I've been noticing lately that my to-do list has been growing far faster than I can possibly implement the stuff in it. This means that potentially the more useful suggestions are getting bogged down behind other suggestions that only one person really wants.
Therefore, I'm starting to think that it might be time to be more strict over what suggestions are accepted, rather than me just adding everything to my to-do list.
What would people say to some sort of poll system where all new suggestions would be voted on by everyone here before getting added to the list? Perhaps the vote could be between options like:
* Yes, I would really find this useful
* I might find this useful, but it's not too important
* I wouldn't use this feature
and then only the suggestions which get a certain rating in the votes would actually get approved for addition to the to-do list. That way, hopefully the more useful suggestions would actually then get implemented, rather than the current pretty much random system of what gets in and what doesn't.
This system wouldn't apply to bug reports obviously, they would be dealt with as soon as possible just as at present.
Anyway, any opinions on this?
Sounds good to me.
I've often wondered how you keep up with the to-do list anyway ... so this makes sense.
that would be the best way, dont these forums normally come with a built in polling system? maybe you could adapt that?
Perhaps more than one to do list, high, medium and low priority?
If 'Yes, I would really find this useful' - Got most, then high
If 'I might find this useful, but it's not too important' - Got most then medium
If 'I wouldn't use this feature' - Got most, but someone really wants it, then low
too much work perhaps but.. all suggestions still need to be logged ... maybe?
Brilliant idea, CJ. That would lighten your work load and make the more important and useful features get implemented first.
Good idea, I support it.
Behind you 100 %!
sure, if that helps you to implement for us the most useful features first, and i believe it could, i think its a great idea : )
I think that it would be a really useful thing : )
thanks,
bye
Thanks for the feedback. I'll try and get it set up fairly soon, though I'm not sure if the forum poll system is the best approach or not. I'll give it some thought.
I run the forum poll thing on mysite usinh phpbb.
You could probably put up a suggestion poll forum and only allow to post polls and allow users to only vote and not post replies.
Or you could try using something from bravenet.com
good idea but does this mean suggestion from now on or is the WHOLE to do list being polled? Because that to do list is massive and I think there are some double suggestions in there as well.
Yeah sounds a nice idea, or just implement it it that nearly abandoned tracker...
I agree with Privateer Puddin'. Instead of disregarding suggestions that don't get enough votes, it would probably be better if they went on separate to do lists, so they might be dealt with some other time.
You do realise that this will mean that "3d" will head straight to the top of the list ::)
You need a fourth vote type:
* If you implement this, I'm never touching anything AGS-related again, other than to send those XXXtra-special "onion ring" photos to The Daily Mirror
It would only apply to suggestions from now on, the current to-do list would not be re-voted on.
I agree that failed suggestions would have to be listed somewhere so there was a record of them being made.
Why not just eliminate that current todo list completely? Lets start over, fresh.
JD
Shh! Some of my suggestions are on the current to-do list, I think.
I have considered just starting from a clean slate, but there are loads of good suggestions on the current list that I wouldn't want to lose. It could probably do with some pruning though, especially the older suggestions near the bottom of the list.
Why dont we just start with a vote on those suggestions first then. Or atleast a vote on what stays and doesn't stay? That we can definetly do a Vote in the forums on.
What if a middling idea is a lot easier to implement than one of the popular ones?
I mean, in theory, the more features the better, so also it should be taken into account how much time/effort will be needed to make the new stuff, for CJ's sake (obviously no one else has any idea on what is easier to implement).
i hope people can add info/reply too. if people know a better or faster way to implement something, or know of a workaround, i would want them to get their voice heard, but i dont want to scroll through 20 replies of, "i like that idea, good one!11"
Hey I was thinking maybe this poll system could work for the suggestions:
http://www.abynex.com/tallyvotescripts.htm
I think the rank1-5 package is the best deal. I already bought it, so I dont mind sending you the mail package Chris. But you could also check out the other poll stuff there. and here is another link to more choices: http://www.webscriptsdirectory.com/PHP/Polls-Voting/
the demo looked good to me, and you can add input so its great. way to help us JD. Now if only CJ can make convey the suggestion into a movie poster then we're set. ;) Like "Lord of the Onion Ring" (what a great photoshop that was)
strazer has very kindly volunteered to transfer the current to-do list (future.txt) into the Bug & Suggestion Tracker.
Therefore, it would seem prudent to use the tracker for now as a way of people responding to suggestions. So, if you want to strongly support a suggestion, or explain why you don't think it's necessary, then please do so.
However, if you reply to an item on the tracker, please give reasons and don't just say "Yeah, I want that too."
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/tracker.php
The to-do list has now been completely transferred onto the tracker, and that's where it will be maintained from now on.
I'd like to thank strazer for all his hard work - I dread to think how long it must have taken adding all those entries.
I think it's taken about 20 hours net (just adding them, verifying all entries easily took another 20).
If I had written every entry out in full, it would have been much, much more. So I quickly dropped that idea. ;)
Most entries are self-explanatory anyway, but if you think something could use a more elaborate description, don't hesitate to write a comment.
How do us lowly non-moderators go about getting a suggestion up there? Should we still post a 'SUGGESTION' thread in the tech forum as per usual?
HOLY CREE-AP! I just looked at the length of the future.txt.
I think I'm all for this voting thingy...
Awesome work strazer!
Edit: Is this suggestion "add game.sierra_speech_xmargin & ymargin, to customize offset of speech from edge" identical to Custom text window placement for messages and speech (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=8945.msg108839#msg108839)?
No, I believe it's http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/tracker.php?action=detail&id=156
The entry (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/tracker.php?action=detail&id=171) you've mentioned is for setting an offset in sierra text windows, much like the game.dialog_options_x and _y variables.
Thanks, I couldn't find it.
ok, i looked through the list, but i couldn't find my no.1 wish.
this has been talked about some weeks ago, and i remember there were people supporting it, here it is:
having two numbers for each view, one representing the no. of frames from the beginning of the view that should be played before the "main group" of frames; the other representing the no. of frames from the end that should be played at the end of the interaction.
sort of like an intro/outro to a view, i hope you get what i mean, or at least remember the original posts.
EDIT: i found the original post :D http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=11643.msg197362#msg197362
Yeah, it's a nice idea.
I've added it to the tracker: http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/tracker.php?action=detail&id=472
QuoteHow do us lowly non-moderators go about getting a suggestion up there? Should we still post a 'SUGGESTION' thread in the tech forum as per usual?
Good question. CJ?
My approach would be to add stuff myself that CJ replies to and writes something along the lines of "I'll add it to my list".
Yes, please still post a suggestion thread here. That way, people can discuss it and decide whether it's something that's worthy of being added. They might also suggest alternatives and so on.
If the general consensus seems to be that it's a good idea, then it can be added to the tracker.