Every game on the site has the same basic controls. The right side of the screen is the interface, and the rest of the screen is the game table.Individual games have differences based on the needs of that particular game, but we're going to concentrate on those things that are universal.
The Interface
A - End Turn Button (aka "Done" button)
Most games have a button at the top that you use to indicate when your turn is completed. This is especially important if you have set a game's timer to unlimited, since the next player won't be able to take their turn until you have selected this button. If you are playing a timed game, your turn will automatically end when the timer has run out, whether or not you have used this button.
B - Turn Timer
The top of the interface holds the timer. If you see the countdown timer, it is your turn. If there is a name in the box, it is that person's turn. If you are playing in a game with the timer set to "unlimited," the timer will say Your Turn on your turn.
C - Card Detail Display
Under the timer you will usually see the card detail display. If you click on a card on the game table, you can see a larger version of it there. For games without cards, the player’s window is shown in this space instead (as described below). Along with the card detail, some games also have command buttons in this location. If a button can be used, it is bright; otherwise, it is not shown or is dimmed out. Simply click the button to use it.
D - Game Board
This is where the action happens...
E - Chat/Info Window
This area serves two purposes. It defaults to showing the chat window.. Listed here are game updates (in blue), prompts for you to take action (in red), and chat messages from other players (in black). Keep an eye on the red text! If you're not sure what you should be doing next, read the last bit of red text and it will probably fill you in.
To type in your own chat, use the chat bar at the bottom of the game screen. When you are done typing, hit <enter> and your message will appear in the chat window in black. A language filter is in place to keep the chat family-friendly.
If you click the players toggle (shown left and usually found near "F"), a list of the current game players is shown, along with key statistics from the game (often the score). Get back to the chat window by clicking the toggle again.
F - Game Options
In the bottom right of the screen is the game options button (computer or GameTable Online Logo) - click it to bring up the options menu.
Sound toggles the sound effects in the game. Most games only include a turn indicator, but some have more sound effects as well.
Show Rules/Show Charts will open up the rules and charts, if the game has any, in a separate window.
Leave Game/Surrender are two options for getting out of a game before its conclusion. If you see the Leave Game option (as above) then you can leave with no penalty. If you see a Surrender option (not seen above), you can click this to leave an active game, but if you do this, your surrender tally will be incremented. Please do this very sparingly, as leaving the game can ruin the gaming experience for others.
Report Bug is an easy way to let us know about a bug that you have encountered in the current game. Please be as specific as possible in the text of the bug, including the time you were playing and the names of your opponents.
Close Options closes the menu. Of course, so does that really big X in the corner.
The Game Table
You are always sitting at the bottom, or south, edge of the table. Everyone is always in the same relative position (i.e. the player to your right sees your name plate to their left).
Hover your mouse pointer over game elements to see useful information (such as the name of the player, the number of cards in a stack, the name of a card, etc.)
If you have a hand of cards, they are shown at the bottom of the screen.
Most things that can be manipulated in the game (cards, tiles, game pieces) can be clicked and dragged or double-clicked. Click on dice to roll them. If there is only one possible target for a card, double clicking can be used as a shortcut for dragging. When in doubt, check the chat window for specific information about what to do next.
Each game will usually have a few interface elements that are unique to that game. If you can't figure something out, you can always check the specific rules for that game or ask the other players in chat.
Still have questions? We have a page for that too>