Make Your Own Points System!

[N.U.]

You only want to see it because you use a point system. What about those who don't use a point system? How many businesses do you think would like the idea of a point system? Most of them remove the pm system, email system and Calendars so if a point system was added I'm sure they remove that.

I still don't see why it can't be left as a mod, I mean why take away from what they do. Let them do their thing.

[Stec]

Features are great to have and so is the ability to turn off a certain feature you feel is not needed for your forum in this case there are many people that want a points system assuming it's implemented and can be turned off if not needed WE ALL WIN! I never understand why some people hold back progress and or change and argue against something that does not really affect them?

In this case it's a feature all too often requested that could be & should be built in and also could be turned off by default but for those of us that have many different uses for a points system would have the ability to turn it on. It harms no one and everyone is happy! ;)

[theslamforevryone]

Not sure why its suuch a biig deal...

5 small edits, three files, and some template edits....how HARD is that to do??? Download the package, as soon as you upload it, DO it. Then everyone will think its there default. Simple as that.

There are some reallly good coders out there that do these mods (dean, bfarber, ntd1712, CheetahShrk, and many others...)they know what they are doing. I would trust them. Just think. if you have the IPS team add these things, that only will raise the price MORE....so just keep it a modification...its not hard to add. Jeesh.

[backdream]

The wonderful thing: you can give your points to otherone, And then he can do more thing and not have to post many posts.

[Mat Barrie]

Features are great to have and so is the ability to turn off a certain feature you feel is not needed for your forum in this case there are many people that want a points system assuming it's implemented and can be turned off if not needed WE ALL WIN! I never understand why some people hold back progress and or change and argue against something that does not really affect them?

In this case it's a feature all too often requested that could be & should be built in and also could be turned off by default but for those of us that have many different uses for a points system would have the ability to turn it on. It harms no one and everyone is happy! ;)

Actually, in truth it harms EVERYONE. Every time a "feature" (bloat) is added such as this, the next release is either delayed, or a much more useful feature is cut to make room for it. WONT ANYONE PLEASE THINK OF THE USEFUL FEATURES?!? They're already doing all they can, in that a comprehensive inter-active API system (preferably without EVAL()) is being introduced in an upcoming version. I'd much rather they work on this than integrate a worthless "points system" which on a default board installation has absolutely no purpose. That's what features IPS puts in the board core, folks, features which out of the box immediately have a purpose. A points system does not.

[Septerra]

You only want to see it because you use a point system. What about those who don't use a point system? How many businesses do you think would like the idea of a point system? Most of them remove the pm system, email system and Calendars so if a point system was added I'm sure they remove that.

I know for a fact that webhosting companies whether a group or run by individuals would most definately take advantage of it. Many "free" hosting companies out there have a policy that you must make a certain amount of posts per month to have free hosting, and you have to have a certain amount of points to upgrade your plan. Plus, a major point is that if IPB were focusing solely on businesses, its new licensing structure would not have a Person License at all. Like you mentioned, most businesses disable the pm system as you say, the email system, and calendars. What about other smaller businesses and the multitude of personal users? They take advantage of the PM System, Email System, and Calandars. If a points system were added, top tier businesses can disable it if they want, but the point is, the feature is available for all the other businesses who choose to use it and the other personal users for their own forums all over the net. IPB is not business exclusive.

Please someone name me one feature that IPB has already built it that could use a point system. Please any feature? Thank you there are none.

You didn't really give any chance for anyone to respond to that, but features have been named in this thread that you probably did not catch, most notably, the first post. One major feature that could take advantage of the points system is IP Gallery. For full details on that suggestion:

http://forums.invisionpower.com/index.php?showtopic=227235

The points system can also be used as basically what some people can call "Virtual Currency" and be used for download systems as well where you need a certain number of points in order to download something, thus enabling sites to host large direct downloads, but at the same time, allowing them to not have their bandwidth wasted if there wasn't a points system. IPB can use this to their advantage in practically all their products including IP Gallery, IP Blog (you can make it so that it costs a certain amount of points to view an otherwise protected section), along with practically any invision product.

Actually, it doesn't. It has a bunch of other stuff I don't like (reputation system, ugh) but it doesn't have a points system, or the arcane profile page (no, vBulletin's profile pages suck in new and exciting ways!)

