Stunts Forum

ZakStunts - the Competition => Competition Archive => Competition 2009 => Topic started by: zaqrack on December 19, 2008, 08:21:59 PM

Title: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: zaqrack on December 19, 2008, 08:21:59 PM
I have started working on the 2009 site. I'll list here (update this post) always my progress.

pipsqueaks and pipsqueak profiles

We had (by far) 30 active pipsqueaks in 2008. Not much, but I think we have a strong community now. At least I enjoy it a lot. :)

Those who have sent at leat one replay in 2008 don't have to re-register in 2009 on the site.
Furthermore, I'd like to renovate the "pipsqueaks" page a bit. Should we re-upload pictures of the pipsqueaks? What do you think?

I'll also collected & corrected the pipsqueak join dates. This will be listed on the pipsqueaks page from now on (until now it was accessible only in the pipsqueak profile. For your interest, here is the list. Join date = first replay sent to ZakStunts. Before 2007 only the year and month is valid. After that the day also.
Conclusion: those who join after july rarely stay with us. :-(

2001
Zak McKracken   2001-03-01 00:00:00
JTK   2001-03-01
Bonzai Joe   2001-04-01

2002
Usrin   2002-01
akosspoo   2002-03
CTG   2002-04
Alan Rotoi   2002-05
Krys TOFF   2002-07
satanziege   2002-07

2003
2004
Dark Chaser   2004-02
AbuRaf70   2004-12

2005
Ayrton   2005-02
Chulk   2005-02
SergioBaro   2005-03
CTG   2005-06
Marci   2005-10

2006
Mark L. Rivers   2006-02
SuperBrian   2006-03

2007
Duplode   2007-06-03

2008
AMG   2008-01-16
Turkey   2008-02-19
Freddy   2008-02-26
Pavekiller   2008-03-19
Lene   2008-03-20
Böbszlee   2008-03-27
dstien   2008-04-06
Antti   2008-04-10
Fredmen67   2008-10-11
tgm   2008-10-27
Goblin   2008-11-29
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: CTG on December 20, 2008, 02:31:38 PM
Quote from: zaqrack on December 19, 2008, 08:21:59 PM
CTG   2002-04

2002-04-13 for sure. :)

Nice improvements you mentioned. I'm looking forward to see them.
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: Chulk on December 20, 2008, 06:58:34 PM
Quote from: zaqrack on December 19, 2008, 08:21:59 PM
2003
2004
Dark Chaser   2004-02
AbuRaf70   2004-12
Nobody joined in 2003?
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: zaqrack on December 20, 2008, 09:35:27 PM
nobody, who joined in 2003 is still racing... :(
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: CTG on December 21, 2008, 12:25:18 AM
Quote from: zaqrack on December 20, 2008, 09:35:27 PM
nobody, who joined in 2003 is still racing... :(
Quote from: zaqrack on December 19, 2008, 08:21:59 PM
Böbszlee   2008-03-27

False!!! Check ZCT 26 and 27 results! :)
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: zaqrack on December 21, 2008, 08:02:49 AM
yes, while making the list I was sure she raced before but couldn't find her anywhere. Thanks for the info!
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: zaqrack on December 22, 2008, 10:51:40 AM
Done today:
- 2009 pipsqueaks listing page done.
- Everyone can upload a picture using the "set profile" menu item after logging in.
- 2009 pipsqueak profile view bugfixed (results display not available yet :))
- Replaced email links with spam-proof ones through the whole site (phew, big work)
- 520 program line file calculating seasonal results updated for 2009
- updated all scoreboards to be 2009 compatible

To do:
secret... :) will keep you posted!
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: dstien on December 22, 2008, 12:35:20 PM
Neat! Is it too late for feature requests? Atom/RSS feeds for latest times and news posts would be cool.
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: zaqrack on December 22, 2008, 01:09:10 PM
nice idea, I'll try to implement it if I'll find some time :)
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: zaqrack on December 22, 2008, 01:12:14 PM
further imporvements

