GameTZ - GameTZ Mobile - looking for testers

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Topic: GameTZ Mobile - looking for testers

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bill

#1 posted March 29, 2012 at 10:47am (EDT)
edited March 29, 2012 at 12:57pm (EDT)

I have a mobile version of gametz.com ready for some real user testing and feedback.

If you have a mobile device and want to help me test it, let me know (post here or pm me) and I'll add you to a list of people who will have access to the new mobile site.

http://m.gametz.com should work once I put you in the tester list. You may need to sign on as well. If you're not in the tester list, it will just show you the regular site.

To be clear, this is a version of the site that has been heavily altered to work well on a mobile device like a smart phone (iPhone, Android, etc.). It assumes a smaller screen, uses easier to click buttons and is overall slimmed-down and simpler than the regular gametz site.

I tried to focus on just the most-used and most-important parts of the site: PMs, offers/trades, search, listings, user pages, forum, matches. Other parts of the site aren't generally linked and may not work if you somehow end up there (let me know if this happens).

One thing that's worth noting is that for keeping your lists of items up to date (add, edit, delete), there's no My Items page. Instead you can work on your list via browsing your own user page or by item search results/pages. This was part streamlining of the interface and just that the My Items page is so complicated as it is and not something that made sense to try to convert.

For the forum the first page it shows you will do an All My New Replies at the top, then a forums list under that (hidden in a collapsible button). There are various other adaptations you'll notice as well, but I think I've captured the core forum experience.

One of the things I haven't come up with a great solution for is quoted text. Currently, it can often look messy because it's longer/wider than fits nicely on a mobile device. Given the use of |>'s on lines, it's a tricky problem to resolve. Potentially, I could try to move the whole site to quoting that isn't line-based, but that's a big change. So, we'll see.

I used jQuery Mobile to develop this. I have an iPod Touch I used for testing as well.

At this point my plan is to let both subscriber and non-subscribers use the mobile version of the site. There's a banner ad for non-subs (or subs that set ads on - who does that?)

This is pretty major, so there are bound to me many issues. Let me know about any problems you have.

Dustin

#2 posted March 29, 2012 at 10:55am (EDT)

Sign me up Bill. I'm on GTZ through my phone probably 70% of the time.

vader99

BTRs

(abandoned)

#3 posted March 29, 2012 at 10:56am (EDT)

All I use is my phone so I would love to be a tester.

benstylus

#4 posted March 29, 2012 at 11:28am (EDT)

Sign me up please.

posted from my Android phone.

I WANT YOUR GREATEST HITS/PLATINUM HITS/PLAYERS CHOICE/ETC. RE-RELEASES.
A full rundown of the ones I'm actively looking for can be found in my wanted list.
The ones I already have are in my collection.

Outinthedark

#5 posted March 29, 2012 at 11:36am (EDT)

Always willing to help. I browse frequently on my mobile.

MrZeem

#6 posted March 29, 2012 at 11:38am (EDT)

Same here.

Got sealed GBA games? I'm always looking!

bill

#7 posted March 29, 2012 at 11:42am (EDT)

ok, I added all of you

vader99

BTRs

(abandoned)

#8 posted March 29, 2012 at 11:47am (EDT)

This is pretty cool! I'll be on the lookout for bugs.

ndrake

#9 posted March 29, 2012 at 12:04pm (EDT)

Me please.

Outinthedark

#10 posted March 29, 2012 at 12:07pm (EDT)

Wow...just wow. Pat yourself on the back bill this is quite impressive. Very well organized and thought out. Looks great so far in both vertical and landscape. Turning on ads as well to see how well it is integrated.

Scott

#11 posted March 29, 2012 at 12:13pm (EDT)

I'd love to test it Bill!

bill

#12 posted March 29, 2012 at 12:27pm (EDT)

ndrake/Scott -- added

Jasmine

#13 posted March 29, 2012 at 12:39pm (EDT)

I'd love to try it, I'm on the site on my phone a lot.

Yazzinit

#14 posted March 29, 2012 at 12:48pm (EDT)

dustin25ship wrote:
> Sign me up Bill. I'm on GTZ through my phone probably 70% of the
> time.

bill

#15 posted March 29, 2012 at 12:55pm (EDT)

OK, added both of you too.

infecteddh

#16 posted March 29, 2012 at 1:02pm (EDT)

I only access through my phone. Please sing me up if possible.

bill

#17 posted March 29, 2012 at 1:04pm (EDT)

*clears throat and sings in my best voice* ... ♪ "I have added you infecteddh!" ♫

ShishioMakoto

#18 posted March 29, 2012 at 1:06pm (EDT)

I'd like to give it a shot bill.

infecteddh

#19 posted March 29, 2012 at 1:06pm (EDT)

haha, damnit! Thanks though very angelic voice.

