Zezo forum:

Post by zezo | 2017-12-05 | 21:37:54

A new version of the extension was published to the store and will become available soon.

Starting a new thread because the original grew too long.

Old one is here for reference http://zezo.org/forum.pl?tid=6113

Quick instructions for new users:

1) Install the extension
2) Go to the game home page
3) Click the Z extension icon in the toolbar
4) DO NOT close the debugger warning banner
5) Enter a race to force update of boat position
6) Wait few minutes to get the second table populated with new data

How to deal with the debugging banner:

It can be disabled, but that may not be good idea from privacy/security standpoint. Not because we'll steal your data - we won't, but because some other extension you install could do it.

Ideally you should be running second Chrome instance (or Opera with "Download Chrome Extension" installed) and only disable the warning there.

To disable the warning go to chrome://flags/#silent-debugger-extension-api

ChangeLog in next post.

64 Comments

Post by zezo | 2017-12-05 | 21:45:39

Changes since previous release:

- Available options are now submitted to the router.
The router only adds options to the list, so if you have checked an option you don't have it will stay checked.
The router also sets Pro Winches by default because they are not implemented in the game yet, so everyone has them. The TWA is submitted, but not used yet (idea is to optimize tacking logic further)

- Barrel expiration time is displayed, field turns green when you have cards to collect. The Solo: card is the first selection in the deck that changes every 10 minutes, but only if you check it. Useful reminder if you are hunting for specific cards to purchase.

- Added option to display times in the local time zone. The date display is also locale-dependent.
- Seconds and minutes in both time and position are padded to leading-zero format
- Auto-sail displays time remaining.

UI changes:
- Tool-tips available for the abbreviated table headers. Ideally we should expand them even more and translate into few languages.
- All possible cards are displayed again.
- "Clear Log" button.
- Table borders.
- A lot of small changes in field names, shorter sail names and so on.

Once more, kudos to mak08 who wrote the initial code and still does most of the work, and to all players who provided feedback.

Download link for first-time users
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/vr-dashboard/amknkhejaogpekncjekiaolgldbejjan

Extensions upgrade to the current version automatically when installed.

z.

Post by nsp | 2017-12-05 | 22:51:57

Amazing work as usual. Thank you guys so much.

Just one doubt: you wrote: "The router also sets Pro Winches by default because they are not implemented in the game yet, so everyone has them"...

Just to know if I understood well, does this by any chance means that we have been paying credits that cost money for a feature that doesn't give any advantage, either because all the boats bennefit from it (with Pro winches or not) or because it doesn't work in any boat?

Post by zezo | 2017-12-05 | 22:55:25

The penalties still do not carry over the next cycle. The count-down does, but speed is not affected. Maybe you should not complain too loud, lest they fix it ;-)

Edit: The real problem is that they won't announce when they fix it so you still have to purchase pro winches, out of fear they will.

Post by nsp | 2017-12-05 | 23:14:06

Not complain? Are you kidding? I am paying for something that they say improves my performance and is useless compared to the ones that don't buy it? And you tell me to not complain?

Do you realize what this is? Legally speaking?

Post by zezo | 2017-12-05 | 23:19:04

It's a drop in the ocean. There are much worse things - like that you can't use the $100 worth of credit that you already paid to buy a Full pack, or the fact that you don't get a refund on your credits when you change your mind and purchase a Full Pack after you've already spent 2000 credits on options.

Post by nsp | 2017-12-05 | 23:32:13

Let's stick to one case at a time ok?

Pro winches. Doesn't work. I only see two solutions.

1. Take them out of the packages available to buy definitely or until is fixed; or

2. Fix it immediatly with a refund of credits to every player that bought it untill the moment VR announce and prove it's fixed.

An apologie would be nice and key to commercial purposes.

Otherwise, as we all know it's a conduct penalized by law. Even french law under wich EULA are.

Not complain...you must be kidding...

Post by zezo | 2017-12-06 | 00:32:08

You say it because you haven't invested 100� in (probably non-refundable, according to EULA) credits for which you can't get discount now (and which are collecting interest for VR). Now this is a disparity - you spend 20� to buy credits an 2 minutes later can't use them to get the discounted pack, not to mention the supposed free cards added to the pack for VOR 3. Or maybe they do refunds, but you have to ask and I haven't.