Yeah, you contradicted yourself right there. You say you don't like bloatware, and that you will move to vb as soon as IPB releases pointless features like this since you hate bloatware. Then you say that there is actually a lot more junk like the repuation system that you don't like, but it doesn't have a points system. If you think the points system is junk, it will never outweight the amount of bloatware that vB has. Taking this into perspective, vB obviously didn't see the points system, and may have decided not to add a points system to it because it is already bloated. IPB can shine here by making its own official points system. Though I feel that it is extremely useful wheras someone like you doesn't, it will still not outweigh the bloat in vB. Linking back to the previous reply I made in this post, vB is just vB. It is just board software, nothing more, nothing less. It does not have the many expansions such as IP Gallery and IP Blog, so it probably doesn't really need it at all whereas Invision can benefit from this. There is really no reason that you will sell up and buy vBulliten. If there is, expound.

All this talk about 3.0... please lets stay on the issue which is 2.2. There is no point system in 2.2, they aren't going to install it in. I don't even think they will ever add one. Because IPS are not stupid people I'm sure they have done their homework and the it shows in this topic with their lack of input on it. Its a waste of their time to comment on this issue.

I agree with the first part. Think about it. By the time IPB 3.0 comes around, it will be much too long. Think about the possibilites of new standards then. Maybe vB will actually have an even better components system or version that will blow IPB out of the water. Anything is possible. The focus is on IPB 2.2. I am sure IPS are not stupid people and have done their homework. There are 72 posts in this topic, definately not a lack of input. This is my feedback on the new version, and I am stating what I feel is a great suggestion that can integrate IPB more between their products and increase business. Sure you could say "IPB would've thought of using it already and would've added it if that was a worthwhile feature." If IPB was always correct and always completely sure of everything they did being in the right direction, there would be no competition and vB would be rotting in the sands of Siberia. There is no perfect forum software, my suggestion is for the betterment of IPB and if IPB Staff like Matt or someone does feel that this feature is truly unnecessary, they can speak out there feelings here. Who knows? They might not be commenting to see both the positives and negatives of having a points system. They probably want to see the amount of input this is getting, no one knows except those who are drinking coffee reading this (IPB Staff).

Every time a "feature" (bloat) is added such as this, the next release is either delayed, or a much more useful feature is cut to make room for it. WONT ANYONE PLEASE THINK OF THE USEFUL FEATURES?!? They're already doing all they can, in that a comprehensive inter-active API system (preferably without EVAL()) is being introduced in an upcoming version. I'd much rather they work on this than integrate a worthless "points system" which on a default board installation has absolutely no purpose. That's what features IPS puts in the board core, folks, features which out of the box

immediately have a purpose

. A points system does not.

Are you questioning IPB's decisions? Like you said in an earlier post, "This release has already gained the bloatware tag from many people for the Profile Portal." Personally, I feel the profile portal is not bloatware at all, and is a USEFUL FEATURE. I feel there are are just as many others, if not more, who feel that the profile portal is very nifty and convenient. You can bring out any feature that you feel is useful or not useful, and I feel as well as the others who feel the same way as I do, a points system is not a worthless feature. It could be disabled by default and people have to manually enable it.

Not all features that come out of the box have a purpose. It's like criticizing the components section, you can ask "Why in the world did they have the Invision Gallery Component there? Why did they have the Invision Blog Component there? They are completely useless unless I buy the products!" There is a definate purpose for the points system and a feature is a feature. I have stated that it increases the integration of the board and I feel that it is worth it for the reasons mentioned.

We need an official points system, not a third party one. There are things that mods cannot do such as the Gallery suggestion I mentioned and on top of that, all invision products would not be able to take advantage of it at all as it is third party. Integration is key, and the more integrated IP Gallery, IP Blog, etc can be with IPB, the better it is for the business of IPS.

[eddy11]

Personally speaking, do want points and would use.

Can see it will be standard in forums in a few years time. And see other forums with it already.

Whether it should be included now would to me depend on the amount of work required.
If it's a few days work. Do it. If it's going to take a month forget it for now.

[UnitedPakistan]

Honestly, the forum system to should remain a forum system. Perhaps, a seaperate module would be fine but this is starting to turn into bloatware. Please control yourself people! You can get a modification for this over at Invisionize so I really do not understand. Enlighten me...

