WinCustomize Community Page Concept

WC2k8 - We need your input!

from WinCustomize Forums

This is a concept of what we're thinking of doing with what is currently the "Articles" and "Forums". Instead, we would create a new concept called "Community".

The forums listed by default would be based on popularity.  But users would also have their own list of forums and topics based on what they've recently participated in. This would be generated automatically based on user activity.

Top authors -- people who have created posts with the most activity, would be listed so that when other users clicked on those authors names, they would get a list of the articles those authors hvae created in order of last response.  Note that this listing would NOT be based on # of comments to posts but the number of POINTS (to prevent cliques from taking over).

When dealing with the forums, UNLESS the user explicitly chooses forum index, users will only see posts based on last comment to that post. So the community will have control over what is displayed.

We also want to add suport for SKIN comments to this area too.

Anyway, this is a key issue for you guys who enjoy the forums and such. So we need feedback.  The community page would be a landing page for all kinds of different areas on the site and what it displays matters.

6,639 views 21 replies
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The top left panel should say Your Community so it would more clearly reflect and distinguish both forum posts and articles. Articles have always carried important topical content regarding Stardock, WinCustomize and PC developments. Forum posts have tended to pertain to specific content. How can I do this in DX? would be an example versus an article describing the new features of a new DX release. Both might be important to an individual so, the idea of my specific interests being reflected in the top left panel is good. Perhaps the top left panel should contain 2 subcategories Forum Posts and Articles. Where do Tutorials fit in? Do they belong on the Community page as well?  
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Great layout & wonderful ideas...Love the idea of the page automatically showing me what I have recently participated in.

I believe that the top author list would encourage more participation...gives them their..*time in the spotlight which they rightly deserve if they are creating interesting posts.

The top left panel should say Your Community so it would more clearly reflect and distinguish both forum posts and articles. Articles have always carried important topical content regarding Stardock, WinCustomize and PC developments. Forum posts have tended to pertain to specific content. How can I do this in DX? would be an example versus an article describing the new features of a new DX release. Both might be important to an individual so, the idea of my specific interests being reflected in the top left panel is good. Perhaps the top left panel should contain 2 subcategories Forum Posts and Articles. Where do Tutorials fit in? Do they belong on the Community page as well?


Agreed

It's My Secret
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
So where is the link at to take you to the actual forums, which now the front page will be the recent posts list instead of the category list?
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Its in the Popular Forums section.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Where do Tutorials fit in? Do they belong on the Community page as well?


I'd like to see the Community Tutorials have a good spot on this page also; most popular, most recent, featured, etc. seperate from the Articles. Maybe display the top ten in one of those categories of Community Tutorials (recent, popular, or featured) and have links to the other categories, or the Tutorials page underneath. We really need tutorials (especially the Community Tutorials) to be more accessible and this would be a big help.

Top authors -- people who have created posts with the most activity, would be listed so that when other users clicked on those authors names, they would get a list of the articles those authors hvae created in order of last response. Note that this listing would NOT be based on # of comments to posts but the number of POINTS (to prevent cliques from taking over).


Is there any way to promote people who are really helpful in the forums/community (like Zubaz and Bichur among many others)? They are not always the topic starters.
There used to be a top commenters list and I don't know if that would apply here.

Other than that the page looks great and it would certainly be the first stop on WC for me.  
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Is there any way to promote people who are really helpful in the forums/community (like Zubaz and Bichur among many others)?

They already get their 'promotion' effectively by admins/mods noting their helpfullness and thus bumping up their rankings, something that is also community-based....

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

They already get their 'promotion' effectively by admins/mods noting their helpfullness and thus bumping up their rankings, something that is also community-based....
They already get their 'promotion' effectively by admins/mods noting their helpfullness and thus bumping up their rankings, something that is also community-based
Than you sVis.

