Find me someone to play with, dammit!

[Ronin Storm]

As a gaming site, surely part of our function is to help people find other people to play games with?

We've been collecting information about "Games You Play" and it's possible to search on that, but it's a downright pain to search each individually.

I've been intending to do this for ages and while I was writing other code today I realised I knew how to do it. Taken around 90 minutes, so I present to you a late alpha of:

Games I Play That Other People Play Too

Check it out. Let me know if it even works for you. And if it's useful. I'm hoping that having this sort of thing really obvious will also encourage people to keep their profile up to date (yeah, okay, fat chance! ).

By the by, "active users" uses the same definition as the board's definition of "active members", i.e. those who have at least visited in the last 14 days.

 

[Nanor]

Oooh! Looks very basic but it'll be damn well useful! Thanks Ronin!

 

[elDiablo]

Agreeing with Nanor here! So very useful! I never knew so many people were active on THN

 

[Taffy]

Oooh! Looks very basic but it'll be damn well useful! Thanks Ronin!

Basic is functional. Ergo, basic is good for something like this.

Neat idea Ronin, be very handy!

 

[Nanor]

Basic is functional. Ergo, basic is good for something like this.

I didn't word it right, I meant it didn't look very presentable. And you only talk like that on the boards, you talk 'txt-lak' on X-Fire.

 

[Ronin Storm]

Right, that's quite enough for this evening. Done another 40 minutes or so. Turns out that some of this is extremely easy 'specially when you've got an example to work/steal from.

I've named this "Play Finder", for the moment. It's a full blown vB product, so it's installed, templated and all that jazz. You should immediately notice that it's all part of the forum layout, now, not just some standalone half-formatted beastie.

I've also added a link in our THN Network called "Play Finder" to make it easier to get to. You do need to be a member to view it.

At elD's suggestion, I've removed your username from the list of the games you play; you're still counted, just not displayed. However, your username will remain on the "All Games" list, as I think that makes more sense... maybe.

The usernames are also sorted so that the most recently active people are first. This should mean that you can identify better prospects for a game more easily.

Got a load more ideas, 'specially for improving the "All Games" section but they can all wait.

For now, I'm calling this version 1.0 and letting you just go at it. Bug reports and feature requests here, please.

 

[Ronin Storm]

I'm really done for today, now. Another hour and a half.

It reads more like a poll on this pass. Not entirely sure that's a good thing. Still need some work. Thoughts appreciated.

Must go sleep! Up in 6 hours...

 

[DeZmond]

Liking the change, good thinking with the poll format. My only suggestion would be to bring back your name in bold, but this time in the "All games" section. Other than that, I can't fault it!

 

[elDiablo]

Stop working so much you crazy man, you! Still, it's extremely funk-a! Nice work there!

 

[Haven]

Very nice work, very impressive work mate!

My one suggestion should be a matter of seconds to implement. Make the usernames links to the individual user profiles please.

Thats it, other than that it looks great.

 

[Ronin Storm]

My only suggestion would be to bring back your name in bold, but this time in the "All games" section.

I was musing on putting the names in their forum colours, instead.

I took out the bolding because I wasn't sure how it helped... instead, I bolded the names of the games you play and left your username just like all the others. Is there something you gain from seeing your username bolded in the list?

 

[Ronin Storm]

My one suggestion should be a matter of seconds to implement. Make the usernames links to the individual user profiles please.

Yeah, easy-peasy. I'll do that in my next development batch. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[DocBot]

nice work!

 

[Ronin Storm]

Another update.

Usernames now use forum colours. Usernames are also links to that person's profile. Easy 'nuff.

Holding on DeZ's request 'til he's seen the update and given some thoughts.

 

[DeZmond]

Looking good, much better than my suggestion . Does the same job but looks a lot neater.

Very nice work!

 

[thatbloke]

A suggestion, I just realised through the use of this feature that I am not on the list for a couple of games in there that I could be. Would it be possible to provide a way to add yourself/remove yourself from the various lists from that page, or if not then to perhaps link directly to the part of your User CP that will allow you to do so.

EDIT: another thing I just noticed is the duplicated information. It lists games at the top that you have registered for (not including your name in the list) and then provides a second list showing ALL games, but highlights the ones you are part of. I think this is clear enough and provides enough opportunity for members to see what's making THN click, and that the aforementioned top section isn't (in my opinion) needed. Or could perhaps be hidden.

 

[Ronin Storm]

Would it be possible to provide a way to add yourself/remove yourself from the various lists from that page, or if not then to perhaps link directly to the part of your User CP that will allow you to do so.

The second is easy but the first is a good idea. I'll see what I can do.

I think this is clear enough and provides enough opportunity for members to see what's making THN click, and that the aforementioned top section isn't (in my opinion) needed. Or could perhaps be hidden.

It's the former section that is the reason I wanted the page in the first place -- what games that I play will other people play with me? -- but I'll see what I can do to add a "collapse me" button for both blocks.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Nanor]

It'd be cool if you clicked on someones name it would bring up the menu (like when you click search in the bar above) it would bring up options like View Profile or Invite this person to play with you were you send a PM but with information about playing times etc.?