Development

You are currently browsing the archive for the Development category.

I’m Back

December 17, 2009 in Development, Updates by matt | No comments

I’ve decided, after this good half-year of a break, to return to FlashStuf and continue updating– even go through with the changes I was at one point trying to make to it.

This is where I need your help. I’ve run this website for over six years now, starting in middle school until now, in college. Obviously my priorities, interests, et cetera have changed considerably in this time. I feel like you could learn most of my adolescent years by reading the archives of updates on FlashStuf.

Regardless, I want to continue to use the FlashStuf name. I’ve built a Facebook Application around it, there’s a Facebook Page, forums, over 800 members, more than 200 flash movies, games, downloads, and web tools, just to name a few. And that alone is enough to keep me from simply throwing it all away. So my question is this: what would you like to see from here?

I’ve already started development on a FlashStuf Apps platform (mostly for myself), for creating small web apps based on your FlashStuf user account. Profiles are still under construction. It’s becoming a more user-centric site. So if you have any ideas, give me a shout– on the blog, on the Facebook page, on the website, wherever. Let me know what you, the users, think.

Redesign Progress - Ratings

October 22, 2008 in Development by admin | No comments

Today, building upon the recent member Points System, the ability to rate Flash movies and games has been enabled. Rating a file will not only contribute to the site, but give you 1 additional point on your username. This can help you increase your level, unlock features, etc.

This is going to help further integrate a load of data about all the files of FlashStuf. For example, when a good amount of files have been rated, we will display high score tables listing the best and worst works on the site. High ratings on FlashStuf-artist work will even give you more points. Note that as of now, guests cannot vote on games and movies. This may be changed in the future, depending on how things go. Enjoy!

Version 3.5 coming soon

October 9, 2008 in Development, Updates by admin | No comments

FlashStuf will be undergoing a fourth redesign in the next two months. It’s going to improve more upon the backend of the site and include some new features.

When FlashStuf version 3 (the latest redesign) was unveiled earlier this year, there were a lot of sections and new features left unfinished– sections such as the polls and downloads were put on a lower priority so that the site could continue running as normal, with the main content still intact. This update’s purpose is to make the site complete again. Here are some of the changes that are coming.

New Features
It’s also going to be more interactive and community-driven. Users can earn points by playing games and participating in the site, raising their status.

Profiles
FlashStuf Profiles are going to be more of a way to show your activities on FlashStuf and interact with other members. The purpose won’t be to replace a profile you have on another site anymore. Privacy settings and more customization will finally be added here.

On another note, the current Favorites system has been updated, allowing you to display your favorites on the home page again. Non-FlashStuf members also won’t see the FF+ links on the home page anymore. Many more small changes like this will follow as we get closer to the redesign.

New Favorites

September 30, 2008 in Development by admin | No comments

The FlashStuf Favorites system was updated this week, with a backend that better integrates with the rest of the site. It is now less prone to errors from wrong files being added, and is much smoother in general. The new system is also going to allow for a lot more flexibility. Soon there will be an easier way to reorder you favorites, and right now you should notice an option on the Favorites section home page that allows you to set each item as public or private. You may also choose whether or not to make all of your favorites private by default.

For those who already had favorites saved, I have moved them over and you should be able to go about managing them as always. However, if you have added favorites and they aren’t there anymore, please let us know.

New High Score System

September 25, 2008 in Development by admin | 1 comment

After the site redesign early this year, several key FlashStuf features were lost. One of these was the high score system, as seen in games such as The BUTTONS! and Let’s Wait in Line. Today, the new FlashStuf high score system is finished, and you can now try it out in an updated version of The BUTTONS.

Before, it was very easy to cheat and submit scores that you didn’t really get in the game. However, the new high score system has better security so there should be much less (if any) cheaters on the score boards. Also, as a brand new feature, high scores are now linked to your FlashStuf membership. So if you log in before playing the game, you will see that the game recognizes you as a member, and submits your score by your username. These scores will then show up on your FlashStuf profile (if you choose, through the privacy settings page).

Next, we’ll be updating Let’s Wait in Line to the new high score system to make sure everything still holds, and then any developer may use the system in their game to provide high scores. More on this as things develop.

Facebook Profile Importer

September 8, 2008 in Development by admin | No comments

For new and existing FlashStuf users who haven’t already filled out information for their profile (such as your name, gender, birthday, etc.), you can now import this information from Facebook using the Profile Importer. This will you allow you to add your information to your FlashStuf Profile without having to manually type it all in. More information will be imported in the future. However, if there is anything else you’d like to see or be able to add to your profile, let us know in the comments.

Profiles Home Updated

August 23, 2008 in Development by admin | No comments

The mobile and full-site versions of FlashStuf Profiles have been updated to let you know when you have new comments simply by visiting your home page. It notifies you of how many new comments you’ve received, and from whom.

Adding this feature got us started on the implementation of the settings system I mentioned last week, where you’ll be able to save privacy settings and similar options. From here, forms need to be made for all three sites (FlashStuf Accounts, Profiles, and Mobile Profiles), and the layer behind to interface with the database. This is also going to open up a lot more options for where Profiles is headed and put it much further into finally becoming a fully-functioning social networking site.