Patch Notes, 9/21!

[Sanya]

As you probably noticed on the front page, today was a big day

Member Home Page Redesign Patch

September 21, 2007


Guild Functions

* If you start a guild that uses a game that we support auto-roster-import for, it will be automatically imported and added "automagically." Currently, World of Warcraft is supported, but we have created a framework to add similar support to games in the future.
* Characters that are automatically imported to your guild roster will be listed with a username of (Unclaimed) if the character has not bee claimed by a user on GuildCafe.
* If someone has been given access to the guild, they may claim an unclaimed character from the guild roster, which associates the character with that individual member. (It will then list on your profile page, you can add comments, etc.)


Profile Page Changes

* Each user now has a personal ShoutBox. The ShoutBox is displayed in the region previously used for by a member's tag list. The ShoutBox refreshes regularly without you needing to reload the page.
* Every member may control whether a ShoutBox is open to everyone or only for your friends. Reading the ShoutBox and posting to it can be controlled separately.
* Messages that were previously in the "Wall" section have been moved into the ShoutBox. (Previously, the Wall was not used nearly as much as we'd hoped; the ShoutBox is intended to replace it and provide a more real-time communication mechanism, and at the same time encourage more interaction between members).
* When you add a game to your gaming history, if you indicate the name of a guild that also exists on GuildCafe, the description of the guild will automatically be displayed under your personal comments about the game. If you don't want your guild leader to provide this description, then you may opt-out by unchecking the appropriate box from the game Add/Edit form.
* Character profiles (added from the Scores/Profiles tab) will automatically be listed underneath the appropriate game while viewing a profile page.
* If you go to your Scores/Profiles page and add a character to your history that is "unclaimed" on a guild roster you are a member of, it will automatically replace the "(Unclaimed)" on the roster with your username.


Recruiting Framework

The bits we've done are mostly things you cannot see. Should you follow a link and find a tool/form/page that doesn't seem to work, please report the link as a bug, as we are not yet ready for prime time with this feature.


Member Home Page

Short version: The new member home page is a dashboard into the rest of the site's features.

The new Member Home Page features some new site features such as the Achievement System, the Shout Box, Hot Content Bubble Up, Game Content Bubble up, and much more.

This new page is also implemented on a new Widget platform for customization by members, to help get at the information they find most useful.


Widget Information

* "Widgets" are small components that bubble up information from the site.
* On the home page you can move some widgets into different columns, and into different orders. You can also collapse widgets you are not interested in.
* when a widget is put in the left side, it becomes a mini-view.
* when you put a widget on the right side, it goes into a "narrow" view.
* when you leave a widget in the center, it remains in wide view.
* note that some widgets are locked in place and cannot be moved, or minimized

Member Home Page components at launch:

* Shout Box -- Asynchronous chat feature with multiple channels
* Filmstrip -- Displays latest positively rated images from around Guild Cafe
* Whats Hot on Guild Cafe -- Bubble up of hot content
* System Alerts -- Displays system alerts that need member action
* MOTD -- Displays the message of the day
* Friend Feed -- Displays the recent activity of friends on Guild Cafe
* Current Games -- Displays information and content about the current games a member plays
* Anticipated Games -- Displays information and content about the games a member is anticipating
* Past Games -- Displays information and content about the games a member played in the past namely, members who also played
* Guild -- Displays a snapshot of current guild activity
* Achievements -- Displays the current fame and achievements a member is working on, and has earned
* Do Something -- Provides suggestions of something to do on Guild Cafe now.


Achievements System

A system of achievements has been launched. This system will work in conjunction with the existing Fame system to help reward users for their activity and actions performed both on the site, and off it. The system is launching with a set of 25 achievements, but many more will be added in the coming months - feel free to make suggestions! See the achievements page for a list of them.


Message of the Day Admin Page

A page to edit the message of the day displayed in the Message Of The Day (MOTD) Widget. This is an admin only function, and it is linked from the MOTD widget, if you are a site admin.


Fixed Gallery Image View Bug

When viewing an image from the filmstrip, the member link opens back in the main window, and the popup closes, as opposed to opening in the currently too-small sized window.


Added Guild Successor Feature

Guild leaders may now go to the "main" tab of their guild management page, and at the bottom right, name a "successor". That member, who must be a member of GuldCafe, be a member of the guild already, and may NOT be a current guild leader, will then be assigned as the new guild leader.

[Syldra]

It's impossible to get Quiz Master (right now), and this makes me sad

TR Key, Stroke of Genius, and bug hunter don't have icons.
Crossed T's and Ding Gratz have identical descriptions: 7/9 peices.

World Class Leader's transparency isn't working. (i sees the white corners)

...but it still looks solid. And I eagerly await the LFG tool.

[Herra14]

I just want to say you guys did a fantastic job. So thank you for all of your hard work. Can't wait to see what else is in the works.

[Taemojitsu]

dotted i's and crossed t's descriptions both have the same spelling error: quesiton

inconsistent gender with achievements descriptions:
Chattering Class
This member is part of Guild Cafe's Chattering Class with a hundred posts to his credit.

Dotted I’s
This member has completed four of nine basic pieces of their profile information.

inconsistent punctuation:

Picture Pager
This member has uploaded five images to GuildCafe

achievements seem to be worth 100 fame each, but this is not noted in the list of things you get fame from nor in your fame history for the achievement events.

char history for a game:
Taemojitsu the level 60 Gnome Mage

not sure if I like this... a comma might be better, it avoids the a/the issue

[Delmar]

In testing a few different things, I noticed I was given the achievement Shudderbug but I think I should have been given Picture Pager (I've only uploaded about 8-10 pics).

[Taemojitsu]

Originally Posted by Sanya

Message of the Day Admin Page

A page to edit the message of the day displayed in the Message Of The Day (MOTD) Widget. This is an admin only function, and it is linked from the MOTD widget, if you are a site admin.

nice to know ;p

dislike: the background colour for the homepage! the different widgets/components aren't defined on the page, it's all blended in. This is especially jarring for the topmost row of components.

"Your Home" just seems a little unnecessary, Home might be better as the link text. (maybe it was like this before tho, can't remember... >_>)

It would also be nice (wishlist) if you could rightclick => newtab with the links at top to open a default page, the way you can with rightclicking a member's name on these forums, without having to navigate the menu. Saves clicks and is more navigationally elegant.

I know you can see your own tag cloud via => Tags, but is there any way to see someone else's now? Just an idle question, if you can't then I don't mind too much.

[DarthSirov]

I love the achievement section... makes me want to do more to what I do here as of the moment... I'm still at awe, so I'll give my regards and any ideas later.

Been There, Done that - I have more than 10 games, but no award

The T Award and the Ding Grats both have 7 requirements (or is the Ding Grats for 9)

[Ama-Ebi]

I miss the post it note look of 'the wall'

Is there a way to permanently set my personal page to always show when I log in? I'm having a hard time with the 'home page' thing. The white background is harder on my eyes.

I feel bad not saying anything nice about the change. I do appreciate all the hard work everyone does on the site

[mrssteele]

Clicking on Shoutbox Settings appears to do nothing but what in fact it does is open the profile page. I opened in a new tab and was presented with the same page.

[RedQ]

its not a link to a different page, it just pulls down a settings box. Try again without opening it in a different window/tab