Where would we submit ideas for improving this site?

[ranger19]

I thought I remembered once upon a time a user group called "Inside the Escapist", which in retrospect seems like the sort of place one would go to suggest improvements for the site, but I can't find it any more, and I don't even know if that's where I would go if it existed. Anyone know? Because a few ideas I had I thought would make this place even better.

For example, when you read an article, at the bottom there are links to related articles. Sometimes they appear to have very interesting titles and I start reading them only to realize a few paragraphs in that they are extremely outdated. That "New Zelda Game Rumored to be Announced Soon" article is actually referring to Skyward Sword and was published last spring; it's not breaking news for example. So having dates articles were published next to their link (or below them) would help this.

Also, does anyone else wish this place allowed users to create personal blogs linked to their accounts? I think sites such as IGN allow users to do it, but I feel they would be much more appropriate here, where interesting columns are featured much more often, and as a result I'd imagine readers would be more likely to want to have their own blogs for sharing their thoughts (in a fashion slightly different from a forum). I know I would.

So, what do you guys think - dates under related articles? User blogs under the Community tab? How about it?

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Just send them to a mod. Your best bet is our community manager, Kuliani. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/profiles/view/Kuliani]
Don't worry, he won't bite. Well, not if you let him sniff your hand first.

As for your actual suggestions, I like the related articles as they all still offer a valid point of view on a topic, no matter when they were written.

The blogs idea just sounds horrible to me. We get enough stupidity around here without people just blogging about whatever they want on the site, plus these would then need moderation similar to the forums. There are loads of perfectly good blogging sites out there and you can link to them in your profile, why not keep it that way.

 

[rockytheboxer]

I used to blog on IGN, it was actually pretty cool for a while. But IGN is significantly more populated than The Escapist, and I don't think many people there sat down to read a blog, when they could just read thirty posts.

 

[Sightless Wisdom]

Not bad ideas, and Cpt_Oblivious had the right idea; send Kuliani a PM.

 

[Pimppeter2]

That's not a bad idea. I'd like that. I suggest do what the Cpt'n said.

Personally, I would like a bigger word limit in the "Bio" part of the profile page.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

I used to blog on IGN, it was actually pretty cool for a while. But IGN is significantly more populated than The Escapist, and I don't think many people there sat down to read a blog, when they could just read thirty posts.

A good point, but that same logic could be applied to reviews, and they often get some replies.

I wish for several things, the review thing to be set up less like a forum, and more like what PimpPeter is doing, with the review collection thing. Also, you should see someone's reviews and threads separately from their posts. Maybe you already can, but make it so that stupid people* can find it.

Also, a moderation free section, that requires 1000 posts to post in, and 200 to view, would be fun. So that people could vent there, rather than have their frustrations spill into a serious discussion on Nintendogs strategies.

*Me!

 

[ranger19]

Just send them to a mod. Your best bet is our community manager, Kuliani. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/profiles/view/Kuliani]
Don't worry, he won't bite. Well, not if you let him sniff your hand first.

Thanks for the tip! I definitely will send Kuliani a message. Maybe I'll point him(?) to this thread, too, since it seems to be generating a few good ideas.

As for your actual suggestions, I like the related articles as they all still offer a valid point of view on a topic, no matter when they were written.

I do like related articles, and will usually read them, but a date helps put the headline in context when skimming the links, you know? It's not a huge problem, but then again I don't think the fix would be a lot of work (at least I hope not).

The blogs idea just sounds horrible to me. We get enough stupidity around here without people just blogging about whatever they want on the site, plus these would then need moderation similar to the forums. There are loads of perfectly good blogging sites out there and you can link to them in your profile, why not keep it that way.

I agree that there's stupidity here, but I would say there is also a lot of great stuff going on as well. (For example, the user reviews.) I suppose linking to an outside blog would be perfectly reasonable, but I thought it would be fun to be directly linked to your account. I think profanity could be dealt with by having a "report" button on someone's blog, and having a zero tolerance rule: if you're caught violating the rules, your blog is gone for good or something.

Perhaps a slight change, or compromise, to having a personal blog would be somehow a way for a person to gather some specific posts into one place. Not just your post history, but sort of like a selected post history. Then people skimming through your profile could find your "blog entries" which would basically be forum posts (usually to new topics I'd imagine), user reviews, and the like. Then it would already be moderated, and would already have an audience.

I'd still pull for full blogs, but I'd be happy with that compromise.

snip

Just quoting to say I like your idea about the user reviews! Maybe incorporate them into the profile as I suggested?

 

[RobThePrezodent]

You have to call Jesus on the phone and tell him your suggestions. He's at 555-5555.

Really? god-damn it, here I've been thinking it's 555-5556! No wonder he hasn't replied to the messages I left on his answering machine.

Anyway OT yeah I think dates next to related articles is a good idea, and I can't remember what your other suggestion is but I'm sure it's pretty chill too

 

[Mr.Kitetsu]

you could try the bin over there

 

[ranger19]

Okay, just sent Kuliani a message, pointing him to this thread. Hopefully something good will come of it!

Thanks for all the help guys - and I suppose feel free to add more suggestions too.