I was thinking making it so that just about every page has a user comments area at the very bottom of the page. Games in the RGR and VGR would most likely be unaffected by this since they already have a comment area (although I could migrate those to the new comments area) but most other pages would have this added. Types of pages that would have this added would include:
-Site Index
-All Pages of the Video Game Music Feature
-All Pages of the Video Game Character Feature
-All forum index pages (example, General Chat)
-Threads (either open and closed threads or just closed threads)
-All profile pages and maybe even sub pages of profiles (I'd most likely migrate the current to it)
-Just about every page that isn't a search result

This would basically allow users to comment on just about anything on the site. Users could even post comments on threads that are closed in case they wanted to add something to it (I'm not sure if I'd add it to open threads). There's a lot of pages I want to add a comment section to and I figured creating just 1 comment feature that would expand to all features that need it would be the best way to go.


I'll most likely buy a script for this instead of making it completely myself since that'd save me a ton of time (it'll still be a little time consuming implementing it but I could have it done in a days worth of work I think). Here are a few scripts I'm considering and wanted everyone's opinion on which they think would be best:
-easyComment – Php Comment script (demo here)
-Ajax Comment System (demo here)
-Comment Tree
-gigya.com
-Facebook Comments
-If you find any others, go ahead and post about it


The Facebook Comments would basically allow you to use your own facebook account to post comments to pages but there are pros and cons to that.
PROS:
+It'd increase the social media presence of Vizzed (which is a big deal now days) since the friends of people posting comments would see the posts and potentially visit the site.
+It'd increase the amount of links on the internet pointing to Vizzed which increase search engine ranking which ultimately increases traffic.
+People who aren't registered could post comments
CONS:
-The accounts wouldn't be linked to the Vizzed accounts which means we may not know who is posting what
-The content of the posts wouldn't be stored in Vizzed database


All of the potential scripts I'm looking into have the following features:
-Moderation (so mods can remove stuff)
-Rating system (so users can rate up or down comments)
-AJAX based which means comments can be posted and scrolled through without having to leave page
The scripts also have tons of other features but each has a few of their own unique features which you'll have to read about in the links above.


Anyways, let me know what you guys think of this and how you think I should go about it. Most sites now days have a comment area in their footer and I definitely think it's time that Vizzed gets something like this as well as long as it doesn't take up too much space. It could also potentially increase traffic and interactivity and both of those things can increase overall site activity. There are also a lot of pages on the site that I and others wish they could comment on (such as playlists or individual songs in the music feature and lots of future features would benefit greatly from this) and I'd love to have all site commenting linked to the same script (which would include current profile comments and game page comments).

Staff : Letting you all know of this, I would like to get some of your feedback as well.

Would I be able to post comments if I don't use/like Facebook?

I think this is a great idea, although I don't think you should use it for open threads. If someone would like to say something on a open thread, they could just make a post about it.

LunarDarkness2 : You would be able to if we didn't use the Facebook option. I'm not sure if you would be able to if we did use the Facebook option though.

I agree regarding open threads since I think that'd take away posts from open threads. I just mentioned it in case anyone had a good reason why it should also apply to open threads.

I'm iffy on this one. What is the point of all the comment boxes all over the site....

It just seems like something that will make posting happen less often.

I'm okay with it in certain areas like the RGR/VGR/music pages but having it in closed threads seems like a mistake to me. Closed threads are closed for a reason. Either the thread is dead or it got closed by a mod. Allowing people to continue to say things sort of removes any point in closing the thread. Having a comment section for the main page and each forum would probably be okay though.

I must agree with geeo. Forums are closed for a reason, so there's no use in allowing further comments. If there really is a need of allowing more posts in a closed thread, a mod can open it again.

Since I have my Vizzed username added as nickname on my Facebook account, it would be easy to track my comments (and would still be, due to the meaning of my username). Not many people has it added like me, for various reasons, but it's true that Vizzed needs more presence in social media. Strengthening that presence is the only actual use I can find for having a comment section on the index and forums.

