GarageGames.com Site Update: Jan. 16, 2009
by Jacob Fike · 01/16/2009 (4:08 pm) · 69 comments
Launching the website has been a little like one of my favorite games, Left 4 Dead: intense, cooperative, and full of zombies.It's been a few days since you heard directly from the web team. I know there's been a lot of activity on the site, and I am glad to have had awesome co-workers to take care of keeping you guys in the loop so I could focus my energy on the first update to the new site.
After making sure the site did not crash down over our ears (thanks Ops team!), the web team immediately huddled and make a SWAT list of things we wanted to tackle based on the feedback we received. So here is what you should find on the new site:
- Redirect URLs should now be working: This one gave me the most headaches because something went wrong between the test servers and the live site, but it should be working fine now. HUGE thanks to Orion for his short-term solution.
- Missing forums have returned: iTorque, GreenEar, and Collada are all available. We also pulled Constructor out of the Artist Corner into its own category.
- International Sales: There is now a Country drop-down list on the billing information form, this should help our international customers.
- What's my password?!: There's a new reset password option on the login page in case you're having trouble logging in.
- TDN lives: You should be able to log into our online wiki once again.
- Download links have been added to resources: So now you can get all those files back.
- Return of Watched Threads: All of your previous watched threads have magically returned (don't worry, it won't remove any you may have marked as watched since the new site went up).
- Edit comments on forums and blogs: Fear typos and 1 am comments no more!
- Unread forum threads functionality is back: You can mark all forum posts as "read" so you can always log into the site later and see what's been happening in your absence.
- The Markup Lite cheat sheet is back: No more guessing to try to remember how to add a video or otherwise pretty-up your post.
- Tweaked bulk accounts for educators: It should be easier now to manage student licenses if you are working for a school.
Thanks, and I'll keep you posted when the next update goes live. I'll be fighting off zombies until I see you next time.
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
@Jacob: I love L4D too, simply concept nicely executed! :)
01/17/2009 (1:40 am)
Good work guys and I look forward to further fixes/updates over time too!@Jacob: I love L4D too, simply concept nicely executed! :)
#43
01/17/2009 (1:49 am)
Vinvent, GG decided to kill the Blender exporter forum. :( The creator set up a blog somewhere where he tells you about it and how to get support now. 
#44
01/17/2009 (1:58 am)
Great job! Amazing progress in such little time. Hats off. 
#45
@Apparatus:
I comment because I'm noting a bad attitude from you, lately, against people who complain... It's supposed noone can complain also when things went really bad or we get not really fair attitude from GG employees?
It's supposed we must accept everything always without say nothing?
I agreee that sometime someone is a bit too "rough" but you're attitude in commenting lately seems too, at least so it appear to me, sorry to say that but it's ok to calm down people, it's not ok to give to YOUR CUSTOMER "kicks in the *** ..."
At least GG should remember this when prices will be increased as I'm one of those who didn't complain about it (just outlined the importance of not alienate the community) but also more after the increase I'm not disposed to accept the "kick" attitude and I think the same your "core focus" customer super shiny indie...
01/17/2009 (2:00 am)
Well done, now site functionality it's starting to coming back from the grave...@Apparatus:
Quote:Where are those crying ones now? :)... Maybe me too can be considered one of those that were crying... At least I had good companions in that, many long time well known members that contributed a lot into GG...
I comment because I'm noting a bad attitude from you, lately, against people who complain... It's supposed noone can complain also when things went really bad or we get not really fair attitude from GG employees?
It's supposed we must accept everything always without say nothing?
I agreee that sometime someone is a bit too "rough" but you're attitude in commenting lately seems too, at least so it appear to me, sorry to say that but it's ok to calm down people, it's not ok to give to YOUR CUSTOMER "kicks in the *** ..."
At least GG should remember this when prices will be increased as I'm one of those who didn't complain about it (just outlined the importance of not alienate the community) but also more after the increase I'm not disposed to accept the "kick" attitude and I think the same your "core focus" customer super shiny indie...