- car bonus system modified for 2009 (left space for Melange as well :))
- track archive added

I'm off to lunch now, after that: documentation work (rules, newbie guide, etc.).  :P
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: Duplode on December 22, 2008, 01:52:23 PM
Nice! I'll try to arrange a proper pic later on  ;)
A few small things:
1. Are birth days still limited to 01-01-1950? (For instance, AbuRaf's profile...)
2. Unrelated to the new site: Replay sending stats from 2007 and back are not visible - the page says "Can't select table!Unknown column 'quiet' in 'where clause'" when you pick a track.
3. In case you do not have pics for the new cars on the bonuses page, I'll be glad to prepare them and post here.
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: Duplode on December 23, 2008, 02:59:32 AM
Here are the shots of the new cars for use in Zak'09 or elsewhere, Zak. The images are in the correct 3.8 : 1 proportion used on the Car Bonus table already. There are shots with each car default colours (if you want to keep current patterns), but also with alternatives (black might not look too good downscaled and on a dark green background, and I think we have enough dark blue cars on the table already  :))
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: zaqrack on December 23, 2008, 09:10:31 AM
Quote from: Duplode on December 22, 2008, 01:52:23 PM
Nice! I'll try to arrange a proper pic later on  ;)
A few small things:
1. Are birth days still limited to 01-01-1950? (For instance, AbuRaf's profile...)
2. Unrelated to the new site: Replay sending stats from 2007 and back are not visible - the page says "Can't select table!Unknown column 'quiet' in 'where clause'" when you pick a track.
3. In case you do not have pics for the new cars on the bonuses page, I'll be glad to prepare them and post here.
birthdays: extended to 1920-2008. This should be enough for a while :)
replay stats: will look up the problem
pics: thanks, received! I'm also considering not only displaying cars in multiple (less blue. but fixed) colors - as I can get the color bit out of the sent replay, I could display the cars in the color the pipsqueak used during racing.
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: Krys TOFF on December 23, 2008, 10:12:42 AM
Quote from: zaqrackI'm also considering not only displaying cars in multiple (less blue. but fixed) colors - as I can get the color bit out of the sent replay, I could display the cars in the color the pipsqueak used during racing.
GREAT ! I wanna see my car always yellow. ;D
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: Duplode on December 26, 2008, 11:57:04 PM
As Zak redesigns the ZakStunts UI, a thought crossed my mind... BJ has already raised the (valid, IMHO) point of how the 7.0 incarnation of the site was a bit too hard for newbies to get into, and how additional complexity can cause further trouble. What I was wondering is whether we could somehow turn that issue in our/ZakStunts' favour... I mean the possibility of putting into evidence all the cool things Zak has developed over the years (the News Board, the complex Bonus Point system, the Dynamic Scoreboards, and even the Wiki) by the means of flashy website design, so that newcomers would go like "ZOMG WHAT A COOL CONTEST!! I'll make sure to take part of this eventually!" (OK, maybe not so excited  :)) instead of just getting confused by the complexity. Since my web layout/design skills are virtually null, I can't give much concrete input on implementation, but I hope my approach is not way too wild... :)

(One possible concrete suggestion for redesign: the "Send Replay" page could be split, so that the box for choosing the .RPL would be visible from the main page alongside with a "Submit!" button (as well as the login/password fields). That button would send to another page where the submission would be confirmed and the "advanced options" - penalty time, quiet days, messages, etc. - could be set. That way the replay sending procedure would appear more transparent to newbies)
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: zaqrack on December 27, 2008, 09:16:58 AM
There won't be a major site redesign, but your post combined with a sleepless night resulted in the following idea:

There'll be a new menu box above the "competition" and "info" boxes. It'll be called something like "newbie guide" and will be highlighted by a slightly brighter background color.
In this menu there'll be a tutorial with detailed description and screenshots taken into points. (something like: 1. what's this? 2. install stunts 3. download track 4. select a good car 5. replay handling 6. sending replays, earning points 7. site functions 8. community forum + teams.