Aside from what was already mentioned by Geeo, I really don't see this feature being worth it as the active userbase mostly seems to either not use facebook or are pretty inactive on it, if anything I think this is a site many visit to get away from sites like facebook and some of the more negative aspects of the site and I think people are much more likely to visit the site through stumbling upon it through google or some other method like I'd imagine most current members did. It would allow people to comment without registering but I don't really think many at all due to the restrictions you have and the ads which means you would probably just register directly.  Basically I don't feel the traffic difference or useage of this would be very widespread at all and not worth the effort. I also don't feel it's a good idea because of the complications it could cause when moderating and as you said in regards to it not being stored in the database.

The idea of being able to comment on individual songs in the music feature and some other pages seem like a nice idea though, and having one specifically just on the index page could work.

I think this sounds like a cool idea, but it would either not be used or it would be used too much. Either it will take over posting or because of posting would rarely serve a purpose, it could work for the rgr pages though.

Davideo7 :

I kinda was appealed to the closed thread idea as a discussion but I think a rating system for a closed thread would be better so that if it became a popular enough topic  a mod could open it. Unless a special note was attached to it (like: started to flame, starter closed the thread for ____ reason, spammed on, etc).

Commenting on the open threads is redundant. I can't think of a good enough reason to add it to the indexes either unless, you want a "comment only" forum page to allow non-users to join in limited. But that itself would make the chat room semi-obsolete. I guess it might be good in the "Game Review" so that people could comment on the ratings.

I would suggest using a multi-network comment thing like this (<-allows vizzed account) (Free one, but not as awesome). Why limit your reach to just FaceBook when you can use them all?

Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter are the reigning Social Media right now for gamers so targeting those would be pretty good. Creating accounts for Vizzed on all thee and manning them daily might help your traffic if that's what you want.

Getting a Tumblr integration is not possible for comments (that I know of). Instagram is suppose to have let out a code so you can integrate pictures into your comments, and twitter... is twitter its been out for a while in comments. You can embed each one into your website, though.

I think the main parts of the site that will benefit from comments are the RGR/VGR, Music, and gamer profiles.

Hope this helps ya.

I'd be on board for the music and character pages, but I dunno if it would be good for the index....I guess for the reason everyone else is mentioning. It will make people post less.

I would have to agree with geeo as well. Things will happen differently if that were to happen and I don't mean in a good way. so...is only best to only chose some of the ideas that people have said which would be better for those but not the comments section. 

Seems like most users are in agreement that this shouldn't apply to threads at all but I would also appreciate feedback regarding which script I should use.


geeogree : The comment boxes wouldn't be anywhere on the pages that would be distracting, they'd be at the very bottom and out of the way of everything.

I can understand the concern with allowing users to comment on closed threads (and I'm referring to threads closed not by a staff member) but I view it as handy for some threads that were automatically closed by the site from going too long without a post. For example, if someone posted a review or article that eventually got to old to reply to but wanted to comment on it. Or if someone came across an old walkthrough and wanted to add to it in some way or give feedback. Or if users wanted to comment on various old legendary threads. Also keep in mind that a lot of users on the internet stumble across Vizzed by landing on closed threads and in some cases, they may have something interesting or important to add to that thread.There's lots of examples I could come up with where this would be handy but I'm totally fine with having this not apply to threads at all.


Eniitan :
Vanelan :
EX Palen : Refer to what I said to geeogree.


Zlinqx : Keep in mind that only 1 of the options I listed would be using Facebook, the others would not.


WandererExiled : Refer to what I said to geeogree. That seems like an awesome option that I'll definitely look into and consider

Well, if it will only apply to threads closed to age, then it can work. It could also be a good way to suggest reopening such threads. Would the addition of any of these reinforce the rules for closing threads, instead of leaving most of them to autoclose due to age?

I'll check those scripts when I can get again on my laptop. I hope it charges up before family gets me busy again.

Closed due to age seems like it would work... any other threads I still think would distract from posting.
Are we able to moderate the comments?

Okay, back on my laptop, so I checked the scripts.