#46
01/17/2009 (3:54 am)
Wow... awesome job so far guys. A pat on the shoulder is in order. I'm sure everyone at GG is going "Sheeeew" by now ;) 
#47
Still would like to see some sub-sections to the engines, ie
General
Programming
Bug reports
And I still say all these "fixes" should have been done in beta, before
going live.
Anyway, well done for the quick fixes :)
Hewster
01/17/2009 (3:56 am)
Yes indeed, credit where it is due guys :)Still would like to see some sub-sections to the engines, ie
General
Programming
Bug reports
And I still say all these "fixes" should have been done in beta, before
going live.
Anyway, well done for the quick fixes :)
Hewster
#48
01/17/2009 (4:26 am)
Good work guys, speedy turnaround on the parts that beers cannot refresh :)
#49
So, double standards? People, not necessarily you, can post in the most vile manner and rip the web dev team to pieces but it's a bad attitude for someone to throw them a bit of support? Constructive critisism is great, but the behaviour of some people has been appalling of late.
Frankly the whole "GG is screwing the community" stream of thought was a bit weak, seemed fairly evident to me that there was just work to be done. They wouldn't have all the usual links to the community pages right there on the front page if they didn't intend them to be a selling point.
Bravo to Apparatus for standing up against the pitchfork wielding mob! ;)
@Jacob Fike: Way to come out swinging! :) Loved the new look anyway, more power to your shotgun!
01/17/2009 (5:08 am)
@JoZ: Quote:I comment because I'm noting a bad attitude from you, lately, against people who complain... It's supposed noone can complain also when things went really bad or we get not really fair attitude from GG employees?
So, double standards? People, not necessarily you, can post in the most vile manner and rip the web dev team to pieces but it's a bad attitude for someone to throw them a bit of support? Constructive critisism is great, but the behaviour of some people has been appalling of late.
Frankly the whole "GG is screwing the community" stream of thought was a bit weak, seemed fairly evident to me that there was just work to be done. They wouldn't have all the usual links to the community pages right there on the front page if they didn't intend them to be a selling point.
Bravo to Apparatus for standing up against the pitchfork wielding mob! ;)
@Jacob Fike: Way to come out swinging! :) Loved the new look anyway, more power to your shotgun!
#50
Just a note on Hindsight: I think that if at the initial release of the site the post had contained 1 extra sentance stating a simple "We realize the site is missing lots of the community functionality but don't fret, we will have it re-implemented and working again asap" would have stayed many a thrown stone over the last few days, as people would have known it wasn't a purposeful or permenant change on the community side of the site.
Then again... this did turn out to be a very powerful analysis tool. In the first 8 hours that the site was live you had gathered more honest, and useful (well, useful once you parsed out all the anger spam lol) information on what functionality people really depended on, then you could have in weeks worth of surveys or forum posts based on whim rather then need. lol I will have to keep this in mind for the future! If you want opinions about ... everything... do a survey... if you want honest data about what is needed... take it all away and see what they complain about the most! LOL ;)
01/17/2009 (6:10 am)
My, my, what a fickle lot we are, why just a few days ago we were ready to hang you guys! lol yes Thank you guys for all the hard work and getting us back up and running on at least the neccessary wheels so quickly. Just a note on Hindsight: I think that if at the initial release of the site the post had contained 1 extra sentance stating a simple "We realize the site is missing lots of the community functionality but don't fret, we will have it re-implemented and working again asap" would have stayed many a thrown stone over the last few days, as people would have known it wasn't a purposeful or permenant change on the community side of the site.
Then again... this did turn out to be a very powerful analysis tool. In the first 8 hours that the site was live you had gathered more honest, and useful (well, useful once you parsed out all the anger spam lol) information on what functionality people really depended on, then you could have in weeks worth of surveys or forum posts based on whim rather then need. lol I will have to keep this in mind for the future! If you want opinions about ... everything... do a survey... if you want honest data about what is needed... take it all away and see what they complain about the most! LOL ;)
#51
I reserved any comment til the first fallout was over....only 'prudent' thing to do!
01/17/2009 (7:00 am)
Thanks All! There really is no 'oneClick' solution, is there?I reserved any comment til the first fallout was over....only 'prudent' thing to do!
