Okay gang, here's the deal. I'm getting to the point with DPWR's upgrade where I feel like I should take the time to see what the people using this site want to see happen to it, so I'm going to be posting a series of feedback topics asking for opinions and preferences. First up is the Gallery.

Keep in mind, please, that there is only so much that I can do to affect the products this site takes advantage of. That said, I have some specific items I'd definitely like feedback on, and from there I'll also take random thoughts.

1. Do you feel that the Gallery places enough emphasis on the images stored in it?
   1. If not, how would you suggest improving Gallery to make the images more prominent?
2. Would you be interested in the ability to rate images?
3. Would you be interested in seeing a collection of the last 5-15 images uploaded to the Gallery on the gallery's front page?
4. Would you be interested in seeing a collection of the most-favorited or top-rated images on the Gallery front page?
5. Would you be interested in being notified via PM or email if someone commented on one of your images?
6. Would you be interested in the ability to "track" other members' activity in the Gallery (i.e. be notified via PM or email when they upload a new image)?
7. Which of the following do you prefer?
   1. A Gallery front page similar to Invision Power's Demo Gallery, with categories listed in blocks across the page, showing the latest image from each category, or
   2. A Gallery front page similar to deviantArt, with collections of the latest images Gallery-wide in a prominent position, and the categories in an easy-to-access drop-down list?
8. Which of the following would you prefer?
   1. Member name links in the Gallery direct you to a member's profile page, just as they do everywhere else on the site, from which you can access a more complete member gallery page, or
   2. Member name links in the Gallery link directly to a member's gallery page, from which you can access their public profile page?
9. Do you feel you have enough space to store the images you want to in the Gallery?
10. Would you like to see the image upload limit removed?
11. What information would you like to see displayed when you enter a gallery and see a collection of images? View count, comment count, upload date, uploader, image title, file size? All of the above? None of the above?
12. How much of the information above should be provided when viewing an individual image?
13. Do you have any suggestions for additional subject categories for member artwork, or do you feel that the member Gallery is a suitable place to put images that are not screenshots from the Myst games?
14. What suggestions do you have to make the Gallery a more integral part of DPWR?

Please note that I don't expect everyone here to complete this survey, and if you decide to answer it, you don't even have to fill it out completely, just answer what you want and give me any feedback you have. In the next couple of days I'll probably be doing a few more of these to get feedback on the other sections of the site, so I know where my efforts need to go most in development.

Do you feel that the Gallery places enough emphasis on the images stored in it?
Yes I do feel the Gallery places enough emphasis on the images stored...however increasing that emphasis to whatever degree you feel is relevant is quite acceptable.

If not, how would you suggest improving Gallery to make the images more prominent?
We need more images in some of the older games' galleries.

Would you be interested in the ability to rate images?
Sure...but make it an option/toggle for the Members' Galleries

Would you be interested in seeing a collection of the last 5-15 images uploaded to the Gallery on the gallery's front page?
That would be a great idea! 15 might be a bit much, maybe the last 5 or 10 would be better.

Would you be interested in seeing a collection of the most-favorited or top-rated images on the Gallery front page?
That would be great also...like a "Hot 5" or "Top 5", something like that.

Would you be interested in being notified via PM or email if someone commented on one of your images?
Definitely! Excellent idea!

Would you be interested in the ability to "track" other members' activity in the Gallery (i.e. be notified via PM or email when they upload a new image)?
Yes, have a "favorite author" system, where you can click on an icon within their image page and/or in their profile. Sort of like subscribing.

Which of the following do you prefer?

1. A Gallery front page similar to Invision Power's Demo Gallery, with categories listed in blocks across the page, showing the latest image from each category, or
2. A Gallery front page similar to deviantArt, with collections of the latest images Gallery-wide in a prominent position, and the categories in an easy-to-access drop-down list?

