Lots of updates

I put in a lot of work on the website this weekend and have a tonne of updates for everyone.

First is the addition of the User Content section. You will notice that the blank spot on the bottom of the site has been filled up with user submitted content. Currently you can submit videos from popular sites like youtube, google video, revver, metacafe and myspace. You can also submit images. Both sections allow you to type descriptions and information about the content you are submitting. Users can also vote on the content that people are adding. If you saw something you like vote it up, if not vote it down. Please keep the content Video Game related although it doesn't necessarily have to be Wii related. Please be responsible with this and don't upload anything bad. If people do that I'll have to moderate and approve the submissions before they get posted and I really don't want to do that.

Next is a small reorganization of the menu. First the main menu underneath the logo has been expanded to fit more items which helps users as well as search engines. The user menu now has a section called "User Tools". This section is where all your user related links have been moved to including editing your account, viewing your post, seeing the user list, etc.

The next big thing is a new points system which we are introducing. Users can earn points by doing different things like being active on the site by submitting content, posting on the forums, adding comments, voting on content, etc. But the biggest points are for people that add reviews for us on iTunes and invite new people to join the community.

That leads to the next feature, inviting users. You can earn big points by inviting people to become members of the website. Under the User tools menu you will see the link "Invite your friends". If you invite someone and they become a member of the site you both earn big points. But please don't abuse this feature by inviting yourself on other email addresses. I will run checks to find out if you're scamming the system and you will be booted from the website.

If you want to check your point status by clicking on the "Your Points" link in the user tools menu. You also have the ability to give your points to other users. if you feel someone deserves it you can gift them points. Just go to their user profile and underneath their avatar you will see the link to give them points.

So here's the big question. What are these points good for? Ben and I are working hard on designs for merchandise like T-shirts, stickers, and other stuff. You will be able to buy these items with the points you earn on the site. You can still buy them with cash, but why not get them for free by just helping out the community :) We're still working out other incentives that points will be used for, but this is the big one. If you have any suggestions let us know. We're always looking for good ideas.

So I think that covers all the new features of the site. We're still planning on having a mini Smash Bros tournament but I want to make it so everything is tracked on the website. We'll let you know when everything is planned out.

- Arvin

Lostman1027's picture
Lostman1027
on March 16, 2008 - 5:26pm

Arvin, you are a genius!

Cheesy142's picture
Cheesy142
on March 16, 2008 - 6:53pm

How do I already have some points?

Ctopher's picture
Ctopher
on March 16, 2008 - 6:58pm

This is awesome!!

Lostman1027's picture
Lostman1027
on March 16, 2008 - 7:13pm

How do you know when we write a review on iTunes if our username is different than on this site?

HeroOfHyrule128's picture
HeroOfHyrule128
on March 16, 2008 - 7:58pm

You guys rock more every single day
thank you!

Arvin's picture
Arvin
on March 16, 2008 - 10:21pm

If you write us a review on iTunes send us a message with both of your usernames (itunes and our website) either by email or private message and we will add the points to your account manually.

www.swagbucks.comSLASHreferSLASHsuntothedeep's picture
www.swagbucks.c...
on March 17, 2008 - 12:03am

WOW THATS HUGE!

Mjr. Shigg's picture
Mjr. Shigg
on March 17, 2008 - 8:03am

Arvin you are amazing! New updates to the website on a regular basis, sweet forums, and now a points system where you can get WLTP stuff (essentially) for free!!! What's not to love?

Luigi's picture
Luigi
on March 17, 2008 - 11:43am

so how much pionts is som ting gona be

Dodo_JZ's picture
Dodo_JZ
on March 17, 2008 - 3:07pm

What about past content Arvin? I mean, some of us submitted things to the site a while ago, and old forum posts too, are we getting points for that too? Because I've been plenty active on the forums but I have 0 points.

FrostyWampa's picture
FrostyWampa
on March 17, 2008 - 5:09pm

I pointed Vipercaleb1 to this site, so do I get points for that?

awahl's picture
awahl
on March 17, 2008 - 10:17pm

Sweet! Nice to see you guys are giving out free stuff and you don't even have ads! :)

Dodo_JZ's picture
Dodo_JZ
on March 17, 2008 - 11:19pm

Haha, Disregard my earlier post, after a minute or so, I was around 350 points XD. I have posted a review on Itunes, and it does point blank tell you who I am dodo_jz so that should hint you a bit.

beyondmany's picture
beyondmany
on March 23, 2008 - 11:44am

Hi Arvin, I'd like to suggest that submitters not be allowed to vote on their own submissions. This keeps things fair.

Dave's picture
Dave
on March 27, 2008 - 10:03pm

Beyondmany, not sure what you are referring to, but I think you can only vote one time for something, so it really wouldn't make things unfair. If you could vote over and over and over, then you'd have a point. Does that make sense or did I not understand the thread?

beyondmany's picture
beyondmany
on March 31, 2008 - 2:05pm

Dave,
I was suggesting that it's not fair for a to vote on content they submit. Say I upload a video. I should not allowed to give it any stars. Make sense?

User Info