Null Parameter
09-23-2008, 01:10 AM
XForgery September Update (2 of 2)
Well, here it is, the second September Update. It's another big one, because I'm bringing out two new big features that you will hopefully really enjoy. Don't expect anything else big like this for a little while, I'm running out of ideas. ;)
On top of all of the big new things, there are a few smaller ones to make your time on Forgery easier. Most of which were taken from your suggestions, so these I know you will like.
I have some more time for this update, as it isn't being rushed out the door, so I'll jump back to the normal format. Hope you enjoy this update as much as I do.
Site Overview (Hey, could you give me a jump start?)
Again, there is still a more regular stream of new members coming in, and we are expecting more shortly as we get ourselves known within the different communities, and especially once Far Cry 2 comes out.
Until that time, I suggest that you help us in this area. Tell your friends, and anybody else for that matter, about us.
Another area that seems to be lacking lately is map posts. Please, do Forge and post your maps. Being a community based on User Content, this is important to us.
Site Updates (The big and the small)
Like I said, there are several additions and changes coming with this update. I'm excited for all of them, because they increase our usability and bring new things to the table.
Remember, with new features come possible problems. We can't predict everything that might go wrong, so if you spot something, please tell us.
I decided to make these more visual as well, so you will see some pretty images scattered throughout. While all images will be from the Default Style/Skin, Blak-Ice has the exact same things.
Here they are in increasing levels of awesomeness (based on my opinion only).
Filters Are Gone (Damn Straight!) (Wait........ Can he say that?)
Through some suggestions from some of our new members, and us looking more closely into the rules/laws behind such things, we decided to remove the filters. This means that now you can say all of those naughty words you need to say to express your anger. Please though, do not use them just to use them, excessive vulgar use will still be punishable if it is deemed offending to other members.
Map Statistics ()
You may have noticed, as some (http://www.xforgery.com/forum/member.php?u=27) of you have already tried to leak this information, that there are a few extra bits of information available for each user. Now you can find information on how many maps each user has submitted and their highest rated maps, both rated by the Review Team and by Forgery members.
This information can be found in two places.
1. Post "Dots"
Just click the second dot next to anybody's post, and you will get the info.
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/4851/postbitzr4.jpg
2. Profile Statistics
If you look in somebody's profile, under the Statistics tab.
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3563/profilemc2.jpg
Collapsed Posts (Peek-a-boo!)
If you go to any of the user content forums, any thread in those forums has a special feature applied to it. The first post, and therefore the focus of the thread, will appear on every page. This means that you don't have to have multiple tabs open or constantly navigate back for a single thread.
Some users have stated that, while this is a nice feature, it can get in the way of reading the new posts because you constantly have to scroll past the first post on every page.
From now on, this first post will still be available, but it will be collapsed by default. If you want to see it, you just simply click the un-collapse icon and it magically appears.
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/8005/collapsed1vx7.jpg
Click the icon and POOF!
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/1193/collapsed2xk8.jpg
Map Submission Fixes (Correcting our own mistakes)
Some people (i.e. One) had some issues when posting maps. It was partially me not checking for errors and partially a bug in the vBulletin code, which they have yet to admit to and keep denying.
These should all be fixed now and you map submit maps non-stop, hopefully without any problems.
Rules for Map Posts (KEEP IT CLEAN)
We will be enforcing some new rules on map posts, which, if you haven't already seen them, can be found here (http://www.xforgery.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428). But, just to drive it home, I'll re-post them here as well.
You must describe maps with at least 100 characters, preferably in well formed English, not 1337 Speak.
You must embed at least one image in the post. Meaning that you have to use the [img] tags to put an image into the post.
See this thread (http://www.xforgery.com/forum/showthread.php?t=346) for instructions on how to do this.
The thread title should only contain the map name.
Any threads not adhering to these rules will be locked and made invisible to the public until you are able to correct the issues.
There have been some other new rules added as well, but we will get to those later.
Homepage Access (Who needs the front page anyway?)
When hitting the Home button in the navbar, you were forced to go to the front page of XForgery (The one with the giant X on it) and then go to the desired game page. Now, there is a nifty new dropdown box that contains links to all 3 pages.
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/6231/homewd1.jpg
The "Home" link in the dropdown will still bring you to that front page, while the other home links will take you to their respective games.
Now there's no need for all that extra clicking.
Game Finder (Bringing us closer together)
This is one thing that I've wanted to bring to the site for quite a while now.
There is now a forum available, here (http://www.xforgery.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=60), where you can post times/dates that you want to get online to play with other people. Or, if you want to find it normally, it is a sub-forum of Video Game Discussion. This forum is special though. It has some strict rules enforced, one of which is enforced automatically.
This automatic rule is that you can only schedule games up to 7 days in advance. This will avoid clutter in the forum. How is this rule enforced you might ask. Well, the answer to that my friend is simple. All threads will be deleted 7 days after they are created.
