Hi,

It appears that when new games become available, they are uploaded as a batch every few days. Presumably this is because it takes work to add them to the web site but it means that often there are games that never get their moment on the main page under the Latest section. The last batch was about 11 games and meant that one game wasn't even on the first page of latest games when you opened it. Could you either have more Latest games on the main page or publish them more frequently so that there are only a few new ones at a time.

I am sure a lot of people would only choose a game from the main page. Having spent a long time working on my game I know I would be disappointed if it was lost in a large update.

Thanks

Simon

Hello.

First off, I don't work here, but I kind of know a little bit about how this site works behind the scenes; so, take what I say with a (small) grain of salt.

It appears that when new games become available, they are uploaded as a batch every few days. Presumably this is because it takes work to add them to the web site

That is a fact, and no one gets paid to do that work.

Could you ... have more Latest games on the main page[?]

I would think that would throw off the balance of the main page?

Plus, that would require quite a bit of coding.

Could you ... publish [games] more frequently so that there are only a few new ones at a time?

This has the opposite effect.

The main page only displays six of the Latest Games at a time.

A moderator tests and then publishes one game at a time. When a new game is added, it appears under Latest Games, and the sixth game on the list becomes the seventh game -- which isn't on the list. Rinse and repeat.

Also factor in the probability of multiple moderators working to get the new submissions published during the same time frame. They are not in an office or anything. Each person is doing volunteer work from home. There is little to no coordination involved in the process.

Also, all the moderators are volunteers, and each and every new game must to be test-played by a moderator so they can properly categorize it.

So, no one is getting paid to constantly keep an eye on the newly submitted games (and I hear from numerous mods that up to 100 games are submitted some days). Every day or so, I imagine a moderator logs in and sees a big batch of games waiting to be tested. Said moderator then test plays as many games as time allows, categorizing and publishing each game as they go along.

I am sure a lot of people would only choose a game from the main page.

I'm sure this is correct, but a lot of other people who were looking for new arrivals would probably click on the "See all" link just next to the Latest Games header to see all the latest games on this page:

http://textadventures.co.uk/games/latest

Having spent a long time working on my game I know I would be disappointed if it was lost in a large update.

Remodeling this website won't save a new game from getting lost in the shuffle. Sometimes there are more than 100 games submitted in just one day. The main page would be a cluster-[EXPLETIVE DELETED].

Plus, even if the mods were immortals, there would be no way to fairly allow each new game its time in the sun on the main page. Giving one game extra time would mean leaving new submissions on the back burner

My advice is to crystallize the public opinion.

Step 1

When a game is completed but not yet made public, create a new post in the Game Announcements and Feedback forum and invite players to contact you via DM for a chance to beta-test your new game. (Most people say they will only allow a limited number of players to test the game. This will expedite the process, as most people will theoretically think they might miss out on something inclusive if they don't pounce on the opportunity.)

After a few players have tested a new game, these notables will have formed opinions of said game, and, if the game is good, they will probably help you advertise by spreading that word for free.

Step 2

Create another post in the Game Announcements and Feedback forum which announces the release of your new game.

Most of the time, the beta-testers will see this new post and add their two cents. Something like, "I had the honor of being a tester, and this game ROCKS!"

This is the best marketing strategy, because most of your testers will be people who frequent this site, which means their opinions are worth more than the average player.

From there, if the game is good, it will get good reviews. If the game gets enough good reviews, it will end up on the main page automatically.

I know everyone knows this already, and I don't mean to be condescending; but this is simply how it works.

Hi Richard,

Yes I appreciate the site is run by volunteers and they do a really good job. However if there are up to 100 games a day being submitted, do a lot not get published on the site? The last batch of 22 games is the most I have seen when I have been checking during the last few months. When there are that many then the 'see all' link next to 'Latest Games' doesn't show them all (only the first 18 I think it is). I wasn't suggesting showing all new games on the main page but maybe add an extra row of them so that they get a bit longer on it - how that would unbalance the main page I don't know and the coding required would be minimal.

I am not sure how publishing games more often would have the opposite effect of allowing games a chance on the main page, they might only be there a day but would at least get a chance to shine. But if the moderators are reviewing and publishing one game at a time why are they only published in batches? Presumably someone else running the site has to update the web page periodically.

Maybe the moderators could rate the games and the order of new games could be decided by their ratings?

Anyway, just my suggestions as it seemed harsh on a game to be published and not even make the first page of 'show all latest games'.

Thanks for reply

Siimon

As far as games getting lost in the shuffle... Amen. I have the five (or is it 6??) best games on the site (and by “best”, I mean playable, thoughtful, for-the-most-part bug-free, and moderately enjoyable) and my play count remains FAR below some of the [EXPLETIVE DELETED]weird-[EXPLETIVE DELETED] [EXPLETIVE DELETED] that’s out there and is, for the most part, awful.

