Suggestions / Questions about the Website

[Bogie74]

Merry Christmas all! Sorry, don't mean to be non-pc but it's Christmas! Can't sleep as usual. Wasn't really sure where to post this, so I'm putting it here.

I was wondering if there would be a way to add 2 things to the site:

1. Some kind of "alerter" that would notify you when you have a PM. I sometimes forget to check because it doesn't alert me when I first come into the site.

2. An additional topic thread for technical website questions

Carl, I sent you a PM about the Master Painter guide link not working. Obviously it's the Holiday's and I certainly don't expect an answer right now! 

I just thought it would be better if there was a thread just for technical website questions - etc. Might be a good place to put downtimes / website difficulties / alerts when you do your thang!

Anyway, just some idea's. I absolutely love this site, and everyone here has been FANTASTIC! The information here is just invaluable! In fact, I usually leave my work computer logged in, so when I'm playing, I can just pause & come here to find the answer to my problem. That way I don't have to quit.

Thanks again. I hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday!! 

[Carl]

On point 1, that's already possible. Go to profile and personal message options. You can get pop-ups that you have a new message and email alerts.

2. I invite people to put site questions into the corrections and suggestions board. I put a thread into announcements for telling me when the site goes down, because they're inexplicably absent from all server logs. There's literally nothing there to indicate the problem.

Thanks for the reminder on master of the arts, I found the bad link just now and corrected it.

The site downtimes problem is very intermittent and seems to be random and unrelated to normal server load. I suspect something nasty is trying to flood the forum from time to time, bringing the site to its knees. I don't expect it to be a problem that will get WORSE with growth, but at the moment I'm powerless to make it better.

Merry Christmas to you and thanks for stickin around so long, it's been nice having ya

Sorry, it's Notifications and Email under Profile

[Bogie74]

On point 1, that's already possible. Go to profile and personal message options. You can get pop-ups that you have a new message and email alerts.

DUHH! /slaps forehead... should have had a V-8! Thanks Carl!! Just ignore me..I'm smart but apparently, lack common sense!! hahahah!! It's like I tell my dog all the time.. "It's a good thing you're cute!" ROFL

I started to post this under that corrections/suggestions thread but saw it was for the guide so in my infinite overthinks everthing  posted it here!

I'm just glad I found this site. Thank God for google!! Thanks so much for putting up with my stupid inane questions!! I really appreciate it! 

[Carl]

No problem, I'm sure others didn't notice that option there. This forum system can be somewhat annoying at times

[bunso]

Hi Carl,

Thanks for this wonderful site.

I would like to suggest if we could have a shoutbox or something? I know it's not necessary, but it's good to have one.

[Shirin]

My understanding (and I'm sure someone will correct me) is that any additions should serve an actual purpose. What do you envision a shoutbox doing that the forums currently can't?

[bunso]

Hi Shirin,

In shoutbox, forum members can have a small talk that does not really need to be posted on a thread. That's the main purpose for me to have a shoutbox. It's just a suggestion though. 

[Ricalynn]

The Babble thread already handles the basics.  A shoutbox with our member base would be difficult to monitor, moderate and control as it would probably go way too fast.  There would be no way to enforce the forum rules 24/7 which are very important to us as a forum. 

It's a good suggestion but it wouldn't really work.  Members are allowed to have a conversation in PMs and discussion on the babble board is everything non Sims related.  Anything about Sims has a place where it can be talked about already.   Most shoutboxes I know are full of frivolous type posts too which take up space but don't really do much.

If you really like talking to our members, I suggest befriending them through the official website.  I chat with a lot of my friends from this forum using my MyPage. 

[bunso]

Thanks Ricalynn.

I am now enlightened. You're right, forum rules can't be enforced on a shoutbox. I feel silly I haven't think about it. 

[Ricalynn]

Don't worry about it.  You were thinking of the interests of the forum members and that's always appreciated.

[Bri]

I know everyone is busy (especially with the release of Island Paradise), but when time is available are some of the skill pages going to be updated later?

For example, the Handiness upgrades from Sims 3 University?  (For that matter, formatting the other expansions items may also be a good idea).

Additionally, there were a few more drinks that have been mentioned in Mixology. 

[Ricalynn]

My understanding is a lot of these are slotted for after IP is done.  Carl does guides for several games and he's been busy working on those as well as this one.

[Carl]

Rica is right. At some point, this EP was close enough that I decided to put off University work until I had IP stuff to go with it. It's just more efficient that way when I'm trying to put out lots of pages for other projects

My latest coverage was Anomaly 2 while I continue my work on Starcraft 2 here and there. I also need to go back and update for Civ 5's expansion packs as a lot of information is now wrong.. *sigh* Now I'm about to do one for Sanctum 2 as well. I can't just play a game for fun lately, I need to do at least a mini guide to it to be happy. I'm avoiding any long-term projects like Sims, Civ V and SC2 so that I don't overload my plate, but can't resist putting out guides like Anomaly that only take a day or two to write after playing for a week straight

[Swirl-Girl]

Is there a way to remove the 20 PMs an hour limit?

[Ricalynn]

Perhaps using a program like Skype or Yahoo Messenger would be more in your interest than using the PM ability.