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Points System

MP Mr Papa
Mr Papa
Member
Member since Dec 2006
19,448 posts
Feb 27, 2009 · 3:49 pm · Edited

Thought I would start a topic on the implementation of a points system (though I think I would change it up and call it a reward system) as requested by bunch of folks…

A couple recommended integrating cubepoints plugin for wp.  took a bit of a look at that today, but not sure thats the right answer – or at least its a bunch of overhead that we would still have to duplicate.  It has a pretty nice backend but its not really customizable.  So, it allows you to set up points for various wp actions, but you cant add your own actions.  I understand the reasons.  They give you a function to call if you want to add points for other actions but not a UI for it.  So we could award points for actions (start topic, reply, etc)  but they would be hardcoded or we would have to add our own backend (essentially duplicating theirs) for all our forum based actions that generate points.

So, it seems simpler to do our own thing and add in the wp actions (posting, commenting, etc) with our forum actions. We wouldnt have to stay current with their releases either.

Thoughts?

Some features I would plan with this implementation

– points for wp post

– points for wp post deleted (abuse prevention – can be zero)

– points for wp comment

– points for wp comment deleted (abuse prevention – can be zero)

– points for starting spf topic

– points for posting spf reply

– points for spf post getting deleted (abuse prevention – can be zero)

– points for reporting post (admin action required – link in email?) ??

– points for any other spf actions??? (input requested)

– optional prefix and suffix for displaying points value (would love an optional image too)

– optional handling of points for admins and moderators

– optional logging system for admins to review to prevent abuse

– ability in backend UI to display users and their points and for admin to modify user points

– option to allow users to award some of their points to other users (common forum feature for users to reward other users) with email notification

– display points in user info area of topic pages

– template tag for displaying top points users

– template tag for allowing adding X points to user Y (other plugin integration of spf hooks – no bakend UI for items though)

– consider an import from cubepoints function for folks that might want to convert over

Actually, pretty excited about working this one.  Have I missed anything?  Other thoughts?

8 Answers

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YS Yellow Swordfish
Yellow Swordfish
Member
Member since Nov 2008
16,437 posts
Feb 27, 2009 · 5:02 pm

This is one of those things I don't really understand! Please excuse my ignorance but what are the points for? Is it just for ego? Does the user with the most points get something back? This looks like an impressive list and if people want it then I am fine with it but I don't really understand it….

MP Mr Papa
Mr Papa
Member
Member since Dec 2006
19,448 posts
Feb 27, 2009 · 5:29 pm

lol… yeah, its pretty much for ego or bragging, but surprisingly (generally speaking here) folks dont abuse and try to get points by madly posting…  where its value seems to come in on other forums is when you make a “good” post, other users can “reward” you and send you points that they have earned.  different forums use different names (frubals, rewards, etc).  the really exotic ones, then have stuff you can buy with your points.  the buying might not be a physical product but could be.  You could use your points to gain access to an otherwise private or pay for use area.  I have no plans to implement a purchase/buying system. 

when used as a rewards system and folks send you their points, it can act as a sort of karma system too.  plus it just creates a community when folks are sending each other points for making a good post.

I will likely bug you later for some graphics for displaying the points.  wouldnt do this, but could be 1 to 10 stars depending on how many points you have.  maybe let the user specify the break points for the 1 – 10 (or less).  havent thought this part all the way through yet as its the final step, displaying a users points.

you just need to get with this social networking stuff! Kiss

YS Yellow Swordfish
Yellow Swordfish
Member
Member since Nov 2008
16,437 posts
Feb 28, 2009 · 2:21 am

“…you just need to get with this social networking stuff!”

Yes – I am obviously just an old dinosaur. I was invited to join Facebook the other day so I did and afterwards sat there looking at it wondering what I was supposed to do next….

OK – please not stars…… And if this is done at the 'post' level why does it not tie in with the rating system – wouldnt that make sense? Or am I missing something….

MP Mr Papa
Mr Papa
Member
Member since Dec 2006
19,448 posts
Feb 28, 2009 · 7:17 am

lol…  I have a facebook account too but do pretty much nothing with it except have a wp plugin that auto posts my blogs and twits to facebook… so it appears I am doing something…  occasionally a friend messages me there which is the only time I actually visit…

Eh, I tried to point out it wouldnt be stars – that was just for illustrative purposes…  It may not be graphic at all either…

It doesnt really tie into the post ratings at all…  In fact, I would wonder why in the heck you would use both at the same time.  Would be one or the other, I would think…  the rewards are pseudo at the post level in that you can get points for posting…  but you get points for other stuff too…  and people can reward you with their points at any time and its not based on a post though they usually send you the reward for good discussion topic/posts…  points are also optionally  earned outside of the forum itself – making wp posts or comments…  I would think most users would only enable it on the forum stuff though but the ones who have asked for it were running it on wp stuff too.

Even though I coded it up, I am not a fan of the post rating and wouldnt use it myself – but lots of folks like that sort of thing.  The reward system will be much better at a community site and social networking – wish we had done it first…  the rewards can be very site specific if its done right…  that is you have a site all about pirates, the rewards are in gold coins.  etc etc etc

Not sure when I will start coding this, but will update progress.  Have a few other things to do in 4.1 first plus get 4.0.2 out.  just started thinking about it as a diversion from troubleshooting problems yesterday…

YS Yellow Swordfish
Yellow Swordfish
Member
Member since Nov 2008
16,437 posts
Feb 28, 2009 · 9:21 am

I think I get it. It's USER centric nit POST/TOPIC centric. That makes sense and is a much 'nicer' notion…

MP Mr Papa
Mr Papa
Member
Member since Dec 2006
19,448 posts
Feb 28, 2009 · 9:27 am

yes, nice way to summarize it…  it might negate the need for karma type system though the folks using post rating might not think so.