Zombified

Scott Hardie | March 3, 2012
When the Spring 2012 season begins on Monday, there will be several small rule changes that might wind up having a big effect on Celebrity Goo Game.

The foremost change is that "zombie players" will rise to compete again. If there's an odd number of players on any day of the tournament, then instead of a bye, one of the eliminated players will be randomly selected to face the top seeded player, forcing the top seed to race on the goo like everyone else. If the top seed solves faster, the zombie goes right back to the pool of defeated players. If the zombie solves faster, the top seed loses an extra chance or even gets eliminated, and the zombie gets full reinstatement as a player in the tournament in the same seeded order as before, but with no extra chances. There's no limit to how many times the same player can return as a zombie. (If there's an odd number of players but no one is defeated yet, for instance on the very first day, then the top seed will just face a bye.)

This change is intended to have two positive effects in the game. Firstly, this reduces the giant advantage previously enjoyed by the top seed. The top player deserves a competitive edge as a reward (and incentive) for solving all fifty goos in the regular season, but the way it's been, it's a nearly insurmountable advantage, and it needs to be reduced a little in the interest of fairness. Secondly, this keeps all players engaged until the end of the season, because everyone still has a chance at re-entry and eventual victory, at least until we're down to the final two.

Additionally, I'm making two other changes. You'll now earn an extra chance for every 20 goos solved instead of 15, so there can be no more than two per player. Also, when players are sorted into brackets, the sort order will now be regular season score (descending), number of previous wins (ascending), lifetime score (ascending). This gives players pursuing their first victory a small advantage in being ranked higher, and it shakes the order up a little more, since veterans rarely pass each other in the lifetime scores list.

I'd like to stress that there's still a considerable advantage in solving all fifty goos in the season and getting that top bracket. You'll still get easier (less accomplished) opponents in the early going of the tournament, plus the chance of a bye in the first day or two. And while you might suddenly face an accomplished game veteran who returned as a zombie, you might also face a casual player who was knocked out on day one, the kind of player who solves a few goos in the regular season and doesn't come back, giving you a de-facto bye. Top seed no longer has an overwhelming advantage, but it's still the best place to be in the tournament.

This spring is going to be a fun season! I have some neat themes lined up for the next few months, and I look forward to seeing what effects the rule changes bring in the tournament in May. Good luck, players!

Samir Mehta | March 3, 2012
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Steve West | March 3, 2012
Those are great changes! I'm not looking forward to being a zombie (by being eliminated) but can have some hope still after the fact.

Matthew Preston | March 4, 2012
Awesome! I am looking forward to being a zombie. It's likely the only way for the casual player to succeed. Would I get credit for saying that I knew this was coming and purposely retired at 1,000 goos for a time in order to benefit in the ranks in the future? Heh, not really, but I do enjoy the ever so slight irony.

Steve Dunn | March 4, 2012
First glance, sounds great. But doesn't this mean someone who solves three goos, total, could end up beating someone who solved 60+ goos between the regular season and the tournament?

Chris Lemler | March 4, 2012
I'm looking forward to it

Chris Lemler | March 5, 2012
Scott if there is no number of times you can return from becoming a zombie then wants you come back in the tourney and you get knocked out again do you get to keep coming back as a zombie or are you done wants you get knocked out once return!!!!!!

Scott Hardie | March 7, 2012
I'm glad to hear the happy feedback! I think this will be a good change.

Steve: Yes, it's possible for that to happen. It's also possible for a destitute person to spend their last five bucks on a lottery ticket and wind up with more money than you'll earn in your life, but I hope that doesn't mean you'll quit your job. In other words, the person who plays hard all season isn't guaranteed victory, but has much much better chances of reaching it than a very lazy and lucky zombie.

Chris: Each time there's an opening, the site will choose one of the eliminated players at random to become that day's zombie, with no regard to how many times that player has already been a zombie. So, you might get chosen once, or five times, or not at all, or any other number. There's typically about 5-6 openings in a tournament, and more players than that are eliminated along the way, so the odds aren't good for any specific individual.