Plus, it's hard to prove an I'm not sure if they have stated clearly how exactly the winches are supposed to work (protocol dumps don't count as official statement) and in the end its not that you don't get what you paid for - it's other players getting free winches.

Post by nsp | 2017-12-06 | 04:22:49

No Cvetan, you are wrong, I say it because I was focusing on one matter at a time.

As to te 100� in credits, even if allowed by the EULA, and I am not saying it is, I don't remember everything I've read in EULA, It's in the minimum of a really bad taste, commercially speaking. And if I were you I would ask for a refund or any form of getting the equivalent to that money as a credit able to buy as an example "full packs". And I would do this imediatlly.

Not doing it is accepting that that money was assigned to an objective and only an objective: to buy credits, and you are happy with the outcome of the situation.

If VR changed the "rules of the game", and has the right to do it, and the obligation to inform it in advance to their clients, they must, they have the obligation and I stress the obligation, of giving a reasonable period of time to their clients to make an option on how to use their credit (not "credits"), no matter it is in money or in credits...it's the same. Or at least allow the clients that in that moment have credit in VR to use it both ways. After all it was a problem created by their alteration of the way game is sold.

One thing I can tell you for sure, as it was discussed the other day in another thread: in order to protect the consumer, law, and french law is not exception, has strong limitations to abusive clauses, and the same is saying will also protect consumers against abusive practices covered by abusive clauses. VR has the perfect notion of this as they preview in their EUlA that a clause may be declared null by a court and I would even say other instances of jurisdiction. Of course this also brings consequences. Once proven.

Again to the winches what VR says to sell them is "Get better winches to perform faster maneuvers" - this is an official and public statement! And they cost 600 credits as an example for leg 3 of VOR. You are saying I get what I paid for. If I understood well, You are totally wrong! If what you say is exactly like that and everyone has the same winches, I am not having faster winches so I am paying money to have the same winches the guys that don't pay also have. Money for nothing, wrongly induced by an add.

Cvetan, I am no tech expert and in technical expertise I have to trust in you and your collegues expertise and evaluation/information, so my comments are based in your evaluation. The winches situation is like that or not?

Post by zezo | 2017-12-06 | 08:03:25

Situation is even worse. Winches are non-deterministic, and you don't get fixed penalty. Another problem is that penalties are weird and undocumented. There is penalty for using autosail card, but it's not additive, so if you want to have advantage you should buy a deck of autosail cards, activate them for the entire leg and never worry about sail changes slowing you down. That's what I call unfair advantage. BTW on paper VR is all about equal opportunities: https://virtualregatta.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001608334-I-spent-my-credits-by-mistake-Can-I-cancel-my-transaction-

Back to the winches - There are many reasons behind the free credits provided for each leg. One is marketing, but the other is legal. VR can state that you have purchased the non-working option with the free credits provided, and they are only good for one leg, so there is nothing to refund.

Also see https://virtualregatta.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001606533-I-regret-my-purchase-what-can-I-do-. They even dispute the mandatory 14-day EU-regulated withdrawal period for telesales.

On a side note, if all stupid marketing tricks to the customer could be penalized effectively, the marketing departments of the mobile carriers would be hanging from trees on every street corner around here.

Post by zezo | 2017-12-06 | 08:09:42

Don't get me wrong about this. As a customer I'm mad as hell about the situation. I'm doing what's within my capabilities to change it - by providing free objective information to everyone.

Post by nsp | 2017-12-06 | 09:09:40

Whether they can say or not what you said is not exactly like that but i understand what you mean.

I perfectelly understand your point.

The thing is, if anyone say buy me this because this is something to raise your hair and it's a bottle of crap..that is fraud. If it is crap.

Well in my country the mobile carriers were forced to fullfil their obligations with thousands of clients. You see. It's a question of of legal culture and comercial use and abuse. That wouldn't be possible here for too much time. And we are used to deal with that.