There are lots of games that get published to the site but there are way more that get sandpitted. Also, I THINK the current format places some games automatically upon submission (?). I might be wrong here but I think there was a change a while ago that at least tried to implement that so there wasn’t a back-up of games. When I place games, those that are sandpitted do not show up on the recent games. This is seriously like 90% of the games I check. So, having it swept through without being on the main page for at least a little bit doesn’t happen that often.

When you get done with your game, you can send me a PM. If I’ve tested it AND it really is one of the better ones, I will wade through the mediocre to awful stuff first. I TRY to publish those that are promising dead last so that the queue of games to be published is small and the better games are left on the new games list.

Again, when you’re done, PM me and I’ll be sure to look and submit your game at the end so it does spend some time on the main page.

Any questions, Fire away!

if there are up to 100 games a day being submitted, do a lot not get published on the site?

My exact quote was:

Sometimes there are more than 100 games submitted in just one day.

Other times there may be no games submitted in one day.

Other times, 100 games might be submitted, but half (or the majority (or sometimes all)) of them are placed into the dreaded Sandpit, where they will be slowly digested alive for 1,000 years.

Anyway, my points were:

1. Each new recent game knocks an older recent game off of the list.
2. The number of games being submitted per second is directly proportional to the number of games which lose their place on the main page per second.
3. The moderators cannot be expected to regulate the number of games being published just to be sure each new game has its day in the spotlight.
4. My guess is the chances of the site administrator editing the site's code to give new, mostly unpopular games even more space on the site's main page are slim to none.
5. If an author wants people to know his or her game is available, marketing is required. Beta-testers are the best way to go, because they will help the author fine tune the game as well as help advertise by telling everyone how awesome the new game is.

'Latest Games' doesn't show them all (only the first 18 I think it is). I wasn't suggesting showing all new games on the main page but maybe add an extra row of them so that they get a bit longer on it - how that would unbalance the main page I don't know

But we are able to browse through 'Latest Games' from the most recent game to 210 games back. There are 21 games on each page in the section (when using my desktop browser), and we can browse through 10 pages. So, that's easy access to more than 200 of the most recent games.

Also, each game has cover art which has to load when a page is accessed, which I assume is why the site admin prefers to limit the number of games per page. Otherwise, users would likely complain that the pages took too long to load when browsing through games.

...and, as far as throwing the main page off balance, each section of games on the main page displays three games, except for the 'Latest Games' section, which currently shows six games in a desktop browser and . . .

You know what? This one will boil down to one person's opinion versus another person's opinion, and I don't really care how the main page looks anyway (because I never visit it), so... Meh. There's no use in me wasting time trying to apply facts, reason, or logic to this one. (NOTE: My opinions admittedly suck. I try to stick to facts, reason, and logic. Ha-ha-ha!)

Perhaps the site administrator will agree with you and add a row of recent games. Only time will tell. I sincerely wish you the best of luck.

I am not sure how publishing games more often would have the opposite effect of allowing games a chance on the main page, they might only be there a day but would at least get a chance to shine.

I'm not following how you're not sure, but I explained how it works (or how I believe it works) in the beginning of this post; so, I'm sure someone will point out any flaws or misinformation once this is posted (ha-ha!), and we'll all end up on the same page in the end.

if the moderators are reviewing and publishing one game at a time why are they only published in batches?

That is a good question.

...but how can you tell they are published in batches?

Presumably someone else running the site has to update the web page periodically.

I don't think so, because when XanMag says he's approved my games, they always show up immediately. (XM is a mod, not the admin.)

If I hadn't experienced that more than once, I do admit that I'd be inclined to agree that you presumed correctly. [Insert MANIACAL LAUGH #42]

Maybe the moderators could rate the games and the order of new games could be decided by their ratings?

XM explains how he does that in the post just above this one. (XM is a pretty good guy, but don't tell him I said that!)

just my suggestions as it seemed harsh on a game to be published and not even make the first page of 'show all latest games'.

You make a valid point, but, again, as far as the first page (or any individual page) is concerned, too many cover images will cause a page to load slowly. Optimizing page load time is a high priority for most site administrators. Fast-loading pages improve the user experience, and it's hard to provide an argument against that.

Maybe add a new section called, "Awaiting review".
New games a submitted there and if someone wants to check out the game and write a review for it.
Ones rated high will get a priority over ones that get a lower rating.
That way, the people reviewing the new games will get them "presorted".

Just a thought.

I have to say that I agree entirely with the OP, and did make this point to Alex back in the day (which means the "latest" is now determined by when it goes public, not when it is uploaded; the old system penalised games that got beta-tested).

That said, I think asking the mods to operate any way less convenient to them is out, given the work they already do.

I suppose a solution would be to have the latest be a random pick of games realised in the last month?

XanMag,

Thank you, if/when I finish my game I will PM you for a beta test. It is a first effort in Quest and isn't very original but I am at least trying to get it to a reasonable level of quality.

It does take a lot of work to write a half decent game with Quest (or any other games writing software), hence my desire for everyone who puts the effort into writing a decent game to get a chance for their game to be played.

All the best

Simon