In order not to clutter the website, when a pipsqueak logs in, this menu box will roll up (but can be shown again anytime by clicking on the menu item)

I'll start to work on this tomorrow (have 3 afternoons to finish the site), today is family day :)
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: zaqrack on December 28, 2008, 09:36:18 PM
after 5 hours of typing and coding it is considered done.
Complete newbie guide in 8 chapters.
Some screenshots and graphics are missing.

I hope it'll help sone new pipsqueaks to stay with us for a longer time.
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: Chulk on December 28, 2008, 09:44:16 PM
It sure looks easier for newcomers! Superb job.
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: Duplode on December 29, 2008, 10:30:21 PM
Very very complete, really useful  :) Hopefully that will help in having less lurkers-to-users for 2009. The only thing I'd point is about the auto-disappearing feature, as the guide does not return automatically when you logout. Maybe newbies might like to check the guide while logged for their first submissions, so perhaps it could just stay there all the time - I would not really mind having it occupying that bit of screen state while I'm logged in...
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: BonzaiJoe on December 29, 2008, 10:50:07 PM
First of all I have to say: really good work! :) No information is missing for the newbies now. Then I'll switch to the harsh, but hopefully constructive, critic mode (whatever I don't comment on, I'm happy with):

1. Links should be in brighter or more eye-catching colours and fonts instead of normal grey. I know it's ugly, but function is more important.

2. The introduction, though well-written, is quite long-winded, maybe some people will get bored, and it's not really essential to know all those things if they just want to join the competition. I suggest that all the history and bonus info is made into another menu option that people can read later if they want to. More simplicity is needed in the first pages. My general fear is that people will see the long text and think 'this is too complicated, I don't have time for this' even though it isn't really so complicated.

3. I propose a big "NEXT STEP" picture link at the bottom of each page, for those who have read enough and just want to move on. Remember web users are the most impatient people in the world.

Car Coefficient Page: I suggest a link to the detailed rules subpage instead of putting them there in the middle. Newbies should be able to choose whether they care.

Replay Handling: "de" -> "do" (second last paragraph, second line). Also, I think you are being a bit too negative towards replay handling. Zakstunts is based on it, so that means being negative towards the competition, turning newcomers off.



Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: zaqrack on December 30, 2008, 09:39:53 AM
thanks for the tips and comments!

I'll apply them possibly today afternoon, but maybe will only have time next year, still have to design ZCT91 and such :)
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: zaqrack on December 30, 2008, 06:09:37 PM
done!

I have compressed and cut the text according to you recommendations, so that it is never longer than the newsbox on the right side.
Added some decorative pictures to the first two chapters.

Hope it will be useful. I am curious, so will install a tracker on each page :)
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: zaqrack on December 30, 2008, 07:47:10 PM
tracker implemented on all subpages of ZakStunts.
I won't give you open access for the results but will publish stats sometimes. Remind me if I don't!
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: Chulk on January 09, 2009, 09:45:14 PM
Zak, just one thing about the starting guide I've just noticed.

The link's colour (kinda brown) is really awful with the background green and they don't contrast enough. Maybe that colour should be changed to a lighter one... Maybe it's only me, but I think it should be changed.
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: Duplode on January 10, 2009, 02:22:51 AM
Another little thing - I checked the portal and noticed a "high-priority" typo on the news box...

Quote-For pure racist, no replay handling fans Feel The Thrill will start it's new season in January. Stay tuned!
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: CTG on January 15, 2009, 07:47:02 AM
Just a little mistake in the Forum:

Quote from: Stunts Forum main boardCompetition 2009
12 tracks, 13 cars, teams again... will this be the best season of ZakStunts history?

