Dec 17 2008
Quilting Bee Blog Day 2008
So, Monday was the quilting bee‘s annual blog day. As I’m sure you’re aware by now — either from my own past entries or from other bee’s — the idea is that dedicated members tell you why they love the club, what it provides for them, show you what activities they’ve taken part in, whatever; anything goes!
This year I’m not doing that. You don’t need to read my biased opinions (I own the club, I can hardly be “objective” about it). Instead I’m going to tell you about some new features that will be introduced in the new year. Only a couple of bees know about this so it’s all a big surprise at the moment :)
The Q*Bee has a points system not dissimilar to rev.iew.me’s (surprise surprise). Members can earn points by taking part in (and winning) activities, posting on our custom “BBS” (the forum), referring new bees, nominating bees for awards, donating free*bees (graphics for other q*bee members) etc etc. There are tons of ways to earn points. The only problem is that there is not currently any way to spend points… and this is where the “plans” come in.
An ex-member member, Arien, initially made the suggestion. She thought we should all have some sort of customisable avatar. The idea is that we implement an entire wardrobe of clothes and accessories that avatars can be dressed in, which bees can spend their points on. Clothes can be limited edition, thus ‘collectable’, or generic. Each bee (member) can save their unique wardrobe and configuration, and this is viewable from the bee’s profile.
This opens up an entire new avenue of interactivity that I’m only just beginning to explore the scope of, but as well as that, will require a shop element. It is then through this shop element that we will be able to provide users the ability to customise their profiles (within reason, don’t get any ideas of myspace here!) and buy tangible items such as domain names, web space, custom q*bee produce, etc (funds allowing). It basically means that the more a bee is involved in the club, the more points they earn, and the more they can buy. In turn, having these new features encourages the activity that gets the points and it’s all one big circle of fun (in theory).
It’s all very exciting, and will require major coding time in the new year (with the help of my programmer bees) but I believe the changes will give the club to expand and improve beyond anything it has ever seen or done before. You’re more than welcome to share your thoughts, member or not.
Warning
This post is over 6 months old. This means that, despite my best intentions, it may no longer be accurate. Age, motherhood, experience, loss... these things have all changed me from when this blog was started back in the heady (ha) days of my youth.
As much as I would like to go back and edit 10 years of archives to provide an insight into the 'me' of now — to update coding snippets and revise website advice — it would probably take years to do so (by which point I'd have to start again!) This would defeat the point of keeping these archives anyway.
Please take these posts for what they are: a brief look into my past, my history, my journey.
28 Responses so far
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Ohh, so sort of like the new Xbox dashboard’s avatar addition (and similar to the Wii?) Sounds very intriguing, and definitely fun.
Maybe I can get off my ass to get back into the Qbee again instead of slacking off like last time. I did love it prior but was just too lazy.
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I wish I was a Programmer bee. :(
I love the ideas. :D
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Wow!
I’m completely blown away! I remember posting an idea in the "Building the Hive" section of the BBS asking what our points would be used for. You responded something along the lines of "we have big big plans." Little did I know it would be this big!
I can’t wait for this to be implemented into the Quilting Bee. Good luck to you and all of the programmer bees to actually set this up. And to all of the Pixel Team in making the avatars!
I’m seriously flying out of my seat.
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Happy Quilting Bee Blog Day!
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testing minor changes to commenting system…
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Ohh Jem, this sounds so cool! I can’t wait. ^^
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It will be grand! :D
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Oh, I’m nosy now. Sounds nice!
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Those ideas sound very exciting :)
*wants to join*
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Ooh, Jem this sounds cool! It will give some of the more shy bees a little extra incentive to bee more active on the BBS, and in activities, etc.
I worry though that it would become too much like a competition. I love the wonderful feeling on the bee*bee*s we have. It’s so warm and friendly there.
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As a new bee just starting to earn points, I say WOOHOO to the new ideas! lol! I can’t wait to see how it all plays out! Exciting stuff, Jem! :-)
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@Amanda: I agree somewhat…
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Wow I think that is a great idea!!!! :D
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Though I love the ideas, Jem. Are you sure that it isn’t more then the QBee can handle. I like the idea about the customizable avatar, but I am not sure about the other things. The rest sounds a little to big for what I thought the QBee is. I agree with what Amanda saying about it not becoming too competitive. I know in my case I enjoy how friendly & non-competitive the QBee is. It is a nice relaxing, non-stress place to be. If it changes then we may lose some bees. Personally, I hate it when I see even one bee in the quilt wash area, but that is me.
My suggestion would also be maybe special required patches that you can only have for a certain amount of points. You can have certain additions to your profile for points, different colors or themes for your profile, etc. Those would be my suggestions.
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That excites me to no end :o :o I highly doubt it will make people feel overly competitive, though.. The Qbee is not a place like that.
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Aaah, too many, bees…
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That’s awesome! I wish I had the time to work more on my site – I’d love to get back into the Q*Bee.
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I think it’s a great idea… I can’t wait to help implement it ;)
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I’ve really excited about this! I was trying to guess what your "big plans" but never guessed it would be this cool!
I’m a doller so if you need help making items for avatars, I’d love to help. :D
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haha sounds cool! cant wait to see how its comes out!
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Oh my goodness, what a wonderful idea! :D I can’t wait!
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oh wow! that sounds really great! I Love the q*bee and can’t wait to see how it all will work :)
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Sounds exciting. I can’t wait till new year to see how they will work live :D
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*waits to spend her points* :D
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Apparently I’m having issus with my "e" key and my name became "Ashly" in my previous comment. :P
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This sounds like an awesome idea! I was thinking it was going to be something with the points but I never imagined it to be something as grand as this…wow! I can’t wait to see the end product!
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sounds like some great plans jem
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WOW That sounds great! I can’t wait :D