Feel free to use this forum for not only Halo 3, but any other game that you can get your hands on.
Well, here it is, the second September Update. It's another big one, because I'm bringing out two new big features that you will hopefully really enjoy. Don't expect anything else big like this for a little while, I'm running out of ideas. ;)
On top of all of the big new things, there are a few smaller ones to make your time on Forgery easier. Most of which were taken from your suggestions, so these I know you will like.
I have some more time for this update, as it isn't being rushed out the door, so I'll jump back to the normal format. Hope you enjoy this update as much as I do.
Site Overview (Hey, could you give me a jump start?)
Again, there is still a more regular stream of new members coming in, and we are expecting more shortly as we get ourselves known within the different communities, and especially once Far Cry 2 comes out.
Until that time, I suggest that you help us in this area. Tell your friends, and anybody else for that matter, about us.
Another area that seems to be lacking lately is map posts. Please, do Forge and post your maps. Being a community based on User Content, this is important to us.
Site Updates (The big and the small)
Like I said, there are several additions and changes coming with this update. I'm excited for all of them, because they increase our usability and bring new things to the table.
Remember, with new features come possible problems. We can't predict everything that might go wrong, so if you spot something, please tell us.
I decided to make these more visual as well, so you will see some pretty images scattered throughout. While all images will be from the Default Style/Skin, Blak-Ice has the exact same things.
Here they are in increasing levels of awesomeness (based on my opinion only).
Filters Are Gone (Damn Straight!) (Wait........ Can he say that?)
Through some suggestions from some of our new members, and us looking more closely into the rules/laws behind such things, we decided to remove the filters. This means that now you can say all of those naughty words you need to say to express your anger. Please though, do not use them just to use them, excessive vulgar use will still be punishable if it is deemed offending to other members.
Map Statistics ()
You may have noticed, as some (http://www.xforgery.com/forum/member.php?u=27) of you have already tried to leak this information, that there are a few extra bits of information available for each user. Now you can find information on how many maps each user has submitted and their highest rated maps, both rated by the Review Team and by Forgery members.
This information can be found in two places.
1. Post "Dots"
Just click the second dot next to anybody's post, and you will get the info.
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/4851/postbitzr4.jpg
2. Profile Statistics
If you look in somebody's profile, under the Statistics tab.
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3563/profilemc2.jpg
Collapsed Posts (Peek-a-boo!)
If you go to any of the user content forums, any thread in those forums has a special feature applied to it. The first post, and therefore the focus of the thread, will appear on every page. This means that you don't have to have multiple tabs open or constantly navigate back for a single thread.
Some users have stated that, while this is a nice feature, it can get in the way of reading the new posts because you constantly have to scroll past the first post on every page.
From now on, this first post will still be available, but it will be collapsed by default. If you want to see it, you just simply click the un-collapse icon and it magically appears.
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/8005/collapsed1vx7.jpg
Click the icon and POOF!
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/1193/collapsed2xk8.jpg
Map Submission Fixes (Correcting our own mistakes)
Some people (i.e. One) had some issues when posting maps. It was partially me not checking for errors and partially a bug in the vBulletin code, which they have yet to admit to and keep denying.
These should all be fixed now and you map submit maps non-stop, hopefully without any problems.
Rules for Map Posts (KEEP IT CLEAN)
We will be enforcing some new rules on map posts, which, if you haven't already seen them, can be found here (http://www.xforgery.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428). But, just to drive it home, I'll re-post them here as well.
You must describe maps with at least 100 characters, preferably in well formed English, not 1337 Speak.
You must embed at least one image in the post. Meaning that you have to use the [img] tags to put an image into the post.
See this thread (http://www.xforgery.com/forum/showthread.php?t=346) for instructions on how to do this.
The thread title should only contain the map name.
Any threads not adhering to these rules will be locked and made invisible to the public until you are able to correct the issues.
There have been some other new rules added as well, but we will get to those later.
Homepage Access (Who needs the front page anyway?)
When hitting the Home button in the navbar, you were forced to go to the front page of XForgery (The one with the giant X on it) and then go to the desired game page. Now, there is a nifty new dropdown box that contains links to all 3 pages.
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/6231/homewd1.jpg
The "Home" link in the dropdown will still bring you to that front page, while the other home links will take you to their respective games.
Now there's no need for all that extra clicking.
Game Finder (Bringing us closer together)
This is one thing that I've wanted to bring to the site for quite a while now.
There is now a forum available, here (http://www.xforgery.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=60), where you can post times/dates that you want to get online to play with other people. Or, if you want to find it normally, it is a sub-forum of Video Game Discussion. This forum is special though. It has some strict rules enforced, one of which is enforced automatically.
This automatic rule is that you can only schedule games up to 7 days in advance. This will avoid clutter in the forum. How is this rule enforced you might ask. Well, the answer to that my friend is simple. All threads will be deleted 7 days after they are created.
Feel free to use this forum for not only Halo 3, but any other game that you can get your hands on.