WPBL (Bonus Ball) - Hohmann 60 Ball Run on Youtube

Luxury said:
I can watch 50 nine ball matches and still not see as many EPIC shots as were seen in this match. People love banks and amazing thin cut shots. So many of those banks and thin cuts would have been safeties in nine ball.

You still get brilliant safety play in BB too.

I love nine ball and want both games to live on but bonus ball is really going to add some epic shotmaking to the mix. WOW!
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I agree. Whoever thinks this isn't real pool is out there. It's a different game for sure and I would totally lose the girls they add nothing to the show at all.

I was skeptical of the tight pockets but they barely seem to be a factor except for the shortstops who seem to miss more than the known pros.

Interesting that the sudden death shootout is like straight pool with no end, there should be a high run prize as well at season's end.
 
beetle said:
You need to have at least two shot clocks visible to the players.
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There are 4x 42" TVs with the shot clocks. One on each side.

JB Cases said:
Interesting that the sudden death shootout is like straight pool with no end, there should be a high run prize as well at season's end.
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There are 6x $5k prizes for highest run, best points average, most perfect games, etc.
 
1) Granted, I only saw out of one eye on this recorded match from last weekend... :eek: (distractions...)

2) I've always been a proponent of bonus ball

3) Johnny had a lot to do with BB

4) Ain't no way Thorsten gets a 60 without a video edit ;)

5) I look forward to Jay, JCIN, Mark, Greg and Mark's thoughts (with much due respect)
 
And by the way, it exceeded my expectations. FWIW

(the tweaking of a couple things might be the difference)
 
nathandumoulin said:
There are 4x 42" TVs with the shot clocks. One on each side.



There are 6x $5k prizes for highest run, best points average, most perfect games, etc.
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It doesn't look good when the players have to look up at the shot clock. Something should be done to make them easier for them to see.

JC
 
I actually didn't mind watching this (and I was never optimistic about Bonus Ball, always thought it was too contrived, but this actually kept my interest).

A few things I think would take it out of the realm of somewhat-corny-and-contrived and make it possibly serious and respectable:

1. Get the eye-candy out of there. For some reason we have to keep up this hyper-masculine "we need hot girls there because we're men!" ruse when in reality they have nothing to do with the sport. Have the one referee there refereeing and keep the women-objects out of it. This ain't a porno and it ain't a magazine, it's a sport; all we need are the competitors and arbitrators. Lame, disingenuous cheerleaders undermine the seriousness of it.

2. Dress the competitors up in outfits that command respect. The shirts they're wearing are immature and informal. If this competition is supposed to be serious, don't make the competitors look like they've dressed for an intramural football game sophomore year of college. Something subdued and classy is all that is necessary, perhaps differently colored trim in their clothes or a subtle decal on their chest.

3. Get a wikipedia article up for Bonus Ball. I searched it just out of curiosity only to find it didn't even exist, which is not a good sign for a supposedly serious institution. A lot of people go to wikipedia when they first hear of something in order to learn about it; an article not existing for BB does not help its cause.

4. Make it snooker*

*This point was facetious

I think this game has potential but it is presented in a stereotypical and cartoonish manner. If people are to take it serious, it should take itself serious.

Also, the name... add a "The": "The Bonus Ball." It's cleaner.
 
They probably did it that way on purpose to try and add more suspense. I don't care if they looked somewhere else though.

Don't lose the bonus ball girls. Just add downshirt camera views! I guess I must be part of your target demographic.
 
Primo said:
ronnie o'sullivan? I heard there is a decent snooker player with the same name :)
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I only just read an old PM from a mod wanting me to change my screen name that I created three weeks ago. I guess I'll only be the Rocket for a little while longer.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is apparently a Snooker Player To Avoid!
 
Primo said:
well I kind of thought it was in poor taste to use a players real name also :)
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I didn't think anybody would actually believe I was the real Ronnie O (and it was never my intention to fool anybody; I'm just a fan of Ronnie and couldn't fit any more characters in, so adding "fan" or anything like that would hardly work). I didn't post from his perspective and even referred to him in the third person in my first post.

