"Time to Make History" Dustloop Revamp Community Effort #1

[SixWingedAngel]

I prepared a bunch of suggestions but as fas as the front page is concerned:

 

I believe you should differentiate between the forums and the front page. In fact, I think the opposite would be a better solution

Make the front page the go-to page to easily access all content of this site. Atm I am torn between setting my dustloop bookmark to redirect to the forums vs the frontpage and yes, one click does make a difference.

 

• Integrate a 'latest posts" and 'latest topics' and side column at the front page (relatively high so that it is seen without scrolling, the 'categories' tab and the like are not as important) that shows the top10~ new posts and topics with clickable access. That way someone can access the forums more directly and will simply need to check the front page for anything new in the forums.
• Give us the option to do the same with our subscribed topics.
• Make 6-7 picture banners that randomly cycle themselves with each refresh a la bakabt fashion. You can have members make/vote for new ones in times. This exhibits variation, refreshment and activity to the eye of the visitor.
• Have the latest chatroom comments be displayed at the top of the site in a wide rectangle window and place a quick post bar so that people can chat easily without the need to restrict themselves to another area of the site.
• Make the top 3-4 article comments visible to a degree under the articles themselves with a possible scrollbar, complete with a quick post bar. This can motivate people to actually post their opinions because they can already see those of others with which they may agree/disagree.

 

Basically make everything directly accessible from the front page. I believe the current forum template allows for it.

 

 

 

 

 

[VermilionBird]

• Have the latest chatroom comments be displayed at the top of the site in a wide rectangle window and place a quick post bar so that people can chat easily without the need to restrict themselves to another area of the site.

This would be amazing.

[Setsuna]

I made a huge post detailing my opinions and somehow I lost it all so I'll go with a shorter version this time. Everything Yohosie mentioned earlier is pretty much spot on, the front page needs a revamp in general. From what I gathered on page 2 she doesn't mind helping with the web design for that granted the site gets the version upgrade that shtkn is talking about ? Since a hopeful revamp may happen I hope I'll try to point out things currently wrong with whats on the main page to see if we can "fix" or "adjust" it until then.

 

Front Page News Layout Consistency

 

If you look at SRK you see that there is a template to how their articles are laid out which isn't presented here at all. Super large embedded videos and logos, super small preview images embedded on the opposite side, scrolling down is a mess. There needs to be a uniform way of laying this out so that it is easier for the viewer to check it out. 

 

Also make it so that the entire body text isn't showing on the front page, peak their interest with a preview of the text and a "read more" link

 

td;lr just look at SRK, we need something like that 

 

News Updates

 

I'm happy to see news updates actually happen now but there needs to be some professionalism put into it. Right now it looks like submitted forum posts into a news article. Why is this article supposed to be relevant to me ? Why should I watch this video ? I know its not the posters job to write out a paper about the topic but at least make it presentable. While content in the news topic can indeed be quality make sure the presentation is too as that represents how the site looks. I also noticed that a lot of video news updates are happening (i see two first thing on the front page), if they happen frequently consider them to be in a weekly video news update instead of making them each their own individual post. 

 

I think these are the main factors for me right now, the side categories and other topics that come to mind I believe were already posted by another person with the same concern (plus I'm lazy after losing a bigger post). This is all just my opinion, thoughts on the matter and hope it helps. 

[Poultrygeist]

 

News Updates

 

I'm happy to see news updates actually happen now but there needs to be some professionalism put into it. Right now it looks like submitted forum posts into a news article. Why is this article supposed to be relevant to me ? Why should I watch this video ? I know its not the posters job to write out a paper about the topic but at least make it presentable. While content in the news topic can indeed be quality make sure the presentation is too as that too represents how the site looks. I also noticed that video new updates are happening (i see two first thing on the front page), if they happen frequently consider them to be in a weekly video news update instead of making them each their own individual post. 

 

I think these are the main factors for me right now, the side categories and other topics that come to mind I believe were already posted by another person with the same concern (plus I'm lazy after losing a bigger post). This is all just my opinion, thoughts on the matter and hope it helps. 

Yes, exactly.  While the front page articles do get right to the point ("Here's a video and what the video shows") I don't feel it's elaborate or attention getting enough.  For example, instead of "new x character setup video by x player" say something like "This video will cover setups for this situation, and this situation, and how to avoid that situation." be specific IMO.

[BlackYakuzu94]

Do we have anybody that really knows how to write news articles? None of us are exactly reporters.

[Hollysmoke]

1) Unban Sogos

2) Hire new GG mods who actually play the game to clean up the shit-posting on the GG threads before the current ones lose their mind. As someone capable of abstract thought, I nominate myself.

