A SITE FOR SORE EYES (UPDATES)

The crux of the suggestions I'd make (what I remember from conv with Libby) were:

* There was talk of making gamepage images in-game-screenshots only, apparently (which is an interesting idea, but I disagree with it).
* To this we said - instead of *screenshots only* we extend the gallery functionality to different categories of image submitted (in-game screenshots being the default, then there could be other custom OR pre-made categories such as "concept art", "promotional art" (or just "art"), "development screenshots" (images taken editor-side etc) - these would be viewable either via tabs or filtering options (drop-down menu, for example) in the images section of a game page.
* This stuff is obviously only for things that have been created by the makers of the game and not the same order of things as what we currently put into "Media". This is all original content from the creator(s) of the game (although overhauling media in the process might be an idea ._.).
* Gallery functionality is extended to allow video posts also, there's no reason not to in this day and age - They'd still be hosted elsewhere (ie YT) but you allow them to be shown in the current gallery format and commented on as such (and have the arrows to next/previous image/video too) - Kinda like twitter's photos/videos thing - this will encourage a lot more use of video to demonstrate things, I reckon?. (whether videos should be a category, or cub category of the images system I leave up to you, my got feeling is yes, though).
* If you go with filtering instead of tabs (which I think is more elegant a solution) then the default view for the image gallery of a game page can be retained as a viewing option (simply where the most recently submitted photos (or videos!) are at the top). - This could either be an option in the filtering of gallery submissions (show all photos and videos, by date submitted etc - (oh yeah we should have sorting too :P)). I assume the new actual default view would be with categories and/or filtering? Although perhaps which view is set to actual default could be a gamepage CP option.
*Sub-galleries (a-la facebook D: with thumbnails to click-through to another gallery/category) is of course another way this could be implemented but idk how I feel about that one - It would work fine but it's a little ugly a solution? What do you guys think?

If this isn't just a report on stuff that has changed and how is works thread and is in fact a 'request change' thread then I have one.

Can we please have a search forum option?

We have a search site option, which is fine if I'm looking for a game but is utterly useless if I'm looking for information. For the last month or so I've decided to try and give a bit back to this site which has over the last few years given me so much. So I decided to play to my strengths and try and write reviews for games that either had fallen by the wayside or games that didn't have any reviews at all. Given that starting point I wanted to make sure my reviews were at least on the level of others that had been accepted so I spent a bit of time reading through the reviews of others and what I picked up is there is an unbelievably large gap between coherent, well articulated and thoughtful reviews and those that I can only describe as fan-wanks. Both of which seem to be accepted. So I went looking for a more impartial baseline, a guide to reviews on this site.

{/start rant} Do you think I could find it? No, I bloody well couldn't. Type review into the 'Google custom search' on this site, and you'll get actual reviews.

This is NOT helpful.

I know plenty of you are going to be able to dig up a review guideline in response to this post, mostly because you wrote it or contributed to it. That's great, but it defeats the purpose. Using the search option for non-game related information on this site doesn't work, and it should. The amount of knowledge, support, information and passion here is phenomenal and should be accessible to everyone, newbie or veteran. So can we please have a specific search option.

{/end rant}.

n.b. If there actually is such a feature, (outlining acceptable submission guidelines, required content, grading system etc.) can someone gently point me toward it and ignore the rant above. As always I'm perfectly happy to be proven wrong when I actually am.

Though that does not negate my original point, finding INFORMATION as opposed to games here isn't straight-forward.

Thanks all, that's just what I was looking for, as always in this place, ask and ye shall receive.

author=Shinan

author=Link_2112

author=Sailerius
Could we get the recent posts button back under the Community menu at the top? I have no idea where it went.

God yes, put that thing back. Please :|

At first I was also "Where did it go ;_;" but now I noticed I actually use the community portal instead (where there are links to both latest statuses and latest posts), where in the past I always just ignored that.

What this essentially means is that now suddenly I am aware of statuses again.

I'd like to forget status'. I prefer to look over the front page for any new content then go right to latest posts. Although logic would dictate that by the time I look through the front page I would be looking at the bottom where I could click 'post history' but old habits>logic.

Can we please have a search forum option?

We have a search site option, which is fine if I'm looking for a game but is utterly useless if I'm looking for information.

You can add words to your search to narrow it down to any section. The search looks at the url too, so if you put the word FORUM in the search box, it will show mostly the results with /forums/ in the url. Allowing you to mainly search the forums.

edit: Oh, looks like others addressed this. Basically, people need to learn to search better. There are many "hidden" features for search engines that most people aren't aware of. So while GRS's solution works, it's not as simple as adding 1 extra word that targets the url.