What happened to chess.com

Used to be a great chess website.  Now, the application does not work.  Like 1/3 of the games I play, it freezes up and I cant move.  It is definitely not my computer or ISP, as evidenced by the fact that I run way more complex games and applications from the net on it, routinely without problems, as well as the fact that I for several years until I went travelling last year, I played chess.com and it worked fine.

I have seen some strong opinions on facebook and others chess forums about what is going, but .... any tips from anyone?  I want to believe that chess.com cares about making sure that as a core matter the chess application works, but I am reading that they basically don't give a s___ anymore and that their entire focus is on monetization. I can understand making money, but isn't it fundamentally stupid if the applicaiton can't support the ad schemes and the # of members to the point where players are just getting shut down mid game?  Any thoughts?

Also, any recommendations for alternative sites that have some of the cool functionality of chess.com (like customizable boards) where the application actually works?

don't have any problems on web or Android app. you using the new site?

The site still works fine on my PC, but I have noticed odd changes the last couple of days.  There is now a split-second lag after every move during a 5 minute blitz game before I hear the clunk and the move registers, but this may be affecting my opponents as well.  The sound at the beginning of the game has changed from "pieces dumped out of a box" to "a stiff plastic container, maybe a Solo cup, getting scrunched by a big, strong primate".  I appreciate the innovate new sound effects, but could the management here please add an option for jungle noises?   

Excellent description of the opening game sound , patzer. And I preferred the older version. How about a cavalry charge sound?

I like another site very much, my user name there is just like here, there you can do studies, your 100% personal studies , one thing you might do not like which is the social plate form here in chess.com is better than any where else, I tried them all I think and chess.com provide an amazing social plate form, 

I think they delete database here so if I want to view Stientiz, William chess games I can not find it in Cc V3

I started my own personal database and every day I will post a game for the player I like to watch his/her games...

When the browser freezes, just exit and log back in.  Not a big deal for longer time control games (it does mess up your calculations a bit, but think of it as extra practice to deal with distractions).  Rarely must I abandon a game because I couldn't log bak in.

For blitz games, chess.com rating isn't accurate because of the lock ups, etc.  But it does makes it extra fun because you never know when you'll lose a few seconds due to browser freeze ups.  I hardly go thru a single game w/o having to exit and log back.

Overall, chess.com works well still (although I may be biased since it is my first online chess site).  I think my lost games due to freezes is about 10% on long games and 50% on blitzs.  It is a bit frustrating (for long time controls) when you are up on material and then you must lose because of chess.com but no big deal..,

It's called V3. The features work great! Unfortunately the "features" seem to be ads stuffed everywhere and cutesy animations that appeal to tablet kiddies, jaja :/ . If you have a fast computer it looks like everything works like it used to, though.

Please note that Chess.com does not allow the advertising of other sites in our own forums: comparisons aren't allowed either. We welcome your feedback on what we could do better, but that can be done without referencing our competitors.

I have deleted these references from the earlier posts, and where that has rendered a post essentially meaningless, I have deleted the post altogether.
Try contacting @DaveDTech - he's a new Chess.com Staff member with a specific brief to look into the sort of problems you describe.

Cheers,

David, moderator

Chess.com Android app is a mess. I had created a thread to complaint about it's problems on the forum. I just stopped using it. 

Thanks for all the comments above.   Appreciate the feedback and suggestions.  One thing that chess.com does do well is control losers who need a life from trolling.   On this thread, almost every comment was valuable and constructive ... except for that chiefonion guy.  Oh well, sad for him.  Anyway, thanks to all the real chess players for their comments.

LOL ... they don't even want him!

I think you hit the nail on the head.  I have noticed that different reps sell different stories to people who complian.  One says "we are working on it" one says "its your ISP" one says "we checked our data, the problem is not on our end" another says "clear your cookies." A friend of mine on FB posting something about it and I am starting to agree with him.  It is essentially what you offered. They don't give a shit about chess anymore.  A couple years ago, when I had my first run of playing on this site, it was the greatest site in the world.  Hands down,best chess website.  Shame that they have not been able to maintain it against their desire to monetize.  And like many organization, the next dollar focus may undermine both the product and then ultimately the revenue they were chasing at the expense of the product.

People who don't pay to be members, besides being cheap-skates, are pretty much the same as trollers I think. Coming here. playing for free, then complaining. Why should anyone care what they think? Since they don't pay to help run the site. They should be allowed to comment is one possibility.

Wow, this is a really sad thing for you that you have posted this.  Being zealous in one's opinion and unaware of your own ignorance can be really horrifying, later, if and when you grow up, and are able to see how absurdly stupid your statement was.  Lets talk about facts: non-paying members generate more revenue than chess.com than paying members do.  Non-paying members make a choice to traffic here which makes the site better.  This is how a lot of digital companies work so I am kind of suprised you were not able to grasp that.  Moreover, the existence of non-paying members creates a broad community of players so that games are available on demand.  Finally, chess.com's business model is set up exactly as I just said.  If they COULD charge fees as a condition of playing, they might, but the recognize that value of the ad revenue and the open access to games with broad membership.  So anyway, trying to help you here not embarrass yourself again with literally ignorant comments.

Reported

Good call ... this guy is an idiot.