3) Unban Sogos

[DanteSenpai]

Do we have anybody that really knows how to write news articles? None of us are exactly reporters.

 

I used to write news articles, and to this day I still write my own stuff as a hobby (though it's mostly fiction and not news articles). I'd nominate myself as a writer.  

 

1) Unban Sogos

2) Hire new GG mods who actually play the game to clean up the shit-posting on the GG threads before the current ones lose their mind. As someone capable of abstract thought, I nominate myself.

3) Unban Sogos

1) Yes. Unban Sogos

2) I second that

3) Unban Sogos For Great Justice.

Take Off Every Zig.

[Anne]

The first thing I was told when I got more mod rights here:

 

"Never, under any circumstances, unban Sogos"

 

true story

[Narroo]

I'm curious, who is Sogos and what did he do?  (Relevant post since the answer may shed light on modding policies and what we should or should not do in the future.)

[mAc Chaos]

This is just about the front page. Ask in a more relevant thread or message someone. Get back on topic folks.

For writing articles, actually writing them is pretty easy. The hard part is doing it consistently and not quitting after a week. And getting the actual tips to come in. You guys should send more tips!!!!!!!!!

[Hollysmoke]

This is just about the front page. Ask in a more relevant thread or message someone. Get back on topic folks.

For writing articles, actually writing them is pretty easy. The hard part is doing it consistently and not quitting after a week. And getting the actual tips to come in. You guys should send more tips!!!!!!!!!

On topic? It's all tied to the community. If there's a lack of insightful analysis/critique going on, there's also a lack of inspiration to draw from with regards to writing articles. What's relevant and irrelevant is dependent on what the community is doing as well as talking about. This is, essentially, what news is. IE. FD OS discovered, people talking/asking about it, you write an article detailing it. If nobody wants to talk about it, how would you know if the OS is discovered?

[ZeroRaider]

For making the articles consistently, there is no need to go pushing out everything fast.
A well paced and thoughtfully crafted piece will be far more informative and engaging than say five or six of them slapped together to keep things updated faster.
Nobody has to go blowing their load here. Dustloop isn't going anywhere. (At least I hope not)

If something is just a quick tip, that should be okay if it's short. That being said, there really should a quick sentence or two about it's possible relevance and utility rather than just a "BAM. There it is!".

[Kuuhaku]

I don't want to be the No Fun Police, but FYI any further derailing will result in an infraction.

I'll ask when plans for rolling out the next feedback/suggestion threads since people want to speak on other topics. There is also a lot of discussion going on among the staff and we are taking feedback and concerns seriously. Transparency is also something being pushed so hopefully a more direct response to what's been said here will be here soon.

As such, we're going to ask that if you are giving feedback/concerns/suggestions to also be serious about it and post your dank memes elsewhere.

[Hollysmoke]

I don't want to be the No Fun Police, but FYI any further derailing will result in an infraction.

I'll ask when plans for rolling out the next feedback/suggestion threads since people want to speak on other topics, but take your dank memes elsewhere.

There are no dank memes being shitposted, the Gestapo chest-puffing just makes my point about pushing people into not posting things. Just in case you missed my point, let me checklist it for you:

1) Community talks shit out, right or wrong

2) Community discovers new shit from talking out and experimentation

3) New shit gets turned into an article as a condensed source of information, posted on the front page for everyone.

4) Community profits in growth and understanding, the cycle repeats

Everything is connected to one another. You can't discuss these things as isolated events. You want to promote community efforts yet at the same time censor them? This has been a problem for MONTHS and I've been speaking up about it and I'll continue to do so.

[Kuuhaku]

I'm sorry if you disagree, but for now this is how we've decided to approach the issue and the reasoning for it was explained earlier. Keep the topic to front page feedback. If you have other feedback in regards to moderation or whatever else you have concerns about, that will be given space. In the meantime, when two moderators tell you to stay on topic, you should listen.

[Hollysmoke]

I'm sorry if you disagree, but for now this is how we've decided to approach the issue and the reasoning for it was explained earlier. Keep the topic to front page feedback. If you have other feedback in regards to moderation or whatever else you have concerns about, that will be given space. In the meantime, when two moderators tell you to stay on topic, you should listen.

And that last post wasn't on topic? I was talking about how content gets to the front page. Keep abusing your mod powers, keep making my point. Your warnings actually don't mean jack to me anymore. Telling people not to speak up when there's a problem IS the problem.

[Poultrygeist]

Do we have anybody that really knows how to write news articles? None of us are exactly reporters.