Chris Lemler | March 7, 2012
Scott may I make a suggestion. If you come back as a Zombie you should be able to come back once and then if your eliminated then that should be it but .... :) What do you think about this idea ?

Erik Bates | March 7, 2012
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Ryan Dunn | March 7, 2012
Well alrighty then. Since I'm already qualified for the tournament with my 2 correct guesses, and have a good chance of being selected to return...i see no further need to continue guessing goos. See you in the tournament! Color me a "lazy zombie."

Scott Hardie | March 7, 2012
Chris: I considered limiting players to a single zombie return each, and I may still do it that way in a future season. It would certainly prevent the (remote) possibility of an endless loop, a tournament that goes on for months because players keep coming back. But since one of the purposes of this change was to keep every player engaged in the tournament all the way to the end, cutting them off after one comeback seemed counter-productive. Besides, if the goal of limiting them to one comeback each would be to spread the opportunities around more fairly so someone doesn't wind up hogging them all, the odds already help that happen; there will be more players seeking to return than there will be chances to return.

Ryan: I don't think your chances of returning as a zombie will be good. 1 in 30 maybe? But by all means, if it's more fun to get into the tournament with minimal effort, then go for it. I want people to enjoy the game. :-) Good luck.

Chris Lemler | March 7, 2012
I agree with everything Scott said. Let see how everything turns out for everyone and Good Luck :)

Ryan Dunn | March 15, 2012
1 in 30? How is that possible with only 16 currently eligible players(and with that number reduced in the playoffs)?

My zombified ass is taking somebody down! GAWWWWWAARRAAAARGGllleeeeelll.....

Scott Hardie | March 16, 2012
A zombie will only be needed when there's an odd number of players remaining, which is roughly a 50/50 chance on any given day. I multiplied that by about 15 players. Of course, you may get multiple opportunities, and every day's circumstances are different, so who knows what the actual odds are.

Scott Hardie | June 16, 2012
One player has suggested that the zombie's identity be hidden from view. For instance, if Chris is the top-seeded player and Ryan is the zombie (I'm picking on the two faces on the screen as I type this), then the tournament bracket would be displayed as "Chris vs. Zombie." Ryan would know that he's the zombie because he could activate the goo, and you would know that you are not the zombie because you couldn't activate it, but you wouldn't know which other player it is unless Ryan solves faster than Chris and re-enters the tournament.

Good idea? Not worth the trouble? What do you all think?

Steve West | June 16, 2012
That has merits. I'm liking it more each time I say it my head.

Steve Dunn | June 17, 2012
What's the purpose?

Samir Mehta | June 18, 2012
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Steve West | June 18, 2012
I think I appreciate the anonymity of the initial Zombification until that person actually wins a head-to-head and re-enters the tournament. Not exactly sure why I like it but I do.

Samir Mehta | June 18, 2012
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Scott Hardie | June 19, 2012
Maybe the point is to spare the frustration for other players if the chance to be a zombie that day is "wasted" on an inactive player? It could also increase tension for the top seed, not knowing who they're up against. Then again, knowing that the zombie space went to a really sharp, aggressive player could be preferable to not knowing at all. I'm undecided.

LaVonne Lemler | June 20, 2012
Interesting idea, Scott. The top-seeded player would remain as challenged as anyone throughout the tournament, not knowing the name of his zombie opponent when the situation arises. This is better than knowingly facing an inactive player, where the top seed may feel he can take more time coming up with an answer. Let's try it! :)

Scott Hardie | August 12, 2012
Fyi, following up to our earlier discussion, I've decided not to make this change for now. There aren't many inactive players this season (and the two there are might merely be waiting for the competition to start), so I don't think it would have much impact on the top seed's behavior. I might return to this idea in future seasons.

It's been a good summer season. Here's hoping for a fun finish.

