332 replies to this topic

[twelveways]

I dont like the design of the site.

The dark colours and images make it look like an emo gothy kind of myspace page, most casual games are not emo goths. The main buttons for games etc were too small and should be accessible all the time.

When I click on a game (which need to have more screenshots) I should be able to read a description of it, Im not going to download and run something without knowing what it is. The games on the main page have the startings of a description but when I click 'play game' there is nothing else.

There's too much text that I didnt bother to read so I didn't really get the 'make cash from playing games' thing but it does look like a bit of a scam, having the word 'cash' on your front page makes anything look like a scam, people looking for free games arent generally looking to make money at the same time, keep it discreet, dont blare it out at people.

Also, you need to have waaaaay more games on there to even make me think about signing up.

hope this was constructive, I think its a good idea and I think it will be much better when you can use direct play.

[beatson]

I dont like the design of the site.

The dark colours and images make it look like an emo gothy kind of myspace page, most casual games are not emo goths. The main buttons for games etc were too small and should be accessible all the time.

Really :/ Most people like the design of the site.

When I click on a game (which need to have more screenshots) I should be able to read a description of it, Im not going to download and run something without knowing what it is. The games on the main page have the startings of a description but when I click 'play game' there is nothing else.

I agree, but don't worry about that, I'm re-doing the guest-free download pages completely to be similar to the logged-in download pages (only with the main sites design)

There's too much text that I didnt bother to read so I didn't really get the 'make cash from playing games' thing but it does look like a bit of a scam, having the word 'cash' on your front page makes anything look like a scam, people looking for free games arent generally looking to make money at the same time, keep it discreet, dont blare it out at people.

Hmm, I should probably get rid of some of the text on the right hand side of the main page...

Also, you need to have waaaaay more games on there to even make me think about signing up.

Tell me about it...

hope this was constructive, I think its a good idea and I think it will be much better when you can use direct play.

It was. Thank you.

[Water Chicken]

Don't use capitals in your E-Mail, never.

Sorry?

Sorry, should have explained. I had used a capital(E) in my E-Mail when I tried to log in, but it was lowercase. That was why it didn't let me log in.

EDIT: Anyway, the site looks great, blue and black/gray go together real well. There's a couple issues here and there(such as not being able to edit my game's details or anything, that or I'm blind).

Edited by Water Chicken, 09 September 2011 - 07:22 PM.

[twelveways]

I dont like the design of the site.

The dark colours and images make it look like an emo gothy kind of myspace page, most casual games are not emo goths. The main buttons for games etc were too small and should be accessible all the time.

Really :/ Most people like the design of the site.

It depends on the size of your sample, if most of your sample was teenage boys who play a lot of games then I imagine it would appeal, if middle earth style warriors aren't your cup of tea then the site is a put off because people will expect to see hardcore slash em ups. I can pretty much guarantee that most people who go to game sites like this are average joe working people on tea/lunch breaks who are looking for lighthearted fun or a quick retro blast.

The fact that games are download only will put a lot of people off as work/school computers often ban downloads/exes. Obviously you cant help this yet though.

[beatson]

Don't use capitals in your E-Mail, never.

Sorry?

Sorry, should have explained. I had used a capital(E) in my E-Mail when I tried to log in, but it was lowercase. That was why it didn't let me log in.

EDIT: Anyway, the site looks great, blue and black/gray go together real well. There's a couple issues here and there(such as not being able to edit my game's details or anything, that or I'm blind).

Hmm, that shouldn't be a problem anymore as I convert everything input to lowercase before processing it. Strange :/
There's a temporary way to edit your games before I release the main one. You can find it at your development control panel (http://cryset.co.uk/home/p/devcp.php)

It depends on the size of your sample, if most of your sample was teenage boys who play a lot of games then I imagine it would appeal, if middle earth style warriors aren't your cup of tea then the site is a put off because people will expect to see hardcore slash em ups. I can pretty much guarantee that most people who go to game sites like this are average joe working people on tea/lunch breaks who are looking for lighthearted fun or a quick retro blast.

The fact that games are download only will put a lot of people off as work/school computers often ban downloads/exes. Obviously you cant help this yet though.

I will be able to help this soon, hopefully, with the release of GM HTML5. Already have a system planned for adding HTML5 games - there's a lot of things wrong/need tweaking with the site at the minute though.

[IceMetalPunk]

I love the style of the site, actually .

Anyway, I've registered as a Dev and will add Neonite 2 once my server issues are taken care of. But when I went to fill out my profile, I noticed that not only is Address a required field, but Address Line 2 is also required. Not every address has two lines before the city...

