Future of ModDB / IndieDB Thread

Just wrote a post explaining all of the updates: Moddb.com

Edited by: INtense!

The ability to block guest accounts from posting on either game page or personal page would be a nice update to moddb, make it so all guest accounts need verified accounts.

Ronnie42 wrote:

The ability to block guest accounts from posting on either game page or personal page would be a nice update to moddb, make it so all guest accounts need verified accounts.

There's only one guest account, and if a person posts as a guest and their post is marked as spam, they are unable to post again unless they create and account.

So you do basically have the ability to block guest comments.

I would like IndieDB(etc.) moved to HTTPS. I think that Private Messaging should take place in private and HTTP has no encryption. This move requires no code changes and HTTPS is generally provided by web hosting services by default. This leaves the only requirement for such a move to be a login re-direct into HTTPS and the procurement of a valid security certificate. I am sure the community can cover the small cash concern.

Should the move to HTTPS be considered consider also moving beyond SHA-1 encryption, to something more applicable to security in the modern world.

etherflows wrote:

I would like IndieDB(etc.) moved to HTTPS. I think that Private Messaging should take place in private and HTTP has no encryption. This move requires no code changes and HTTPS is generally provided by web hosting services by default. This leaves the only requirement for such a move to be a login re-direct into HTTPS and the procurement of a valid security certificate. I am sure the community can cover the small cash concern.

Should the move to HTTPS be considered consider also moving beyond SHA-1 encryption, to something more applicable to security in the modern world.

+1

Why bump a old thread????

Because it's still relevant and they contributed relevant content, which I agree with.

Edited by: ChrisBryant

Maggy_ wrote:

Why bump a old thread????

This thread is not old, Updates are being deployed. Feedback for site features will never age, Pinning this thread.

Edited by: TKAzA

Going back to the comments and karma system, I think facepunch is perhaps the best implementation of it, for a few reasons:

ratings aren't anonymous
there're more options than the binary + or -
and most importantly comments can't be buried

Granted, it's not perfect, and you can still see instances of the reddit-style mob rule but it's definitely a step in the right direction. I'd recommend using it as a model for your own implementation.

I believe the poll is way too down in the Homepage. You could place it on top (maybe above the most popular mods) as a small button which would say: POLL-[and the topic of the ongoing poll]. When you click on it, it would re-direct you to the poll (like you see it when you are about to comment) and there you could select your option and not before. And since you are in the page with the users' comments below, in may prompt people to comment more often (and not only select their option in the homepage and then never comment or even check to see what other users have to say).

Also, about the rating system:
-I think it's a good idea to see who is rating what.
-I always use the + as 'I agree' and the - when the comment is offensive. I believe there is no need for more options, or maybe just two more, so it will be like "great comment , I agree, I disagree, offensive ".
-You can still see buried comments (never understood why they are buried though), but it would be nice if a comment gets below -5 or more, the user who made the comment would be automatically reported to the admins (for possible ban, since his comments may be offensive). Of course, that requires idea 1 to have been implemented, since personal ratings will prevent massive downvotes to people who are just stating their opinion about something and get buried by fanboys etc.

The only thing I would like to change about the comment system is to make it so that people are prompt to comment constructive criticism more often. I am sick of comments which only say "nice", "good", "I like it", etc. Maybe create a button along with + and - which would be for "great constructive comment" and people who have many such upvotes get a "constructive criticism master" tag or/and level up more quickly? Don't know, just an idea.

Edited by: Thanoshld

I like the notion of constructive criticism being acknowledged. When we read well written posts it would be nice to salute them.

Lacedaemonius wrote:

Going back to the comments and karma system, I think facepunch is perhaps the best implementation of it, for a few reasons:

ratings aren't anonymous
there're more options than the binary + or -
and most importantly comments can't be buried

Granted, it's not perfect, and you can still see instances of the reddit-style mob rule but it's definitely a step in the right direction. I'd recommend using it as a model for your own implementation.

