Tournament Software

RonMason

RonMason

Ron Mason
Silver Member
I am in the process of developing an advanced yet user friendly billiards tournament system. I know a lot of what needs to be included, but I am sure there will be areas I will overlook. So I am asking the AZB community for their input on what would be great features to have in tournament software?

Thank you for your time and input.

Ron Mason
Gotham City Technologies.
 
Whether you're an APA fan or not, I suspect the APA runs more tournaments than all other organizations and individuals combined. Assuming that is true, that potentially represents your biggest market.

I recently purchased a bar/grill in Alabama where one of my company's offices is, my Son is running it. We have 9 bar boxes with the intent being to focus on pool leagues and tournaments as a way to draw people to the establishment. We're hosting an upcoming APA Captain's Tournament. We're looking at tournament software packages. We'll also be putting on weekly tournaments. 8 ball, 9 ball and Scotch Doubles.

What are we looking for in Tournament Software? It would be great if you could set parameters to automatically fill in the brackets based upon the handicap. For example, in a Captain's Tournament (APA), I've seen that where 7's play 7's, 6's play 6's, etc. and the skill levels don't mix until a few rounds into the tournament (dependent upon the size of the tournament and the number of people in the tournament that are a specific skill level of course).

Obviously, the software needs to deal with single elimination and double elimination. Then you have some tournaments where it becomes a single elimination after so many rounds, so having parameters to adjust for that makes sense.

I'd like to be able to set up seeded pairings or have the software randomly assign the matchups.

The other tournament format that comes to mind is where each round becomes a redraw. At DCC, first time losers can buy back in. I've played in tournaments where they draw cards after each round for the new match up. It would be nice if the software app could randomly assign pairings after each round. There's also the tournaments similar to this, that are handicapped, where you get chips (or some kind of marker). You get a random matchup, play one game and if you lose, you have to turn in one of your chips. When you're out of chips, you're out of the tournament. I played in one like this in Spartanburg, SC one time and liked the format.

Let me know how it goes, we could be a potential Customer and would consider beta testing your software app. I'm sure there are plenty of others here, with more experience and having run their own tournaments, that could offer a lot of other input.

Good luck with your project!
 
nobcitypool said:
Whether you're an APA fan or not, I suspect the APA runs more tournaments than all other organizations and individuals combined. Assuming that is true, that potentially represents your biggest market.

I recently purchased a bar/grill in Alabama where one of my company's offices is, my Son is running it. We have 9 bar boxes with the intent being to focus on pool leagues and tournaments as a way to draw people to the establishment. We're hosting an upcoming APA Captain's Tournament. We're looking at tournament software packages. We'll also be putting on weekly tournaments. 8 ball, 9 ball and Scotch Doubles.

What are we looking for in Tournament Software? It would be great if you could set parameters to automatically fill in the brackets based upon the handicap. For example, in a Captain's Tournament (APA), I've seen that where 7's play 7's, 6's play 6's, etc. and the skill levels don't mix until a few rounds into the tournament (dependent upon the size of the tournament and the number of people in the tournament that are a specific skill level of course).

Obviously, the software needs to deal with single elimination and double elimination. Then you have some tournaments where it becomes a single elimination after so many rounds, so having parameters to adjust for that makes sense.

I'd like to be able to set up seeded pairings or have the software randomly assign the matchups.

The other tournament format that comes to mind is where each round becomes a redraw. At DCC, first time losers can buy back in. I've played in tournaments where they draw cards after each round for the new match up. It would be nice if the software app could randomly assign pairings after each round. There's also the tournaments similar to this, that are handicapped, where you get chips (or some kind of marker). You get a random matchup, play one game and if you lose, you have to turn in one of your chips. When you're out of chips, you're out of the tournament. I played in one like this in Spartanburg, SC one time and liked the format.

Let me know how it goes, we could be a potential Customer and would consider beta testing your software app. I'm sure there are plenty of others here, with more experience and having run their own tournaments, that could offer a lot of other input.

Good luck with your project!
Click to expand...
Thank you for your input. Very informative. I play on the Predator Tour here in NY so I have a general idea of the handicapping system and single and double elimination tournaments. I am putting together a list of features so once everything is in order, we can just create it. I don't want to build something and then think "oh man, we should of thought of that". I know it can never be perfect in everyone's eyes, but I want it to be as close to perfect as can be.

I will definitely update you on the status of the app and will definitely need beta testers. Thank you again for your input and interest.

Ron Mason
Gotham City Technologies
 
amason101070 said:
I am in the process of developing an advanced yet user friendly billiards tournament system. I know a lot of what needs to be included, but I am sure there will be areas I will overlook. So I am asking the AZB community for their input on what would be great features to have in tournament software?

Thank you for your time and input.

Ron Mason
Gotham City Technologies.
Click to expand...

random seeding
the ability to put late players in
prize pool calculations - payouts
double, single and round robin formats
A BACK UP FEATURE - I had a laptop crash mid-tournament what a nightmare
 
Besides the basics, which I'm sure you know about, I'd like to have the ability to designate how many tables are available, then have the software assign the tables to the matches. When a match is complete, I'd like the software to then assign the next logical match to that table. (Of course with the ability to manually override each step).

The biggest trouble I have is running larger tournaments with only 4 or 5 tables, and keeping track of who is playing on what table, and whcih tables are available to play on (when you don't always have line of site on the tables, or you don't know everyone by looking at them). Everytime a match finishes, the vultures descend to get in practice time, so it isn't readily apparent whcih tables are open.
 
supergreenman said:
random seeding
the ability to put late players in
prize pool calculations - payouts
double, single and round robin formats
A BACK UP FEATURE - I had a laptop crash mid-tournament what a nightmare
Click to expand...
Thanks James.

