About your profile - yes, yours!

[Arhu]

I'm working on the display of profile pages at the moment and couldn't help but notice that nobody fills in anything except for the location maybe. One reason could be that not much is displayed next to posts anyway (except for the location ;)), another that the available profile fields are kinda "meh".

So my question is, what profile fields would you like to see?

We have these:

- Biography
- Interests
- Location
- Occupation

I'm thinking of changing "Biography" to "About me" and allow more than 100 characters. Dunno about the rest.

What else? Favourite RPGs? Favourite movies? ... ?

Thanks for your input. :)

[Asbjoern]

Possible additions could be:

- Gender
- Favourite RPGs
- Favourite MMORPGs
- Favourite Non-RPGs

I seldom fill out the "biography" and "Interests" fields because that seems too private. Though stating which games I like is a bit more innocent/unimportant/trivial so I don't mind filling that out.

[txa1265]

Does anyone actually read these things? Other than birthdays?

[Asbjoern]

Does anyone actually read these things? Other than birthdays?

Hah, I must admit I've checked your profile out once.

[Arhu]

Does anyone actually read these things? Other than birthdays?

Not really, but the profile page itself is viewed pretty often, I think. As I'm integrating it into the normal RPG Watch design, I might just as well make it look pretty. Default profile fields != pretty.

Personally, I use it often to find all posts by someone. No, not for spying, but for research. ;)

[magerette]

I think most people are leery of putting down anything too personal. but I'd chime in on the idea of favorite games and interests, even favorite books and films maybe.

[dteowner]

Hah, I must admit I've checked your profile out once.Stalker! Stalker! ;)

I don't think I've looked at anyone's profile intentionally. A few times I accidently clicked on a user's name, which links to the profile. That's pretty much it.

Seems to me that most interests that people care to share end up in their signature in some form, so I don't know that there's much info that would be added in the profile.

[Jaz]

I like the 'favorite RPG' option.

And I often read profiles :p. Even those I don't have to read.

[Cm]

Personally I do read some profiles for specific reasons. I would keep it a short list and lump the games in one part and other interests or information as a second and just let us comment as we desire. I do agree most of us are guarded so it will all be general anyway.

[Arhu]

Okay folks, I've activated the changes to profile pages, you can see an example with some example data here: Arhu's Profile (http://www.rpgwatch.com/forums/member.php?u=5).

I've changed the profile picture's possible dimensions to max 200x300 (was 120x120 before), so if you want to update yours, go ahead. There's still a couple glitches and some things that don't work as I'd like them to, but that will have to wait for tomorrow and I'm sure you get the idea.

Note that you don't have to fill in anything at all, just what you feel like sharing with us fellow RPGWatchers (and the whole wide world :p).
For convenience here's a link to where you can update your profile (http://www.rpgwatch.com/forums/profile.php?do=editprofile).

Jaz: Feel free to add or remove profile fields as you see fit. ;)

[Jaz]

*evil cackle*
That's great, Arhu. Good job.
*evil cackle*

[txa1265]

Cool - thanks for the direct linkage ... makes my life easier ;)

[Asbjoern]

Come on, people. I see that few have filled out the new user profile display. So would you kindly?

@Arhu, the new profile display is really a great piece of work. It's the first time on a message board that I've felt an interest in filling it. It adds depth to this site (if people would fill their profiles), so good work!
But I have a suggestion too. Perhaps the boxes to the right on the profile page ("Forum Info", "Contact Info" and "Group Memberships") should have a dividing line between them, just like "Picture Watch", "Poll Watch" and Future Watch" have on the front page?

[Alrik Fassbauer]

I rarely look into other's profiles, but I've updated mine.

[Pladio]

I updated mine too :D

[Arhu]

Asbjoern: Mucho gracias, and yes, there should be dividing lines.

[magerette]

Well after reading some of the other updates, I went in and gussied mine up a bit too. It is kind of nice to get a little background on people. :)

[dteowner]

All right, all right. Damn, peer pressure is a pain.

[MasterLich]

Some info about the hardware and OS people are using would be nice; would also be handy to check when someone has technical problems. I think this would be something people would actually put in their profile, at least when registering the first time.

[Arhu]

Some info about the hardware and OS people are using would be nice; would also be handy to check when someone has technical problems. I think this would be something people would actually put in their profile, at least when registering the first time.

Why not. One field for hardware and one for OS or do you have anything else in mind? It shouldn't be too detailed though, a hardware list (including consoles) can quickly grow too large, better let the user decide about the specifics.

[MasterLich]

Why not. One field for hardware and one for OS or do you have anything else in mind? It shouldn't be too detailed though, a hardware list (including consoles) can quickly grow too large, better let the user decide about the specifics.

I think that one free-form text field for all should be enough; after all, there might even be some console users here. Or someone might want to list more than one machine (e.g. a handheld).

EDIT: Unless you consider something like max. 120 characters too large.

[YellowWing]

Being New Here may i say that..I like Arhu`s Idea" It would be nice to have.And it would be adding more info" be it a Server or PS2, XBOX,or PC"
Or it would also be nice to have how many visitors look at your Profile this may help it??
of course tis only my opinion..So far everything is good from what ive seen so far

[Arhu]

Some info about the hardware and OS people are using would be nice; would also be handy to check when someone has technical problems. I think this would be something people would actually put in their profile, at least when registering the first time.

Implemented as suggested.

Example: Arhu's profile (http://www.rpgwatch.com/forums/member.php?u=5)

Everyone: Update your profile (http://www.rpgwatch.com/forums/profile.php?do=editprofile) today!

What I'm not sure about is the display order of the profile fields.. System specs first or interests first?

[magerette]

I think you got it right--system specs first. We're talking about geeks here, right? :)

[Asbjoern]

I would say that the system specs. should be last. It sort of ruins the flow or chronology of information otherwise. The "Interest" fields is personal information so it makes sense to have it displayed after the initial personal information.

[aries100]

I don't fill out the bio or about me forms simplay because I deem it ti be to private. Sometimes, I fill out the occupation form with the words 'teacher', as is this fairly neutral. A form or slot for Gender would be nice, I think, not at least for stats purposes. And maybe a slot for favorite rpgs, adventure games etc. and such things. The computer specs for your computer would be a nice add-on slot, too, I think. OS+RAM+Videocard would be OK, I think for this.

/Karsten

[Jaz]

Arhu already added profile slots for gender, machine stats and favorite CRPGs/other games.

[skavenhorde]

Ok just filled in the bio but haven't got a clue about my sys specs lol. I pretty much just know I have to go buy a new one every 2 to 3 years, other than that I just pray that it runs.

[Bartacus]

Since your os is win xp, this is pretty easy to explain:
Start - Programs - Accessories - System tools - System information.
Or the properties of 'My Computer' already reveal the cpu and the RAM in it displayed.

[skavenhorde]

Thanks, Then I got AMD athlon 64x2 Dual Core 3800+, 2 gigs ram and NVIDIA GeoForce 7600GT. Thanks I forgot about the 'My Computer' properties and display properties :)