[Mat Barrie]

Yeah, you contradicted yourself right there. You say you don't like bloatware, and that you will move to vb as soon as IPB releases pointless features like this since you hate bloatware. Then you say that there is actually a lot more junk like the repuation system that you don't like, but it doesn't have a points system. If you think the points system is junk, it will never outweight the amount of bloatware that vB has. Taking this into perspective, vB obviously didn't see the points system, and may have decided not to add a points system to it because it is already bloated. IPB can shine here by making its own official points system. Though I feel that it is extremely useful wheras someone like you doesn't, it will still not outweigh the bloat in vB. Linking back to the previous reply I made in this post, vB is just vB. It is just board software, nothing more, nothing less. It does not have the many expansions such as IP Gallery and IP Blog, so it probably doesn't really need it at all whereas Invision can benefit from this. There is really no reason that you will sell up and buy vBulliten. If there is, expound.

This is easy to expound upon: I said there are features in vBulletin I don't like. It's lacking to be honest on REAL bloat. The profile page we have here is ... somewhat excessive, but I can understand what reasoning would cause it to be added. And, it can be turned off. When turned off, there are no calls to functions used only for the profile portal, there isn't a check of a boolean value every time the software must perform a function, there isn't really anything other than an extra three template bits. That's not really bloat. A points system requires checks every time the software must perform an action to decide whether the points system is to be handed control (i.e. a disable check), requires extra template bits AND more files, and generally slows the system down whether enabled OR disabled. That IS bloat. To make it not slow anything down, I would need to spend hours removing all code related to it. It's better that users have to expend a small amount of effort to add functionality than a crapload of effort to REMOVE it. Of course, you don't care because it's not you that would have to expend the effort.

And like I said, I would sell up any IPB licenses I hold and go get something else the second IPS adds this sort of useless bloat because once they start including worthless features that will increase the board's size exponentially for users who don't want it just because someone says that they absolutely must be added, they'll be stuck on it for eternity. I don't want to in IPB 4.0 have to remove an Arcade, a Store, a Casino, a Shoutbox, and other crap just because YOU think they "need" to be there.

Are you questioning IPB's decisions? Like you said in an earlier post, "This release has already gained the bloatware tag from many people for the Profile Portal." Personally, I feel the profile portal is not bloatware at all, and is a USEFUL FEATURE. I feel there are are just as many others, if not more, who feel that the profile portal is very nifty and convenient. You can bring out any feature that you feel is useful or not useful, and I feel as well as the others who feel the same way as I do, a points system is not a worthless feature. It could be disabled by default and people have to manually enable it.

I don't recall it being law not to question IPS, and I wouldn't call the profile portal a useful feature - it doesn't actually have a practical use. I wouldn't call it bloatware either. It is great for aesthetics.

Not all features that come out of the box have a purpose. It's like criticizing the components section, you can ask "Why in the world did they have the Invision Gallery Component there? Why did they have the Invision Blog Component there? They are completely useless unless I buy the products!" There is a definate purpose for the points system and a feature is a feature. I have stated that it increases the integration of the board and I feel that it is worth it for the reasons mentioned.

There's a damn good reason they have those components there. Guess what that is? "Buy me! Buy me!" They're useless to us that wont buy the product, but to IPS they're like a neat way of driving some additional sales. That's why they're not removable via the Components Manager too. There is NO definite purpose for a Points System in the default board core. None. Zip. A points system does not help Invision Power Board in the slightest. No function in the board would benefit from it. A bunch of addons might, but why should the Board be bloated so some addons can include some functionality? Uh, no.

We need an official points system, not a third party one. There are things that mods cannot do such as the Gallery suggestion I mentioned and on top of that, all invision products would not be able to take advantage of it at all as it is third party. Integration is key, and the more integrated IP Gallery, IP Blog, etc can be with IPB, the better it is for the business of IPS.

No we don't. It's a waste of development time.

[N.U.]

Both the IP.Gallery and The new download script are paid add-on's. Not everyone who gets IPB will get these add-on's. Yeah it be cool to say have a point system with the gallery. But that on itself is only useful to you or someone who would want to do something like that.

That is my point, a point system on its own is pointless unless you have something to work with it. Like a gallery, downloads, arcade, army system, etc (there are quite a view mods that work with a points). But each of them while all vial points for having a point system doesn't mean that it should be standard because the only way right now for it to work with the gallery is if someone makes mod for that.

Also I don't see neither IPB or Vb as bloatware. Who ever came up with that is beyond me. In any event my only dislike of VB come form its internal working and lack of real control. It used to much ajax for simple task that it makes hard. Its hard to skin and the ACP is one of those guess where this is games.