In all honesty, when I created the account I also didn't realize that some fairly big-name players actually visited the forum. In any other forum I'd never have expected such a thing- ie if somebody came on a Cardinals forum with the screen name Adam Wainwright, nobody would assume it was actually him, and it would take some proof for people to actually consider it. This board is unique in that it's the first one I've seen with contribution from prestigious players; I didn't expect there to be any issue when choosing my name; I figured it would be an obvious homage.

I'd say attributing "poor taste" to it is giving it more seriousness than it deserves, but it'll be changed anyway I suppose.

Regardless of this digression, my above suggestions are genuine and I think they'd help the sport of BB.
 
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ok .. that was fairly entertaining...

but the ball girls,,, wow huge cheese factor..that was bad...

if you want a little cheesecake.. do it right .. a Jennifer Beretta or a Mary Avina.. players capable of knowing the details of the rules.. and make them the ref ala Michaela Tabb drop the skimpy outfits and put them in charge

young uncomfortable girls wringing their hands screams sleaze... it really does
 
KoolKat9Lives said:
1) Granted, I only saw out of one eye on this recorded match from last weekend... :eek: (distractions...)

2) I've always been a proponent of bonus ball

3) Johnny had a lot to do with BB

4) Ain't no way Thorsten gets a 60 without a video edit ;)

5) I look forward to Jay, JCIN, Mark, Greg and Mark's thoughts (with much due respect)
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I watched about forty minutes of the match posted to YouTube. The production looks great as I expected it would. The commentary was very good as well. Jeremy is one of the best calling any game and the other guy filled his roll well without being overbearing. The graphics were clean, easy to read and looked sharp. Some of the camera switches were not to my taste but that happens in every production. Overall it looks outstanding.

Personally the game doesn't grab me as I feel like there is always one more rule that comes into play at some point. I'm sure this is because I just do not know the game but it was significant enough that I stopped watching only the video after about twenty minutes and was going back and forth for another twenty before just stopping altogether. I don't care for the 24 second clock as I feel that the guys are in a constant rush to do SOMETHING. It also doesnt leave much time for the commentator to develop the situation before it changes and starts all over again. The game itself is just not for me. Maybe that could change but I doubt it.

I realize this probably wasnt the flame war starting post you were looking for but my only issues with BB all along were the manner in which the organization has handled itself in several situations and the fact no one seems too concerned about asking if the prize money is actually there. The players and production are top notch.

The streaming thing will get fixed and I suspect more features will be added. I do not see it taking traditional pool fans by storm but depending on who you listen to that wasnt the point anyway. It looks great. All they have to do now is find a way to sell it before the weekly payroll busts them. If that happens then everyone goes home in a limo. Time will tell.
 
JCIN said:
I watched about forty minutes of the match posted to YouTube. The production looks great as I expected it would. The commentary was very good as well. Jeremy is one of the best calling any game and the other guy filled his roll well without being overbearing. The graphics were clean, easy to read and looked sharp. Some of the camera switches were not to my taste but that happens in every production. Overall it looks outstanding.

Personally the game doesn't grab me as I feel like there is always one more rule that comes into play at some point. I'm sure this is because I just do not know the game but it was significant enough that I stopped watching only the video after about twenty minutes and was going back and forth for another twenty before just stopping altogether. I don't care for the 24 second clock as I feel that the guys are in a constant rush to do SOMETHING. It also doesnt leave much time for the commentator to develop the situation before it changes and starts all over again. The game itself is just not for me. Maybe that could change but I doubt it.

I realize this probably wasnt the flame war starting post you were looking for but my only issues with BB all along were the manner in which the organization has handled itself in several situations and the fact no one seems too concerned about asking if the prize money is actually there. The players and production are top notch.