Yes, it will definitely need a backup feature. I can't imagine the headache it would cause, especially once the tournament has already started.

I was using one I found online a few months back and one thing I noticed and it really didn't surprise me is the automatic draw feature. Before the button was even pressed players started saying that it could be fixed. I laughed it off.

The prize pool calculations feature sounds good. Maybe I can give the option for it.

Thanks again for your input.

Ron
 
MSchaffer said:
Besides the basics, which I'm sure you know about, I'd like to have the ability to designate how many tables are available, then have the software assign the tables to the matches. When a match is complete, I'd like the software to then assign the next logical match to that table. (Of course with the ability to manually override each step).

The biggest trouble I have is running larger tournaments with only 4 or 5 tables, and keeping track of who is playing on what table, and whcih tables are available to play on (when you don't always have line of site on the tables, or you don't know everyone by looking at them). Everytime a match finishes, the vultures descend to get in practice time, so it isn't readily apparent whcih tables are open.
Click to expand...
Noted and thanks for the info. I am definitely going to take time on this and not just throw it together.

Ron
 
I don't mean to be the negative guy here, but igenpool in my opinion has already created the best pool tournament software that you could want. It has the handicap tables built in and you can even create your own if they don't suit you.

It has Single, Double, Team. Draw by sign up, skill level, and Random, Seeded as well. Calcutta, Break Pool, Late entry as long as the 1st match hasn't been finished and logged. Payout calculations, with total control. Table and Match Timers.

If there are other things that may be needed I haven't come across them yet.

Maybe you guy's can collaborate on a new project, on their platform don't know....

Just my .02 cent's good luck on your project, I may end up being a customer.

Black Cat :cool:
 
Black Cat 5791 said:
I don't mean to be the negative guy here, but igenpool in my opinion has already created the best pool tournament software that you could want. It has the handicap tables built in and you can even create your own if they don't suit you.

It has Single, Double, Team. Draw by sign up, skill level, and Random, Seeded as well. Calcutta, Break Pool, Late entry as long as the 1st match hasn't been finished and logged. Payout calculations, with total control. Table and Match Timers.

If there are other things that may be needed I haven't come across them yet.

Maybe you guy's can collaborate on a new project, on their platform don't know....

Just my .02 cent's good luck on your project, I may end up being a customer.

Black Cat :cool:
Click to expand...
Thanks Black. I like igenpool. Nice app.

I will let you know when we are ready for beta testers. Would love your feedback.

Thanks again.

Ron
 
amason101070 said:
Thanks Black. I like igenpool. Nice app.

I will let you know when we are ready for beta testers. Would love your feedback.

Thanks again.

Ron
Click to expand...

Thanks Ron, I'd definitely drive it around the proverbial block. I run multiple weekly tournaments, so it will definitely see usage.

Kevin :thumbup:

P.S. I still drag around my Laptop, with no problem.
 
I am after a system where you can enter the match score at the table and then the tournament managers can see what is going on around the arena.
 
The Cuesports Tournament System (CTS) that is used in CSI events is the best I have seen and used. It posts to the internet and does everything a tournament director needs to run large events.
 
Black Cat 5791 said:
I don't mean to be the negative guy here, but igenpool in my opinion has already created the best pool tournament software that you could want. It has the handicap tables built in and you can even create your own if they don't suit you.

It has Single, Double, Team. Draw by sign up, skill level, and Random, Seeded as well. Calcutta, Break Pool, Late entry as long as the 1st match hasn't been finished and logged. Payout calculations, with total control. Table and Match Timers.

If there are other things that may be needed I haven't come across them yet.

Maybe you guy's can collaborate on a new project, on their platform don't know....

Just my .02 cent's good luck on your project, I may end up being a customer.

Black Cat :cool:
Click to expand...
If people had said oh, Mr. Ford has made the best car possible with the Model T we would still be backing up hills because the Model T didn't have a fuel pump and relied on gravity.
 
supergreenman said:
If people had said oh, Mr. Ford has made the best car possible with the Model T we would still be backing up hills because the Model T didn't have a fuel pump and relied on gravity.
Click to expand...

Agreed! Igen is a good start but has a lot of short comings. I have been using challonge.com brackets for a little over a year now and am mostly satisfied. I run at least two events a week and find it very easy to use and for making my brackets available online. It too has shortcomings and a lot of the features others have suggested would do nicely.

I would love to help you beta test a product. In another life I managed a SQA group and might be just what you are looking for in a tester.

Good luck with it!

Ken
 
Yes, I'd love to do testing for the beta too. I'll provide feedback on bugs and shortcomings after use.

It would be nice if it had the ability to do a king of the hill type tournament and a round robin as well.
 
supergreenman said:
If people had said oh, Mr. Ford has made the best car possible with the Model T we would still be backing up hills because the Model T didn't have a fuel pump and relied on gravity.
Click to expand...

Hey Mr. Green, I think I made my points fairly clear. I'm all for innovation and improvement. I was simply stating that based on everything I've seen I just basically feel it's a hard improvement. But, no one or thing is perfect and I'm hopeful that it will be and I'd love the opportunity to test and offer input.

Didn't mean to ruffle any feathers, that's why I prefaced everything with the apology in the beginning.

Black Cat :grin:
 
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