Jasmine

#20 posted March 29, 2012 at 1:06pm (EDT)

I really like it, Bill. It's nice and well organized

bill

#21 posted March 29, 2012 at 1:09pm (EDT)

ShishioMakoto added

I'm glad to be hearing people like it. I like it too.

RickHarrison

(frozen)

#22 posted March 29, 2012 at 1:13pm (EDT)

I'd like to try it out, please.

benstylus

#23 posted March 29, 2012 at 1:18pm (EDT)
edited March 29, 2012 at 1:19pm (EDT)

Having some difficulty with the forums. Went to console marketplace, then hit back to go to the forum list, then to hot deals., it loaded for a moment, but then redirected back to the forum list showing the all my new replies section.

Samsung galaxy s if that helps. Will reset the cache and try it using the forums button instead of the back button on my phone

benstylus

#24 posted March 29, 2012 at 1:23pm (EDT)

Yes it appears using the phones back button is what is causing the issues.

bill

#25 posted March 29, 2012 at 1:28pm (EDT)

RickHarrison - added.

benstylus - I tried to reproduce that on my ipod, but it worked fine there. It sounds like your galaxy's browser is reloading the page that you went back to (thus, the amnr is show from the top of the page instead of where you scrolled down to the forum list). Or, maybe it just didn't remember the scroll point you had been on.

jQuery Mobile does some odd stuff that I've partly worked around and partly disabled. I can check to see if it does something special for "back". There may be some fix...

bill

#26 posted March 29, 2012 at 1:45pm (EDT)
edited March 29, 2012 at 1:47pm (EDT)

There's a jQuery Mobile option that uses Ajax by default to load page. I just enabled it. While I was working, I turned it off, but I forget why.

You'll notice the difference in that you'll see a "loading" pop-up each time you click a link and there's a slide page transition (it's fancier).

It loads the page in an internal manner. So, it may help with the back button issue. It may cause trouble, though. So, lets see.

bill

#27 posted March 29, 2012 at 1:50pm (EDT)
edited March 29, 2012 at 1:50pm (EDT)

It's also worth noting that for iPhone people you can click that middle icon on the bottom of Safari then select "add to home screen". Then the GameTZ mobile site will get an app icon. It's still just uses Safari under the covers, but it will be easier to access via an app icon and you may prefer it (most of the safari stuff gets hidden).

It's possible Android phones have something similar.

gatekeeperlp

#28 posted March 29, 2012 at 1:53pm (EDT)

Hey I'd love to check it out, on my iPhone right now,

LtBillyCoen

#29 posted March 29, 2012 at 1:55pm (EDT)

Add me to the mobile site please, I'd love to test it out!

Yazzinit

#30 posted March 29, 2012 at 1:59pm (EDT)

Sick work bill.

benstylus

#31 posted March 29, 2012 at 2:00pm (EDT)

Yup it causes problems

if I try to go to a thread in a forum, it just shows the now loading thing forever. I'd rather just not use the back button. Another small issue is that when it loads a thread, although it scrolls to the first unread post, when the thread finishes loading it snaps back to the top

NLS

#32 posted March 29, 2012 at 2:02pm (EDT)

Add me, billy. Ill give it a shot too.

Got PSX/PS2 RPGs for Trade? {href}httphttp://gametz.com/user/NLS.html Lets Trade!{href}

Sean

#33 posted March 29, 2012 at 2:11pm (EDT)

Awesome, add me sir.

- Sean's OnLive Forum -

ShishioMakoto

#34 posted March 29, 2012 at 2:15pm (EDT)

Strange how different from the regular site!

I... Like it. Awesome actually. Very functional, much easier to navigate on my Blackberry.

bill

#35 posted March 29, 2012 at 2:21pm (EDT)

I added more people.

I disabled the ajax thing I mentioned before. Like benstylus, I was seeing some pages hang in the "loading" screen.

PSG

#36 posted March 29, 2012 at 2:22pm (EDT)

I'd like to be a tester

Sean

#37 posted March 29, 2012 at 2:25pm (EDT)

Wow very impressive. Love the look of the threads.

- Sean's OnLive Forum -

vader99

BTRs

(abandoned)

#38 posted March 29, 2012 at 2:26pm (EDT)

JFJguy

#39 posted March 29, 2012 at 2:26pm (EDT)

I would love to test it, I use my phone most of the time.

