I have an idea, what if for the code it board next to the name of the thread we can allow the creater of the thread put certain icons on it to indicate the status of his/her problem.
For instance, if the problem is solved, the thread creator can put a green check mark indicating that this problem has found a solution. If the problem still needs help, the creator can put up a big red X. Also, the creater can put up another Icon that can indicate whether or not a new problem has arisen, different to the original, so the creator can bump the thread rather than starting a new one. On top of that, for the people trolling the board giving advice, they can click a button that indicates that they themselves do not know a solution to the problem, and then that will add to a counter that keeps track of the number of people that could not solve the problem. Also there could be a little something to put in the my account section to keep track of who has helped you and a reminder to credit those who've helped you with your projects.
Then there is the people nice enough to give good advice. The creator can indicate that they solved the problem, and the helpful indivial can be rewarded with DC points or something based on the problem and a rating of how troublesome that the problem was (compared to the ammount of people that clicked the "I have no idea" button). But it should be allowed to be monitored by the moderators in case someone is really quick to help with a really complicated problem and kind of eliminate the guy waiting to post his answer until enough people give up.
I hope someone at least considers this, because in my opinion, it will lead to people getting answers alot quicker, and eliminate people ignoring a question simply because it's down a bit further on the forums or simply the fact that the thread has replies in it.
I'm not trying to sound like a douche, but I'm still fairly new to coding, and it's nice to get help on problems that I have limited knowledge about, and I really don't get that much time to work on my project and it really sucks ass when I'm held up by a certain problem and can't continue until I get an answer or even worse not get an answer at all.
I also know it's no one's job to take time out of their day to give anyone else advise, but it might be nice to give something back to those that do, rewarding them with DC points, credits in various games and maybe the DC could host a "Most Helpful Clicker" towards the end of each year, to not only acknowledge the impressive clickers with the occassional christmas contests, but the clickers with a high rating for helping others with their knowledge of click products.
It's just a thought I've been having the last couple of days.
I was with ya until the keeping-track-of-helpfulness thing. I don't think I'd want to participate in helping anymore (and I often do) if it becomes something like a contest. DC Points are worthless anyway, and people here are nice enough to give help when they can already.
Deleted User
4th January, 2009 at 23:16:41 -
Maybe to you and me, but I know there's got to be that typical person on here that craves them. Just a thought. Personally I think the end of the year thing might be alright. I honestly don't see a problem in making it competition, and just because there MIGHT be a competition, there you DON'T have to compete. I can see there being a problem though if the mods get swamped with "He took my answer, WAAAAH" emails. I just mentioned it to see if maybe some of the moderators might like it, they don't have to, I doubt they really enjoy spending the money that the website most likely does not rake in.
I think part of the problem (if there is a problem) is that too many people keep asking the same questions.
I'm sure most of the people here are very helpful, but nobody wants to have to keep repeating the same things over and over.
In an effort to say something constructive, here are my ideas:
1.) "Sticky" or some other way of marking and browsing only the most useful threads, without searching as such.
2.) Any time someone tries to start a new thread, have the site automatically do a search, based on the title of their post (or keywords), before adding it to the boards.
Put an "I didn't find the answer to my problem" button at the bottom of the page, only after the search results. Maybe even add another button to redirect them to the search results for the same phrase, at the clickteam forums, incase they want to try that.
You could always disable the system for members after they have been around a while / made a certain number of posts / asked an admin etc.
3.) Make the search box 3 times as big... and right in the middle of every page... and flashing.
Nah, I don't think there should be incentives. It'll lead to all kinds of abuse and end up just another feature that people are going to complain about. I like it as it is. It works. I don't know any problems that haven't been solved, and I know a lot of people who try to answer a question even though there's a lot of answers on it. Especially if the other answers don't work or if they think they have a better one.
