13 Yrs♥F$✓#
Yes, I made that title more vague so that more people would look at it. I'm weird, I know.
Anyway... this has been mentioned in passing in other threads, but I think it's time to make this subject its own thread, so that people see it. So, here goes nothing.
Everded, I think you need help.
Now, I don't want you to get me wrong; I don't think you're slacking or anything. I just think that you have your own life to live and duties to do, and that makes you busy. When you do get the time for HLTB, most of that time is (probably) spent approving all of the new game times and adding entries, and other small moderator type duties... leaving you little time to really do what you may want to with the site.
These are all assumptions, of course; I'm not sure really how much time goes into what, but anyway...
The things you have to do everyday, like the submissions, could be taken care of by people appointed as moderators. If there's some reason the back-end code makes it hard for others to really touch, I can understand, but it may be something you may want to consider optimising for others to help you. I don't want to seem like I'm speaking for the entire community here, but I think quite a few members wouldn't mind using a little of their free time doing the little things so that you can be freed up to do whatever you need to do programming wise (or even take a vacation if you need to!).
HowLongToBeat's really grown since it began, and it really seems like it's just more than one man can handle, now.
So, yeah, I know this looks like more PM material, but I'm posting it here to let everyone put their thoughts in, whether you (as in the reader now, not Everdred) agree or disagree with me. :)
Anyway... this has been mentioned in passing in other threads, but I think it's time to make this subject its own thread, so that people see it. So, here goes nothing.
Everded, I think you need help.
Now, I don't want you to get me wrong; I don't think you're slacking or anything. I just think that you have your own life to live and duties to do, and that makes you busy. When you do get the time for HLTB, most of that time is (probably) spent approving all of the new game times and adding entries, and other small moderator type duties... leaving you little time to really do what you may want to with the site.
These are all assumptions, of course; I'm not sure really how much time goes into what, but anyway...
The things you have to do everyday, like the submissions, could be taken care of by people appointed as moderators. If there's some reason the back-end code makes it hard for others to really touch, I can understand, but it may be something you may want to consider optimising for others to help you. I don't want to seem like I'm speaking for the entire community here, but I think quite a few members wouldn't mind using a little of their free time doing the little things so that you can be freed up to do whatever you need to do programming wise (or even take a vacation if you need to!).
HowLongToBeat's really grown since it began, and it really seems like it's just more than one man can handle, now.
So, yeah, I know this looks like more PM material, but I'm posting it here to let everyone put their thoughts in, whether you (as in the reader now, not Everdred) agree or disagree with me. :)
12 Yrs♥✓#
Originally Posted by: gaiages
Thought this was an intervention for a second there.
Some, including myself, have suggested adding mods or crowd-based (with approval) adding game info in feedback threads, but once the suggestion was made, I didn't want to push the issue further.
Everded, I think you need help.
Thought this was an intervention for a second there.
Some, including myself, have suggested adding mods or crowd-based (with approval) adding game info in feedback threads, but once the suggestion was made, I didn't want to push the issue further.
12 Yrs♥$✓#
I'm still impressed that the site works so well being only managed by only 1 person, but I don't envy the amount of work that must go into maintaining the site's daily functionality just based off the front page statistics.
That said, if assistance was ever requested I'd be more than happy to help out.
That said, if assistance was ever requested I'd be more than happy to help out.
13 Yrs♥F✓#
gaiages, you're right. You are absolutely right. I spend most of my time adding games and approving submissions. Sometimes I spend up to 6 hours in a single day adding new games.
One of the reasons for the new site is so that the community can help me out. I've built some functionality in it already but like you said, I'm often pulled away to do the mundane stuff.
Coincidentally, the first 3 posts are by people that I've considered upgrading to moderators (with a few others in mind).
I'm going to try to set something up as a test and I would like you to be the first to try it.
One of the reasons for the new site is so that the community can help me out. I've built some functionality in it already but like you said, I'm often pulled away to do the mundane stuff.
