GarageGames Website Moderator?
by nibbuls · in General Discussion · 04/03/2005 (8:13 pm) · 29 replies
I understand that the GG forum is moderated fairly well already, amongst the employees, but I feel that, since the large expansion of younger children, the website would do well to have it's own moderator... Someone who combs through all of the help-wanted adds, to make sure that they are valid, and spends his days searching the forums for bad posts.
Not to single any individual out, but after looking at page after page of adds like this:
And hundreds of people who use Character/Space/Letter tricks to place their names up front, as well as all of the people who don't even visit the garagegames website any longer (and haven't made any purchases so they aren't losing anything with the deletion of an account).
Even offering this as an unpaid-intern position over the summer would be beneficial towards the image of GarageGames, and all of it's active members.
Not to single any individual out, but after looking at page after page of adds like this:
Quote:Time & Payment:...
Time Frame: 1 month
Pay: 5$ at end on project
Synopsis:
I need a few three d images to get a game started, see big descrip. for details.
Description:
All I need is 1 main ch., about 4 different types of enemies, 2 bosses, a cool sword (that looks evil and posessed, a few items (health packs [small and big], ammo [for a pistol], and anything that would look like it restores energy), and a trusty pistol. Note that this is going to be a resident evil type game, so make sorta scary monsters and bosses.
*BONUS*
Extra 5$ for a few level landscapes. Make em big, w/ buildings, dark, and scary.
And hundreds of people who use Character/Space/Letter tricks to place their names up front, as well as all of the people who don't even visit the garagegames website any longer (and haven't made any purchases so they aren't losing anything with the deletion of an account).
Even offering this as an unpaid-intern position over the summer would be beneficial towards the image of GarageGames, and all of it's active members.
#2
04/03/2005 (8:38 pm)
I agree. The Help wanted ads need to look much more professional, especially since it reflects on the image of the community and Garage Games to first time users looking for decent work.
#3
04/03/2005 (8:49 pm)
Lol. I wonder how old whoever wrote that is.
#4
The problem with deleting people's threads is that it indirectly creates thousands of threads with names like "where did my thread go?" and "HAY GUYS STOP DELETING MY THREADS!!!1111!1."
Something probably needs to happen though; this site is getting really big. Maybe GG could extend the resources rating system to threads.
04/03/2005 (9:34 pm)
$5 a month? Hell, I'll pay TWICE that.The problem with deleting people's threads is that it indirectly creates thousands of threads with names like "where did my thread go?" and "HAY GUYS STOP DELETING MY THREADS!!!1111!1."
Something probably needs to happen though; this site is getting really big. Maybe GG could extend the resources rating system to threads.
#5
In my experience, moving posts merely encourages people to continue to be lazy and/or haphazard, and locking a help wanted ad wouldn't reduce its usefullness by much. Nothing grabs an errant poster's attention like having their typed words rapidly evaporate.
Another point to consider is that these posts have the potential to waste a lot of people's time, as its difficult to know the quality and relevancy of the content without reading them first. Maintaining a high signal to noise ratio outside of the general discussion areas would be to everyone's benefit.
04/04/2005 (3:23 am)
Quote:The problem with deleting people's threads is that it indirectly creates thousands of threads with names like "where did my thread go?" and "HAY GUYS STOP DELETING MY THREADS!!!1111!1."Threads with titles like that are just as easy to delete as any others. :)
In my experience, moving posts merely encourages people to continue to be lazy and/or haphazard, and locking a help wanted ad wouldn't reduce its usefullness by much. Nothing grabs an errant poster's attention like having their typed words rapidly evaporate.
Another point to consider is that these posts have the potential to waste a lot of people's time, as its difficult to know the quality and relevancy of the content without reading them first. Maintaining a high signal to noise ratio outside of the general discussion areas would be to everyone's benefit.
#6
04/04/2005 (3:28 am)
Lol, I saw this ad. It was damn funny :). Almost wanted to contact the guy who posted that, a so generous person.. :)
#7
I know a forum where the only administrator post a message like this when the thread has a problem:
"
[reason why the thread is not interresting or useful or anything good;facultative]
This thread will be deleted in 5 minutes."
Then, the poster have time to read why he made an error (an can receive the message if he choosed to receive answers to his mailbox) and after 5 minutes, the admin will delete the thread.
I think it's a verry smart process, because it teach and clean at the same time.
