Forum:Featured User and Did you know?

Forums: Index > Site discussions > Featured User and Did you know?

So I decided to take more interest in this site and all. So I decided to come up with a few things I wanted to say for a long time.

Firstly, The featured user interview. Really, it's nothing but long-long text that majority of people wont care about, only for active editors here being merely 20 users. It fills up the entire homepage as if the homepage is just their for that big interview relating nothing with Sonic himself. This is an encyclopedia after all. What I'm saying that we don't need that interview to fill the entire page since it's just some everyday question asked about some person that could even be found on his/her page. If it were an interview from some SEGA guy with us, then sure, keep it for months but this is just a user. I strongly suggest we merge the interview to a different subpage and add a message above the poll ; This months features user was ______, click here to see his/her interview

I believe a ton of more useful things could be added instead, like the recently discussed News wall and a Did you know section. I believe this wiki has a ton of info that is worthy of a Did you know. It's representable and ofcourse, appealing to newcomers. They'll know this wiki is top notch

Thats all for now. --Quack 15:26, June 25, 2013 (UTC)

Hmmm.... I might want to agree with this. Some people MIGHT care. Let's put my opinion in a nutshell: Put the Featured User thing on a subpage; Put a Did You Know section, and implement the News Wall. User:XxTinkaStarxX/Signature 17:03, June 25, 2013 (UTC)

Perfect nutshell. And by some people you mean.. very little. Like only user's who frequently come here for the community. --Quack 17:08, June 25, 2013 (UTC)

I like the idea of having a subpage for interviews, but not a "Did you know?" section. I think it would be unnecessary. The Fresh Prince of Grooseland 25 June 2013 17:50 (UTC)

I could probably help with the "Did you know?" section. We have something similar on the Matrix Wiki, except we use quotes instead of facts. Each time the page is visited, the quote changes on its own so that the visitor doesn't always see the same quote. I could try bringing that here, but using facts instead of quotes.   ★EYCEST★R★    ★Contact★ 20:55, June 25, 2013 (UTC)

You'd have to spend a lot of time putting all the facts in. I mean, there's so many, which is great because we need many to make it work, but... PhysTheEchidna (talk) 21:09, June 25, 2013 (UTC)

I love dark future's idea of the Quote on the main page. SilverPlays97 (Wall) (Contributions) 21:13, June 25, 2013 (UTC)

Part of me wants to keep the Featured User interview. Before I joined the wiki as a user, I always found it interesting to read. The interview also encouraged me to join in hopes of potentially being interviewed one day. I wouldn't mind seeing the News Wall and DYK implemented, however. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 22:29, June 25, 2013 (UTC)

I disagree with you, Disco, as I want the Featured User interview to remain on the homepage. I do agree that it should be strictly about Sonic and their wiki lives. As for the Did You Know section... Ummmm, I would say it shouldn't be an administrator-only editing thing, if that makes sense. It should be editable by users with user rights. I don't really have to say much about that, but it's my opinion. BlueSpeeder (talk) 22:34, June 25, 2013 (UTC)

There is no protection setting that only allows users with rollback or chat moderator permissions to edit. Just leave it open to all autoconfirmed users unless the page is a target for vandalism. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 22:46, June 25, 2013 (UTC)

To summarize my thoughts on the home page:

• Keep Featured User and the interview
• Increase featured user candidates to eight
• Add did you know section so long as people will be working on it
• Add news wall so long as people will be working on it
• Update headers to Disco's version as seen on Forum:News Wall?, as they will look better with the background.

--Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 22:49, June 25, 2013 (UTC)

Per Bullet.--- User:Fly the Fox/Signature 22:59, June 25, 2013 (UTC)

Well, I'll take all of Bullet's ideas. But I still insist we atleast shorten the interview. --Quack 06:48, June 26, 2013 (UTC)

I like DF's idea. A different fact every time? That would be so cool. -- Shadowunleashed13 (talk) 18:55, June 26, 2013 (UTC)

It's actually possible to create a list of facts (five or six, maybe) and make them different every time as well. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 11:07, June 27, 2013 (UTC)

I think the Features User should have a subpage instead. On the homepage it can look something like this -

DarkFuture Read more about this user

It doesn't need to look like this. But I think a subpage is a better idea, since, instead of the Featured User, we can have our own News Feed taking its place on out page. Thoughts?--SlugDrones • (Contact) 11:45, June 27, 2013 (UTC)

The news feed (using Morff's idea) would look better on the right column, as demonstrated here and here. The interview can stay on the main page as long as both columns are balanced. Perhaps we could move Featured Article to the left and add the News Feed and "Did you know" to the right? --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 11:50, June 27, 2013 (UTC)

I think that might work. But what we really need is to have a featured user actually updated on time. There were times on SNN when we would have the FU updated on the dot every month. Nowadays...well... -- Murphyshane - 熱! Don't click here 11:52, June 27, 2013 (UTC)

Another reason why I think we make a subpage so that our frontpage doesn't have an outdated wall of text.--SlugDrones • (Contact) 12:06, June 27, 2013 (UTC)

By the way, what if we have the buttons across the page?

Poorly edited. The wallpaper will not look like that, it's just zoomed out.

No thanks. I prefer our current arrangement. A sub-page isn't necessary. The Featured User Interview evens out the columns anyways. If we moved something over to the left column, and added the News Wall and DYK secion to the right column, it should be fairly balanced. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 12:14, June 27, 2013 (UTC)

The FU takes the most space of our frontpage. Something I've never been pleased with since we can put so much more.--SlugDrones • (Contact) 12:20, June 27, 2013 (UTC)

I'd rather keep it. It's not preventing you from adding "more", you just have to even out the columns. If you can find a way to make it smaller and even out the columns so they look good, then I'll reconsider my opinion. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 12:29, June 27, 2013 (UTC)

Dornes, you should share that on the New Look Forum. I also do not like it. SilverPlays97 (Wall) (Contributions) 12:15, June 27, 2013 (UTC)

Um, guys? We already had a previous discussion about Featured User and possible changes to it. We concluded that we would increase it to six people, but otherwise leave it be. It's rather annoying that one forum ends about the subject matter, then a short while later another one pops up (Featured User, profanity, etc).

Anyways, ever since I took up the mantle of Featured User Interviewer, I've always stuck to the unofficial formula of having at least three Sonic/Wiki-related questions, then the rest can be about... just about anything. It's a way for Users to learn more about some of the most active and well-known members of the wiki.

As for the late updates... it's not really something I could help due to circumstances at the time. End of my high school year, preparation for graduation, graduation ceremony, and then Sacor needing to go on a break for a month. Sure I could interview the runner-up, but that wouldn't be a fair shake to Sacor. I mean hell, when Sonicrox14 once won Featured User she and the wiki had to wait... what, six months? Waiting until July isn't a big deal, is it?--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 10:05, June 28, 2013 (UTC)

Not at all. Just don't say anywhere on the main page that it is going to be updated monthly. It can really be updated whenever, monthly is just preferable. We should keep Featured User as is, but I still wouldn't mind opening the door a bit more to a couple more people. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 12:10, June 28, 2013 (UTC)

More specific suggestion: instead of saying "Who should be the Featured User of [insert month here]?", say "Who should be the next Featured User?" Then the impression of a monthly Featured User would be nothing more than an assumption, and your "Featured User schedule" that people say you're always running late on really won't exist. -- Shadowunleashed13 (talk) 19:44, June 29, 2013 (UTC)

I already messaged Kagi on his talk page saying what you just said. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 00:38, June 30, 2013 (UTC)

I like the idea of adding the did you know? section. But I want to keep the featured user on the main page. I'm one of the "few" who like reading about users. I think the "Who should be the next featured user?" is a good idea. I want the FU section to stay because part of the drive for me to join was hoping to one day be interviewed. --Psyche the Hedgehog 06:28, July 1, 2013 (UTC)