Coincidentally, the first 3 posts are by people that I've considered upgrading to moderators (with a few others in mind).
I'm going to try to set something up as a test and I would like you to be the first to try it.
11 Yrs✓#
ArchaicGamer
11 Yrs✓#
I'm impressed, the site is maintained well and by just one person? Wow! I can't even begin to say how many forums I have been or social structured sites where flame wars, and abusive language prevail. Simply amazing this is all done by one, I had no idea.
12 Yrs♥$✓#
I'd be all for upgrading gaiages, pongsifu, chronoja, and Grahamtams to moderators (I'm sure I could name others, but they come immediately to mind when I think of HLTB).
12 Yrs✓#
Seelad
12 Yrs✓#
If you want my input I'd definitely suggest Pongsifu and Gaiages. They are very active around here and add in great opinions to our discussions.
13 Yrs♥F$✓#
I've been super busy with life and work but I would love to be an approver or whatever we'll be called :)
Let's see... first order of business... decline all of NeoJ's submissions. :P
jk I'm not malicious like that.
Let's see... first order of business... decline all of NeoJ's submissions. :P
jk I'm not malicious like that.
11 Yrs✓#
gss89
11 Yrs✓#
I've been here for 2 months and I can say I really like the community here. People are helpful and non abusive, the topics don't move too fast or too slow. Other than that one guy who's trying to unload some knock-off shoes everybody here are cool. I agree that pongsifu, gaiages and grahamtams contribute a lot to discussion here. All three are respected members of hltb community IMO.
12 Yrs♥$✓#
Originally Posted by: admin
That doesn't surprise me at all. I felt kind of bad about it when I was going crazy-nuts with obscure indie games and submitting times for literally half the things that got posted in the weekly Live Free, Play Hard column on RPS and some of the other ones on Free Indie Games too, because just about every single one of those required adding a new game to the site. I actually stopped bothering submitting the sillier ones that weren't good/interesting/long enough after a while when I noticed it was taking a few days for some things to get approved and realized how much work it must be. On the other hand, the more games and more times the site has, the more useful it is, and some of them inspired other people to try them when they showed up as recent additions, so it's good aside from being a huge time sink for you. Hopefully you can get something sorted out so you can spend less time doing all that tedious and repetitive stuff.
I spend most of my time adding games and approving submissions. Sometimes I spend up to 6 hours in a single day adding new games.
That doesn't surprise me at all. I felt kind of bad about it when I was going crazy-nuts with obscure indie games and submitting times for literally half the things that got posted in the weekly Live Free, Play Hard column on RPS and some of the other ones on Free Indie Games too, because just about every single one of those required adding a new game to the site. I actually stopped bothering submitting the sillier ones that weren't good/interesting/long enough after a while when I noticed it was taking a few days for some things to get approved and realized how much work it must be. On the other hand, the more games and more times the site has, the more useful it is, and some of them inspired other people to try them when they showed up as recent additions, so it's good aside from being a huge time sink for you. Hopefully you can get something sorted out so you can spend less time doing all that tedious and repetitive stuff.
13 Yrs♥F✓#
Originally Posted by: nalgas
No reason to feel bad, it only builds the database! If you didn't add it, someone else probably would.
That doesn't surprise me at all. I felt kind of bad about it when I was going crazy-nuts with obscure indie games and submitting times for literally half the things that got posted in the weekly Live Free, Play Hard column on RPS and some of the other ones on Free Indie Games too, because just about every single one of those required adding a new game to the site. I actually stopped bothering submitting the sillier ones that weren't good/interesting/long enough after a while when I noticed it was taking a few days for some things to get approved and realized how much work it must be. On the other hand, the more games and more times the site has, the more useful it is, and some of them inspired other people to try them when they showed up as recent additions, so it's good aside from being a huge time sink for you. Hopefully you can get something sorted out so you can spend less time doing all that tedious and repetitive stuff.
No reason to feel bad, it only builds the database! If you didn't add it, someone else probably would.