We currently have this rather arduous signup process where I require an email and then ask you to click a link to prove you own the email. This is rather common around the Internet these days but I gotta admit it's a lot of hoops to jump through to play a game.
We used to have Anonymous logins which completely skipped the server, had unlimited undo, and kept a very minimal set of scores on the user's computer. This had a number of downsides: couldn't change devices mid-game, very limited scores data, no stats, no tournaments, and no posting on the discussion board.
With the August 11th "new version" we've done away with that old Anonymous mode and moved specifically to focus more on competition Freecell. (There are tons of other Freecell sites where you can play casual 8x4 with undo.)
But we were losing a fair number of folks every day who didn't want to give up their email (I don't blame 'em) or go through the multi-step authorization process.
To make it easier to try our game, I've implemented a new anonymous mode where it's exactly like a regular user but you don't get to pick your own nickname, a random one is generated and assigned to you.
This makes them in every way a normal user except that they haven't gotten to select their nickname or password, it's been generated for them. Note: if they want to switch devices, they can click on their name upper right to discover the random password (or even change it) and then use that to log in from their iPad or phone or what have you.
This change went live several days ago and I'm starting to see some names like AnonLedBomPid showing up on the scores lists. I've also played a few tournaments as one of the new anonymous users and things seem to work fine. Some of the autogenerated names are pretty funny and sound like Star Wars characters. I'm trying to filter out the obviously obscene stuff so you won't get a name like, well I was going to give a funny example of an obvious obscene name but I decided I want you folks to respect me and not know about my secret adolescent sense of humor. You do respect me, right? Lemme know if you see anything offensive I've missed.
MrFixit
P.S. No, undo is never coming back. I toyed with the idea of giving the option to lose a game in order to enable undo, but decided that wouldn't really make anybody too happy.
Rapper names 😊
But seriously, I never have to log in! Not even after August 11 that I can recall. And I've for sure never had to go through all that! I guess you've got my number.
if an Anon logs out, login should have the option to login to their last used username/password
Alas! Whereof the Denny of Olde?
The benefactor—the One Provider of such a halcyon era of respite from the daye’s tribulations. An idle playground in which to ratchet down the cortisol cutting into our souls; to wade in this mellow soup of 2 to 3 minute dopamine hits without social, political or financial consequence. Now decades hence, when the ambience was of the mild chatter of other players about us, but without needless stirring from our task toward restful oblivion--the sweet surround of sleep at last.
if you logout of one of these new Anon names you cannot login to it again
cellmate -- good idea altho I don't know how often an Anon will logout. Oh wait, just above.
Anon-- if you note your anon name and click on your name upper right to get you password you can log back in. But otherwise you're right, when you come back you'll be given an entirely new name (at least until I do the cellmate fix). What prompted you to actually log out?
MrFixit
"note your anon name and click on your name upper right to get you password"
high expectation from a new anonymous user
that AnonCaVopHam is me testing. I had the Anon name and password but login failed when i tried to use it to logon again. May not have to go thru the authorization hoops but it does have to be authorized
It would be nice if the login form defaults to the last username you used (saves typing) and a separate link for a temp Anon username