04/04/2005 (3:35 am)
The problem with deleting people's threads is that it indirectly creates thousands of threads with names like "where did my thread go?" and "HAY GUYS STOP DELETING MY THREADS!!!1111!1."I know a forum where the only administrator post a message like this when the thread has a problem:
"
[reason why the thread is not interresting or useful or anything good;facultative]
This thread will be deleted in 5 minutes."
Then, the poster have time to read why he made an error (an can receive the message if he choosed to receive answers to his mailbox) and after 5 minutes, the admin will delete the thread.
I think it's a verry smart process, because it teach and clean at the same time.
#8
I was actually discussing this with my flatmate yesterday. Browsing the "companies" is the worst. That needs a real clean. Perhaps put some validation in that means companies can't start with !!!!@@@@@Super Cool Game Company.
Moderators would work, and I'm sure there would be no shortage of volunteers (I'd gladly do some clean up) ... but Garage Games would have to trust them, and that is likely to be a problem.
04/04/2005 (5:40 am)
What happens if he doesn't read his thread in that 5 minutes?I was actually discussing this with my flatmate yesterday. Browsing the "companies" is the worst. That needs a real clean. Perhaps put some validation in that means companies can't start with !!!!@@@@@Super Cool Game Company.
Moderators would work, and I'm sure there would be no shortage of volunteers (I'd gladly do some clean up) ... but Garage Games would have to trust them, and that is likely to be a problem.
#9
As i tried to say, most of those guys will check the "notify me at 'xmail@mail.com' when replies are posted" option, so they will receive directly the message in their mailbox.
If you want to be sure of that, then the moderator would have to send his message by email.
04/04/2005 (5:55 am)
What happens if he doesn't read his thread in that 5 minutes?As i tried to say, most of those guys will check the "notify me at 'xmail@mail.com' when replies are posted" option, so they will receive directly the message in their mailbox.
If you want to be sure of that, then the moderator would have to send his message by email.
#10
It's very hard to clean up that page. But instead, GG could create a label of certified game.
You ask GG staff or trusted developpers (associates?) to judge your project (it's not that hard to see if a project is serious, even if he won't go the end, at least it's a true project). If the project looks active and serious, you got that label.
Then it would be possible to classify projects/companies with this label. You could then seek a list of serious projects, cause right now, it's almost impossible.
04/04/2005 (7:31 am)
For the projects/company page, I came up with an idea.It's very hard to clean up that page. But instead, GG could create a label of certified game.
You ask GG staff or trusted developpers (associates?) to judge your project (it's not that hard to see if a project is serious, even if he won't go the end, at least it's a true project). If the project looks active and serious, you got that label.
Then it would be possible to classify projects/companies with this label. You could then seek a list of serious projects, cause right now, it's almost impossible.
#12
Yeah, it's not really hard in most cases, but what if the game is written for the Palm? PocketPC? GBA? An arcade machine? In python? Is multiplayer only? Requires a special peripheral? Must remain secret?
I think that would just cause tons of problems, and would be a pain in the ass. In return, you'd get a feature that's not that cool.
I don't really think that many people use the companies/projects feature. If you want to see active projects you should just look through the .plans.
edit: spelling :(
04/04/2005 (8:21 am)
Quote:
You ask GG staff or trusted developpers (associates?) to judge your project (it's not that hard to see if a project is serious, even if he won't go the end, at least it's a true project). If the project looks active and serious, you got that label.
Yeah, it's not really hard in most cases, but what if the game is written for the Palm? PocketPC? GBA? An arcade machine? In python? Is multiplayer only? Requires a special peripheral? Must remain secret?
I think that would just cause tons of problems, and would be a pain in the ass. In return, you'd get a feature that's not that cool.
I don't really think that many people use the companies/projects feature. If you want to see active projects you should just look through the .plans.
edit: spelling :(
#13
A company with published game can have it directly for example.
No need for a complete game btw.
And btw, you're not forced at all to use it. It's only the people asking for it. So if your game must remain secret you obviously don't put it in projects anyway...
And why do you think people don't use the projects list? Because of all the trash in it.
The goal is to have a quick approval of project (it takes no time to evaluate, it's not like giving a great reward too..). This is a really little change to have serious game shine a bit more.
Plans are good, but you can't really navigate throught different kind of projects. It's quite temporary, while project are here whenever you want.
There are thousands of developpers here, but can you really see what they're working on. I don't know for you, but I'm really interested in other ppl work...
04/04/2005 (8:35 am)
The platform is not important, it's just evaluating globally a project/ company.A company with published game can have it directly for example.
No need for a complete game btw.
And btw, you're not forced at all to use it. It's only the people asking for it. So if your game must remain secret you obviously don't put it in projects anyway...
