SpawnPoint

Shane and Steve approved another heavy development cycle for the next two weeks on SpawnPoint.com. Although this means very little sleep for me, or our development team - this does mean that there will be some serious functional changes made on the site.

I have some pretty indepth plans thusfar, which include new functionality, and design refreshes on various parts of the site.

HOWEVER, What is the SpawnPoint community anxiously waiting for? (I saw the Ladders thread... ;))

Lucas says (11:42 PM):
anyhow
Lucas says (11:42 PM):
i think im going to sleep
Tony Bevilacqua says (11:43 PM):
alrighty
Tony Bevilacqua says (11:43 PM):
have a good sleep.
Lucas says (11:43 PM):
ill probably have freaky dreams again
Lucas says (11:43 PM):
i had one about spawnpoint
Lucas says (11:44 PM):
that means im doing too much spawnpoint work.
Lucas says (11:44 PM):
=D
Tony Bevilacqua says (11:44 PM):
you had a dream about SpawnPoint?
Tony Bevilacqua says (11:45 PM):
what happened?
Lucas says (11:45 PM):
i was programming and then the site crashed and then the code started to grab me and i got stuck like quick sand
Tony Bevilacqua says (11:45 PM):
rofl
Lucas says (11:46 PM):
ive had similar ones though
Lucas says (11:46 PM):
where the code grabs me like quick sand

Why can't I post a BLOG from Internet Explorer?!?
 
Well... If your username has an underscore "_" in it - you are the victim of a compatibility bug with Internet Explorer. Basically, IE hates domains that as underscores in them, and won't accept cookies.

Our development team is currently working on the issue and installing a fix. As for a work around - everything is working in FireFox.

More from Microsoft:

* Added: Profiles BUZZ - On this view - show the TITLE, AUTHOR, DATE, and SUMMARY. LINK the TITLE to a NEW VIEW -> THE NEW VIEW WILL HAVE the full story.
* Added: Track all searches - record a history of them. Make it available on ADMIN.
* Added: Put together a regular backup plan for spawnpoint.com as well as the DB.
* Fixed: check hotlink blocker on http://cache4.spawnpoint.com/
* Fixed: Bug in DOWNLOAD DETAIL with "Coming Soon"
* Fixed: Feedburner - Updated RSS feed - fixed feed

I'm pretty sure this site will be in constant development for the rest of eternity!

* Added: ADMIN SECTION: I need basic report showing BLOG activity (comments and new posts) 
* Added: New Rankings in the Forums
* Added: Created "Read My Blog" links inline with posts
* Added: Created "Read My Blog" links inline with profiles
* Added: ADMIN SECTION: Profiles - This view needs search capability ASAP - replicate search capability in File Database 
* Added: ADMIN SECTION: Companies - This view needs search capability - same style as File Database
* Added: instead of http://www.spawnpoint.com/feature_detail.php?sid=46 I want them to be http://www.spawnpoint.com/feature/46/StarCraft_II_Announced!
* Added: Digg Functionality added to Features Section
* Fixed: New SpawnPoint Welcome Message for registered users - /index.php
* Fixed: Changed format on gaming_blogs.php and reduced total size of the paragraph for featured blog.
* Fixed: ADMIN SECTION: Companies - This view needs multi page capability - Replicate the same as the Profiles Section
* Fixed: ADMIN SECTION: Media Database - The search here is returning results for FILE DATABASE. This should be returning results for the MEDIA DATABASE 
* Fixed: You can see blogs that are not in publish status on this view - please fix: http://www.spawnpoint.com/gaming_buzz.php - Blogs tab
* Fixed: ADMIN SECTION: Apply for Admin - We need the ability to edit the steamid 
* Fixed: Profiles/Images: No images are linked - but it looks like it tries to load 4
* Fixed: Download Detail: This page should show the DOWNLOADS TAB (currently showing buzz)
* Fixed: Profiles - All Pages - Please change the link for genre to class="abouttxt"

Please see the attached updates for Monday, May 28th 2007:

* Added: Please create a default image for 146x59 - http://www.spawnpoint.com/images/game.gif (Located on http://www.spawnpoint.com/gaming_buzz.php)
* Added: gaming_buzz.php - The images associated with the profiles. (Tabs - Profiles/Buzz/Blogs/Media/Downloads) - Replace /images/game.gif. Please check database for if a image with ID=8 - show that image. If image doesn't exist - show default image
* Added: gaming_geners_profile.php - The images associated with the profiles. - Replace /images/game.gif. Please check database for if a image with ID=8 - show that image. If image doesn't exist - show default image
* Added: gaming_buzz_all.php - The images associated with the profiles. (Tabs - Profiles/Buzz/Blogs/Media/Downloads) - Replace /images/game.gif. Please check database for if a image with ID=8 - show that image. If image doesn't exist - show default image
* Fixed: SEARCH - The search tool is allowing users to submit blank searches. Please fix this immediately.
* Fixed: blogcatpost.php - This view is showing blog posts in statuses other than published. Please Fix.
* Fixed: When a new profile is added, the ‘assosciate games’ functionality throughout the site shows the new profile LAST. So instead of really being in ascending order, it is a date order.