-IMP

[Jobo]

"Please fill in all fields"

I see what you mean. The entire part of "Address" shouldn't be mandatory at all.
Under "Profile", what is "Avatar"? Usually it's a picture to display for the user, but there's just an empty text field.. So what is it? Nickname?
'Profile' shouldn't be mandatory either. In fact, the only mandatory fields should be Full Name and E-Mail.

"Your most used E-mail:" change that to "Your E-mail:"
"Your full Name:" change that to "(Your) Full Name:" depending on if you really want "Your" to be listed three times in a row. But you can't have two words with capital starting letters and one without. This is a serious problem on your site, if I remember correctly.

I noticed this yesterday, but I thought you were working on it. The fact that it's still here, made me have to make sure you know about the issue:


Edit: Wow, that musical circles sounds interesting.. I've gotta try that out.
Edit2: You seriously have your games page linking to YoYo Games and other sites on which the developer might have uploaded his game? Really? That's so unprofessional. Get a large server and start having developers actually upload their game to your game site. Now I know that in the future I can just go to YoYo Games for good games, so I don't have to login every time. That's a huge thumbs down from me.

Edited by Jobo, 10 September 2011 - 09:34 AM.

[beatson]

I love the style of the site, actually .

Anyway, I've registered as a Dev and will add Neonite 2 once my server issues are taken care of. But when I went to fill out my profile, I noticed that not only is Address a required field, but Address Line 2 is also required. Not every address has two lines before the city...

-IMP

Thanks you

I hadn't thought of that. Thanks.

"Please fill in all fields"

I see what you mean. The entire part of "Address" shouldn't be mandatory at all.
Under "Profile", what is "Avatar"? Usually it's a picture to display for the user, but there's just an empty text field.. So what is it? Nickname?
'Profile' shouldn't be mandatory either. In fact, the only mandatory fields should be Full Name and E-Mail.

"Your most used E-mail:" change that to "Your E-mail:"
"Your full Name:" change that to "(Your) Full Name:" depending on if you really want "Your" to be listed three times in a row. But you can't have two words with capital starting letters and one without. This is a serious problem on your site, if I remember correctly.

I noticed this yesterday, but I thought you were working on it. The fact that it's still here, made me have to make sure you know about the issue:


Edit: Wow, that musical circles sounds interesting.. I've gotta try that out.
Edit2: You seriously have your games page linking to YoYo Games and other sites on which the developer might have uploaded his game? Really? That's so unprofessional. Get a large server and start having developers actually upload their game to your game site. Now I know that in the future I can just go to YoYo Games for good games, so I don't have to login every time. That's a huge thumbs down from me.

I'll work on the address issue now.

I hadn't noticed that actually, I didn't run the site through Firefox after I'd made the changes (schoolboy error).

Hmm, it was something we'd considered doing (and commercial games are uploaded onto our server) - but people try and host free games everywhere, it's just a hassle to have to upload it again and again every time you make a bug fix. So we decided on letting people find their own hosts. I can see your point, though. If developers request it, it will be something I'll implement. As it stands though, I think you're the only person to mention it.

Edited by beatson, 10 September 2011 - 11:12 AM.

[Nocturne]

On site hosting would be good with a mirror link to elsewhere... It shouldn't be a problem as long as you don't suddenly get thousands of games uploaded. Of course, it is another reason to have some review process in the future to avoid your server being filled with Catch the Clown clones... I also think that Jobo has an excellent point about directing people to other games sites, so if you don't do in-house hosting, maybe look at some method of making sure that only genuine file hosts are used. I have no idea how these things work, but don't some file-hosts offer licences that you can then adapt an upload page to your site?

Edited by Nocturne, 10 September 2011 - 11:17 AM.

[beatson]

On site hosting would be good with a mirror link to elsewhere... It shouldn't be a problem as long as you don't suddenly get thousands of games uploaded. Of course, it is another reason to have some review process in the future to avoid your server being filled with Catch the Clown clones... I also think that Jobo has an excellent point about directing people to other games sites, so if you don't do in-house hosting, maybe look at some method of making sure that only genuine file hosts are used. I have no idea how these things work, but don't some file-hosts offer licences that you can then adapt an upload page to your site?

Hmm, I guess if the site was going to get filled with those it would happen with or without an upload service. I wouldn't ever restrict the games to certain hosts - and I haven't a clue about the licences you mentioned. It's something I'll definitely look in to though. I think if I was going to go down that route, I'd just develop my own uploading service (they're fairly simple to create actually). I'm away over the weekend so I'v got limited access to the internet, but its something I'll start work on when I get back.