A little bit of both, but mostly like a. ... having a random image (or multiple randoms) from members' galleries would be great, just not sitting at the top by itself (hence the multiple randoms)...and having each list grouped is good, with the list name/type heading a little more prominent, with a <<more>> link next to it, to go to a page with...well ....more images, would be great.

Which of the following would you prefer?

1. Member name links in the Gallery direct you to a member's profile page, just as they do everywhere else on the site, from which you can access a more complete member gallery page, or
2. Member name links in the Gallery link directly to a member's gallery page, from which you can access their public profile page?

I would prefer the direct link to the person's personal gallery, maybe label the link as such. (ie, "View So-and-so's Gallery")
**question---would uploading an image to, say, the Riven gallery, put the image in my own personal gallery, or would I just have images uploaded/stored/scattered throughout the various game galleries? Or is this all handled by php and/or links...or something?

Do you feel you have enough space to store the images you want to in the Gallery?
If you're referring to the Members' gallery, I can personally say Yes, but I will leave this one to non-staff members' replies.

Would you like to see the image upload limit removed?
I don't think it needs to be removed, maybe just bumped up a little. Removing it only opens it to potential abuse.

What information would you like to see displayed when you enter a gallery and see a collection of images? View count, comment count, upload date, uploader, image title, file size? All of the above? None of the above?
All of the above...plus, for the game images, Which game and which age (which can be used for tags or keyword searching etc) [edit to add that this would obviously be for members' gallery not individual game/age gallery]. And if it's not too much trouble, perhaps making all image info (except image title) hidden by default with "more information" that opens all the details....or not, depends on what everyone else wants for that.

How much of the information above should be provided when viewing an individual image?
See above comment.

Do you have any suggestions for additional subject categories for member artwork, or do you feel that the member Gallery is a suitable place to put images that are not screenshots from the Myst games?
What I've always wanted to see, was a way to sub-categorize our personal galleries (sub folders?) so that I can have one section for say myst-related images/artwork, and another for (in my case) fractals, and yet another for photos.

What suggestions do you have to make the Gallery a more integral part of DPWR?
A good start would be your suggestions for putting more sample images on the main DPWR front page...another idea would be to add a random image(s) to the top of the forum page, since not everyone comes to DPWR via the front page. I have the forum bookmarked and that is what I use to get here majority of the time.

Do you feel that the Gallery places enough emphasis on the images stored in it?
It could put more emphasis on them.

1. If not, how would you suggest improving Gallery to make the images more prominent?
Putting thumbs the top 5 top rated or latest images on the front page, putting thumbs of the latest uploaded images in the main Forums page

Would you be interested in the ability to rate images? Yes, why not?

Would you be interested in seeing a collection of the last 5-15 images uploaded to the Gallery on the gallery's front page? Yes!

Would you be interested in seeing a collection of the most-favorited or top-rated images on the Gallery front page? Yes, but not too many, or in a way that it won't alter the current page too much.

Would you be interested in being notified via PM or email if someone commented on one of your images? No.


Would you be interested in the ability to "track" other members' activity in the Gallery (i.e. be notified via PM or email when they upload a new image)? No.

Which of the following do you prefer?
A Gallery front page similar to deviantArt, with collections of the latest images Gallery-wide in a prominent position, and the categories in an easy-to-access drop-down list.


Which of the following would you prefer?

Member name links in the Gallery direct you to a member's profile page, just as they do everywhere else on the site, from which you can access a more complete member gallery page, or


Do you feel you have enough space to store the images you want to in the Gallery? Yes.

Would you like to see the image upload limit removed? No. Have no need...

What information would you like to see displayed when you enter a gallery and see a collection of images? View count, comment count, upload date, uploader, image title, file size

How much of the information above should be provided when viewing an individual image? All of the above.

What suggestions do you have to make the Gallery a more integral part of DPWR? I like Fallstar's idea of adding random images to the forum page! maybe also add a random image to the front page.


Great work on the site btw, really appreciate having dpwr.net around!