A "Did you know?" section, eh? Nice. I'm all for it. The Featured User interview thingy can stay as it is on the main page, and yes, it should say "next Featured User" so it can be updated whenever. Kagi is too busy for monthly interviews unless the duty could be shared with someone else (but that's not gonna happen!). THE REFLEX ^dancing on the _valentine 16:54, July 1, 2013 (UTC)

Actually, the Sonic Fanon Wiki, where I also hold the interviewing job, has it as "Next Featured User" as well. Even so I try and update monthly, which is why I've left SNN's Featured User setup as-is.--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 19:51, July 1, 2013 (UTC)

Give Kagi a chance to try and keep it updated mobthly. Updating it monthly is ideal. We should try and remove every instance of the word "month" in the Featured User interview.

We also discussed it on chat quite a bit, and everyone seems to want to expand the Featured User poll even further. We could expand it to 10 users, with the last three featured users becoming ineligible so we get a larger variety of users on there. Opinions? --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 21:12, July 1, 2013 (UTC)

I supported it on the chat, so I'll oppose here.

Just kidding. I support. MetalMickey272

I'm sorry, but.... please no. It would be a big pain to try and track who to remove from the polls if I had to make sure the last three interviewees were removed from the poll. We already boosted it to six people, and I think we should leave it there for now.--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 21:19, July 1, 2013 (UTC)

You already keep logs of who the Featured Users are on the featured user page. It wouldn't be a pain. There is also Special:Top/community. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 21:23, July 1, 2013 (UTC)

I just legitimately do not think it would be a good or practical idea. I know from experience that even with such information trying to keep track of who goes in and who shouldn't will be a pain. Especially in regards to changes with editcounts.--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 22:31, July 1, 2013 (UTC)

Changes to editcounts are updated daily in Special:Top/community. It does all the editcount tracking for you. -- Shadowunleashed13 (talk) 22:34, July 1, 2013 (UTC)

So does Sonic News Network:Editcount. But I think it's a good idea to remove the previous winners. I've been saying that for a long time. -- Supermorff (talk) 06:55, July 2, 2013 (UTC)

Well Sacor's interview is done, but here's my question: Should I put it up now and leave any further discussions for another time, or should it be delayed to allow any potential changes to be discussed and implemented?--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 05:16, July 3, 2013 (UTC)

Actually, I think you should start it now and implement the changes on the poll after this one. -- Shadowunleashed13 (talk) 11:59, July 3, 2013 (UTC)

Per Unleashed. SilverPlays97 (Wall) (Contributions) 12:19, July 3, 2013 (UTC)

Alright, but any other opinions? This has ended a community discussion, so I might as well make sure.--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 06:10, July 4, 2013 (UTC)

It doesn't need to end the discussion. Put up the new interview with what has been agreed so far (that is, don't reference being late and don't promise to put the next one up in a month), but keep the discussion open so that we know how to do it next time. -- Supermorff (talk) 06:59, July 4, 2013 (UTC)

Has there been any progression on the new headers? We cannot really put these changes into place unless they are ready for use. Here's what I'm getting from this:

• Expand Featured User poll to eight users, with the previous three winners being excluded.
• Update headers to DiscoDuck's headers.
• Add a News Wall (though the lack of interest in this concerns me).
• Add a Did you Know section.

Before we close this, I would really like to reconsider keeping the Monthly Question on the Main Page. There's a lack of community participation in it, so there would really be no harm to its removal... --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 02:29, July 7, 2013 (UTC)

Rather than remove it, I want to know how to encourage participation. I mean hell, the Question of the Month was how I met Shelly. I want to know what I'm doing wrong.--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 03:28, July 7, 2013 (UTC)

That was back when SNN was a completely different beast. We didn't even have blogs back then. The site has changed. -- Supermorff (talk) 07:22, July 7, 2013 (UTC)

....Wha? We had blogs back then too, I'm sure of that. Shelly did her Tip of the Day and whatnot even back then. Though, I guess they weren't as widespread... but still, I don't want to see this tradition die out. There's gotta be a way to improve participation.--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 11:27, July 7, 2013 (UTC)

Maybe we could somehow make the question more visually attracting... but then it would look out of place.

