My first idea is that a premium player who creates a private game should have the option to make a game public when he or she so chooses (whether via a button next to the game in the "Awaiting players" list or wherever Lack potentially decides to put it). This way, the premium player can set up a game and allow all of his or her friends in that he or she wants, and THEN open the floor up for the public. This would be especially useful in team games, where a person might want to be on a team with a particular person or particular people, but they might not really care WHO the opposition is.
Also, this may be a bit more complicated to code but it benefits everyone more directly. I think when browsing the list of games and you see a team game you might want to join, you should have the option of what team you join.
So let's say there is a 6p doubles game - 3 teams. Under the system now, if two people were to join the game (in addition to the creator) then they would line up as Red and Green (Team 1), and then Blue (half of team 2). The idea is that they would be able to choose which team they are on. Say player B doesn't want to be on Team 1 with player A. He can choose to join Team 2 or Team 3. And then, when player C comes along, instead of being forced onto team 2, he can choose to join either of the other two teams, or start the third.
This can be very beneficial to people (like me) who hate join a team game if they are starting a team because they may be weary of the people who join the team; in other words, I don't want to join a team unless I know the person(s) with whom I am joining. This way, even if there are 2 or 4 people in a doubles match already, I am not forced to start a different team and run the risk of a terrible teammate coming along and rounding out the roster. Currently, if there are four people in a 6p doubles match, then there is one whole open team left. If this idea worked, then potentially therecould be two "second half" spots open, instead of a full team.
Priority: Eh, I donno, Maybe a 2.5. The current system isn't terrible or anything, but I think that more options are better in this case.
