Fun Times Part Deux ou Trois

[mashby]

For the times of December 13th through December 20th, I'll technically be unemployed (it's temporary, no worries). As such, I'll be sleeping in and not thinking at all about work in any shape or form. And it leaves me with some prime time to work on this site with prime attention. Is there anything that you can think of that would be useful/awesome/cool to add or tweak?

[Hypertaf]

Not sure if it's possible but it'd be nice to be taken to the original entry's page when clicking on an image in one of the fancy viewing options we have (5 random images on home page, 12 random images, etc). It'd be much easier to add them to our cupcake baskets this way instead of having to hunt them down.

How about organizing all the ended contest by theme so they are easier to find and to allow browsing through related contests in one place?

Adding Rank on the stats or a Hall of Fame would certainly encourage those with a competitive nature and would add another level of fun.

If a contest uses an existing entry as a theme post, it'd be nice for it to link to the original. Again, for ease of adding to our favorite cupcakes. I guess, ideally, all entries' images displayed throughout the site should link to the original. As I said, not sure if this is possible or if anyone else thinks this is necessary, just a thought.

I just ruined your leisurely week, didn't I? 

[mashby]

This is excellent feedback! Thank you.

Let's look at each viewing option (for a checklist):

• TVMode-If I remember correctly, if you click the image when it's being displayed, you're taken to the contest view of the image
• Flipper Slideshow - I can edit the items displayed in the little white box at the bottom...good idea
• Original Slideshow - Has a "view in contest mode" link when viewing the big one...is a great example of what the Flipper Slideshow should do
• Wowza - I can probably add a text link under the small image to take one to the contest view...good idea
• Neato - I can probably add a text link under the small image to take one to the contest view...good idea

Organizing the contests by category would be rather awesome and very doable. We just need to determine the categories. I'll do some black magic coding and then I'll have to go back to each contest and assign it a category.

Hall of Fame/Rank is an interesting idea, too. My inclination is to determine a timed rank to keep things fresh. Maybe something like the last 42 weeks. Could do a few categories, too. Votes, Comments, Entries, Wins (using pork barrels as the number). Any others? How does the time frame sound?

Linking to the theme post entry is a very good idea and the easiest one to implement. We admin dudes just need to remember to do so when writing a contest. I can go back and edit a few here and there and remember to do so in the future.

Some other random thoughts:

• How about the ability to have your entries displayed in a Flipper slideshow (or any of the other viewing options)?
• Any other viewing options you may have seen on other photo or other sites?

[Hypertaf]

I love the Hall of Fame/Rank with a time frame idea! It's puts newcomers and veterans on the same playing level; definitely better than the all-time alternative. 

I'd also like the ability to display our images in a slide show. The latest one you implemented (carousel with thumbnails at the bottom) is a very nice format.

Sorry for giving you so much work but you did ask...

 

[mashby]

Take a look at the 5 Random Images on the home page now.


I really don't mind and rather enjoy these suggestions...keep 'em coming!
 

[Hypertaf]

Those are perfect! Thanks, Mash!

[mashby]

OK...Wowza is done for ended contests (figured I get that one out of the way). Neato will be a similar edit and might just get it done now.
 

[mashby]

A few questions on a possible Hall of Fame.
How many users should appear? I was thinking 3 and using the hand icons from the home page.
Are the categories OK? Wins (pork barrels), Number of Entries, Number of Comments, Number of Votes?
Where should this link be visible? The easiest places are somewhere on the home page (I'm thinking the left "Welcome to Choppix" area and then the main bar that appears on a few pages in the Contests area. Would that be good enough?

[Keb]

maybe have 100 HOF members. That way every one that contributes would be in it.

[Hypertaf]

I like the 100 list idea, anything that includes as much members as possible is good with me.

The categories are good, too, maybe you could add theme posts and featured images to include as much activities as possible.

The links on the Home page and on the Contests bar area sound good to me.

Thanks again, Mash!   

[mashby]

Great...the more the merrier! I'll write this in the spirit of Douglas Adams. As such, it will be the top 42 people in a few categories. Should be able to start this on Monday so expect to see some errors along the way next week.
 

[Hypertaf]

Looking forward to seeing errors! 

[mashby]

Babaloo's Slideshow

I'll have to go into a few places (Profile, UserCP, any others?) to add this for everyone. I really should maybe do something for users with 0 images...maybe.

And yeah, not only for this one, but the other slideshow, I need to figure out how to add links to the thing. I still have more beer, so you know the chances of this happening.

[mashby]

Sweet...took like an hour of trial and error, but the personal slideshow now offers up a link to the original image as well as a link to the contest it was in. I'll apply what I learned here to the contest slideshow and then I'll figure out a way to get the slideshow links on a few places.
 

[Hypertaf]

Fantastic job, Mash! The only issue with the slide show is with the images which are wider than taller. When hitting the "this image" link it activates the left arrow on the slide show instead of the link itself. If you can move the new links to the center of the image then they won't overlap with the left and right arrow buttons in the slide show.

I can't believe how much progress you've already made! Thanks a million, Mash!