Gigya seems a bit like Facebook, but seemingly it would allow us to use our Vizzed accounts instead of the Facebook one. I'm not that fan of the comment tree, I've seen it in other sites and it's not as clean and organized as the Facebook or gigya options.

I've tried the links for the first two, but none of them worked. Could you fix them, or add some other link to them? Until I check them out, I'm torn between Facebook and gigya. My bet would be on Facebook, for social presence, and I don't see much of a hassle for people to add their Vizzed username as nickname on their Facebook accounts.

If you can manage to make it flag the ones closed by a mod and the ones closed by the system automatically because of age then I'm all good with that. Just making an obvious concern known so that it is dealt with beforehand.

Also, I want a page that can be reviewed showing all the comments (100 per page or something) so that there can be a quick and easy place to review them without opening all the new threads. Just so people can check for swearing/flaming etc. that might otherwise go unnoticed.

EX Palen : The Facebook one would be a bit hard to moderate.
I dunno if people on Facebook would be willing to change their names either.

geeogree : Good point. That would make things a lot easier.

As for the Facebook "pros" I think that people that aren't registered can comment could be a con as well...

I like the idea of having it on music and character pages and such, but I don't like the idea of having it in the forums, or at the very least, on closed threads. I know it would allow for comments on old threads, but as it stands we can allow the making of threads that are similar to threads that closed from age. And in fact I'm sure it's been done many times since this board launched. As such I fear it would cut down on post activity.

Also not liking the Facebook option. It's too difficult to moderate (mostly) anonymous comments. And how many permabanned members are on Facebook? How many of them would use said features to flame and say all sorts of things about the mods and site? Worst of all it would allow cyber bullying of other members on here and the members who did the bullying would remain anonymous and unpunished. For those reasons I don't like any external comment options unless they are linked to Vizzed accounts AND are inaccessible to banned members.

EX Palen : I don't think it'd change the rules of thread closing.

Weird that the links didn't work when I pasted them exactly as they were. They have been fixed.


Vanelan : Yeah comment moderation would definitely be possible. I wouldn't even consider this if it wasn't.


geeogree : It wouldn't be possible to know which threads were manually closed or automatically closed in the past so maybe what I'd do is just have the comments apply to threads that meet any of these requirements:
-Closed and in the Walkthrough forum
-Closed and in the Review forum
-Closed and in the Article forum
-Closed and in the Treasure Can forum
-Closed and with a rating of at least 10 and not in the trash can

Another benefit of this is that someone could make a comment to something without having to worry about it increasing their post count. So like if someone wanted to comment on something but their comment was just too short for a post, it'd be fine. I'd also most likely make it so users wouldn't earn CP or Viz from commenting.

Yeah I'd make a page that would show all of the latest comments so that it can all be easily monitored. Right now we have a page that shows all of the latest game comments as you can see here so I'd so something like that but give it more features and customization.


Eirinn : Refer to what I said to geeogree. I think if users didn't earn CP or Viz from making these comments and if it also didn't increase their post count in any way, it wouldn't take away from posting.

That's a good point about permabanned members on Facebook commenting. That means that if I can't find a way to link an account to a Facebook account, the Facebook option would be out of the question.

Vanelan : It's not changing your name. There's an option to add one or more nicknames of yours, which appear after your name in parenthesis. Then again,probably not everyone wants to add their Vizzed username as nickname. I know of a handful users, some even inactive, who have their Vizzed username added as nickname, so users inactive here but active on Facebook could potentially return if we used that system.

Davideo7 :  Following what I've said to Vanelan, the Facebook script has a ton of pros for just a few cons. The ones you mentioned, the one I mentioned above and also the ability to "summon" people to your comments. I don't know if you would create a notification for the creator of a closed thread to receive whenever someone has commented on them, but if you don't plan on adding it, being able to summon that user would come in handy. My bet is on Facebook, or any other that allows some sort of user summoning.

Also, checked the links. Demo link for AJAX doesn't work. Main link does, but on that page there are some links broken, only Screenshots works.