If you're in the community I think you're probably capable of underdstanding what other community members want to read.  IMO you don't need to be a reporter, just a writer.  Most of the "reporting" is already done in the news threads anyway.

[shtkn]

I've also asked two people who I've seen consistently post news to help out with our front page and twitter accounts too. they both said they're interested, but I haven't set up their permissions yet.

[Kuuhaku]

Doing what I've been asked to do is not an abuse of my powers even if you feel otherwise. I understand why you are concerned and if you do have grievances, you are more than welcome to contact me directly as I mentioned in your warning. However, do not use this thread to air out unrelated beef you have with whatever. Do so in the appropriate spaces. They will be coming soon.

[Poultrygeist]

I've also asked two people who I've seen consistently post news to help out with our front page and twitter accounts too. they both said they're interested, but I haven't set up their permissions yet.

If they're active DL posters I think I might already have an idea of who they are!

[Hollysmoke]

Doing what I've been asked to do is not an abuse of my powers even if you feel otherwise. I understand why you are concerned and if you do have grievances, you are more than welcome to contact me directly as I mentioned in your warning. However, do not use this thread to air out unrelated beef you have with whatever. Do so in the appropriate spaces. They will be coming soon.

The damage is done, and you don't even know what the damage is. I've been here for around 8 years and I'm tired of being bullied by moderators. I've never gotten a warning or infraction in those 8 years. Censorship by intimidation should never be a thing, but I'll gladly speak up against it.

[Setsuna]

In case anyone in this discussion hasn't seen the recent news update from shtkn for whatever reason

 

"3.4 to 4.0

We currently run IPS 3.4, and 4.0 has been released.

Upgrade Will Be Longer Than Usual
This is a major change, so downtime will be much longer than usual, as I want to download a backup of the servers in case things go horribly wrong. There are no good estimates for how long this will take, but I expect at least a few hours (and possibly a whole day) will be needed.

I plan on starting this late Saturday night if I'm free by then. If not, then Sunday.

Why Upgrade?
The key feature that interests us is front page should be more configurable. The forums should also see slight improvements as well.

Why Didn't You Upgrade Sooner?
This is a major upgrade. Typically this means major parts of the software has been rewritten and as such, certain features may be missing. I was hesitant to upgrade due to this, but seeing as we're trying to make the Front Page actually useful now, and 4.0 promises more options to do so, I've finally decided to bite the bullet. "

 

Hopefully with this we start to see some front page suggestions implemented and possibly revamped, it'll take time but this is definitely a step forward at least !

[mAc Chaos]

Honestly I can't fault people for wanting to talk about the community in general because on re-reading the OP, I see it says right in the OP to talk about the community in general.

What I was saying to stop was the sogos memes because that's just off topic.

That said, it's the moderator's job to direct the conversation and if some want to focus on the front page first because it's easier to do one thing at a time, it's perfectly legitimate. It's not bullying to just try and get everybody's input on the item that's currently being worked on.

[huey253]

Status Update: We've been discussing in private about all of the suggested changes and we really like them! We've been intentionally holding out taking action on any of these suggestions because of the upcoming forum update this weekend. After the update is completed, we will slowly attempt to integrate a lot of the feedback we have received over the last week. Thank you for you patience and please continue to support Dustloop!

[DanteSenpai]

I've also asked two people who I've seen consistently post news to help out with our front page and twitter accounts too. they both said they're interested, but I haven't set up their permissions yet.

I'm not privy to who they are or anything, (and at risk of sounding really pretentious) I don't think that posting news a lot make them qualified or good at writing, whether it be about the news itself or in general. This is potentially a very pivotal point of transition for the Dustloop site, you don't want just anyone to be putting things on the front page. I also agree with what others have said (to paraphrase), quality on the front page over quantity while understanding that there needs to be a certain volume of content is important. I think the front page doesn't always have to be just news and I have a few of my own ideas that could easily put insightful and meaningful content on the page even without anything actually happening in the community or any developments in the world Fighting game companies. I'll hold onto those for now, but that is so far, my two cents on that.

 

 

The damage is done, and you don't even know what the damage is. I've been here for around 8 years and I'm tired of being bullied by moderators. I've never gotten a warning or infraction in those 8 years. Censorship by intimidation should never be a thing, but I'll gladly speak up against it.

 

I think people deserve to decide what is relevant to discuss, the majority of the community, not the minority of the administration, since this is kind of a community site. 

EDIT: I hope that won't be viewed as "off topic", I'm just responding to what I've seen here. DISCLAIMER: My opinions are my own