#52
I would rate this blog 5 stars ;-)
01/17/2009 (8:48 am)
Kudos for the improvements and quick fixes. I would rate this blog 5 stars ;-)
#53
01/17/2009 (8:53 am)
Double Huzzar for the return of view all unread in the forums!
#54
Just making sure it's not forgotten but a "recent forum post" list?
I find it a quick way of getting an overview of all area's and what is currently going on. While I could trawl all forums that would just use so much time. A quick glance at the recent post list usually is enough, as I can pick and choose the entries worth a look-see.
01/17/2009 (9:25 am)
Good job guys. Thank you.Just making sure it's not forgotten but a "recent forum post" list?
I find it a quick way of getting an overview of all area's and what is currently going on. While I could trawl all forums that would just use so much time. A quick glance at the recent post list usually is enough, as I can pick and choose the entries worth a look-see.
#55
01/17/2009 (9:30 am)
This box where we add comments should be available on every page not only the last one, add that you your to do list :) 
#56
Jacob said that exact thing in his original blog post when the site first went live...
01/17/2009 (9:58 am)
@SyllusQuote:Just a note on Hindsight: I think that if at the initial release of the site the post had contained 1 extra sentance stating a simple "We realize the site is missing lots of the community functionality but don't fret, we will have it re-implemented and working again asap"That doesn't matter at all.
Jacob said that exact thing in his original blog post when the site first went live...
Quote:Do know that we are nowhere near feature completeness of what we want the site to be able to do. More features will be rolled on a steady basis as we collect feedback and monitor site usage.Goes to show many assume the worst no matter what you do.
#57
can you help me or point me in the person who i should be talking to but my account seems to be missing all my purchase's so i canot download anything if i need to
apart from that like the site.
01/17/2009 (10:35 am)
hey jacob can you help me or point me in the person who i should be talking to but my account seems to be missing all my purchase's so i canot download anything if i need to
apart from that like the site.
#58
01/17/2009 (11:59 am)
@Kenneth - Try this new e-mail that has been set up: moderators@garagegames.com 
#59
And remember, whether you agree with the people upset over the changes or not. They are potentially your past, present, and future customers.
@GG
Thanks for bringing some of the features back. Just take this as a lesson as to how important the comuminty components are to both the community and your business.
01/17/2009 (12:20 pm)
@ApparatusQuote:Where are those crying ones now? :)I guess to some extent I'm one of those "crying ones". The fact that some people are wanting to turn the community into two factions means that the changes really did have a negative effect.
And remember, whether you agree with the people upset over the changes or not. They are potentially your past, present, and future customers.
@GG
Thanks for bringing some of the features back. Just take this as a lesson as to how important the comuminty components are to both the community and your business.
#60
I believe a dull message, cleared off style and emotion will have sounded like that:
System recovered successfully from temporary inactive modules. Scanning in progress (insert loading bar here).
So, cheer up, you crying ones, the tyranny and oppression of web 2.0 will submit to us.
For those who wanna make it to the front page, avoid h1 headers, it pops up for a second and it's ugly; also, on the community tab the system grabs title, author and the first bit (lines?) from a blog; if there's an image there, it's gonna railroad the face of the website with the designer's nightmare: image and text with no respect to the size, scale, and composition rules :)) I guess the preview thing can be extended a bit to be used just for that?
01/17/2009 (2:35 pm)
Oh, I got quoted.. lemme explain, plain: it was and is a remark in my own style (diluted a bit though), no point-finger intended (thou were wrong, see);I believe a dull message, cleared off style and emotion will have sounded like that:
System recovered successfully from temporary inactive modules. Scanning in progress (insert loading bar here).
So, cheer up, you crying ones, the tyranny and oppression of web 2.0 will submit to us.
For those who wanna make it to the front page, avoid h1 headers, it pops up for a second and it's ugly; also, on the community tab the system grabs title, author and the first bit (lines?) from a blog; if there's an image there, it's gonna railroad the face of the website with the designer's nightmare: image and text with no respect to the size, scale, and composition rules :)) I guess the preview thing can be extended a bit to be used just for that?
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