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Forums → Support Forum → Thoughts on Armor Points for Feedback

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Alric
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Alric
52 posts
Nomad

I understand the reasoning behind Armor Points, and I think it's a great idea from the AG side of the house. By rewarding people for rating and commenting on games, you expose players to more games than they would probably try on their own, as we all have a tendency to stay in our niches. And with as cool a system as AP is set up to be, you encourage loyalty to the site.

However, because you earn AP for leaving feedback on a game, there are pages and pages of one word or one sentence feedback, most of them just expressing the individual's opinion of the game. If you want people to know you think the game "sucks," then give it a low rating. Pages and pages of monosyllabic feedback discourage players from actually reading through any of it to find something useful. Especially in games that allow for multiple hours of gameplay, where reading a few useful tips or hints could help.

Or maybe you're having trouble with some technical aspect, and someone could offer help after reading your feedback. But when someone does ask for help or advice, it's usually buried by the asinine comments of 12-year-olds who "hate it" and only left feedback for the AP.

And in what way does the comment "okay" help the designer/programmer develop better games?

Again, I think the AP system is genius, but I think its application could be modified to provide a better environment for players and programmers alike.

Alric

  • 48 Replies
tennisman24
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tennisman24
4,682 posts
Farmer

this is what the mods have been trying to deal with for a long time now

Alric
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Alric
52 posts
Nomad

I'm sure there's much more to it than an initial glance would lead one to believe, but why not simply stop awarding AP for Feedback?

Alric

firetail_madness
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firetail_madness
20,540 posts
Blacksmith

Any suggestions on how to make this work?
How to improve on our system?

We all hate this spamming, but there have been no good ideas on how to solve it.

miguelin11
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miguelin11
2,905 posts
Nomad

but why not simply stop awarding AP for Feedback?


then this site would be like other gaming sites
thisisnotanalt
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thisisnotanalt
9,821 posts
Farmer

Or maybe you're having trouble with some technical aspect, and someone could offer help after reading your feedback. But when someone does ask for help or advice, it's usually buried by the asinine comments of 12-year-olds who "hate it" and only left feedback for the AP.

stereotype....*cough*....*cough* buhhh-buuuuuuuuhhhhh-broad generalization! *Sniff-Sniff* Sorry, blatant, sweeping generalizations are like a catalyst for the rhinovirus for me.......
--------------
I do agree that the feedback system is messed up, but why can't there be a cap on the character limit? Like a reversed version of the character cap on youtube comments, but reversed and it would count words? It would discourage at least some of the feedback spammers. Or the punishment could be increased for feedback spam. But eliminating AP for it would cause a lot of rank unrest in many AG users, including me, and I don't spam the feedback box.
Fritz_Rublehem
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Fritz_Rublehem
1,076 posts
Nomad

That would make sense now wouldn't it Alric? But then there would be a lack of attention to the site, and it would ultimately fall into darkness.

No_Stress
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No_Stress
366 posts
Nomad

I'm sure there's much more to it than an initial glance would lead one to believe, but why not simply stop awarding AP for Feedback?


I agreed with you, and I think they shouldn't give any AP at all for comments and posts, only merit points(for a good comment) and reputation points(for a good forum post).
miguelin11
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miguelin11
2,905 posts
Nomad

I agreed with you, and I think they shouldn't give any AP at all for comments and posts, only merit points(for a good comment) and reputation points(for a good forum post).


Not my style, I wouldn't like that
firetail_madness
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firetail_madness
20,540 posts
Blacksmith

Well, it's a fact that AG has one of the least spam on the internet. Well, as far as the forums, anyways.
But then again, AP is really addicting to earn, but the point we must put across is that you don't need to put all your time and effort into gaining AP because there is really not much benefit in it.

Flippin3500
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Flippin3500
2,568 posts
Shepherd

I agreed with you, and I think they shouldn't give any AP at all for comments and posts, only merit points(for a good comment) and reputation points(for a good forum post).


But then, AG wouldn't be the same. Users love getting AP and the awards that come with it, (Ranks, Armatars, etc) but most spam to get those awards. I agree that this spam needs to stop, but it would be impossible to do so without taking out AP all together. Maybe more and more users should start setting examples for other users to follow. Although, there would still be spammers, it would make this site so much better.

