FAQ and Guidelines Brainstorming Thread.

[scott]

Hey all,

Matt and I were sitting here attempting to brainstorm some FAQs and guidelines for the site to help newbies and the non-internet savvy with navigating features and general usage of the site. Apparently, we suck at brainstorming and figured it would be a good idea to get your feedback. Or if you're a new user, your questions as to how to do things.

Once we have a decent list of FAQs and Guides we'll clean it all up and make it one post to sticky on the forums.

I'll start by adding what we've already seen in a few other posts:

The VGC Style Guide for Adding and Editing items: http://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,22.0.html

The VGC List o' Badges and how they can be obtained is listed here: http://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,131.0.html

I did mine so it's clickable to go to my collection, like I think everyone else did.

[url =http://vgcollect.com/username][img ]http://vgcollect.com/sig/username.jpg[/img][/url]

Remove the spaces after the first url and the first img, change "username" to you (twice) and you should be good to go!

Edit: I guess I should have mentioned that you can get to your signature edit by Profile > Modify Profile > Forum Profile.

We need a quick run down on how to search and add items to your collection, and explanation that the "Submit" button is not for adding games to your collection, and rather for adding games to the database. haha

[amauriel]

I think the forums really need their own guidelines. A couple of suggestions:

 - I guess it'd be nice to have a little guideline on when to submit new posts. Like something along the lines of "Please do not start a new post that is only a link, we request a comment or a thoughtful question to be related to the link."

 - I really do think we need something about whether cursing/swearing is permitted. We've determined that the majority of us are in our 20's and 30's and I haven't seen anything above and beyond on here, but some people may like to know where we, as a community, stand.

 - We also might want to determine if something is completely "Off-Topic" when it's still remotely about gaming. Is a link about an upcoming game "Off Topic"? How about pictures of an event that you attended? They aren't directly about gaming but I personally would still put them with the gaming info. Others may not, however. On this note, now that our group is beginning to evolve into a community, we may want to revisit the names and types of these boards, but I figure that's probably for another time. 

[disgaeniac]

I think that for many things, just go w/ a standard: "Changes/adjustments/updates to existing policies can and will be made as needed & on a case by case basis" kind of thing (...just so you don't get locked-into something that you may want to adjust at a later date.

Also, as basic as it sounds, I think most sites have definitions, tolerances, and zero-tolerance stuff all easily visible/easy to find for newcomers.

I really doubt that this site will be the 1st site that anyone ever comes to on the Internet...but...it's not impossible that this may be the 1st *forum/Discussion* part of a site that someone may be interested in.

So, again, as basic as it sounds, I'd suggest clearly stating definitions & policies for trolls/trolling, flaming, spamming, bashing, etc.

Once upon a time we all had to find out what these words meant & what the related policies of the site in question are.

Also a good explanation of what's "mod-worthy" and the consequences (if any) for 1, 2, 3, 10, 50, etc "breaking-of-the-rule(s)", etc.

[darko]

So, again, as basic as it sounds, I'd suggest clearly stating definitions & policies for trolls/trolling, flaming, spamming, bashing, etc.

Anticipating some of this?

Luckily our forums have played nicely so far

[scott]

So, again, as basic as it sounds, I'd suggest clearly stating definitions & policies for trolls/trolling, flaming, spamming, bashing, etc.

Anticipating some of this?

Luckily our forums have played nicely so far

I totally wanted to make a defamatory remark. 

[disgaeniac]

So, again, as basic as it sounds, I'd suggest clearly stating definitions & policies for trolls/trolling, flaming, spamming, bashing, etc.

Anticipating some of this?

Nah...from the bit of this site & its users that I've seen so far...it seems fine.

More than likely, I've just spent too much time on GameFaqs over the years and it's made me jaded, cynical, and ready to expect the worse; by default

[darko]

More than likely, I've just spent too much time on GameFaqs over the years and it's made me jaded, cynical, and ready to expect the worse; by default

The only time I've had a good experience with the GFaqs boards is while I was playing Dark Souls. Probably because everyone HAD to be nice and helpful to get through the game

[disgaeniac]

While I have no love for 99% of GameFaqs, I'll repeat what I said in another thread just in case anyone missed it or is interested in it...

The only board there that I still frequent is the:
"RPG's: Everything Else" board.

I like it (and its community) so much because, much like myself, the average member there is a long-time gamer as well as an RPG fan.

The collective amount of knowledge of all things related to RPG's...and the personal experience there of people who more than likely, combined, have played just about any/every rpg for just about any/every system...is just amazing.

I'm not plugging it or anything -like I said- there's no love lost between me and G*FAQS; but, if you ever have questions/want to discuss anything about RPG's w/ a very knowledgeable and (mostly) mature & adult community...or...if G*FAQS has just left a bad taste in your mouth and you may not have found your way to this board while you were there...it really is head & shoulders above the 'typical' Gamefaqs boards & communities.

[disgaeniac]

I also meant to ask (but forgot):

Is there a setting so that (by default) when your collection comes up it can be displayed by 'Platform'...instead of just inter-mingling platforms & displaying everything alphabetically?

[desocietas]

A few possible ideas for site FAQ bulletpoints:
 - something about the intentional purpose of adding duplicate items to your collection if you want to
 - who the mods are (with PM links maybe)
 - how long does it take for edits to take effect

Also, in regard to the forum, having an intro/guideline post that's relatively simple would be helpful.  I liked that the Terms for the site were pared down to one sentence.  Just break it down for folks with the usual: lurk first a little before posting, use the search forum feature, etc.  Profanity doesn't bother me unless it's mean-spirited, and NSFW items should not be posted if it can be helped (possibly NFSW links, if somehow relevant to the forum, should be explicit in saying that it might be NFSW in case the reader chooses to click).

[tpugmire]

- who the mods are (with PM links maybe)

It would help if our ranks worked properly... 

I also think we need to address porn/nudity in images and links.

[foxhack]

It would help if our ranks worked properly... 

I like it when people don't realize I'm a mod.

It makes banning or moderating them for trolling me for the obvious reasons much more satisfying.

Most of us here are pretty down to earth, and we've rarely had any issues with each other. Surprising considering the range of different collecting backgrounds we all have.

[desocietas]

Probably ok if they don't know if you're a mod, but maybe some sort of "about us" or "contact" form for any folks who are looking for someone "in charge"?

[matt]

- who the mods are (with PM links maybe)

It would help if our ranks worked properly... 

I also think we need to address porn/nudity in images and links.

I'll be fixing this. The whole migration didn't setup permissions properly so things are all out of whack.

[madmax]

I think one of the main issues is that a lot of people don't use the forum. They don't really get to see the guidelines when using the website. Maybe having a few pages on VGCollect dedicated to guidelines.

Also maybe having a video showing how to use the website and such. It wouldn't be very hard to make. Write out a little script (where you're going to click and such.) Use Xsplit to record your screen and talk into a mic with explanations and such.