Some categories seem rife with "Sunglassed" quizzes, and others seem really ignored. I wonder if there is a way to bring more attention to unpopular categories.

Sunglasses represent the fact that those who have played the quizzes thought highly of them. That is not necessarily the same as being popular - some of the top ranked quizzes don't have all that many plays, just appreciative audiences. And some categories have quizzes that are played a lot, and which keep getting played, because they are on subjects that appeal to players - these are often popular-culture based topics, such as Harry Potter. But if the quizzes aren't well written, they won't get sunglasses no matter how often they are played, because players won't rate them highly. Drawing players' attention to categories that don't have many sunglass-ranked quizzes is unlikely to increase the sunglasses.

Popular, in the sense of frequently played, categories are also likely to attract the efforts of beginning authors, who often write quizzes for the categories where they have been enjoying playing. I think all of us who have written a fair number of quizzes know how much better we have become at the game than we were when we first started.

I guess what I meant was... not how to get more Sunglasses in certain categories, but how to get people interested enough in the categories to play the quizzes.

Some categories just don't get players. Some of them people may not be aware of when they are looking for quizzes to play.

I didn't understand that, since you started by talking about sunglasses, which are a quite separate thing. The categories with few plays are, for the most part, pretty specialist. Players who are likely to be interested would find them if they searched for the topic. Players who aren't already interested in a topic tend to rate poorly if they are only playing it for some perceived external benefit, as often happened when there was a link to guide players to quizzes that had been online for a long time without getting 20 ratings, offering double points for playing them. The quizzes got their ratings up to a number where they could be ranked, but a number of authors noticed that those last ratings were not as high as the earlier ones that came from players with a real interest. As a result, the ranking was lower than might have been hoped for.

I've been talking with another member about this (Tazman) who is on the quest to make a palatable Poker quiz for non-players. Unfortunately, for the time being, we don't have members that are into Poker, no matter how well-written the quizzes are. We can't control something like this.

Might it be possible to have a weekly featured category where players might earn bonus points for playing a set percentage of their weekly plays in that category?

Might it also be possible to earn additional bonus points for rating the quizzes that you play in that category?

It just might encourage some players to look at quizzes outside of their comfort zones!

I think the Daily Challenges already do that to a certain extent. I know I've played many quizzes I wouldn't otherwise have taken (in television, to name just one example). Some quizzes are destined not to be played that often and I don't think offering inducements is the answer. As an author, I'd rather players took my quizzes because they wanted to, not because they were 'bribed' to do so.

To tie in with another discussion, those much maligned specialist categories in Expert and Team Heroes are doing their part to let players know about categories they may not have been aware of. Most of us were, I think, less than happy to face all those questions about the specifics of the London Underground when it came up in Heroes a while ago, but I bet there were a few who went "There's a *category* about this? Whoo Hooo!"

As an author with most of her quizzes in specialized categories, I'd really rather not have people who know nothing about the subject playing the quizzes just for bonus points. We have a lot of broad categories for the general trivia hound, there is room for some niche quizzes, too, and niche audiences.

I'd venture to guess that most people who are really into trivia are also really into poking around the corners of a place like this, looking for the hidden gems. It's the same impulse - a curiosity about odd little bits and pieces.

Very good points, well bought out...

I'll shut up now! lol

Ah, that's why the double point quizzes list is always empty. I was wondering about that.

So basically the choice was between having few players and a higher ranking or more players and a lower ranking. Given that choice I'd always go for fewer players with an interest in the topic, even if it means waiting several months to get a ranking.

Where is this link/list that you guys are talking about? I presume you don't mean this one:

http://www.funtrivia.com/ql.cfm?forgotten=1

Yes, I agree, it's more important to me that the players of my quizzes are actually enjoying it, and playing because they want to. Ratings are not important to me in the long run, although it is nice to have a well-rated quiz, of course. But unless we let the majority of potential players come across it of their own accord, I don't think the rating would be a true reflection. So, actually, I think I'd rather have a more badly rated quiz if it accurately reflected the views of the people playing it, than a really well-rated quiz that people only rated for points! (Even if it usually just turn out the other way around :P)

This one: http://www.funtrivia.com/special_lists.cfm?ratings=1

How did you find that, Alonso? I thought that was removed, as we went through the list a few years ago and it shouldn't be active at all?

It's in the drop-down menu. I don't use it myself.

That explains it. I don't use drop-down menus. :P

I don't use drop-down menus either. But I just checked, and yup, there it is! "Double-Point Quizzes". Hello... "Suggest Quizzes I May Like" is nice, too. Would it be possible to put that in the regular menus?

But getting back to the double-point quizzes, I'm sorry I missed out on that opportunity when it was available. It sounds like a great idea, although I see what happened in the execution.

On the other hand, I am surprised, though, that people would take quizzes on subjects they hate -- when they don't have to in order to fulfill any challenge -- and then rate them poorly. I mean, simply because the link is there doesn't mean you must take the quiz! I have had to take quizzes on subjects that don't thrill me so as to fulfill Daily Challenges and to get badges, but I wouldn't go seeking one out voluntarily, even for double points! Or treble points!

I wonder if there isn't some way to revive it, but discourage people from abusing the rating system in the process?

Gracious, you can go to the quiz page, and under the "special" tab on the left, there is "suggest some quizzes". So it's there without drop-down menus, as well.

Thanks, Salami! Very nice!

But to keep the thread on track, I repeat, maybe we could brainstorm ideas for how to encourage people to take quizzes, even reinstate the double-points offer, without abusing the ratings system?

Did you have any categories in mind that actually needed more attention?

I wouldn't want areas on specific tv/music/video games/books/movies to be pimped out more than they already are... if someone hasn't interfaced with the specific book or tv show, it's unlikely they will care. And it's okay for some areas to have a small fanbase... one day, someone, somewhere, might find it and like it. I got a compliment on one of my worst rated quizzes by such a player, who was happy to see something on the topic, lol.

That's just the problem, gracious, the double-points offer was nice, but ratings plummeted. Authors were not too thrilled.

As stated by someone on this thread, as an author, I'd much rather wait 3 years for sufficient ratings and have it rated well than have 1,000 people play it, know nothing about it, and rate it poorly.


I don't think there's a "middle ground", where we can have some categories put on display to help get plays, and still maintain ratings. Unfortunately, it just doesn't work.

As malik said, sometimes authors get a compliment on a quiz written years ago about an obscure topic that was rated poorly. But someone out there appreciates it, and that one someone makes the entire quiz worthwhile.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I was under the impression that double point quizzes still exist, they're just not on the list anymore. You have to look for them yourself (< 20 ratings) and score at least 5 correct.

This, I find, is the most rewarding anything, ever.



This is pretty much it. The minute we elevate a quiz to the 'play me' status, a quiz-takers is being somewhat forced into it-- double points or not-- and we risk lower rating. Of course, we also risk higher rating too. You never know.



Yup-- provided the quizzes have been online long enough. I certainly have some in my quiz list.

You can still get double points for playing such quizzes, but it is not advertised. Players who take the effort to find the quizzes by scouring the site are more likely to make the effort to provide a fair rating than are players who are just cruising down a list to get cheap points, and who want to rush on to the next one as fast as they can.

The Forgotten Gems link does address this issue of overlooked quizzes to some extent - they don't offer special points, but do draw attention to the existence of interesting quizzes hidden around the site.

Okay, hang on! This is news to me! Do all quizzes under 20 ratings give you double points? Or are they just quizzes that have been online a certain period?

It does seem like it would be very difficult finding quizzes that meet the criteria.