When you challenge a player to a game, there is a checkbox to indicate whether the game being played is a Tournament Game. The person being challenged will confirm that this is a tournament game to be played.
If the player issuing the challenge forgets to check the “Tournament Game” box, then the player being challenged should reject the challenge.
Once a game has been selected as a Tournament Game, it must be played to completion. This includes answering the “Game End” prompt by both players at the end of the game. Failure to complete a game the first time will result in a warning. Failure to complete a game the second time can be considered a forfeit.
A game played without being identified as a Tournament Game will not be counted as an official result.
If the box does not appear, this means that the person you are challenging is not someone you are scheduled to play. If you believe this to be incorrect, let me know. Do not try to start a tournament game without seeing that option.
The lobby has a “Join Call” button that opens boxes for turning the camera and microphone on and off. Everyone in the lobby is together in a group call. When two players start a game, they are moved to a private call.
Players are not required to use this facility, however, it’s being supplied as an option for those not wishing to use other conferencing options for communicating during the game.
A play clock is being added to the scoreboard.
An indicator will be shown when your opponent has made their call.
There is a new panel for buttons available for use at any time. (The contents of this panel will change during play depending on which buttons are available to the players. See the details below.)
This is the most significant change to game play. Please read this section completely.
There is now a real-time clock in the game. Delay of Game (DoG) penalties will now be called.
Both players have 40 seconds to make their call for all plays from scrimmage, except as listed below.
A called Time Out sets the play clock to 70. (A 30-second TO, plus the play clock is reset to 40.)
An extra 15 seconds is given after a change in possession.
“Non-play” decisions are given 15 seconds. Failure to make a choice makes the game select the default option for that decision.
Each player has the option of calling one “TV Time Out” per half. This Time Out lasts until both players select to end it.
There is an automatic “TV Time Out” at the end of each quarter. Players must select the “End Time Out” button to continue.
If a call is not made within the designated amount of time, a DoG penalty will be assessed against the player. (5 Yard penalty) This penalty can be declined by the opponent. In either case, accepted or declined, this counts as a DoG penalty toward the player’s total.
A second consecutive DoG, or the 6th (or more) DoG in the game by a player, is ruled as Unsportsmanlike Conduct. (15 Yard penalty) This penalty can also be declined. In either case, accepted or declined, this counts as 2 DoG penalties toward the player’s total.
A third consecutive Delay of Game, or the 8th (or more) DoG in the game, adds the additional penalty of Loss of Down (against the offense) or Awarding the Score (against the defense). The Yardage can be declined but the Loss of Down or Awarding the Score (TD) cannot. In either case, this penalty counts as 3 DoG penalties towards the player’s total.
Note: What this last penalty means is that if a player is called for three consecutive DoG penalties, their next DoG in the game, regardless of when it occurs, will result in it being assessed as Unsportsmanlike Conduct, and any DoG after that will incur either the Loss of Down or a Touchdown awarded to the opponent.
If a “Non-Play” decision is not made in time, the default selection is applied and counts as a DoG penalty toward the player’s total.
This is the button described above. It is available to each player once each half.
When either player selects TV Time Out, both players panels are changed to only show an “End TV Time Out” button. The game continues when both players select it.
This button becomes available to a player any time they are behind by more points than the number of minutes remaining in the game. When selected, a confirmation box is displayed. When confirmed, the game ends immediately.
This button appears during overtime. When either player selects this button, the other player is asked to confirm. If the second player confirms the selection, the game is ended. If denied, the button is removed until after the next play is resolved.
The following issues have been corrected.
The end-of-game statistics page still has a number of errors. (These don’t factor into anything, they are provided purely for entertainment. As such, they’re very low on the priority list of things being worked on.)