[IceMetalPunk]

Yes, uploading services are quite easy to create; but do you have enough server space to host everyone's games? Imagine what would happen if CrySet gets very popular: each GM game is at least 2MB (empty) and I've seen some that are upwards of 50MB zipped. So let's say you get only 500 games uploaded. That's anywhere from 1GB to 250GB (realistically, probably around 10GB or so). Do you have a dedicated server that can handle that kind of space for just the uploads alone?

I suggest a combination of what you have now and on-site hosting. Give people the option, when uploading a game, to "Link to Mirror" or "Upload to CrySet". The ones that want to link to a mirror get minor (or no) review. Just a glance-over to be sure they're not terrible or virus carriers, and then up they go. The ones who want to host their games on CrySet get a more rigorous review process. If they're not worth the space they use up, as judged by you or (more professionally) several reviewers, they're deleted from the server and the dev is sent a nice E-Mail explaining why. This frees up space and also improves the average quality of the games offered on CrySet.

In addition, when browsing or searching for games, the on-site hosted ones could be prioritized to the top of the lists. This ensures that better-quality games are seen first and thus more often, helping the reputation of CrySet overall.

-IMP

[Jobo]

This frees up space and also improves the average quality of the games offered on CrySet.

False. As you just stated, they could choose to submit a game with a mirror link to go through a very small review process and then be accepted. Therefore these games are also offered on CrySet. So doing it your way will not increase the average quality in any way.

This ensures that better-quality games are seen first and thus more often, helping the reputation of CrySet overall.

What reason do you have to assume that a game uploaded directly to CrySet would be better quality than mirrored games? As you said, the developer decides on his own, so doing it that way would result in an accepted Catch The Clown to be ranked higher than a new blockbuster game.

[IceMetalPunk]

This frees up space and also improves the average quality of the games offered on CrySet.

False. As you just stated, they could choose to submit a game with a mirror link to go through a very small review process and then be accepted. Therefore these games are also offered on CrySet. So doing it your way will not increase the average quality in any way.

This ensures that better-quality games are seen first and thus more often, helping the reputation of CrySet overall.

What reason do you have to assume that a game uploaded directly to CrySet would be better quality than mirrored games? As you said, the developer decides on his own, so doing it that way would result in an accepted Catch The Clown to be ranked higher than a new blockbuster game.

You weren't listening (or rather, reasding carefully), were you? The CrySet-hosted games would be subject to CrySet's own reviews before being posted to the site. This means the average quality of CrySet-hosted games will be higher than the average quality of offsite games. Therefore, showing all the CrySet-hosted games at the top of the results list means, be syllogism, that the top results will be higher quality. And as all search companies have learned, the first results, when relevant enough, are all that really matter when it comes to reputation (have you seen some of Google's results past the third page?).

-IMP

[Osmium]

Found another small bug(not sure if it actually is a bug): You can like your own game.

Anyway, I uploaded a new game, Retro Blocks!

One suggestion: There should be a messaging system(Inbox, Drafts, Outbox etc). Every time you upload a game, you will be notified through PMs.

Edited by Osmium, 11 September 2011 - 09:08 AM.

[Jobo]

This means the average quality of CrySet-hosted games will be higher than the average quality of offsite games.

Again, false. You obviously weren't reading my post carefully enough.
As you stated;

Give people the option, when uploading a game, to "Link to Mirror" or "Upload to CrySet".

Thus allowing developers to decide on their own whether they want to upload their game to CrySet for a large and effective review process, or upload their game to a different host for a smaller and less effective review process.

By letting developers choose by themselves you will never accomplish the quality increase you're looking for.
But if you were to force all developers to upload their games to CrySet for a review process and then give CrySet the option to deny the game and tell the developer to use a different host, then you would accomplish your quality increase.

Every time you upload a game, you will be notified through PMs.

I'm pretty sure the developer knows when he/she uploaded a game. But yes, a private messaging system is a good idea.
That brings yet another idea to mind; Subscribing. Just like on YouTube, you subscribe to a developer and then you're notified about his/hers latest blog posts and game uploads.

Edited by Jobo, 11 September 2011 - 10:32 AM.

[Osmium]

While hanging around in the sandbox, some ideas came to my mind:

-Your main page should have a spotlight showing featured games.
-Complex rating/ranking system
-Reviewing system (eg. Graphics, interface, music....)
-Might think of more....

I'm pretty sure the developer knows when he/she uploaded a game. But yes, a private messaging system is a good idea.
That brings yet another idea to mind; Subscribing. Just like on YouTube, you subscribe to a developer and then you're notified about his/hers latest blog posts and game uploads.