A lot of the really good klikers actually spend a lot of time on their game and only pop-in occasionally for a break. So, the trick is in wording your question right. Make it so that another kliker can understand it in less than 3 minutes. And if nobody answers the question after a while, or if it's still not answered right it's OK to politely bump it.
And ask properly! Not those one-liner questions.
"How do I make an X-Com engine?"
Questions like that are just implying that you want someone else to do it for you. If you're lucky, someone will have one lying around, but it's just too advanced and most people who do have one won't want to share it.
"i have a prblm with my game, ObjectA moves slowly, but ObjectB works."
Now, here, the guy is not being specific. Most people would rather ignore the question then ask what the original poster means.
"how do I make a good AI?"
A good question, but something that people just can't answer, because it's too specific to your game.
[I have accidentally given true examples. No offense was intended ]
Edited by Muz
Disclaimer: Any sarcasm in my posts will not be mentioned as that would ruin the purpose. It is assumed that the reader is intelligent enough to tell the difference between what is sarcasm and what is not.
Deleted User
5th January, 2009 at 02:46:32 -
There in lies MY problem. I never ask for help unless I truly cannot figure it out on my own through searching old topics or articles. I make a huge effort to explain things in detail and it seems like the last few questions get passed over, and they're simple how to use this function properly type questions. And even still, I'd like to hear back about the rest of my post instead of the incentive program, I think the use of the checkmark system could be quite useful, and I really don't see how two or three little pictures by a thread title could be abused. You might be thinking that I meant that everytime the topic starter hits the check button it adds on one and then you have 10 pages of checks and crosses.
But this brings up another thing. I can't tell you how many times I've been looking through an article and find the answer to a question I was looking for a while back. The search on this website is dreadfully specific and it doesn't help anyone if you don't know what to call whatever it is you're looking for. It's problably not the easiest thing to make some super great powerful search engine that can tell you what you're thinking, but it might be a little easier to catagorize the articles. It kind of sucks to look for a specific type of tutorial or tidbit of information and have to sift through page after page of "ZOMG the communitee is died" articles. Maybe the code-it board can be done the same way.
EDIT: What I was getting at is a majority of re-asked questions might be because some people are just plain lazy, but there are alot of people who legit can't find what it is they're looking for, nor can they even describe it to the search engine.
I actually did try to make a database of frequently asked questions: The Click FAQ. It was up on Klik Academy, lost it since the site went down. I would actually want to make a proper list with all kinds of questions that have been asked and asked again, but doesn't really seem to be worth the effort. I know they help, but it takes far too much time which I'd rather spend on finishing my game.
I think it would be good to have a kind of database of that sort. Maybe one of you guys could do it.. the Click FAQ is quite outdated, leaving out MMF2, as well as some of the cooler solutions Pixelthief had.
BTW, I tend to sort out the Code-It and Programmers Union threads into the 'right board', so blame me if I move your thread to the other forums I think they were a legacy from the good ol' days when klikers were segregated from "real programmers"
Disclaimer: Any sarcasm in my posts will not be mentioned as that would ruin the purpose. It is assumed that the reader is intelligent enough to tell the difference between what is sarcasm and what is not.
Deleted User
9th January, 2009 at 21:25:58 -
The most I could problably do is go through all the articles, copy the links and make a description, then post several threads as catagories that could be stickied. I'll get started on it, if anyone has an issue, let me know and I'll stop. Or if you have an idea as to what catagories I can put them into let me know. When I'm done, I'll post a rough copy on here and then if you guys like it, let me know and I'll post the final deal on whichever forum you guys think I should put it on to.
Haha, not a good idea. The amount of threads you'd make would fill the forums like nuts. A click FAQ would be a good idea though. We could start a section of the site, and then when someone posts another FAQ from now on, when it gets answered (yet again) we flag it for adding into the FAQ section by an admin (with unnecessaries cut out; or just a rewording of the problem and solution). That way we just build it up over time and it doesn't overload anyone.
Certain members could also be designated as FAQ collectors with limited abilities to add these flagged threads. I don't know how hard it would be to add another group of permissions though. We'd have to ask Clubsoft.