Steve West | August 12, 2012
In an ironic event of timing, I'm leaving for the ocean for a few days starting Monday. I'll probanly miss a few goos at the start following the first one but may be back in time to not be eliminated by no guessing. So good luck to whoever is paired with me - you get a few free rides.

Scott Hardie | August 12, 2012
Have a good trip!

Mike Eberhart | August 14, 2012
Same here. I missed yesterday due to travel. Plus my internet here is flaky so I may miss more. That's what you get when you're in the middle of the Atlantic ocean on a tiny island.

Scott Hardie | August 14, 2012
I hope you're having a great trip too, Mike. Bad time for a tournament, I guess, but it seems like there's always somebody out.

I had been planning a week of five stars of the Republican party to coincide with the RNC in Tampa, then a week of five Democrats for the DNC in Charlotte. Then I realized that the former will happen while this tournament is still underway. Oh well. Maybe a week of five people related to the election just before Election Day in November?

Mike Eberhart | August 14, 2012
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Steve West | August 15, 2012
I wasn't on the ocean but I was at the ocean at Ocean City, MD. No wifi connection at the place we were staying but Brenda's Android was usable. No speed at all so I was comfortable making PP moves but the screen size was abominable and led me to make some pretty silly moves. Not a chance I was guessing at goos but it's all good. The vacation was great and Olivia had the best time going in the ocean despite the breaking waves pushing her around. No way she could have handled it without Brenda and I holding her up but she had a great time getting pounded by the surf. Lauren was independent enough to try body surfing on the biggest of waves and got dunked and went back for more. She collected a huge number of clam shells and Brenda and I enjoyed their good time vicariously through their laughs and joyous expressions.

Samir Mehta | August 16, 2012
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Scott Hardie | August 16, 2012
You take envy-inducing trips, Steve. Glad you had fun. :-)

Interesting tournament so far. I'm surprised at how many people aren't guessing, or are guessing slowly. Maybe there are even more people on vacation? I should consider choosing a different time of year for this thing.

Code issues prevented Elaine from entering her "zombie" guess tonight after activating the goo. It's resolved now and she has guessed, but in the interest of fairness, I've programmed the site to give her one more chance: The next time a zombie is needed, she'll be selected. It will go back to random after that. This impacts every player in some way, even if only indirectly, so sorry for the trouble.

Steve Dunn | August 16, 2012
I guessed slowly today because I couldn't get it within 15 minutes this morning, then I headed into a work thing that lasted 12+ consecutive hours.

Somehow Matthew Preston narrowly edged me with his time of 15 seconds.

Mike Eberhart | August 16, 2012
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Scott Hardie | August 24, 2012
Final four! With no extra chances remaining, this is it. We will have a winner Monday or possibly tomorrow. Good luck finalists!

Aaron Shurtleff | August 24, 2012
Like there isn't enough pressure! :P

Matthew Preston | August 24, 2012
I'm sure this has been asked before, but I don't recall the answer: What would happen if all 4 of us got it wrong? Or the final 2 both got it wrong? Do over?

Scott Hardie | August 24, 2012
If all remaining players are eliminated on the same goo, it will be stricken from the tournament (retroactively treated as a bonus goo) and those players will try again on a new tournament goo the next day.

Aaron Shurtleff | August 24, 2012
...Aaaaand I'm out. Good luck to the rest of the competitors!!

I'll be back next season! lol

Scott Hardie | August 24, 2012
We're down to two! This has been a tough tournament. The winner on Monday will have earned their prize for sure.

Justin Woods | August 24, 2012
I concur...

Steve Dunn | August 25, 2012
Woods vs. Woods in the final??

There's gonna be some tension in that household over the weekend!

Good luck!

Justin Woods | August 25, 2012
It's not fair I think she has the upper hand... Glad she works all weekend 12 hour shifts :)

Joanna Woods | August 25, 2012
I always win when it comes to timing.....NOT!!! It should be fun anyway. :-)

Justin Woods | August 25, 2012
your kidding right,,, you can barely tell time! ;) 458

Joanna Woods | August 25, 2012
haha very funny. Just remember I do get to come home from my 12 hour shifts...