As for the "Did You Know?" section and the news wall, we still have not decided how we are going to implement it. Should we use Supermorff's suggestion for the news wall? If we use DarkFuture's suggestion concerning the "Did You Know?" section, what is it going to look like and where will we put it? (It would also be nice if people explicitly volunteer to help with putting together a list of facts for the "Did You Know?" section or to help design and organize the news on the news wall) -- Shadowunleashed13 (talk) 21:12, July 7, 2013 (UTC)

I volunteer to help with the Did You Know? section, if one would to be made. MetalMickey272

Yes, we're using Supermorff's suggestion unless someone comes up with something better. The problem is that no one is taking any action to get this stuff done. I'm not going to be working on this particular part of the main page, so it'd be nice if those who volunteered already started making progress. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 21:45, July 7, 2013 (UTC)

I'm helping with Did You Know? too. I'm currently working on a list of more Sonic-related facts than you can shake a stick at! We don't need too many of them, though. Perhaps I could make 52-53 of them and change to a different one each week. I have a other ways of doing this, so fret ye not... THE REFLEX ^dancing on the _valentine 22:13, July 7, 2013 (UTC)

I think we should start by reading articles on the main characters in the Sonic the Hedgehog series and just list whatever seems interesting in a new section below this discussion (I bet some of you have already started). Then we could expand and maybe find a few interesting bits of trivia in pages about comics or television shows. Sound good? -- Shadowunleashed13 (talk) 22:19, July 7, 2013 (UTC)

I was actually thinking about something different other than character, comic, and television information. Rather, I was thinking we could include things such as recent news in Sonic-related media. Examples include the Archie-Penders trial, the Nintendo-SEGA partnership, recent information on the newest Sonic games, etc. MetalMickey272

I agree that it should be mentioned somewhere on the main page, but wouldn't that go on the news wall? -- Shadowunleashed13 (talk) 22:33, July 7, 2013 (UTC)

Yeah. Apologies. I guess I'm just getting confused with the multiple subjects of this forum that I'm forgetting which is which! MetalMickey272

Join the club. XP -- Shadowunleashed13 (talk) 22:39, July 7, 2013 (UTC)

Forget it, Unleashed is handling the trivia. Count me out, people. I'm not gonna bother doing anything because someone has beaten me to the task again. Nice knowing you all! THE REFLEX ^dancing on the _valentine 23:00, July 7, 2013 (UTC)

No need, Solace. The more the people working on it the better. Everyone who wants to work on it should just join up on chat and discuss this. I'd prefer more people working on this anyways. Have you considered working as a cohesive group rather than doing all the work on your own? No need to be so independent. I'm sure if you all work together on this task rather than considering it a one-man project you could get this done more efficiently. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 23:04, July 7, 2013 (UTC)

Nope, I hope it's okay, but I don't think I wanna contribute to this anymore. I don't have any design ideas for the news wall and only one interesting fact for the DYK which Unleashed hasn't already discovered, which I'll share with him. My interest for this project has flown out of the window. Still, good fortune be upon you mateys. THE REFLEX ^dancing on the _valentine 23:12, July 7, 2013 (UTC)

Ah, it's 'k. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 23:14, July 7, 2013 (UTC)

Okay, I've got some bits of trivia in the section below. It would be really nice if anyone could contribute. (Come on, I might have missed something!) -- Shadowunleashed13 (talk) 00:58, July 8, 2013 (UTC)

May I add the Did You Know? trivia I have on my userpage to this section? MetalMickey272

Of course! This isn't a one-man job; we can all combine what we've found. -- Shadowunleashed13 (talk) 01:09, July 8, 2013 (UTC)

Nice work, by the way. -- Shadowunleashed13 (talk) 01:11, July 8, 2013 (UTC)