Post by fadoue | 2017-12-05 | 22:12:38

Great thanks to the ��team��

Post by pmangino | 2017-12-05 | 23:19:24

Hi Cvetan,
Thank you very much for your continued interest in giving us new tools.
When I go to step 5) to enter a race, the cursor open the window but do not enter the race.
Any ideas..?
Best regards.

Post by zezo | 2017-12-05 | 23:21:54

It opens a router window and that puts the game interface on pause, but it should resume once you switch back to the game tab. You can also disable the auto-window by unchecking the checkbox.

Post by pmangino | 2017-12-06 | 00:07:23

Got it Cvetan, thank you very much..!!!

Post by Ursus Maritimus | 2017-12-05 | 23:52:24

great works guys. I think English will do for everyone.

Post by mcmgj | 2017-12-06 | 00:05:58

Hi Cvetan and all others,
I just look the update, also i can suggest one small thing to change, reduce the card column size to 21 chars.
And complete every fields to 7 chars

Post by zezo | 2017-12-06 | 08:12:44

That would be nice, but you can't really do that to a HTML table, at least not with variable-width font. Column size can only be given in % or px.

Post by mcmgj | 2017-12-06 | 00:13:31

and if you want some gif for cards ...
http://dl.free.fr/iFVUN2Mie

Post by mcmgj | 2017-12-06 | 00:14:41

in other way, very good job !!!!

Post by toxcct | 2017-12-06 | 01:26:47

woot woot, nice job guys !!! :-D

Post by Sir_Petrus | 2017-12-06 | 11:39:23

Hi
Could you provide the link for the new version?
Not need ed for me anymore. I found, that it updated alone.

Thanks anyway.

Fair winds to all
Pedro.

Post by mak08 | 2017-12-06 | 12:26:07

This is the link:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/vr-dashboard/amknkhejaogpekncjekiaolgldbejjan

If you have the extension installed already, there's no need to reinstall.
It should update automatically when you restart Chrome.

A big thanks to Cvetan for his engagement, this update was almost entirely his work.

Post by feriber | 2017-12-06 | 13:22:21

Hi guys,

New plugin and router versions are amazing. Well done and thank you very much for your efforts.

Just a silly thing.

I'm trying (playing with ;) ) new plugin version, and i've noticed, that although VR coordinates matches those read by the plugin 34�;00'26"S 18�;12'20"E, when the router opens it tells me that my coordinates are 34�;00'26"S 18�;12'21"E (1 second difference).

Anyone has noticed this?

I suppose it thoes not make much difference, but....

Thank you again.

Post by zezo | 2017-12-06 | 13:31:48

That's a rounding error. Behind the scene both things (and the game too) use floating point numbers to express the position. Even in the real world the difference would be less than about 20 meters.

But I'll take a look. Might have done something stupid in a hurry.

Edit: No. The plugin code has provision for fractional seconds, but does not display them, in effect truncating the seconds down. If the game does the same I'll also change the rounding to truncation to get in sync.

Post by feriber | 2017-12-06 | 14:28:59

Thank you again.

I've checked in the last iteration (13:15 CET) and now the router and the plugin show the same position.

Best regards,

Fernando

Post by zezo | 2017-12-06 | 14:59:18

Now we have the opposite problem - when entering the numbers manually they change one second down for some values ;-)

That was probably the original reason behind the rounding logic. Fixed it on the input side now (always add 0.5 seconds), just to get consistent numbers.

In the big picture those numbers get converted once more to radians for the spherical trigonometry formulas.

Post by Sir_Petrus | 2017-12-06 | 14:12:51

Hi
Checking the monitor I notice a strange thing in the game.

with auto on I set TWA to 130�, and I read on the monitor TWA=129.6
I got alwais a a diferent unrounded figure.
Same problem without auto a setting fixed angle.

I know that with this wind 130�, 129� or 128� I got the same speed lookink to the polars.
But with diferent winds and angle that could make a hudge diference if we are figth with a very close oponent.

Now the million dollar question. is the game or the plugin?
If it is the game how do they deal with it?

Fair winds to all
Pedro

Post by zezo | 2017-12-06 | 14:28:35

It's the game. Not huge, but could make difference at some polar points indeed.