-----------

Join the Movie/Game Share Forum Here

Sean

#40 posted March 29, 2012 at 2:27pm (EDT)

And by the way you do the add bookmark to homescreen thing on Android too, I just did it myself.

- Sean's OnLive Forum -

infecteddh

#41 posted March 29, 2012 at 2:32pm (EDT)

Great job! Liking it a lot bill.

chazd1984

#42 posted March 29, 2012 at 2:35pm (EDT)

I browse exclusively on my razr maxx. Im usually not too crazy about mobile versions of sites but id like to check it out.

bill

#43 posted March 29, 2012 at 2:39pm (EDT)

I added everyone again.

ryanm

#44 posted March 29, 2012 at 2:40pm (EDT)

I go on Gametz a lot with my Ipod touch. Can I test this?

RickHarrison

(frozen)

#45 posted March 29, 2012 at 2:41pm (EDT)

This crap is bananas. Crazy good work billiam.

bill

#46 posted March 29, 2012 at 2:43pm (EDT)

ryanm added

Justin

#47 posted March 29, 2012 at 2:46pm (EDT)

Add me please.

Miranda

#48 posted March 29, 2012 at 2:49pm (EDT)

Now make it a sub only feature.

bill

#49 posted March 29, 2012 at 3:00pm (EDT)

Justin - added

Miranda - I'm currently leaning toward letting non-subs use it too. The mobile version can show ads and has the potential to bring in new traders.

infecteddh

#50 posted March 29, 2012 at 3:04pm (EDT)

When I receive a new pm it isn't showing that I have one. Also on the normal site when I go to a topic I have already visited it will take me to the end of it. The mobile site takes me to the first post.

Justin

#51 posted March 29, 2012 at 3:15pm (EDT)

I've only messed around a little, but awesome job bill!

One suggestion I would have is giving an option to set the All My New Replies as collapsed instead of automatically open, and All Forums start open. I don't really use All My New Replies, so it's a little annoying having to collapse that, then open All Forums every time I want to visit a different forum. But, not a big deal of course.

TapU0ut

#52 posted March 29, 2012 at 3:18pm (EDT)

Add me please.

rayzor6

#53 posted March 29, 2012 at 3:23pm (EDT)

I'm a heavy mobile user...add me if it would benefit your work.

bill

#54 posted March 29, 2012 at 3:28pm (EDT)

infecteddh - That new pm notification thing should be fixed now. Thanks for letting me know.

The jump to new on a topic was one of the trickier things I had to work on with jQuery Mobile. On the regular site, a #new is used at the end of the URL and that causes the browser to scroll to the "new" anchor on the page (where the new posts are). But, jQuery Mobile uses those #hash tags for something else such that I can't use them.

So, I added some javascript that waits 1 second, then scrolls the page down. The delay is needed because of some issue with the page setup taking a moment. But it may not be enough time in some cases. Or, it may seem too long in other cases.

I'll put it in my list of issues. It will be interesting to see other people's experience too.

bill

#55 posted March 29, 2012 at 3:28pm (EDT)

TapU0ut/rayzor6 added

bill

#56 posted March 29, 2012 at 3:31pm (EDT)

Justin - yeah, that's interesting with regard to amnr... I have the impression most people do use amnr often and the forum list less. But, maybe we'll see that's not always the case. There's a few things I could do, like start with both open or both closed.

Scott

#57 posted March 29, 2012 at 3:35pm (EDT)

bill wrote:
>
> *clears throat and sings in my best voice* ... ♪ "I have added
> you infecteddh!" ♫

Thanks for the lol Bill.

Ryan

#58 posted March 29, 2012 at 3:41pm (EDT)

I'll check it out, I use mobile pretty much half the time I'm on the site and sometimes sending offers is a pain :/ lol

_________________________________________________

I want to buy your Amazon GCs!
I will also buy most of your blu rays if I don't have them yet, give me a good price/send a message!

bill

#59 posted March 29, 2012 at 3:49pm (EDT)

Ryan added

benstylus

#60 posted March 29, 2012 at 3:49pm (EDT)

I've never used amnr either. With the tweaks you've made since this morning, it's running well. Haven't tried the back button again yet though

ndrake

#61 posted March 29, 2012 at 3:50pm (EDT)
edited March 29, 2012 at 3:51pm (EDT)

This is extra super awesome. I love it.

Two minor issues to report:

1. When you expand the thread name button at the top of a forum thread the ignore button's right border is cutoff a bit in iOS 5. Screenshot:

2. After doing "Add to Home Screen" on the page, and running the site from the home screen any link I click seems to switch over to Safari. (That's a bad explanation, but if you try it you should see what it's doing)

Suggestions:

1. Add a "Catch-up" option on the main AMNR list or at least in a specific forum list
2. Add mobile detection on gametz.com and auto-redirect to mobile site (maybe once the mobile site if finished)

GrimReaperX

#62 posted March 29, 2012 at 4:06pm (EDT)

i'm interested!