Thanks! You, too! MetalMickey272

I would like to put you need to put a '?' at the end of each fact. You may want to look at DYK formatting on other wikis. Just don't start them with THAT. I HATE THE WORD 'THAT'; you don't need to use it 90% of the time. SilverPlays97 (Wall) (Contributions) 01:24, July 8, 2013 (UTC)

Go for it! :D -- Shadowunleashed13 (talk) 01:58, July 8, 2013 (UTC)

It's way too tacky and tough to read. Maybe something more appealing (Other than nothing but text) and more convenient. --Quack 12:41, July 8, 2013 (UTC)

Did you really think we would just slap this list on the main page? We'll use DarkFuture's suggestion (something that changes every time you visit, so that you never see the same fact twice). -- Shadowunleashed13 (talk) 15:06, July 8, 2013 (UTC)

These are definitely interesting tidbits of information, though some could be written a wee bit better. There's one thing I think we could definitely use with all of this information though: resources. Proof of the information.--Kagimizu-Seeya 'round 09:31, July 9, 2013 (UTC)

I think we get that by linking to the pages on which the information already appears. An actual reference must be included on that page. -- Supermorff (talk) 17:10, July 9, 2013 (UTC)

Well, I didn't think that. Even if we put like 6 facts, it'll look tacky and too plain. --Quack 06:28, July 10, 2013 (UTC)

We wouldn't put that many. No more than three. Maybe just one.

I also think we should make some of these more obvious. There are two main reasons for doing a 'Did You Know' section: the first is for drawing in new visitors to the site, who can be intrigued even by obvious stuff (the "miles per hour" bit is good); the second is for directing people to pages they might not know about. One thing it should really not be used for is showing off. -- Supermorff (talk) 20:32, July 10, 2013 (UTC)

^This. -- Shadowunleashed13 (talk) 14:54, July 11, 2013 (UTC)

Just out of curiosity, how would everyone feel about Social Media as opposed to a 'News Wall'? Using something such as Facebook or Twitter (both of which are made for this sort of thing), it will be much easier to make updates regarding recent news, and it'll be more productive that way. We can have have a section on the Main Page so users can see news on that, too. Unfortunately, the only problem would be actually having people update this... If we're going to do this, I'd prefer to take this route. It was even recommended to me that we do this by a Wikia Staff member, so I'd like to explore this option more than we have. Thoughts?--Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 10:07, July 12, 2013 (UTC)

I don't use Facebook or Twitter for personal use, but I don't think I would mind sharing an account with other members of this wiki. -- Shadowunleashed13 (talk) 19:41, July 12, 2013 (UTC)

I'm assuming that means you are volunteering for this? We should discuss this on chat later. Things such as the password and other personal information need to be confidential if we're going through with this. --Bullet Francisco (talk) Contributions Editcount 05:49, July 13, 2013 (UTC)

Yup. If we're actually going to set up an SNN Facebok or Twitter account; I'll be willing to help out with it as long as I share it with a few other people in case I'm not available (such as the last couple of days). Next time we're both available, let's discuss this. -- Shadowunleashed13 (talk) 13:33, July 15, 2013 (UTC)

Did You Know...

From Sonic News Network's Numerous articles...