Rep +1 because the idea's awesome(not you )!

[IceMetalPunk]

This means the average quality of CrySet-hosted games will be higher than the average quality of offsite games.

Again, false. You obviously weren't reading my post carefully enough.
As you stated;

Give people the option, when uploading a game, to "Link to Mirror" or "Upload to CrySet".

Thus allowing developers to decide on their own whether they want to upload their game to CrySet for a large and effective review process, or upload their game to a different host for a smaller and less effective review process.

By letting developers choose by themselves you will never accomplish the quality increase you're looking for.
But if you were to force all developers to upload their games to CrySet for a review process and then give CrySet the option to deny the game and tell the developer to use a different host, then you would accomplish your quality increase.

Either I'm not communicating effectively enough, or you're just ignoring half of what I say. If it's the former, then I do apologize.

The quality I'm talking about is not the overall quality of every game on CrySet. It's the perceived quality by the users on the site. Yes, people could choose to upload to a different host and bypass some of the more stringent review processes. But doing so pushes their games to the bottom of every list, behind the well-reviewed games which are higher quality. I already mentioned how Google's later pages have completely irrelevant results. And yet, since the better results are on the first few pages, the rest don't really contribute to the overall perceived quality of Google's results.

Same here. As long as the high-quality games are prioritized to the top of every list, it will increase the apparent quality of CrySet's games, even if the overall quality has not changed. And anyone who knows anything about marketing knows that people's perceptions are more important by far than the reality.

-IMP

Edited by IceMetalPunk, 11 September 2011 - 08:05 PM.

[Jobo]

I already mentioned how Google's later pages have completely irrelevant results.

Alright, then let me try to explain a little better this.. what, third time?
It's correct what you say. But let me refer to this, one more time;

Yes, people could choose to upload to a different host and bypass some of the more stringent review processes.

So let's say you could do the same when submitting your website to Google.
Let's take Microsoft. Microsoft didn't want to go through the long and boring review process, so they took the easy way out; the way that results in a lower ranking (as your example states). Then next time someone searches for Microsoft on Google, they'll get results from websites that did take the long and boring review process, which could very likely be a Catch The Clown dedicated fansite.

But doing so pushes their games to the bottom of every list, behind the well-reviewed games which are higher quality.

I epically fail to see your logic.

Now, I see what you're trying to achieve, but the way you're trying to achieve it is impossible. You're assuming it'll work out by itself, which it won't.
Here's how to make it work (again):
Case 1:
- Developer uploads his 3D Multiplayer First-Person Shooter game to CrySet.
- CrySet responds and says "Thank you for uploading your game, we're happy to have it on our server!"
- Game is added to a list of games that passed the quality check, or ranked higher.
Case 2:
- Developer uploads his Catch The Clown game to CrySet.
- CrySet responds and says "Sorry, we don't want to store your game on our server. Please use a third-party file hosting site."
- Developer uploads his game to a different hosting site, and references the link in his CrySet game page.
- Game is added to a list of games that failed the quality check, or ranked lower.

This way, by not letting the user decide 'how' he wants to upload his game, will easily guarantee your desired quality ranking.

And here's a second breakdown of how you're trying to do it.
Case 1:
- Developer uploads his Catch The Clown game to CrySet.
- CrySet responds and says "Sorry, we don't want to store your game on our server. Please use a third-party file hosting site."
- Developer uploads his game to a different hosting site, and references the link in his CrySet game page.
- Game is added to a list of games that failed the quality check, or ranked lower.
Case 2:
- Developer uploads his 3D Multiplayer First-Person Shooter game to a different host, to get his game released quickly instead of waiting for a slow review process.
- Game is added to a list of games that failed the quality check, or ranked lower.

And as you hopefully notice, this leaves a big 'oops' in the system, as high quality games might be ranked lower by a not-so-clever/not-so-patient developer.

[twelveways]

Jobo is right.

All games should be hosted at your server. You shouldnt be promoting crappy games on your site at all, if I went to a website with a cath the clown game I would never go back to it. Dont accept everything that is thrown at you, keep your standards and reputation up.

[Nocturne]

Jobo is right.

All games should be hosted at your server. You shouldnt be promoting crappy games on your site at all, if I went to a website with a cath the clown game I would never go back to it. Dont accept everything that is thrown at you, keep your standards and reputation up.

+1.

Agreed.

(I'll even+1 Jobo for his post!)

You want to take executive control and make executive decisions. If you (or your review team) think a game is crap, then it is crap and doesn't get hosted.