11 original + 3 "cheat" cars if I'm right. :)
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: zaqrack on January 15, 2009, 11:26:09 AM
Quote from: Duplode on January 10, 2009, 02:22:51 AM
Another little thing - I checked the portal and noticed a "high-priority" typo on the news box...

Quote-For pure racist, no replay handling fans Feel The Thrill will start it's new season in January. Stay tuned!


ouch.  :-X fixed!
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: zaqrack on February 03, 2009, 09:04:31 PM
I wanted to freshen up a bit my CSS skills, so created a graphical scoreboard. You may find it under the monthly scoreboard. It shows the drivers cars as in a race, according to the real time difference.
Only the top 12 drivers are shown. Maximally I could display 15, but decided to create this as a reward for those, who earn real points.
Hope you like it. :)
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: CTG on February 03, 2009, 09:11:03 PM
Quote from: zaqrack on February 03, 2009, 09:04:31 PM
I wanted to freshen up a bit my CSS skills, so created a graphical scoreboard. You may find it under the monthly scoreboard. It shows the drivers cars as in a race, according to the real time difference.
Only the top 12 drivers are shown. Maximally I could display 15, but decided to create this as a reward for those, who earn real points.
Hope you like it. :)

WOW!!! Great stuff!
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: CTG on February 03, 2009, 09:16:33 PM
Just a suggestion: cars should be a bit bigger to be more attractive. Anyway this one kicks ass! :)
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: zaqrack on February 03, 2009, 09:56:13 PM
ok, I managed to raise the car sizes by 30%. That was the most I could do.
I'll also try resizing the smaller cars (carrera, lancia, audi) to fill their image size.
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: CTG on February 04, 2009, 10:19:08 AM
Two mistakes:

1, News archives are not working

2, Tracks section: Lightbulb track picture instead of Heartbeat at Z91
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: zaqrack on February 04, 2009, 10:41:46 AM
thanks, both fixed!
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: Duplode on February 04, 2009, 09:34:35 PM
There are also some quirks at "Sent Replays" pages - pre-2008 lists won't load, and 2009 stats aren't available.
But anyway: the graphical scoreboard is VERY cool!!  8)
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: zaqrack on February 05, 2009, 11:35:13 AM
thank you, fixed!
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: Krys TOFF on February 05, 2009, 06:41:23 PM
Weird bug happens, probably caused by the new graphical scoreboard (nice addition to the website), when you click on the "older posts" part of the right chat while watching the scoreboard page. See attached picture Zak.
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: Friker on February 18, 2009, 12:21:22 PM
Quote from: Krys TOFF on February 05, 2009, 06:41:23 PM
Weird bug happens, probably caused by the new graphical scoreboard (nice addition to the website), when you click on the "older posts" part of the right chat while watching the scoreboard page. See attached picture Zak.

this error can be triggered by many ways! and its quite annoying.
Next announcement i have - sending replay & getting info from replay is quite.. strange. i mean there could be some 'limit time' and quicker replays could not be allowed (ive sent bad replay w/ crash, there is LTB for unreal time etc.). getting info from replay or testing integrity of replay - i think all is known but you can add 'crash blocker' - all replays with crash have more then 20 bytes of '00' at the end (exactly 0x50 = 80). testing terrain if there is no change not only a name of track (replays from bad track :) ).. ill do a program with these feature some day.. :) offtopic question: does PHP support return value from application (error code)? or is it possible to run application from PHP and then check its return value?
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: zaqrack on February 18, 2009, 01:10:51 PM
Quote from: Krys TOFF on February 05, 2009, 06:41:23 PM
Weird bug happens, probably caused by the new graphical scoreboard (nice addition to the website), when you click on the "older posts" part of the right chat while watching the scoreboard page. See attached picture Zak.

