The original programmer of the Wizard site has been hired to continue programming a web-based Wizard game that will enable all players to host and eliminate the need to download the program onto your personal computer. The programming that has already been completed will be utilized to reduce both time and cost. A user-friendly interface will be developed and most of the current features that have proven to be popular will be maintained. However, there will be an emphasis on providing improved capabilities to hold tournaments. Hosting local live tournaments has not proven to be practical and fail to draw from a wide area. With the enhanced ability to run online tournaments, it is hoped that a select group of expert players can be identified and invited to participate in a live tournament to determine the North American champion.
Although no timeline has been established the site will not be ready in time to select representatives to attend the 2019 tournament in Europe. Although the estimated cost is $15,000 - $20,000 U.S. overruns are common for this type of project.
Your continued support is appreciated. (May 4, 2019)
UPDATE: November 1, 2019. (CORRECTION)
Work continues apace. We hope to begin Beta-testing early in 2020. It will likely be necessary to shut the current program down so that we can get players to participate in the Best-testing. (Past experiences taught us that players continue to use the current game rather than help to test.) Players will not notice a great deal of difference in either the appearance or the play of the game. This is because most of the work is going on behind the scene. i.e. More stability dropped players, and better equipped to conduct and record tournaments. The general look and feel of the game will only have a few noticeable changes. Of course, the major change is that everyone will be able to host a game and there will be no need to download the program onto your PC.
Correction: The programmer is working from the WEB-BASED program (not the one we currently use) that was not completed but still exists on the Wizard webpage as an option. I will provide a further update when I learn what can be done to revise the interface.