I do agree that the feedback system is messed up, but why can't there be a cap on the character limit? Like a reversed version of the character cap on youtube comments, but reversed and it would count words?


Are you suggesting a certain number of words to be posted to be counted as a comment you get for points? Well, if they put that into work, people would just post more spam.

ex. srtnrs hsrethnsr tehsetbser rthw

If someone were to do that, they would still get points. (There's always a faults in good suggestions.)

So basically, to sum it down, there's no definite way of getting rid of spam. Unless, you get rid of AP, but users don't want that. I think people enjoy rank systems. It gives them brag rights, but some people enjoy that feeling more than others, and that leads to huge amounts to spam.
Alric
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Alric
52 posts
Nomad

Any suggestions on how to make this work?
How to improve on our system?

We all hate this spamming, but there have been no good ideas on how to solve it.


My idea is simply this... stop awarding AP for feedback and publicize that fact on both the main site and the forums. The spam will slowly fade out.

Would it be possible to give programmers the option of deleting useless feedback? Or even allow them to recommend certain feedback for a small number of AP. Not equivalent to Merits, since that kind of time and effort should be kept to the forums, but allow them to recommend a 5 AP reward for actually useful feedback? The final decision would belong to the Admins, but they (or their designated representatives) would only have to spend time reviewing those feedback posts recommended by programmers.

stereotype....*cough*....*cough* buhhh-buuuuuuuuhhhhh-broad generalization! *Sniff-Sniff* Sorry, blatant, sweeping generalizations are like a catalyst for the rhinovirus for me.......


You're right... that is a broad generalization. But even a 12-year-old has the vocabulary and intelligence to write more than a few words. So if you're not 12 and you're spamming feedback just for the AP, then you're a part of the problem and not the solution.

then this site would be like other gaming sites

Not my style, I wouldn't like that


This seems to be the forum version of Feedback spamming. Posts that don't contribute anything to the conversation. And yet theyâre rewarded. This serves no purpose other than to slow down conversations and detract from the topic at hand.

Well, it's a fact that AG has one of the least spam on the internet. Well, as far as the forums, anyways.

But then again, AP is really addicting to earn, but the point we must put across is that you don't need to put all your time and effort into gaining AP because there is really not much benefit in it.


People don't care if there's any real value in earning the points; it's the process and the status they're pursuing, not any tangible reward.

I agree that this spam needs to stop, but it would be impossible to do so without taking out AP all together.


I disagree. Instead of rewarding players for Feedback and Forum posts, which encourages spamming, why not reward them for actions that aren't "spammable" and won't clutter the site? For example:

1. 2-5 AP for logging in. You prevent spamming by only rewarding one login per 24-hour period.
2. 1 AP for rating the game.
3. 2 AP for Feedback that receives a positive "flag" from the programmer or an admin for quality.
4. 25 AP for Merits
5. Various amounts for contests and the like.

I would suggest a reward for inviting friends, but the downside is the possibility of AG getting a bad reputation from people spamming their friends' e-mails with requests to join AG. And people joining AG just to help their friends could clog memory space with unused accounts.

Have you ever heard the saying, âEverybody complains about the weather but nobody ever does anything about it?â Thatâs what this seems to be. People complain about the spam, but they donât offer solutions to fix it. Just because youâve read a hundred posts where someone says, âIt canât be done,â doesnât mean it actually canât be done. Think outside the box a little, and I know the AG community can brainstorm enough good ideas that we could present the powers-that-be with a well thought-out proposal that would definitively improve AG and separate it even further from the pack.

Alric
firetail_madness
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firetail_madness
20,540 posts
Blacksmith

1. 2-5 AP for logging in. You prevent spamming by only rewarding one login per 24-hour period.
2. 1 AP for rating the game.
3. 2 AP for Feedback that receives a positive "flag" from the programmer or an admin for quality.
4. 25 AP for Merits
5. Various amounts for contests and the like.


