26.10.2009, 18:41
So far a lot of reactions are thoughts on how to organize the portal.
I think it is also very wise to make rules for the portal.
The portal fulfills a need. That is clear. I think it is a succes. It can only stay a succes under a few conditions. First of all it is very important that there is a variety in puzzles; different types, different levels, different authors. In that case there is something in the portal for everyone. Second it is necessary that there is more or less a constant stream of new puzzles. If it takes too long before new puzzles are posted, people become disappointed and in the end they stay away. For that reason I have posted my 54 puzzles more or less in a steady flow. Sometimes I have more time to make them, and other times I have less time to make them, but on average I have posted one per week. It happened a few times that I had some puzzles available, but I have waited a while because other puzzles were also still unsolved.
Making puzzles is a time consuming process. It starts with an idea that you work out. That takes time. Sometimes it takes more time than people can think of. But that is fine since it is a hobby. And it also gives rewards: happy puzzlers who give feedback on a puzzle or give a high rating or elseway.
I can only speak for my self, but I like it if many people solve my puzzles. If only a few people solve it because it is too hard: fine. If only a few people solve it because the others don't like it: fine too. That is a lesson for me. But if only a few people solve it because there are too much other puzzles available, I seriously start hesitating to post more puzzles, because in that case some of the rewards are taken away. For me it makes no sense to have worked for hours on a puzzle that is only solved a few times.
So for that reason I would really appreciate it when there would be a limit to the numbers of puzzles the authors can publish. Of course the limit must be the same for all authors. That limit also takes care for the above mentioned 'constant stream of puzzles'. Also the portal is then not so dependent of a small number of authors. If one author for whatever reason stops publishing puzzles the impact is limited with a limit of puzzles per period.
Kind regards,
Richard
I think it is also very wise to make rules for the portal.
The portal fulfills a need. That is clear. I think it is a succes. It can only stay a succes under a few conditions. First of all it is very important that there is a variety in puzzles; different types, different levels, different authors. In that case there is something in the portal for everyone. Second it is necessary that there is more or less a constant stream of new puzzles. If it takes too long before new puzzles are posted, people become disappointed and in the end they stay away. For that reason I have posted my 54 puzzles more or less in a steady flow. Sometimes I have more time to make them, and other times I have less time to make them, but on average I have posted one per week. It happened a few times that I had some puzzles available, but I have waited a while because other puzzles were also still unsolved.
Making puzzles is a time consuming process. It starts with an idea that you work out. That takes time. Sometimes it takes more time than people can think of. But that is fine since it is a hobby. And it also gives rewards: happy puzzlers who give feedback on a puzzle or give a high rating or elseway.
I can only speak for my self, but I like it if many people solve my puzzles. If only a few people solve it because it is too hard: fine. If only a few people solve it because the others don't like it: fine too. That is a lesson for me. But if only a few people solve it because there are too much other puzzles available, I seriously start hesitating to post more puzzles, because in that case some of the rewards are taken away. For me it makes no sense to have worked for hours on a puzzle that is only solved a few times.
So for that reason I would really appreciate it when there would be a limit to the numbers of puzzles the authors can publish. Of course the limit must be the same for all authors. That limit also takes care for the above mentioned 'constant stream of puzzles'. Also the portal is then not so dependent of a small number of authors. If one author for whatever reason stops publishing puzzles the impact is limited with a limit of puzzles per period.
Kind regards,
Richard