• ...Sonic the Hedgehog can't swim because, during the production of Sonic the Hedgehog in 1991, Yuji Naka mistakenly believed that real hedgehogs could not do so?
• ...character designer Naoto Ōshima based Sonic's Power Sneakers on Michael Jackson's boots from the cover of the album Bad, but took the red and white color from Santa Claus?
• ...character designer Naoto Ōshima based Sonic's personality on future-president Bill Clinton's "get it done" attitude?
• ...there is a gene named after Sonic the Hedgehog? A potential macrocycle inhibitor of this gene was named "Robotnikinin" after Sonic's nemesis, Doctor Robotnik.
• ...Sonic first spoke in Sonic CD, voiced by Keiko Utoku? After standing still for three minutes, Sonic would say "I'm outta here" and jump off the screen, after which the "game over" screen would appear.
• ...Sonic has appeared in a band twice, first in the Sonic Band from the unused sound test of Sonic the Hedgehog (1991), and later in the TV series Sonic Underground? In both bands, he was the guitarist.
• ...Tails' full name, Miles Prower, is a pun on the words "miles per hour"?
• ...Nintendo Power mistook Tails for a squirrel on several occasions?
• ...during multiplayer in Sonic Heroes, the white crest symbol on Knuckles' chest will disappear when he is taunting the opponent?
• ...a caricature of Theodore Roosevelt in pajamas was among the proposed designs for Sega's new mascot? This idea later became Doctor Eggman, the villain of the Sonic the Hedgehog series.
• ...Eggman has had more redesigns than any other character in the whole Sonic series?
• ...Eggman's eyes are modelled in only one game: Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)?
• ...Vector the Crocodile was originally in the "Sonic the Hedgehog Band" sound test and is the only member of that band other than Sonic to make it into later games?
• ...an unused voice clip from Sonic Colors states that Hyper-go-on energy is more powerful than Chaos Energy?
• ...Shadow the Hedgehog usually uses the green Chaos Emerald to perform Chaos Control?^{[citation needed]}
• ...Shadow the Hedgehog is left-handed?^{[citation needed]}
• ...Knuckles is ambidextrous?^{[citation needed]}
• ...in Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, Shadow's profile states that he likes nothing?
• ...Sonic first appeared in the 1991 video game Rad Mobile several months before his first game, Sonic the Hedgehog?
• ...Amy Rose had the ability to turn invisible in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)?
• ...Amy Rose and Charmy Bee both made their first appearances in the Japanese Sonic the Hedgehog manga, years before they were introduced to the game series?
• ...Silver the Hedgehog was originally named "Venice," and he was to be a mink?
• ...both the Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic X comics by Archie Comics started off as a miniseries?
• ...Alex Kidd was SEGA's mascot before Sonic?
• ...Knuckles has been tricked six times all together in the TV shows he stars in? Twice in Sonic Underground, and four times in Sonic X.
• ...Green Hill Zone is the most recurring stage in the Sonic series?^{[citation needed]}
• ...Shadow's chest fur has been mistakenly colored yellow in the Archie comics?^{[citation needed]} It has been changed to the correct color in subsequent comics.
• ...the stage City Escape is based off of the city of San Francisco, California.
• ...Nintendo Power magazine had a poll asking which sidekick people would choose, with Tails being the second most picked?^{[citation needed]}
• ...in the 2011 Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition, Shadow placed twenty-fifth in the "Top 50 Video Game Characters of All Time"? Sonic placed tenth.
• ...Chaos from Sonic Adventure was designed to be a creature made of water specifically because it would have been difficult to render on systems before the Dreamcast?
• ...Mephiles the Dark is the only character in the Sonic the Hedgehog series to succeed in killing Sonic?
• ...Sonic Rivals 2 was the first Sonic game where Metal Sonic has done some heroic deeds?
• ...in the anime Sonic X, Emerl was called "Emel"?
• ...the September 2010 issue of GameInformer magazine elected Tails as the 10th "Most Disgustingly Cute" Video Game Character?
• ...Ray the Flying Squirrel is the first Sonic character depicted with five toes on each foot, which are first seen when his shoes fall off upon walking off a cliff?
• ...Ray was originally going to be Sonic's sidekick, but was scrapped? This later led to the creation of Tails.^{[citation needed]}
• ...Eggman Nega's costume is partially based after the classic Doctor Eggman from the original games, seeing as how they both have yellow triangles on the front of their clothes?
• ...the very first named Echidna character in the series was Eric the Echidna, who appeared in chapter 1 of the novel Sonic the Hedgehog in the Fourth Dimension?
• ...the echidna city from the French comic Sonic Adventures resembles the one from the Mystic Ruins in Sonic Adventure, a game that was released 4 years later?
• ...in Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity, Silver the Hedgehog is the only hedgehog who is not a Speed type?
• ...the first Sonic the Hedgehog comic ever (Sonic the Comic Issue 1 was released on 29 May 1993?