Voter's choice: Site upgrades and features

redlinederby Sunday, 7/26/2015
Site manager

Okay, even though I have nothing much to show, I have been working on site improvements and features for the last several months...albeit slowly. I've dabbled in a little bit of every project but keep getting distracted in one way or another and nothing seems to get done done. 

As is usual for me, it's just a lack of focus and follow through...I get excited about one thing, start it, then real life kicks in and I get off topic. But when I come back it's less exciting and I start something else. In short, everything is in pieces and parts (just like that old muscle car in your garage).

So I need your opinions and votes on where I should re-focus my energy. All of the projects listed below are on the road map for the site, so they'll all get here eventually. If you're quite sure what one is or need more details, just reply.

Which feature/project would you like to see come to the Redline Derby web site sooner than later? See details of each below

  • RLD Fantasy League
  • Mail-in standings and stats
  • Site redesign
  • Claim-a-trophy
  • Track directory
  • Email newsletter

Vote here

RLD Fantasy League. The fantasy league is a game that some of you will remember but many will not. It was a bracket-picking game where you pick winners in a 16-car weekly tournament...not unlike March Madness. You earn points, unlock cars and someone wins a nice prize at the end of a season. This is not a mail-in game or anything. I handle all the racing, site members just play along and win stuff. 

Official mail-in standings and stats. This would be a system for creating and managing mail-in tournaments. It would be basic to start but would let the site track wins, losses and points for each member. This would result in race standings, historical stats and just all around better organization when it comes to live race events, plus some nice tools for race hosts.

Site redesign and content organization. This site got a major overhaul in 2014 so there's not a year+ of tracking data that tells me there is a lot of room for improvement when it comes to organizing content, especially for new visitors looking to race. This project wouldn't result in any new features, just improved site performance, better events and readability.

Claim-a-trophy. This is kind of related to the standings and stats, but the point of this feature would let members claim their wins in other, non-RLD races. So say you participate in a local club race and you win, you could go to RLD and claim that win and there would be a log history of it that you could point back to. Like an online trophy shelf.

Track directory. A smaller feature that would organize and sort tracks posted by members. Instead of having your awesome track buried in some post somewhere, this would organize tracks by various attributes like location, length, etc. Allow for some nice photos and a profile page.

Email newsletter. Thinking it would be convenient for many to have a weekly newsletter hit their inbox. Content could include newest posts, selected features and upcoming event links.

...

Those projects all vary in size and shape, and I can't provide timelines for any of them...but that doesn't really matter. I just need a North Star to drive towards and get something done, I don't really care what it is. I'm tired of getting 60% done with something and then changing course. I'm hoping a community vote will motivate me to see something done until it's finished and released.

Please vote and/or post a reply or comment as to which you think would be must fun or sounds most interesting to you as a diecast racer and member of Redline Derby.

As always, your support is appreciated.

Submit your vote here


Discussion

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CrzyTrkrDude 7/26/15

Errrrrr, ummmmm... GO MAN GO!!!!!  

LOL !!!

( I like the track spec idea...  Might be cool for a number of reasons.)

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO!!

THIS PLACE ROCKS!!


  • ( I hear you with the getting sidetracked comment. siiiggghhhh) — CrzyTrkrDude
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JDC442 7/27/15

I think a mail-in standings and stats would be awesome.  I had a Mail-In History Results going for a while, but have fallen quite a bit behind since I got busy with life and took a break from racing.  If you could use the info there and create an updated version, that would be super cool Brian.

I also like the track directory idea.



Track directory.  Sweet.

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FOTF 7/28/15

I have to vote for the Fantasy League; that was fun.


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KandORacing 7/30/15

I voted for both the Fantasy League and the Mail-In History.

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redlinederby 8/3/15
Site manager

Thanks for all the feedback and voting on this topic. It's been up a week so I figure all that care enough have let their opinion be known.

As far as the voting goes, the Fantasy League and Mail-in Stats got the bulk of the interest, which wasn't much of a shock. 

However, I'll be making the Track Directory first...but only because it will be leverage by both the Fantasy League and Mail-in Stats. But since it's clear there is still a desire to have the Fantasy League back, I'll be working on that next as the "big" project for the site. After that, we'll see if the mail-in stats can't get some attention. Here's the priority...

  • Track Directory
  • Fantasy League
  • Mail-in Stats

I think the Mail-in Stats might have a greater impact on racing at large but the Fantasy League has less "questions" when it comes to building it. Plus the League is what motivated me to build this site in the first place and I think it's time to go back and enjoy that once again...both as a player, racer and builder.

So I think that's that...some direction. Now all I need is time. Anyone have some extra time? I'll trade you some old FTEs...

And for all things Fantasy League, check out that section of the site. The most recent articles there are pretty old now but will all be revisited now that things are back on the table. There were a lot of good ideas thrown around that could make the Fantasy League game bigger and better than before. Give them a read and lets continue the brainstorming...

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