1. Just a plain bad idea.
2. Sure.
3. Would add even more stress on the programmers and admins, even with the mods helping out.
4. We have that already
5. We have that already as well.

What about forum posts?
Flippin3500
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Flippin3500
2,568 posts
Shepherd

The point system should stay the way it is. Spam will ALWAYS be here, no matter what... Spam doesn't really even effect anybody besides hurtful comments towards people, and pornography. Spam just makes people mad because it's not fair. It's not fair seeing people getting awarded by trashy comments.

Alric
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Alric
52 posts
Nomad

1. Just a plain bad idea.
2. Sure.
3. Would add even more stress on the programmers and admins, even with the mods helping out.
4. We have that already
5. We have that already as well.


1. Can you explain your reason for thinking AP for logging in is a bad idea?
3. The idea here is that by cutting out all the spam, programmers would have more useful Feedback to read through. And if the programmer saw one that struck a chord, he could recommend that person for a few extra AP. All the admins/mods would have to do is read the recommended Feedback and approve or disapprove the AP reward. It wouldn't be required, but a programmer who doesn't take other people's opinions into account when designing/programming future games probably won't go far in the industry.

I am aware that we already have 2, 4, and 5. I was merely adding them to the list as a way of demonstrating that it is very possible to rework the system and still have many options besides feedback and forum posts for earning AP.

What about forum posts?


Forum posts are just like feedback... players will spam the forum for AP. The only posts that should be rewarded are posts of exceptional quality.

The point system should stay the way it is. Spam will ALWAYS be here, no matter what... Spam doesn't really even effect anybody besides hurtful comments towards people, and pornography. Spam just makes people mad because it's not fair. It's not fair seeing people getting awarded by trashy comments.


That's the kind of old-shoe mentality that prevents progress. Like I said before... if you don't have anything positive to add to the conversation, all you're doing is spamming for points, thus proving the faults in the system.

Alric
ShintetsuWA
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ShintetsuWA
3,137 posts
Nomad

I have been stressing this time and time again, but everyone seems to shrug if off, like I never
even typed a spam:

What GOOD does a comment do?? Really, someone give me 3 reasons why a regular comment, both game and
user, is SO IMPORTANT that the administration must give more AP, than the forums, AG's personal headquarters,
where ALL FEEDBACK, support, information, news, and just about all other forms of conversations,
are located??

Have you even noticed that those that frolic to the community on at least a semi-daily basis
learn more? They do! You see most of everyone that post give somewhat constructive comments that half
the time provide strong arguments and opinions to their argument to back up their post. Yet, when I see those that only frequent the game comments, I see little effort, sure, everyone does, but what I REALLY SEE is "I don't care, I'm too lazy, all I want is AP, and I'm going to do it as fast as I can humanely can, who cares if I get caught?". That's what's going through my mind, and I'm sick and tired of it. This utter bull needs to stop.

My idea? Just take out the AP gain on comments and chatting, just take.it.out. There's no reason
to keep the two, it's all for spam and conversing between two sides.
Oh wait, they're called 'comments for the user'? Looks to me like chatting. Believe it or not, it is what it is. Besides, real game comments are reviews; constructive, informative comments that give a first-person perspective on what he/she thought was best, good, lacking, or needed touching up on. You will still get those nice, strong merit points, but just not the initial chihuahua comments.

With this in mind, we will get NO SPAM whatsoever, just crispy reviews, and the occasional feedback comment that people do for fun. You and I both know that that's what we want; we want to see reviews, the developers want to see reviews; we don't want to see lazy, off-topic, and downright pitiful comments that are useless.

If the developers see these reviews, which they will have a better time doing if the new modification is set in place, they will have a better understanding of what they need to fix, and in the future, they will create better games for all.

These spammers that still care about AP will go to the forums, where all mods, admins, and loyal members are at watch, that will report any demeanor present. All spam will dissipate from there. Yes, there will still, and always be spam, it is the inevitable, but this way, we will actually care about locating, reporting, and destroying it. This will build awareness and first-hand experience on what we don't like here. Do you understand this? This will give the "novices" experience, and they will understand what to do and what not do to.

Tl;dr? Or just right?

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