Success Rate

[fishbum]

I don't get it. When I finish a puzzle it shows a success rate. Most are not very high. If I solved it does that mean I did better than so many others?
Also, does using hints constitute 'failure'?

[imported_Lurker]

When quotes are first posted on the site, they don't have stats. They get solved for a few months to collect averages for time and how often they are solved. You're right; the success rates are usually less than 50%. All the Guests on the site - and the members who don't care about their competitive stats - tend to bring down the averages.

You can't use hints when you're logged in. I wouldn't call it a failure. If you can't solve a quote with all the hints... that's a failure. :P Admin had to stop allowing Guests to set speed records because they were getting very low times on really hard quotes.

Hope that answers your questions.

[fishbum]

Thanks Lurker.

[fishbum]

I am curious about very low success rates. Do folks just give up if they don't see solution right away. No real interest in solving? I just solved one with a success rate < than 7% and gave it about 4 or 5 difficulty rating but certainly not that hard. Took me about 2.5 minutes.

[imported_Lurker]

A lot of people play and don't compete, or don't care about their %. Before I had an account, I only finished about half of the ones I tried. Short attention span.

[fishbum]

So statistics include everyone who tries?

[imported_Lurker]

When new quotes are introduced, there's a period of stats-gathering. It's a couple of months. Long enough that the puzzles get played a lot, but not so much that players start to memorize them and skew the results. It's kind of annoying, because you can't set a record. Then the % and average speed are set, and only the records change. Everyone goes on a binge to set records before the super-fast players get to them. It has been a LONG time since a batch of new quotes was released.

And yes, as far as I know, the stats period includes every time the puzzle is played. Only records and comments are reserved for registered players.

[gryhnd51]

My sister was just here for a visit. She had always told me that she "could NOT solve cryptograms, but because I was playing, she decided to give it a try. She played as a guest, never asked for hints, and I was amazed at how well she did.....she's slow, but weren't we ALL at first??
I'm not sure this adds anything whatsoever to the conversation, but I just wanted to share that info.

[Rookie66]

gryhnd51

This is your sister and I am now playing competatively.......OMG.......I must be nuts. I am Rookie66. Love you

[LLapp]

Welcome Rookie66! Any sister of gryhnd51 is a friend here.

[maradnu]

Welcome

Welcome Rookie66

I hope you enjoy your playing

[wvwoman]

hi!

the more, the merrier--welcome, rookie!

[munchlet]

This is your sister and I am now playing competitively.......OMG.......I must be nuts.

Then you're in good company, Rookie66.



Andrea

[Rookie66]

Thank you all for the warm welcome. Gryhnd had to walk me through how to use this!! She's the best sister!! Debbie

[gryhnd51]

Well, it took me long enough to read this!!

WELCOME, little sister. I'm so happy you're here