GarageGames.com Website Update: Return of the avatars!
by Jacob Fike · 04/24/2009 (11:23 am) · 61 comments
New features
That's right, user-uploaded images are back! You can now upload a personal avatar that will be displayed with all your blogs/resources, comments, and forum posts. To get your avatar uploaded, click My Account, then Edit Profile, then 'change my avatar'. The max size is 180x120 pixels, but don't worry; if you upload an image that is too large, you will be given the chance to crop it to the appropriate size.Also, whenever you post a blog or resource (or edit one) you can upload an image to act as a preview thumbnail. Just like avatars, if you upload one that is larger than 180x120 pixels, you'll be allowed to crop it. However, if you choose not to upload an image for your blog/resource, your avatar will be displayed instead.
You may also notice the much-awaited Preview feature for blogs/resources. Now you can see what it looks like before you post! No more frantic editing after you post and notice you misspelled something important, or left out a link! Note: The preview is automatic, you will always be taken to a preview after submitting the form, so please remember to click the 'Save and Publish' button to finish getting your blog/resource posted.
Other changes
You may also notice a new look for the tooltips that popup when you click on a user's name on a comment or forum post. Also, there's been some tweaks to the main navigation menu.Another change to blogs/resources is the About the Author section at the bottom of the post. This now shows your avatar, mini-profile button, recent blogs/resources, and your profile summary, so you might want to go edit your profile and add some useful info to that summary field. Markuplite is not allowed in the summary, so please remove that.
Stay tuned for more!
Soon we'll be redesigning the Community page and the front page to take advantage of the blog preview thumbnails and we'll be looking for a better layout to present more information in a better way.We'll also be redesigning user profile pages as well, so for everyone missing their Markuplite enabled profiles, just be patient.
About the author
As the CTO of Avalon Labs LLC, I am responsible for the technology behind Fellowstream, our team-based to-do list.
#42
The About the Author section though, some times goes out of control; check out the Drew Sikora's blogs for an example.
A personal comment on that:
We have already too much member information condensed on the first post, that in the end, is just one or two clicks away, in the profile.
The mini-profile tooltip is very good, and we have the avatar, the icon indicating member or employee, and of course the name.
But now there is ALSO a recent activity list at the bottom of the first post, the "About the author", all into another BIG rectangle that for the most part will be ignored, and in case of need, is info one click away.
Proposition: first post with only avatar (with mini-profile) at the top-right.
--
Edit, Problem: the new Preview features are not working for me.
--
Hope you dont take bad my feedback. As I said before, I really like how the site is evolving.
04/24/2009 (9:55 pm)
Wonderful addition. A little too big for my taste, but cool anyway, and I know for the long battle against the banner that you Jacob like big ;PThe About the Author section though, some times goes out of control; check out the Drew Sikora's blogs for an example.
A personal comment on that:
We have already too much member information condensed on the first post, that in the end, is just one or two clicks away, in the profile.
The mini-profile tooltip is very good, and we have the avatar, the icon indicating member or employee, and of course the name.
But now there is ALSO a recent activity list at the bottom of the first post, the "About the author", all into another BIG rectangle that for the most part will be ignored, and in case of need, is info one click away.
Proposition: first post with only avatar (with mini-profile) at the top-right.
--
Edit, Problem: the new Preview features are not working for me.
--
Hope you dont take bad my feedback. As I said before, I really like how the site is evolving.
#43
04/24/2009 (10:10 pm)
I agree with Tom Eastman's post above. 
#44
Everyone's profile pics are ridiculous :)
04/24/2009 (10:32 pm)
Another quibble: when I search for something, the resulting page's search bar doesn't work right - I always get no results on the second search. I have to use the mini-search bar in the top right to start new searches.Everyone's profile pics are ridiculous :)
#46
04/25/2009 (12:36 am)
Picture addition is cool but can we get it modified so that some other ratio of width/height other than 3:2 is allowed? Personally, I like images that are longer than they are wide. 
#47
04/25/2009 (12:59 am)
I think the images are a bit too large in posts. Keep the size, but make a smaller thumbnail version in posts. Keep the original in the user profile. 
#49
Winner gets a free GG product ;)
04/25/2009 (4:08 pm)
@GG.. How about a comp for best site avatar?Winner gets a free GG product ;)
#50
EDIT: Ahh, it's dependent on the size you upload in the first place it seems, hmmm.
04/26/2009 (5:35 am)
Great update and great work although the avatars are a bit, er, huge, no? I mean you could put your avatar in and have room for an ad all at the same time with that much real estate! :)EDIT: Ahh, it's dependent on the size you upload in the first place it seems, hmmm.
#51
04/26/2009 (7:25 am)
Still wondering how come everyone's Torque products owned is either TGE or TGEA now?
#52
04/26/2009 (10:46 am)
@Neill.. read the comments on the last 2 pages... its alrady been asked and answerd. 
#53
04/26/2009 (8:59 pm)
<- my avatar, take to me 10 minutes from an original gif 
#54
Brian
04/27/2009 (1:21 am)
Nice! Gives me an excuse to break out an old sprite I have of myself. ;)Brian
#55
I am the winner :D, where i can download the T3D licence? :D
04/27/2009 (1:07 pm)
Quote:@GG.. How about a comp for best site avatar?
Winner gets a free GG product ;)
I am the winner :D, where i can download the T3D licence? :D
#56
04/27/2009 (4:55 pm)
Avatars are too big, IMO. I'd prefer them only on our profile pages, but I can see I'm in the minority there. :) 
#57
04/27/2009 (4:58 pm)
Could you guys make mine bigger, please? 
#58
04/27/2009 (6:47 pm)
Awesome Work guys.
#59
04/30/2009 (2:30 pm)
Just pushed an update that should fix the search problems being mentioned and tweaks the name tags and makes posts a little more compact.
#60
Here are some more related oddities/wishes ;)
-When you click advanced search, the search options drop down is hidden. That's surely the required state when I've done an advanced search, but not when I haven't done the search yet.
-An advanced search option to limit results to only those with x responses would be really great. There are a ton of posts without any replies, which makes finding the long one on the topic difficult.
-Search results should at least show reply count.
-Sort options on results would be nice.
Love the changes to the site!
04/30/2009 (3:31 pm)
Glory to Jacob! Searching is now a beautiful thing, so much better than before the site redesign.Here are some more related oddities/wishes ;)
-When you click advanced search, the search options drop down is hidden. That's surely the required state when I've done an advanced search, but not when I haven't done the search yet.
-An advanced search option to limit results to only those with x responses would be really great. There are a ton of posts without any replies, which makes finding the long one on the topic difficult.
-Search results should at least show reply count.
-Sort options on results would be nice.
Love the changes to the site!
Associate Tom Eastman (Eastbeast314)
I really don't like the new community/blog listings - they're way too big. I'd love an option to only show titles because I read all of the blogs - if I have to scroll down the page, it at least doubles the time it takes me to open all the new blogs :(