You mean just pick out a selection of the best articles?
You probably know this already, but you can sort the articles list by rating/views/etc, by clicking on the little triangles at the top. I'm just saying because it took me a very very long time to notice that.
Chances are, if an article isn't on the first five or so pages, of at least one of those lists, then it's probably not worth bothering with.
I'm sure the categories will become quite obvious once you've selected the best articles. No doubt "Custom Movements", "Maths", "Extensions", "Online" etc will all be in the mix.
Good luck if you decide to do it
Edited by Sketchy
n/a
Deleted User
9th January, 2009 at 22:40:13 -
That helps, but I'd still like some kind of organization by catagory, I'm sure you've all noticed that sometimes you might skip over looking at an article just because it's name doesn't match what you're looking for, but little do you know it's exactly what you're looking for. I mean, we have it for the download section, why not for articles? I mean, I know it's a lot of work to go through every article, I would have absolutly no problem doing it myself, I mean, come on, I was just about to go through every article just to post them on the forum. I mean, if we get someone on it just to go through it soon, then it will be alot easier than waiting and waiting and waiting and eventually the list gets larger.
As far as the code-it board and programing union is concerned, I believe OMC had the idea. Flags would make it alot easier, and well, as far as the code it board is concerned, there really isn't much that can be done, unless someone wants to go through that, which I am more than happy to voulenteer for, although I would like to have a team of people to do that, maybe assign each person a list of pages. The result would lead to a nicely organized site for anyone that needs help with there games, and a vast cut down in questions on the code-it forum, and possibly an overall increase in more professional click games and thus, more popularity overall for click products. Then a click game will save the world by preventing the return of jesus/hitler. But seriously, it might not end up going that far, but at least it will provide the frequent fliers of TDC easy access to knowledge if they choose to use it. This is the internet people, and what's the point of knowing the secrets to humanity, *ahem* clicking, if no one knows how to find it?
This site isn't just for getting help, you know. There's other parts to the community aspect. It's a good idea to organize it, but the reason people aren't hopping on-board is that this IS more of a community than a reference site. I really don't mind answering some questions more than once... it's a nice way to get new people involved. If they just find what they need in the database and leave, they may never stop by to say hi! ;__;
And why did you equate Jesus with Hitler? O_o
Deleted User
10th January, 2009 at 02:08:42 -
Jesus gets killed by the jews, so Jesus came back to life as Hitler and killed the jews back.
Well, you have a point about that, BUT, as stated before, some of the better memeber don't troll the boards 24-7, and not everyone knows everything about everything, so who's to say when someone looks at the code-it board and decides to answer a question, misses one that was posted a few days ago that they knew everything about. (confusing I know). If they had just posted their knowledge in an article and if someone could find it, that person would be able to get what they need and possibly not give up clicking all together. As far as people joining the community, that's another thing. People will join based on if they like click products versus other products. I'm not a coder. I don't enjoy coding. Logic, on the other hand, I think I excell at quite well, which makes the click product's style of coding that much better, so therefore I hang around here. I'm sure the rest of you have a different reason, but I'm sure it's something that draws you here rather than somewhere else, but that's the only reason certain people would frequent here, is because of the knowledge database, then that's their problem, and I'm sure they'll do that anyways, I believe that's what it's therefor, for ANYONE who wants to use it. But what do I know.
Admin Note Please dont mention anything about Hitler and Jews.
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Edited by Sketchy
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A click FAQ would be a good idea though. We could start a section of the site, and then when someone posts another FAQ from now on, when it gets answered (yet again) we flag it for adding into the FAQ section by an admin (with unnecessaries cut out; or just a rewording of the problem and solution). That way we just build it up over time and it doesn't overload anyone. 
There's other parts to the community aspect. It's a good idea to organize it, but the reason people aren't hopping on-board is that this IS more of a community than a reference site.