AuthorTopic: Suggestion: Systems for transitioning newcomers  (Read 3325 times)

Offline Ambivorous

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Suggestion: Systems for transitioning newcomers

on: July 08, 2014, 05:33:46 pm
Couldn't find the suggestion thread, so here we go.

I've noticed a level of annoyance/disheartening with regards to members who join, post a few things, ignore advice and then disappear.
I'm always trying to think of ways to automatically manage this kind of thing (and am generally interested in designing systems), and one came to me last night as I was trying to fall asleep (of course).

The idea sparked while I was thinking about pokemon (what else) and it initially revolved around the use of gym badges. Using gym badges isn't necessarily the best idea, it works as a decent example.
I have two versions of the idea that are closely linked, but separate enough for me to feel they deserve to be split, so here we go. The first is more concerned with people who've been around for a little while, and the second with newcomers to older members.


Idea one: a more literal take on the gym badge idea.

Pixel art has many styles, techniques and key points. We'll begin with the idea that each gym leader's type corresponds to a particular facet of pixel art (but not that there are 8 of them or anything like that).

We have clusters, which is something I see more and more of on here, but we have a lot of artists who do not really focus on clusters (and of course those who do). We have those who stick to low colour palettes and other restrictions. We have those who post artistic pieces as opposed to your general mockup.
Potentially, we could classify these different approaches into different categories (loosely of course, we don't want anyone just learning one facet and ignoring the rest) and have rewards for once members have managed to fully understand the concepts of a specific school.
The example would be that a member has never done animation. Only stills. This means he does not own the "animation badge". If he wanted to get the badge (gameification of him just improving his skills as a pixel artist) he would need to start doing animations and follow the advice of the animation experts ("gym leaders"). Once he has attained the necessary skills and delivers consistently good animated pieces he can be awarded the animation badge, and it will go on his profile for all to know that he is the true poke master.

I feel this adds that extra means of inspiration to a task that could spark the resolve to learn new things. It could also show new comers immediately that this member is well versed with animation and that their advice should be considered thoroughly. And of course it's pretty shiny thing to aim for.


Idea two: Well done you are progressing through the stages of being a useful, contributing member.

This is a lot simpler as a concept. You just reward members for doing certain things.

Posting in the introduce yourself thread (and reading the rules) would fetch you a badge that shows everyone that you know how to post on a forum in the introduction thread. Further badges might indicate a hard worker (who will post art, accept critiques and applies the changes and concepts learned consistently). A helper badge for someone who often helps other members with critique. That kind of thing.

May require a hierarchical system to allow regular members to nominate new members for badges, and only veterans to nominate for the more specialised badges.


And yeah, I think these things (after being discussed, planned and adapted correctly and more thoroughly) could help with encouraging new comers to get involved and stick to their work, and convince the more regular members to help out more and/or learn more. It may even make managing the forums a little bit easier.

Also I'd love to see some of the guys here pixelling some awesome gym badges.


Even if this idea doesn't sound good, or is impractical, a discussion should definitely be started to find a way to transition newcomers into valued, contributing members.
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Offline Ryumaru

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Re: Suggestion: Systems for transitioning newcomers

Reply #1 on: July 08, 2014, 05:46:40 pm
*raises hand to be the GBC/ NES low color restrictions gym leader*

Offline Ambivorous

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Re: Suggestion: Systems for transitioning newcomers

Reply #2 on: July 08, 2014, 06:26:30 pm
*raises hand to be the GBC/ NES low color restrictions gym leader*
With the bonus of encouraging the veterans to fight over who gets to be gym leader!
Now make a badge for it!  >:D

In all seriousness though, you'll probably have to have multiple gym leaders for each school, and a gym leader would be allowed to be part of more than one school.
And I would actually really like to see what you come up with as a gym badge idea for that gym. The badges would probably be around 32x32 or 16x16px?
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Offline Crow

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Re: Suggestion: Systems for transitioning newcomers

Reply #3 on: July 08, 2014, 07:52:03 pm
Honestly? I like some of these ideas in their core. Not much time right now, so I just quickly skimmed the OP. A few points: separating things too much will reduce activity even more, which is not a good thing. The badge stuff in regards to experienced members in said fields is good for the reasons you mentioned, though; newcomers (and others as well, generally) would see what someone is (really) good at. What I dislike is the idea of just handing out badges for doing certain art styles or animation or whatever. The badge for posting in the introductory thread is a solid idea, and it reminds me of reddit a bit; I think this is okay in some way, but I feel it's not with the whole gym/art style/directions kinda thing.

Now, you're already talking badge dimensions in pixels. I know I may sound discouraging, but please take it slow. I realize activity has fallen a bit, but there are quite a few plans for Pixelation. To clear some stuff up, I suppose I'll write something about that soon.
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Offline LarkoftheRiver

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Re: Suggestion: Systems for transitioning newcomers

Reply #4 on: July 09, 2014, 01:36:23 pm
I think these all seem like great, solid ideas. However, to me, the second idea sounds the best for the community. It encourages members to not just post art, but to communicate and get to know the forums and the people on them.

Offline Gil

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Re: Suggestion: Systems for transitioning newcomers

Reply #5 on: July 13, 2014, 02:05:44 pm
We used to use a lot of systems like these in the days of old. Didn't you use to fill in a survey when joining Pixelation, along with not being able to post your own work until you reached a certain post amount?

Honestly, it just gave the mods tons of work for a marginal improvement.

Do what I do here:
http://wayofthepixel.net/index.php?topic=16790.0

I gave the guy a quick edit, to see if he would pick up on what we're trying to teach. After his reply, I decided he was more than worthy to take a big chunk of my time, so I invested a few hours trying to help him. If he wouldn't have replied after the first post, I still got some good practice out of it and didn't lose much time.