As a consequence the TWA drifts sometimes - you set it to 130 about 10 times in a row every 2 minutes, and it jumps back to 129. The plugin just lets you see the reason behind that behavior.

The game just does the interpolation in speed and angle and the formula does not care if the angle is integer number or not.

The plugin tries to recreate the exact game math in the vT column, and it matches the reported game speed all the time (what differs is the reported/calculated server-side speeds when making turns, and when there is a penalty)

Post by zezo | 2017-12-06 | 14:29:53

BTW in the Last Command column/Command rows in the log table you can see the exact instructions sent to the game server. It beats me why they have decided to send fractional TWAs and display them rounded.

Post by Sir_Petrus | 2017-12-06 | 16:11:29

Something wired happens. I select 130� on the dial and the command was 129.6�
:(

Post by nsp | 2017-12-07 | 00:35:57

if you do it again in a question of minutes and TWD direction is changing a bit it will increase or decrease. try to adjut it.

I also noticed that after somw hours with the same TWA even if you start with a fractional TWA sooner or later it will adjust to the rounded value that you have chosen.

Post by TomekN_zegluj_net | 2017-12-06 | 16:03:33

This Plugin is great!

One question:
What is the meaning of "Solo: ?" under "Pack" (Barrel) menu?

Post by Inicio | 2017-12-06 | 16:10:13

See the 2 first posts in this topic

Post by Sir_Petrus | 2017-12-06 | 16:13:54

What is the meanning for MNVR= Manouver.
What does it show?

Post by Inicio | 2017-12-06 | 16:57:28

That you are changing board or sail.
The theoretical time you still sail at 50% speed appears in the last 3 columns below.
As has been indicated, really, still, that penalty does not pass beyond the next server update (120 second maximum).

Post by toxcct | 2017-12-06 | 16:57:41

Hover the column title with your mouse pointer.
It will show this : "Boat is maneuvering, half speed".

I guess it's to indicate that your boat is having a speed penalty after tacking, or changing sail...

Post by toxcct | 2017-12-06 | 16:59:25

Hi Cvetan,

This new version look more readable. Good job guys.

Anyway, can you explain a bit more about the "Solo barrel card" please ?
How we shall use it ?

Post by zezo | 2017-12-06 | 17:32:05

The "Solo" card is the first (random) set of cards that changes when you go to the "My Cards" menu. There is a 10-minute countdown that you have to wait if you don't like the current card available.

So the Solo: field is a quick reminder that it's time to check again (or that the long-waited PR card is currently available but yu forgot to buy it because you were busy steering your boat or answering support emails ;-)

It displays "?" most of the time because the next card is not known in advance. It only gets revealed when you go to the card window after the timer expires.

Post by BlackDiamond | 2017-12-06 | 18:57:59

Cvetan... You are better than all VR Crew :)

Post by pmangino | 2017-12-06 | 22:22:34

++
By far..!!! ;-)

Post by JohnT | 2017-12-07 | 04:57:44

Absolutely agree :)

Post by sylvainmeteo | 2017-12-08 | 01:18:39

Great job, more readable, more clear, thanks !

Post by mcmgj | 2017-12-08 | 01:25:17

Hi Cvetan, on this new version, the "option" param is no good in all cases, but sometimes is good, in other time not !

Post by zezo | 2017-12-08 | 01:34:18

It only sets options, does not reset them. So if you check "Full pack" once it will stay that way, no matter what.

Post by zezo | 2017-12-13 | 01:01:19

The plugin is now version 1.0.4. It's a very small update containing minor code cleanup and small changes to table headers. Announcing it just as a thing to have in mind if something breaks.

Post by Ursus Maritimus | 2017-12-13 | 01:27:55

aha, that's why it stopped ...

... thanks for the update

Post by mak08 | 2017-12-19 | 00:08:55

Just wanted to let you know that new a version (1.1.0) is out with updates from zezo. He'll probably follow up with more details later.

Post by NickOlson | 2018-01-05 | 22:28:41

I use chrome for my work. What do I need to do to stop the plugin seeing everything I do? Is turning it off enough? Is just running two chrome instances with it turned off on my work one good enough.