Todays Updates from our development team at PHXX:

* Added: Profiles - Link the RSS icon on this page to - http://feeds.spawnpoint.com/SpawnPoint-News
* Added: Setup post.php and pages.php to scan for words in the "Ban Word List" - If the word exists change it to **** before writing it to the database. Make sure post, edit, save and publish are covered.
* Added: Profiles - Link "More >>" on "Game Buzz" - to the "Buzz" tab
* Added: Profiles - Change the "Game Pipeline >>" - Show all downloads that are linked to the particular profile.
* Added:  /gaming_buzz.php - Change the tab called "Reviews" to "Buzz"
* Added: Profiles - For file details - we need to be showing the filename of the file on this page too. (ex: wow-download.exe) - Please add this in
* Fixed: /games/profiledetails.php?pid=5938 - Seems to be an error in the SEO on this page - We should ONLY be showing PC for platform, in all area. Hardcode this, don't use DB
* Fixed: /gaming_search.php - This is showing the wrong icon. Change to "FILE" icon
* Fixed: /gaming_downloads.php - The game box is showing up to large - World of Warcraft - Please set to 63x75
* Fixed: /index.php - Featured Developer - The game box is showing up too large - Please set to 63x75
* Fixed: /gaming_buzz.php - Game boxes are showing up too large - Please set to 63x75
* Fixed: /gaming_features.php - Only list stories on this page that are NOT associated with a profile.
* Fixed: /forum_default.php - Update the search box in the header, to the same function as defined in all other pages (like header_default.php)
* Fixed: /index.php - Set images in the profile scroller to 63x75 SET
* Fixed: /index.php - Sent images in the profile scroller to link to the PROFILE page of the associate profile (The same link as the text PROFILE link)
* Fixed: /gaming_buzz.php - In reviews tab - only display stories that are LINKED to a profile
* Fixed: Profiles - ESRB - Instead of single letter - you should be showing the full ESRB name - Please see the ADD PROFILE area of the admin panel - it has the list of full ESRB names.
* Fixed: Profiles - link the GENRE to the proper view in gaming_geners_profile.php - etc
* Fixed: feature_detail.php - This comments utility should be using the logged in username. Please remove email field
* Fixed: feature_detail.php - This comments utility should be using the logged in username. Please remove email field
* Fixed: feature_detail.php - Only display "Be the first to add your comments!" is no comments exist
* Fixed: feature_detail.php - The comments listing should replace the area that "Be the first to add your comments"
* Fixed: feature_detail.php Replace on the comments display the email with "Username" - Name sure the "Username" is linked to the users the posted the comments blog ($user.spawnpoint.com)

Seems like the days keep screaming by. Its 5:52 PM EST, and it seems like I haven't even started by day yet!

ChangeLog:

* Updated server time, and setup NTP to keep time in sync with an atomic clock
* Added "Uncategorized" to /cpanel/post.php - Users can now post and used the category
* Added in comments capability for features: http://nix.spawnpoint.com/feature_detail.php?sid=45
* Added functionality to "General Settings" to "Email me whenever someone comments on my blog" - You will receive an email in your inbox everytime someone comments on your blog.
* Added functionality for Improved Page Titles and SEO for Blogs - Check it out
* Added new "default post" for users that have not yet posted on their blogs yet
* Added in tables to most /cpanel/ data - they look much prettier now!

Some Bugs:

* Fixed: http://www.spawnpoint.com/gaming/blogs.html -> This page, if the user is set as FEATURED BLOG - is showing posts that are set as "Saved" - I should only be showing "Published"
* Fixed: http://www.spawnpoint.com/gaming/blogs.html -> This page is showing posts that are set as "Saved" - I should only be showing "Published" (Latest Blog Posts)
* Fixed: The cpanel is letting you post new blogs, without linking to a category. Pleas fix, asap. /cpanel/post.php
* Fixed: Blogs > Right Nav > "Uncategorized [0]" - This should represent the total number of posts to "Uncategorized" by the blog owner - NOT for ALL USERS.
* Fixed: http://*.spawnpoint.com/cpanel/pages.php -> Add some type of confirmation for delete
* Fixed: http://*.spawnpoint.com/cpanel/categories.php -> Add some type of confirmation for delete"
* Fixed: http://*.spawnpoint.com/cpanel/posts.php -> Add some type of confirmation for delete
* Fixed: http://www.spawnpoint.com/gaming_buzz.php -> Reviews tab -> Sort this from newest to oldest