), but perhaps it should not be called abandoned rate, and should not be shown as such on a player profile.  If you deem necessary, you can move this thread to the suggestions forum.  Your call. 

And btw, I LOVE this version - I have been waiting for a M.U.L.E. remake for YEARS!  Props to all the developers and those who helped to decipher the original code - AWESOME JOB! 

[MrBrown]

When abandoning training matches with A.I. only it should not count that match as "abandoned". I've played three training matches against A.I. in online mode and abandoned them before I noticed that I could do that offline.

[Peter]

We will change how the abandon ratio is calulated in a near future. Currently it's simply the ratio of the number of games started after you had joined them and the number of those games which are finished.

[rommager]

Thanks Peter!

You have done an awesome job!  =)

[phgellis]

I just wanted to say I love the Conrad Poohs avatar....