I registered round #822 yesterday but didn't notice that it starts 2.5 hours before the usual time. Wonder what will be the impact to ranking, and why the unusual start time.
Suggestion to codeforces is to highlight contest with unusual start time to make it more obvious and harder to miss.
Updated: If I have a wish for the CONTESTS page, is to highlight the start time of the upcoming periodical contest that does not start at the usual 07:35.
"Please note the unusual start time": am I a joke to you?
Your suggestion is valid (and independent/compatible to my suggestion). I have no evidence that you are a joke, but maybe lack of empathy and hence low EQ, which you will learn more in your future life.
I meant that there are already enough cues about unusual starting times. The link for checking the scheduled time (timeanddate.com), the "unusual start time" sentence, and a countdown until the contest starts. Shouldn't that be enough?
There is usually no motivation to click the link for the scheduled time, as people stay in the same time zone and most periodical contests start at the same time 07:35.
I don't recall seeing the "unusual start time" when I register, but maybe I have missed it, as I do recall seeing such words before.
The countdown until the contest starts does reveal a difference, despite usually I find no need to digest that number the day before.
If I have a suggestion for the CONTESTS page, is to highlight the start time of the coming contest that is periodical but does not start at the usual 07:35.
Auto comment: topic has been updated by dzhi (previous revision, new revision, compare).