Scott Hardie | August 28, 2012
I still don't know how today's goo is going to turn out, but I can't stay awake any longer. I've scheduled another tournament goo for tomorrow. If there winds up being a winner in the next 22 minutes, I'll convert tomorrow's goo to a bonus goo in the morning. Good luck, Joanna and Justin. :-)

Scott Hardie | August 28, 2012
As it turns out, neither Woods solved yesterday's Movies goo by midnight, as I apparently made it much too hard. My apologies to anyone seeking a perfect season or a record for longest streak, because you're going to have to go through that nasty goo to get it. Now that it's open to general play, I don't mind mentioning that the celebrity is not obscure, if you're familiar with today's popular filmmakers (popular with critics at least).

Anyway, since that goo meant the elimination of the last two remaining players in the tournament, it has retroactively been removed from the tournament as if it didn't happen. Joanna and Justin are back in the competition with a new goo today, and we should have a winner by this evening. I still wish you both luck; hopefully you won't need it as much today as yesterday. :-)

Steve Dunn | August 28, 2012
Wow. Yesterday must have sucked in the Woods household. I'm envisioning them on separate laptops, just getting more and more frustrated.

Justin Woods | August 28, 2012
You are right about that Steve... I am still frustrated that I can't find it.

Scott Hardie | August 28, 2012
Interesting issue on today's goo... Joanna guessed wrong yesterday, which removed her from the competition. Justin didn't enter a guess before midnight. Technically, at midnight, there was an odd number of players left in the tournament (Justin), but the tournament wasn't declared complete yet, so the site selected someone to be a zombie player today. I didn't even realize it had happened until that player entered a guess this morning. This has no bearing on the tournament, but what a weird twist. I've just programmed a solution in case this very specific combination of factors causes it to happen again.

Justin Woods | August 28, 2012
no I am really mad that I found it a day later but the added info helped... Thanks Scott

Scott Hardie | August 28, 2012
Congrats on victory #5, Justin! You had to outplay Elaine, Denise, Mike Rothstein, Erik, Matthew, and Joanna to win. That's one tough line-up, but you made it through with determination and skill. Well done. :-) Joanna, you played a great season too, yet again.

Steve Dunn | August 28, 2012
Congratulations Justin!

Chris Lemler | August 28, 2012
Nice Work Justin

Justin Woods | August 29, 2012
Thanks! Thank you Scott for an exciting round, maybe not for yesterdays goo since I spent a lot of time and still couldn't find it before I went to sleep! but I always enjoy it ;)

Scott Hardie | August 29, 2012
You're welcome! I was unhappy with yesterday's goo as well. I like them hard, not near-impossible.

I've thought about making a five-day theme out of super-difficult goos, for the players who enjoy that level of challenge. But so far I haven't had the heart to go through with that idea. :-)

Aaron Shurtleff | August 29, 2012
Congrats, Justin!

Justin Woods | August 29, 2012
Thanks Aaron!

LaVonne Lemler | August 30, 2012
Congrats, Justin!

Amy Austin | March 8, 2013
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Scott Hardie | March 11, 2013
Zombies, zombies, zombies. That's all Hollywood seems to want to make any more. :-) There's a romantic comedy with a zombie playing now. When are we going to get a zombie-cop-buddy movie? Or a show about a zombie law firm that represents the undead? (Either one could just be called "Zombie & Zombie" if they need to rush production.)

Lori Lancaster | March 15, 2013
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Anna Gregoline | April 5, 2013
Scott? You are forgetting about Dead Heat. =)

Scott Hardie | April 5, 2013
Never heard of it. Totally watching it soon. :-)

Anna Gregoline | April 10, 2013
It's one of the funniest movies I've ever seen! It's soooo poorly done. Joe Piscapo, for crissakes.

Scott Hardie | May 6, 2013
Thanks for the suggestion, Anna. It was as terrible as you said, and I had a great time. :-)

Check out A Talking Cat!?! for more campy fun.