IPB use to be that way when it come to its ACP in 1.3 and 2.0. It change and I'm able to find almost everything easy. They are going the right way. As I said or maybe it wasn't clear. I'm not against a point system. In fact I have ipoints installed (sorry its better then perfect points, I hate encoded stuff, nothing personal). If IPS wants to make their own points system add-on and have it hook in like the gallery, blog and downloads do. By all means go for it. But if you do let it be a option so that users who have no use for it wont be bother by it.

As I said if you want a mod to allow the gallery to work with a point system then please make it. But asking for a point system to be installed into 2.2 is crazy and even talking about having it in 3.0 is even more crazy. That's all I have to say about this subject, I think I have more then said whats on my mind anything more would just be repeating myself.

[theclub]

Stay off the attacks. Noone else here feels the need to use attacks to prove their point, don't start.

You think that was an attack? You must be a bit of a pussy if that offended you.

l'm beginning to question your motives, you have done nothing but argue with people in this thread, to the point of anger almost.

Why would you post just to be negative in a thread asking for a feature?

You also wildly exaggerate the drain on the forum of a points system. IPB already has one, of sorts, it's called the Post Count, and would need very little tweaking to add the ability to award points based on posts. The rest is mainly just shared database fields. The drain would be minimal and unnoticeable.

l don't know why people can't just leave other members to ask for a feature in peace without having to go through all this.

[Mat Barrie]

You think that was an attack? You must be a bit of a pussy if that offended you.

l'm beginning to question your motives, you have done nothing but argue with people in this thread, to the point of anger almost.

Why would you post just to be negative in a thread asking for a feature?

You also wildly exaggerate the drain on the forum of a points system. IPB already has one, of sorts, it's called the Post Count, and would need very little tweaking to add the ability to award points based on posts. The rest is mainly just shared database fields. The drain would be minimal and unnoticeable.

l don't know why people can't just leave other members to ask for a feature in peace without having to go through all this.

For a start, both of your posts in this page of this thread have been personal attacks. "You must be a pussy" and "where did you learn to count" are deliberately offensive, and you need to cut it out.

Second, the drain is minimal and noticable only if you have very few members. Larger sites NOTICE the slightest new feature. 2.2 alone seems noticably... slower... than 2.1. We don't need that getting worse. No, I don't wildly exaggerate the drain. Even without this "points system" the drain is naturally increasing.

Also, why would you be negative in a thread asking for a feature? Well, that's really really simple, and I'm surprised you missed it. Someone requests a feature, and if people do feel strongly against it, they should make their opinion known. Simply put, if there are two sides to something like this, the company needs to see both sides so they can make an informed decision. Of course, you don't want that, because an informed decision might not be yours.

Just because you don't agree with an opinion, doesn't mean that it is banned from being posted. Get over yourself, I've never seen anything from you but attacks on people who disagree with you.

This is like talking to a wall. It was great when ysun was here, it was just a point by point polite, reasoned debate wth no insults. Pity threads get killed when SupportersUnited shows up.

[DavoteK]

Integration is key, and the more integrated IP Gallery, IP Blog, etc can be with IPB, the better it is for the business of IPS.

Couldn't agree more.

Earning "points" for adding images, blog entries etc, would suit a large number of forums that I run and visit. But I guess it would cause so much of a drain on the server that the forum would explode right in front of your eyes according to some people

[theclub]

I don't want to in IPB 4.0 have to remove an Arcade, a Store, a Casino, a Shoutbox, and other crap just because YOU think they "need" to be there.

Reasoned debate?

Pity threads get killed when SupportersUnited shows up.

No insults?

Grow up.

:)

But I guess it would cause so much of a drain on the server that the forum would explode right in front of your eyes according to some people

Not to mention all the defections to VB. :lol:

[truyentranh]

i think we should have a poll

[theclub]

i think we should have a poll

Good idea, one of the questions can be "Would you defect to VB if IPB had a built in points system?"


:lol:

[neen]

Wow, I must say..

If someone would ditch IPB for vB over something like IPS adding a points system, they must not be very loyal to IPS... :rolleyes:

And this is coming from an ex-vB freak! (me).

However, as I have said before, XMod is probably a good idea for all of those who want a points system.