Josh

#63 posted March 29, 2012 at 4:16pm (EDT)

I want to test it.

rayzor6

#64 posted March 29, 2012 at 4:34pm (EDT)

love it!

gatekeeperlp

#65 posted March 29, 2012 at 5:01pm (EDT)

Checked er out for about 5 - 10 minutes.

Fudging amazing :) Makes the mobile experience a lot more streamlined. Stuff is really easy to access and see.

Keep up the great work.

bill

#66 posted March 29, 2012 at 5:01pm (EDT)
edited March 29, 2012 at 5:04pm (EDT)

Added Josh & grimreaperx

ndrake - 1) I'm not sure if I can do much about the cut off, but it doesn't seem so bad either. Those buttons will wrap in some cases (if there are more than a few - check them on a topic you made yourself where there are more options to see what I mean). I'll make a note though. Maybe something will turn up.

2) Yeah, the same thing just happened to me. I'm not sure what's up with that. Totally broken since the whole point is to stay out of Safari. I'll try to find some fix for it (hopefully).

1s) We'll see. Part of what I've needed to do is get rid of options like that. e.g. if I add catch up, then what about all the others (e.,g. my topics)... Basically, there's no room for any of them, but maybe something can be done eventually if enough people demand it. Maybe on the bottom where I put post.

2s) Yeah, mobile detection... maybe once things are released. Some early feedback I'd gotten was that people didn't want me to force them to use a mobile site, so I'm a bit hesitant ... we'll have to see how reaction goes (if it continues to be mostly positive, probably will). Potentially, some option could be added as well for people who don't want it (or I could just have a list of hard-coded people). I'm pretty sure the auto-detect code is pretty easy to add in.

Adambomb

#67 posted March 29, 2012 at 5:05pm (EDT)

I'd love to try this out. I use GameTZ mobile 95% of the time.

bill

#68 posted March 29, 2012 at 5:08pm (EDT)

Adambomb added

Josh

#69 posted March 29, 2012 at 5:09pm (EDT)

Loving it so far.

jagofulgore

#70 posted March 29, 2012 at 5:22pm (EDT)

Really wanna test this, but is the site just formatted to fit the screen, or is it any different? Thanks.

Sign me up, bill! :)

thegreatest

(abandoned)

#71 posted March 29, 2012 at 5:24pm (EDT)

Sign me up for that! Been waiting for this

CoachMcGuirk

#72 posted March 29, 2012 at 5:41pm (EDT)

I'd like to help out, please.

bill

#73 posted March 29, 2012 at 5:47pm (EDT)

added CoachMcGuirk thegreatest jagofulgore

jagofulgore - it's pretty different, not just formatting

Dustin

#74 posted March 29, 2012 at 5:56pm (EDT)

Definitely liking it so far. One thing I would prefer, and I don't know if it's just me, but I'd like to have the "AMNR" collapsed and "All Forums" expanded when I click on Forums. Right now it's the opposite of that. I guess see what the masses think.

hodgie

BTRs

#75 posted March 29, 2012 at 5:58pm (EDT)

is it too late to get in Bill? i want tooooooooooooooooo

I can Jtag your Xbox 360, almost any 360 made, including Slim 360's now!!!!. PM me..... I offer a full flashing service for 360 as well. Always looking for broken consoles

bill

#76 posted March 29, 2012 at 6:19pm (EDT)

hodgie added

dustin25ship - a couple others mentioned that, so it's not just you.

infecteddh

#77 posted March 29, 2012 at 6:26pm (EDT)

How do you forum catch up and all forum catchup? Noob question I know!

bill

#78 posted March 29, 2012 at 6:28pm (EDT)

It's not currently possible to catch-up. One of many limitations. ndrake also mentioned it, so maybe I can find some place to add it, though. I was thinking maybe at the bottom of a forum where the post link is.

I also just changed the forums page to hide AMNR but show the forum list by default given some people's reaction I think it may be better. Or, maybe the people who use AMNR will be unhappy now. But, I think all my new replies can be a lot while the forums list is more manageable. So, maybe most will like it now.

Famous

#79 posted March 29, 2012 at 6:42pm (EDT)

Bill, Can you please add me to the list. Thanks

bill

#80 posted March 29, 2012 at 6:42pm (EDT)

added!

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Topic: GameTZ Mobile - looking for testers

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