The streaming thing will get fixed and I suspect more features will be added. I do not see it taking traditional pool fans by storm but depending on who you listen to that wasnt the point anyway. It looks great. All they have to do now is find a way to sell it before the weekly payroll busts them. If that happens then everyone goes home in a limo. Time will tell.
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Damn you Justin, damn you, here I sit popcorn in the lap and nothing to read. :-) You people are getting soooooo boring.

Fine I will ask the question.........Larry Chiborak, is the money there?







P.S. I confess that I tuned it out after a while as well and skipped ahead to Thorsten's run. He did come with some good shots to put Scott on ice.
 
RonnieOSullivan said:
I actually didn't mind watching this (and I was never optimistic about Bonus Ball, always thought it was too contrived, but this actually kept my interest).

A few things I think would take it out of the realm of somewhat-corny-and-contrived and make it possibly serious and respectable:

1. Get the eye-candy out of there. For some reason we have to keep up this hyper-masculine "we need hot girls there because we're men!" ruse when in reality they have nothing to do with the sport. Have the one referee there refereeing and keep the women-objects out of it. This ain't a porno and it ain't a magazine, it's a sport; all we need are the competitors and arbitrators. Lame, disingenuous cheerleaders undermine the seriousness of it.

2. Dress the competitors up in outfits that command respect. The shirts they're wearing are immature and informal. If this competition is supposed to be serious, don't make the competitors look like they've dressed for an intramural football game sophomore year of college. Something subdued and classy is all that is necessary, perhaps differently colored trim in their clothes or a subtle decal on their chest.

3. Get a wikipedia article up for Bonus Ball. I searched it just out of curiosity only to find it didn't even exist, which is not a good sign for a supposedly serious institution. A lot of people go to wikipedia when they first hear of something in order to learn about it; an article not existing for BB does not help its cause.

4. Make it snooker*

*This point was facetious

I think this game has potential but it is presented in a stereotypical and cartoonish manner. If people are to take it serious, it should take itself serious.

Also, the name... add a "The": "The Bonus Ball." It's cleaner.
Click to expand...

I agree with 1 and 2 completely.

The players should dress like pros. There has to be a different way to show what team they are on and what color pockets they have.

The girls are just pointless. The get in the way and don't even know what to do and when to do it. The girls is not going to be why people watch. If you insist on keeping the girls get HOTTER girls.
 
JCIN said:
I watched about forty minutes of the match posted to YouTube. The production looks great as I expected it would. The commentary was very good as well. Jeremy is one of the best calling any game and the other guy filled his roll well without being overbearing. The graphics were clean, easy to read and looked sharp. Some of the camera switches were not to my taste but that happens in every production. Overall it looks outstanding.

Personally the game doesn't grab me as I feel like there is always one more rule that comes into play at some point. I'm sure this is because I just do not know the game but it was significant enough that I stopped watching only the video after about twenty minutes and was going back and forth for another twenty before just stopping altogether. I don't care for the 24 second clock as I feel that the guys are in a constant rush to do SOMETHING. It also doesnt leave much time for the commentator to develop the situation before it changes and starts all over again. The game itself is just not for me. Maybe that could change but I doubt it.

I realize this probably wasnt the flame war starting post you were looking for but my only issues with BB all along were the manner in which the organization has handled itself in several situations and the fact no one seems too concerned about asking if the prize money is actually there. The players and production are top notch.

The streaming thing will get fixed and I suspect more features will be added. I do not see it taking traditional pool fans by storm but depending on who you listen to that wasnt the point anyway. It looks great. All they have to do now is find a way to sell it before the weekly payroll busts them. If that happens then everyone goes home in a limo. Time will tell.
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Jeremy is great, Steve is horrible. He knows nothing about pool and cant even get the names right and who just shot the last shot.

I agree with the shot clock, I think there needs to be one but a little longer. If you dont have one guys will milk the clock to much. Unless you get rid of the 15 minute time limit.
 