Post by zezo | 2018-01-05 | 22:36:25

Yes, that's enough. In fact it COULD see everything, but it does not. In practice it only sees data coming from VR.

The warning is there because malicious coder could get around hoops to steal your personal data, not because it's inherently dangerous.

You can run entirely separate Chrome instance for the game for added peace of mind, see
https://medium.com/linked-helper/how-to-setup-separate-chrome-instance-for-windows-9ac9921b81b3, or go the Opera way.

You should not trust anyone online, and that's not ironic statement. I'm paranoid system administrator by job description.

Post by NickOlson | 2018-01-05 | 22:57:39

I see I can do that on my Mac too, can you point me to the instructions for using with Opera, I'm too lazy to read the other entire thread. I'm really loving the extension, not totally sure what all the columns are yet:)

Post by zezo | 2018-01-05 | 23:03:20

for Opera you first install the "Install Chrome Extension extension"
then go to the Chrome web store and follow the instructions, but someone said that it did not work in opera/mac for him (works ok on Windows and Linux)

For the separate Chrome instance you just have to pass the --user-data-dir=something in your os-specific way

In Linux I just open a terminal window and type google-chrome --user-data-dir=/home/zezo/foo

Post by zezo | 2018-01-05 | 23:15:06

The added benefit of second instance is that then you can go to chrome://flags and disable the debugger warning bar without worry about this or another extension stealing your personal data (just have to keep track in which window you open new tabs)

Post by GeGaX | 2018-01-05 | 23:13:45

VR Dashboard runs correctly on macOS via Google Chrome and Opera browsers (Opera with extension: Download Extension Chrome)
It does not work under FireFox (macOS)

Post by NickOlson | 2018-01-05 | 23:24:21

Works a treat! Will just use opera for all this. Thank you all:)

Post by vetyvamma | 2018-02-08 | 09:13:50

I cannot get the extension to work ��the icon is greyed out (I think?) but when I click it I get the menu, but nothing else seems to happen, especially no debugger warning. Am I missing something or is something wrong with my setup?

I reinstalled it, restarted the browser and reloaded all pages but everything's the same. I think I might do something wrong somewhere.

Post by mak08 | 2018-02-08 | 09:24:27

The icon is activated only if you've opened virtualregatta.com in the current browser tab. Clicking it will open a new tab rather than a menu. The menu opens instead if the icon is not active.
Also please note the latest thread http://zezo.org/forum.pl?tid=6346.

Post by vetyvamma | 2018-02-08 | 10:18:05

Thank you so much! I was at volvooceanrace.com/game!

Post by Hippolyte | 2018-11-25 | 10:30:17

there is no debugger warning banner

Post by mak08 | 2018-11-25 | 16:36:35

You can activate the Dashboard by clicking on the 'Z' icon when you navigate to virtualregatta.com .

The current version is 3.1.0. Older versions are not available anymore and the most recent thread is http://zezo.org/forum.pl?tid=7449

Post by DonJuan21 | 2018-12-14 | 18:32:35

@mak08 and @Cvetan and/or others. The team members are obviously in the data stream since they show up on my VR map along with their info. Here's a feature request for VR Dashboard: would it be easy enough to set up another tab that shows team members only? Or maybe make them all show up in the FRIENDS/OPPONENTS tab with a different font color?

DonJuan21

Post by KikoPR BST | 2020-02-18 | 05:22:39

Hi! Could you please refresh the item on
how to hide the warning of the Chrome debugging ?

Post by zezo | 2020-02-18 | 12:08:50

To have it in one place:

add --silent-debugger-extension-api to your Chrome shortcut, according to your operating system - details in the linked post.

While at it you can add a separate chrome instance just for the game - this way you don't give up security on other sites.

I run something like
google-chrome --user-data-dir=vr --silent-debugger-extension-api

Post by mak08 | 2020-02-18 | 08:55:41

There used to be a switch chrome://flags/#silent-debugger-extension-api that you could toggle, but it's gone in newer Chrome versions.
Instead, you need to pass a command line option to Chrome. Please see the post by GeGax in
this thread: http://zezo.org/forum.pl?tid=7805