- Implement a high score table
Specifics/Details:
- Would not include artificially-inflated scores
- Would include valid high-scores from all high-scoring players in CCs history (including valid high-scores extracted from the playing records of players with an artificially inflated personal best score)
How this will benefit the site and/or other comments:
- Integrity
(following post pulled over from a C&A thread)
There is an existing practise of using staggered wins and losses to get a "stretch" high-score. This is driven by the desire to achieve a personal best score and, in the latest case, the best ever score on CC. It is natural for the top players to want to make their mark in the historical records and be recognised as being among the best ever. However, there is no official historical record and so the issue of valid best-ever score becomes something of an ink-blot test - everyone sees what they want to see.
I think the CC team should introduce an official high score table. "Stretch" high-scores should NOT be allowed on this high-score table. I think there should be an initial period during which all previous players scores are analyzed to separate the stretch high-scores from balanced high scores (eg.. Josko's 5400 or so points would be valid, the 6400 would not). From this point onwards, all new entries into the high-score table would have to be assessed and approved by the CC team. In my opinion, this would remove the need to try these tricks since players would prize their entry into this high-score table more highly.
Of course, players could still go for a stretch high-score for fun, as long as rules are not broken, but it would not count in the official table.
For this to work, there would need to be an algorithm that can analyze a series of games, look at average turn times in winning and losing games and decide objectively whether there is some "stretching" going on. This would need to be sufficiently loose that you could not fail it with normal play, but sufficiently tight that it would not allow much of an inflated score. NB.. everyone has some winning streak even when playing normally. What is an acceptable amount would need to be established.