For the record, I have never helped to bump up my rankings nor did I help in the past to get promoted.  I help because I liek helping.  Stardock is filled with great people making great products and building a community.  I want to support that.

This community is filled with people who's lives can be a little better with a bit of skinning.  I want them to be successful.

Also, I feel that Stardock's products are priced so low for the amount I use them that I think I owe them a little support in exchange. 

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I hope we can get a lot more feedback.

We know how many people read the forums and I can imagine us implementing something like this only to get a wave of criticism.  We're trying our best to run this stuff by the community.

I am hoping we can get beta versions of these pages up in the next month or two.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
When I read the forums I usually just stick to the "Most recent post" section, which pretty much covers it all, I do *like that...

I see you have "Hot Topics" listed and "latest discussions" Soooo..im happy, LoL

Really, "The Most recent post" section does cover it all for someone to read and reply to...the various other sections are only needed to catagorize a new thread...

I think the new layout will be a good thing, the current layout I think uses up allot of un-necessary space..

Thats my -2 cents worth..
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I guess I need a bit more info or I'm just missing the point, is this going to be the new front for the forums or will this be a landing point in parallel with the new forum page? Is the current page (Forum Home) the "Index" you refer to?

I do like the idea of the "My Topics" section so that I can get a quick take on the threads I'm currently active in.

In the sections on the right it would be nice to select (like in the gallery list) among the sections that you want to include, ie I may not want to see the most popular thread if it's in the Multiplicity section which I know nothing about.

I'm not sure how points are accrued but for rating threads I would like to see threads that are popular because many people are posting replies instead of just 2 or 3 posting many replies in what can amount to a private conversation.

I don't see the "Popular Forums" box ever changing. I don't know for sure but there are a couple that forums that are ALWAYS active while many others may not get new threads for days/weeks/months.


If this is parallel to the forum page I would suggest the ability to control what sections I monitor on the forum "home" view with the other sections available thru a drop down. That would allow a little more flexibility than the current setup. The "Most Recent Posts" section is a great addition and I use it almost exclusively but, I do have to bypass a lot of sections that I have no relevant input for. I think an expandable "pinned" section would be nice for those new to the site as well.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I too rely on Most Recent Posts Section to see what's current.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
In line with the My Topics stuff, a new post indicator should be made to show which threads we have responded in (instead of just unread, read, and read with new posts).
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I would like to see a solved icon next to the support ones that are...

It's My Secret
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I live in the Most recent.  I have RSS feeds for the ObjectBar forums I want to make sure I don't miss.

Brad, brand the hell out of the page, let me RSS everything else and move stuff around as I get in the mood.
Let folks access WC using my interface at zubaz.wc.com and apply it if they like it.
Let skinners apply skin (using the WC admin approval to make sure it meets your branding needs.

THAT would rock.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm curious Z.....how come you still got a comments section on your site and I haven't seen mine since the switchover? Is there a setting to turn them on?
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm curious Z.....how come you still got a comments section on your site and I haven't seen mine since the switchover? Is there a setting to turn them on?


I don't have my guestbook either, andrew explained it in the issues/bugs thread. Apparently there are like 3-4 different versions and some are down and some are not.
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm curious Z.....how come you still got a comments section on your site and I haven't seen mine since the switchover? Is there a setting to turn them on?
I don't have my guestbook either, andrew explained it in the issues/bugs thread. Apparently there are like 3-4 different versions and some are down and some are not.
Good answer

The correct answer: Zubaz is cooler than most people.  stoopider name . . but cooler.

BTW, thanks for stopping by Lantec.  Did you leave a comment? 

I wish I knew why . .. it sucks not seeing them.  I try to make a habit of hitting a few once in a while and saying hi.
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You have things such as Popular forums and Your forums on the left.. It would be nice to see Popular and Essential articles also.

And possibly in the middle Recent articles?
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The Home-> part of the forum would display the recent posts reather than the forum index.
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
While I have your attention . . . RSS feeds for the galleries?