This. I agree

--

Kevin - TZP Head

Private message me | E-mail me directly

I am getting closer to doing a big overhaul of the comments system. At the moment i'm prioritizing making it easier for developers and the community to share content on the site, but once that work is complete I will be jumping on this

INtense! wrote:

I am getting closer to doing a big overhaul of the comments system. At the moment i'm prioritizing making it easier for developers and the community to share content on the site, but once that work is complete I will be jumping on this

Sounds great! Can't wait for the details.
If this includes an authorize system for news, images and videos I will party hard!

What do you mean authorise for images? They are automatically authorized

What I wanted to point out: It would be great to be able to schedule the release of news, images and videos.

Basically the same as you did for the downloads: Moddb.com

I explained the reason for that request a while ago on page 2.
Moddb.com

etherflows wrote:

I like the notion of constructive criticism being acknowledged. When we read well written posts it would be nice to salute them.

I thought about this one for a while. It's a solid idea, having a 'useful' button. Lets say, you're encountering a problem in a mod, naturally you go to the page (or forum) and post your problem there. Why not implement a system resembling EA (one of the better things they do, lol) helpdesk forums? You post a thread, which can get upvotes AND 'useful' ratings.

If it's a very common problem, within a forum structure, it could be pinned by the community if it gathers enough votes / usefull ratings. Same goes for answers. I do have to say, having a seperate 'bugs' section would be splendid, instead of the merged tab with forums. The bug forums should have more consistency and should be easier to manage, because you dont get notifications of new threads nor are you able to keep close track of which person has what bug etc. when you make on central thread (like we do at the MISERY forums) Cheers

--

Kevin - TZP Head

Private message me | E-mail me directly

Not sure if it is a bug or something I've just noticed missing (therefore suggesting to be implemented), but I am pretty sure this feature was there and it's missing now: if someone is at the 'Mods' page (Home>mods) he can see all the mods being developed, but not their progress (TBD, COMING, RELEASED). Was it always like that?

Sorry for posting that here, I can't seem to find a thread specifically for reporting possible bugs .

Thanoshld wrote:

Not sure if it is a bug or something I've just noticed missing (therefore suggesting to be implemented), but I am pretty sure this feature was there and it's missing now: if someone is at the 'Mods' page (Home>mods) he can see all the mods being developed, but not their progress (TBD, COMING, RELEASED). Was it always like that?

Sorry for posting that here, I can't seem to find a thread specifically for reporting possible bugs .

So I recently updated the browsing pages for everything and simplified it to show the genre of the mod instead. I can bring it back if you feel it is important.

I am not sure if it is that important, or if I was just used to the feature. It was kinda practical to see the development status of the mod there, though. I am the kind of person who doesn't track an endless list of mods and games, and sometimes, the released tag beside an interesting (for me) mod, made me click on it to try it out. Now I have to check them all out to see their dev status or eventually track them. The genre tag is a good addition though. It would be nice if another member comments on this matter.

You can filter by release status up the top of the browse page?

Yes, I could, but this will show me exclusively the releases. I want to see them all and by doing so, it would be nice to see which ones have been released or are coming. Not all mods write a good news article to make it to the homepage (or write any at all), so members would know about their releases, and this was an indirect way to know about it. Well, I may be the only member who browses ModDB that way and found it somewhat useful . I know implementing all these new stuff and maintaining the site is a toilsome task by itself, so don't bother yourself too much with it .

INtense! wrote:

Thanoshld wrote:

Not sure if it is a bug or something I've just noticed missing (therefore suggesting to be implemented), but I am pretty sure this feature was there and it's missing now: if someone is at the 'Mods' page (Home>mods) he can see all the mods being developed, but not their progress (TBD, COMING, RELEASED). Was it always like that?

Sorry for posting that here, I can't seem to find a thread specifically for reporting possible bugs .

So I recently updated the browsing pages for everything and simplified it to show the genre of the mod instead. I can bring it back if you feel it is important.

Yes, please bring this back. The current setup is completely uninformative.

Consider it done, released status is back

Now that you've implemented it back, I realized that it was indeed a very useful little thing to have. Ah, listening to every little suggestion or complain we have is what makes you guys so awesome . Keep up the truly, truly awesome work, can't wait to see what else you have in store for us .