Not only can it change IPB, but it can change Gallery and Blog too. Not to mention it will come with a points system - anyone who makes a mod based on XMod will be able to utilize any system/subsystem of XMod. :whistle:

I've posted it on Invisionize for those interested:
http://forums.invisionize.com/index.php?showtopic=113231

I can't give a release timeframe right now, but that thread is the place to look for such updates/info. :)

[Stuart Elliott]

Actually, in truth it harms EVERYONE. Every time a "feature" (bloat) is added such as this, the next release is either delayed, or a much more useful feature is cut to make room for it.

WONT ANYONE PLEASE THINK OF THE USEFUL FEATURES?!?

<snip>..

Like the Portal Profile ? :ermm:

I don't need a points system, I have no need of one, and agree that it should be left as a custom addon for custom addons, but there have been existing issues since 1.x that still haven't been fixed, that people report over and over that get touted for the next big release "it's coming in 2.0", "it won't be in 2.04 be in 2.1", "they won't put it in 2.2, it'll be in 3.0", things like a point system which have limited functionality for what I would perceive as a small minority of IPS's customer base, are best suited to the modding community.

Just because the perverbial squeeky wheels post on here, doesn't make it the majority for a "must have" feature.

[Elemental Crisis]

Wow.....

I'm going to say whats already been said, THERE WILL NOT BE A POINTS SYSTEM IN IPB 2.2! They are already done with all the new modifications they added in and now their fine tuning it and getting rid of bugs. I can see the practical use of a points system on a hobby forum but not on a business forum like AMD's forum. I am not against the point system but I am against it becoming a "standard" feature of INVISION POWER BOARD, notice how its bold? What would I do with a points system in IPB?, NOTHING! All suggestions made have been using it with the Gallery, Blog, and Downloads components which aren't free. If I was a new user to IPB and saw the points system but couldn't use it unless I had either the Gallery, Blog or Download components installed I would wonder why it was a default feature.

Remember, Invision Power Services is a company, a company that employs people to create and maintain IPS products. These people get paid so when upgrading their products I would assume they tend to look at what features should be added and see if it would benefit both the people that use IPB for hobbies and people that use IPB for their companies.

Also its really not that hard to add back edits for example to the point systems mod if the file was overwritten with an updated file from IPS. When a new update comes out I usually spend around 10 to 15 re-applying edits to files that were updated. You don't seem me demanding every mod I installed to be a default feature because I don't want to re-apply my mod edits.

IPS is a company, they should release a Point System component and charge around $25 for it. But oh wait, that means you would have to buy it and I could see it now, people DEMANDING that it should be free just like people are now DEMANDING it should be a defualt feature.

[lupin84]

How many businesses do you think would like the idea of a point system? Most of them remove the pm system, email system and Calendars so if a point system was added I'm sure they remove that.

Since when is IPB for businesses only. If we had only features that a business would use I doubt Invision would be as popular as it is.

[theclub]

Maybe we should include the question, "Would you deny half the members who want something just because you don't?"

There is no such thing as a feature that suits every forum, l certainly don't want or need any of the new profile, especially puerile things like rating members and leaving comments. But you don't see me demanding it be taken out, l know l can turn it off, if others want it, fine. l really don't care what suits the AMD forum, how many licenses do they have? l own three.

Read this post, someone has put some thought into this and come up with some ideas.


Al this needs is the option to award points in the same way you add to your post count. Many thousands of forums have a points system, go and count the downloads, 13,000 just from Invisionize and Perfect Page..


:)

[sychn]

I don't want 60% functions of MS windows, delete them, Bill!

[Munja]

No, just plain no.

Ignoring the fact that google wont pull up all the v2.1 results there are about 128,000 boards just running v2.1. And also ignoring the fact that some of the downloads may be updating the mod or never installed it. That means less that 10% of IPB users have installed a points system.

Hardly a half of the members.

[eddy11]

I've no doubt that a points system will become a standard in decent forum software. It's just a matter of when.
Knowing the logisitcis and the technical issues of it is something for Invision to decide.

[sychn]

I've no doubt that a points system will become a standard in decent forum software. It's just a matter of when.

Knowing the logisitcis and the technical issues of it is something for Invision to decide.

Yes. No doubt. The curent user group and rank systems can not work as or instead the points system.

Points system is not for fun or something else, in some meanings it is even not for the components.

The points system is for the board, the components and the fun (if there were some) are just the ramification of points system.

Especially if IPD and IPN connect with IPB, points system is a must-have part of IPB.

BY OFFICIAL.