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I just wanted to say that I watched the entire video, and enjoyed it immensely.

The only constructive criticism I have is that I think the commentators should take a small break when Lee is announcing the upcoming match.

Despite that tiny complaint, I think it was a GREAT production.

Good luck, Bonus Ball.

Thanks,

-Blake
 
SloMoHolic said:
I just wanted to say that I watched the entire video, and enjoyed it immensely. The only constructive criticism I have is that I think the commentators should take a small break when Lee is announcing the upcoming match.

Despite that tiny complaint, I think it was a GREAT production.

Good luck, Bonus Ball.

Thanks,

-Blake
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Thanks Blake!

In the first week we didnt get time to setup the comm system between myself and the commentary booth. As such there was no way to cue the announcers, so we had to wing it. We managed to get that sorted out today, so come this week, we will be able to avoid those types of confusion, as I will have the ability to talk to each person individual over the comm system.

This week we will also have live stats, 3 extra cams, and streaming that actually works. Our server is still down and I honestly don't know if the guys will get it ready in time, but either way we can now push directly to ustream, rather than through that server, which was killing our connection speed last attempt. We tested it tonight, and were pushing a feed that exceeded expectation.

Thanks again.
 
After getting a chance to watch, I'm still really on the fence.

What I like:
-The team concept is great.
-Production is really good, the studio looks good. JJ should be the go-to commentator for every billiard promoter.
-It feels important and grandiose. I'm not sure why, it just does to me.

What I don't like:
-The ball girls. The girls seem useless and look bored. If they feel a need for sex appeal, go the NFL route and get an attractive sideline reporter/interviewer.
-The jerseys. I can't even coherently type how much I hate the jerseys. Button down team shirts, polos, sport coats, bowling shirts. Anything would be an improvement.


I'm still on the fence about the actual game. For whatever reason, it just doesn't draw me in. The rules and strategy are starting to make more sense to me, but still seem overly complicated. I'll watch it again this weekend, and maybe I'll come to appreciate it more.
 
Cashman said:
After getting a chance to watch, I'm still really on the fence.

What I like:
-The team concept is great.
-Production is really good, the studio looks good. JJ should be the go-to commentator for every billiard promoter.
-It feels important and grandiose. I'm not sure why, it just does to me.

What I don't like:
-The ball girls. The girls seem useless and look bored. If they feel a need for sex appeal, go the NFL route and get an attractive sideline reporter/interviewer.
-The jerseys. I can't even coherently type how much I hate the jerseys. Button down team shirts, polos, sport coats, bowling shirts. Anything would be an improvement.


I'm still on the fence about the actual game. For whatever reason, it just doesn't draw me in. The rules and strategy are starting to make more sense to me, but still seem overly complicated. I'll watch it again this weekend, and maybe I'll come to appreciate it more.
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The ball girls and Jerseys Ned to go

Pretty obvious tweak to improve the look and feel
 
I guess I will be a little more contrary. I like the jerseys and I think that the team mates should do some sharking when the other players are at the table. We need a few fights. I want to see Ralf kick some ass in real life!!!
 
JB Cases said:
Damn you Justin, damn you, here I sit popcorn in the lap and nothing to read. :-) You people are getting soooooo boring.

Fine I will ask the question.........Larry Chiborak, is the money there?







P.S. I confess that I tuned it out after a while as well and skipped ahead to Thorsten's run. He did come with some good shots to put Scott on ice.
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You know, instead of constantly asking this stupid question, why not acknowledge the significant investment made project to date, give them your financial support if you like the product or flame away on a forum if that is your thing. But, enough with the ignorant questions that have obvious answers.

It is a business, not a charity. If there is not a reasonable expectation that there will be a return on their investment, they will stop investing.

Do you think they put "X" amount in the bank and said "spend this and when it is gone we are done"

Good god people.. This is no different than any other business proposition.
Make an investment, expect a return.
Risk - Reward.
Free market capitalism.
 
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