And why do you think people don't use the projects list? Because of all the trash in it.
The goal is to have a quick approval of project (it takes no time to evaluate, it's not like giving a great reward too..). This is a really little change to have serious game shine a bit more.
Plans are good, but you can't really navigate throught different kind of projects. It's quite temporary, while project are here whenever you want.
There are thousands of developpers here, but can you really see what they're working on. I don't know for you, but I'm really interested in other ppl work...
#14
04/04/2005 (8:46 am)
I guess I don't understand what you mean by "evaluate." On what would they base their evaluation? I assumed you meant they would evaluate a demo.
#15
Of course if a demo is available it's nice too, but not a must.
That help wanted ad shown in the beginning of the thread is quite a good example of something not "serious". Anyone who got a few years of experience in game dev can see it.
And as I said, you're not forced to do that for your projects. It's up to you to bring proof that you'll make a nice project.
04/04/2005 (9:26 am)
No, I was imagining making a little paper with a few sshots, goal, funding, team members, website and experience. Things like that.Of course if a demo is available it's nice too, but not a must.
That help wanted ad shown in the beginning of the thread is quite a good example of something not "serious". Anyone who got a few years of experience in game dev can see it.
And as I said, you're not forced to do that for your projects. It's up to you to bring proof that you'll make a nice project.
#16
Another viable option is to give the associates the power of a moderator.
Does any of the employees have an opinion?
04/04/2005 (3:35 pm)
Perhaps a simple GameDev.net influenced rating system, where the rating follows people everywhere. From helpwanted adds, to accounts, to the forums, etc. Then, similar to gamedev.net, a control panel could be implemented into the website that controls the rating at which you can view. If you want to see everyone's posts, or if you just wanted to see the moderator's/associates, it would be simple; thus eliminating all of the people with low ratings. Not actually eliminating, but forcing them to remain invisible.Quote:Anyone who got a few years of experience in game dev can see it.Forget a few years of experience; anyone over the age of 8 should be able to tell apart promising help wanted adds, from the ... unlikely to suceed ones.
Another viable option is to give the associates the power of a moderator.
Does any of the employees have an opinion?
#17
The reason I'm not rushing on putting my project and company up is because those pages have been cluttered with useless entries.
Nick
04/05/2005 (7:30 am)
If not the Forums, the Projects and Company pages definately need to be cleaned up. Maybe have a time limit where if someone doesn't update their project or company within on year or something, it gets deleted.The reason I'm not rushing on putting my project and company up is because those pages have been cluttered with useless entries.
Nick
#18
I keep seeing all these I want posts around. Some are worth while while some are mundane things like post moderators.
At a 100 bucks a pop, do you think there rolling in cash? I don't.
I think we all need to lay low with the I want posts for a bit. All the crap being thrown at them lately must be getting under there skin. I know it is for me, and I don't work there.
.
These things like jobs, companies, etc are a free service to us. I think it's fair to say that it's appreciated. I think that general complaints about free things is one of the main reasons people don't offer many free things any more.
Please, I am in no way saying that this isn't a worthy cause. I just think that there is too much of these things lately
Thanks for understanding,
Charlie
04/05/2005 (11:23 am)
I don't want to be negative here but does anyone realise what these guys do for us?I keep seeing all these I want posts around. Some are worth while while some are mundane things like post moderators.
At a 100 bucks a pop, do you think there rolling in cash? I don't.
I think we all need to lay low with the I want posts for a bit. All the crap being thrown at them lately must be getting under there skin. I know it is for me, and I don't work there.
.
These things like jobs, companies, etc are a free service to us. I think it's fair to say that it's appreciated. I think that general complaints about free things is one of the main reasons people don't offer many free things any more.
Please, I am in no way saying that this isn't a worthy cause. I just think that there is too much of these things lately
Thanks for understanding,
Charlie
#19
Nick
04/05/2005 (1:28 pm)
That's true Charlie. I don't think any of us so far in this thread don't realize what these guys do for us. I just didn't see it as wants and complaints, just some constructive conversation that's all.Nick
#20
As far as I know, offering solution and improvement has never hurt someone.
It's not like saying " 0mG, d4 pr0j3cts page suxX so much!!"
04/05/2005 (1:38 pm)
I agree with Nick, actually this is not a basic whinning. This is just constructive discussion.As far as I know, offering solution and improvement has never hurt someone.
It's not like saying " 0mG, d4 pr0j3cts page suxX so much!!"
Kenny Carvalho