A variable was not passed. Fixed it. If you experience this at other links, please notify me.
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: zaqrack on February 18, 2009, 01:14:24 PM
Quote from: Friker on February 18, 2009, 12:21:22 PM
. i mean there could be some 'limit time' and quicker replays could not be allowed (ive sent bad replay w/ crash, there is LTB for unreal time etc.). getting info from replay or testing integrity of replay - i think all is known but you can add 'crash blocker' - all replays with crash have more then 20 bytes of '00' at the end (exactly 0x50 = 80). testing terrain if there is no change not only a name of track (replays from bad track :) ).. ill do a program with these feature some day.. :) offtopic question: does PHP support return value from application (error code)? or is it possible to run application from PHP and then check its return value?

There was a check for "quick" replays but now it is not present. I'll reimplement it later.
Byte check (crash, track mod, etc.) caused problems, so it's not implemented currently in the stable version. Will work on it later when I'll find some time coding.
Until then, manual correction of the database stays as the main method. I did it right now, no more LTB for unreal time :)
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: zaqrack on March 01, 2010, 03:46:18 PM
some stats on the newbie guide:

google analytics is set to measure how many users complete reading the newbie guide since 1st July, 2009


98 visitors clicked through the whole guide, step by step
on the other hand, 88% of the users started reading the guide but abandoned at some point.

some general stats, since the 1st of June, 2009:

stunts.hu:
5962 visits, from this new visitors: 66.84% average time on site: 26 seconds, bounce rate (leaves without a click): 92.24%
funny fact: on september 21st the daily visitor number jumped 10 times the usual value, 256 visitors, 95% from US or Canada, 80% from stumbleupon.com -thats how much a good link matters.  :)

zak.stunts.hu:
13019 visits, from this new visitors: 24.56%, average time on site: 16 minutes 37 seconds!!!!, bounce rate: 39.86%
funny fact: in October the visit counter doubled its values - ZCT100 brought serious attention to the site.

forum.stunts.hu:
15651 visits, from this new visitors: 30.66%,  average time on site: 6 minutes 4 seconds, bounce rate: 37.61%

wiki.stunts.hu:
2820 visits, from this new visitors: 71.21% (nice!!!), average time on site: 4 minutes 20 seconds, bounce rate: 45.07%



Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: Duplode on March 01, 2010, 04:18:23 PM
Some nice numbers there! ZakStunts and the Wiki seem very healthy. Only the portal seems to be heavily underused on its current format, with 90%+ bounces. Rearranging the page to add some brief "landing page" text (one or two-liners explaining the point of Stunts, competitions, forum and wiki) could help.

Quote from: zaqrack on March 01, 2010, 03:46:18 PM
98 visitors clicked through the whole guide, step by step
on the other hand, 88% of the users started reading the guide but abandoned at some point.

Attention span...  ::) Maybe adding a new page between "Welcome pipsqueak!" and "Install the Game" with a bullet point summary of the guide (each point having about two lines and links both to the other pages of the guide and the appropriate track/car/submission pages) would encourage people to try and start racing. Of course it would also mean more illegal replays due to people never reading the whole guide, but still...  :)
Title: Re: Updates and new stuff in 2009
Post by: BonzaiJoe on March 02, 2010, 01:20:03 AM
Quote from: Duplode on March 01, 2010, 04:18:23 PM
Some nice numbers there! ZakStunts and the Wiki seem very healthy. Only the portal seems to be heavily underused on its current format, with 90%+ bounces. Rearranging the page to add some brief "landing page" text (one or two-liners explaining the point of Stunts, competitions, forum and wiki) could help.

Quote from: zaqrack on March 01, 2010, 03:46:18 PM
98 visitors clicked through the whole guide, step by step
on the other hand, 88% of the users started reading the guide but abandoned at some point.

Attention span...  ::) Maybe adding a new page between "Welcome pipsqueak!" and "Install the Game" with a bullet point summary of the guide (each point having about two lines and links both to the other pages of the guide and the appropriate track/car/submission pages) would encourage people to try and start racing. Of course it would also mean more illegal replays due to people never reading the whole guide, but still...  :)


Maybe just less text and less steps (or make it seem like there are less steps by merging some of them)