I don't think there's any harm in adding colour, but it would need to be sensible-- not garish or unnecessary.

Farmville and Bejeweled are app games developed by people whose goal is to get you sucked in to play mindlessly. In the case of similar games like Candy Crush, the goal is actually to make things more stimulating to encourage you to spend tons of money on a regular basis. It's meant to be addictive-- like a slot machine.

FT does not require you to spend tons of money on a regular basis - just one, optional, gold membership fee each year. If you had to pay to finish a quiz, that would be a comparison.

As for addiction, that's a different story.

Fun Trivia is a thousand times better than Bejewelled etc. Ft is intellectually interesting, it's an endless journey into a world of new facts, it's hilarious at times, it allows for friendships to develop, it's company for those who spend long lonely hours on their own, it allows for the development of an improved self image for those who have been overlooked by a sometimes cruel world, it puts everyone on an even basis (to a degree), it challenges people to try even harder against themselves (or others but in a friendly competitive way), it's very creative for those who enjoy writing and researching new facts, it's open to children and centenarians alike and all ages in between, it's blissfully clean and free from smut, it's educational and it's just plain fun.

It's quite possibly the finest site on the internet.

Amen to all that.

Agreed!

Sue

Are there any thoughts to run some type of hourly game with photo questions or match quizzes? Those could be fun and interesting. Also, how about a Daily Crossword type of challenge. Similar to the Daily Brain Twist maybe each day a crossword could be added to have a speed type completion challenge (less than 7 minutes for example depending on difficulty). I think the Large size would probably be best and somehow not allow that particular crossword to be played by guests that day. I'm trying to think of a way to mitigate answer sharing.

A match quiz daily/hourly is a bit more challenging because it wouldn't amount to much more than 'Quiz of the Hour' or 'Brain Twist'. I don't think any of us have discussed it behind the scenes, but any ideas are welcome.

I always have a bit of a problem with speed related challenges because I know there are a lot of people on this site with varying degrees of disability. That can impact on their ability to type quickly, regardless of knowledge or intellectual levels.

But yet I realise speed components are a very real part of the excitement and challenge of the games in here.

Where then to strike a happy medium?

And this is why I'd be a hopeless Supreme Court judge. I'd still be deciding what to do with Al Capone.

Recently I was at a graduation dinner for the last year of primary school children who are to go on to secondary education next year. After the meal - which was ghastly - and I thought I was a bad cook - the steak almost mooed at me - they had a dance for the kids.

One of the students there though was a little girl with Spina Bifida and its associated disabilities. She was in a wheelchair and was at the function with her mother. Happily laughing and talking during the meal. It made me smile. She was such a little cutie pie.

But then the dance began.

And I got to see the smile slowly disappear off a small child's face as she just sat there with her eyes fixed on the dancers.

She didn't say a word. She just watched. It was heartbreaking.

She had already learned at that young age that there were hurdles over which she would never be able to leap.

There will never be a level playing field (I hate that dopey cliché) for everyone in this lifetime or a thousand lifetimes to come no doubt.

But sometimes, just sometimes, those hurdles could be lowered - just a little bit.

We're always trying to have something for everyone, and it will be all but impossible for any person to complete everything on this site (at least not to tier 7). The fastest challenge we have right now (if I remember correctly) is 16 seconds - tier 7 Piece of Cake - while the longest ones are significantly over 10 years. As long as you can complete a quiz in a half-decent time (like the 130 seconds for Hardcore GC), you will be able to complete the majority of badges and many of them at high tiers as well.

Sooo, what you're saying then, HairyBear - in the nicest way possible of course - is "So what, everyone has problems"??

Some problems however are preventable. Even before their inception.

While I like Triviaballer's suggestion of "...some type of hourly game with photo questions or match quizzes...(and)... how about a Daily Crossword type of challenge...", the idea of adding a timed element to the Crosswords is not a good idea in my opinion. Not at all.

Not only for the reasons stated in my entry up above, but also because doing a crossword is a relaxing pastime, something to do with a nice cup of tea beside you, feet up on the desk, at your own leisure. Galloping through one in order to beat the clock would completely remove that element of relaxed enjoyment.

I would strongly disfavour crosswords being introduced for any form of speed challenge. In the past I've raised the point that the current practice of allocating times to Gold members in relation to crosswords completed, without doubt dissuades many from attempting to solve the more complex puzzles.

I accept that I have a vested interest here, as almost every puzzle I compile is of medium size and with many answers requiring some research for the average player. The numbers of Gold members solving these medium crosswords is well under 10% of the total members playing them, whilst the majority of the smaller quick solve puzzles attract in excess of 20% Gold members. I am in complete agreement with Creedy's point that crosswords should be a relaxing pastime.

I think it is important to consider how authors are affected by challenges. I am so glad that crosswords are beginning to get the recognition they deserve, and I worry if speed were added to the mix, many high-quality crosswords would be ignored. By the way, I am not a crossword-author myself. I just recognize the effort that goes in to making a great one.

Sue

I see nothing wrong with a crossword puzzle being featured for a day with some bonus points being awarded when it is completed. But to make it a speed race? No.

I don't see there being a problem with players possibly "sharing answers" on a featured crossword puzzle. I someone needs some help with a crossword puzzle answer, they can use the Easy mode.

I like Triviaballer's idea of "Similar to the Daily Brain Twist maybe each day a crossword could be added to have a speed type completion challenge (less than 7 minutes for example depending on difficulty)."
Those who don't like the idea wouldn't be forced to play it, they can take their time doing crosswords as they currently do.

Could you make the Early Bird badge upgradeable?

Will we be able to - or can we already - use all the other additional emoticons right up the top in here?

Or are they just for editors?

(Just trying one Ft-confused )

(Drat)

I think I put the glasses on to look cool.... seeing if it took.

And it did...

From what I see you appear to be posting offline, Creedy, could that be why your icon is not changing?

Sue

Ohhh, are they just to change the current mood beside our profile picture?

I didn't realise that. It just says "Posting icon" - which I took to mean we could put it into the actual message

Thanks for clearing up a years long mystery, Sue

Trying it again to check

Yep that's what they're for. At long last I know. You're a genius, Sue. So glad you joined our team

Up above our profile picture, ie - beside where it says "Re: Suggestions". We can change the one directly above our profile photo to something else as well. So now I'm disoriented and embarrassed.

(This is fun)