Survey response, part 2

 

  • Survey response, part 2

    Posted by Huw, 18 Nov 2011 04:27. Filed under Brickset.

    Continuing on from part one, here are my responses to several more themes raised in the survey comments:

    Missing sets/data and set images

    There were quite a few comments about missing sets and the quality of set images, and requesting higher-resolution images. Some people asked if we are going to add sets prior to 1966 to the database.

    We are always happy to be told about missing sets or be provided with missing data or better pictures. In future it's likely that I'll make it possible for you to upload your own pictures of sets, but until then, please use the contact form to get in touch.

    At the moment, we have no plans to go further back in time than 1966 or include every set (service packs/brick boxes etc.) from 1966-70, mainly because the period is too complex and doing so would require plagiarising existing sources such as the Collector book, which I don’t want to do.

    In the New Year I am going to make a concerted effort to scan the instructions cover of every set I own (some 2000 or so) to improve some of the older images and once that is done I will ask for community help to fill the gaps where needed.

    Since 2007 I have been collecting the hi-res set images from LEGO.com but haven’t made them available yet, primarily to conserve bandwidth, but maybe now is the right time to add them.

    Advanced search/results sorting/improved data mining

    This is definitely an area that could be improved so I will give it some thought.

    Site design

    There were a few negative comments about the site’s design, but there was probably more positive ones. I did, you’ll recall, tweak the design a while ago (removed the blue background) and it was disliked so much I reverted back to the old one. While I agree it does need to be freshened up a bit, my view at the moment is ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it'. Nevertheless I will continue to tweak it from time to time and have plans to freshen it up in the New Year.

    iPad App

    Several people say they don’t like the iPad/iPhone apps or that they don't work properly. Unfortunately there isn’t much I can do about them as they are written by 3rd parties, so I encourage you to contact the authors directly via the appStore.

    News

    You want more news, more frequently posted and from more countries. If you would like to report on news from your country and you are over 18, get in touch. If we have more contributors we'll have more articles.

    An interesting comment from someone was that the news always revolves around the ‘cult of the new’. Well I guess fundamentally that’s what ‘news’ is, but it made me think that maybe we could also have articles about historical topics, not necessarily always written by staff members but potentially by anyone. So, if you have an idea for an article, ‘The history of LEGO police stations’ or something like that, then get in touch.

    Part 3 to follow...


    17 comments, latest one posted 19 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)
    1242 views


 
 

Comments

Posted by grandbuilder2001 in United Kingdom, 18 Nov 2011 07:54

Wish I was 18?!!!!!!

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 18 Nov 2011 08:51

^ & ^^ Really just to ensure proper use of English, grammar and punctuation. I'm not saying that those under 18 don't have a grasp of these but it's more likely that those over 18 do.

Also, in your 2 cases, we're pretty much sorted for US and UK news, it's other countries that we need correspondents for e.g. mainland Europe, Australia, Asia, South America etc.

Posted by Thomson & Thompson in Canada, 18 Nov 2011 08:58

^^Huw, if you took 1960's set data from Bricklink, that would be all right, wouldn't it? As well, could you add set 11998 (PAB) to the database?

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 18 Nov 2011 09:44

^^ I know it's a gross generalisation and I don't mean to offend under 18s: all I'm saying is that it's more likely that a older person can write to an acceptable standard than someone who isn't.

However, to avoid digging myself into an even deeper hole, if anyone -- under or over 18 -- wants to become a correspondent, email me to explain why you want to be one and why you think you'd be suitable and I'll judge each applicant on their merits.

@T&T, I have no plans to add PaB as it's not really a set, is it. Your 'copy' of it will be different to mine and everyone else's.

Posted by itsaturkey in United States, 18 Nov 2011 09:58

Huw- Speaking of grammar, you spelled survey wrong :P Or is 'qurvey' the way you like to say it :P
Really nice updates!

Posted by Irene in United States, 18 Nov 2011 10:50

I received an official bubble pack promotional item of two Gold 2x3 bricks several years back. E100 or some number like that. I did submit the pictures, and the exact number, but this was never posted. Is that they type of set, you consider to be still missing? If so, I can post from my home computer. If you have my email as part of my Login, please contact me via email.

I have all of the Harry Potter sets, including bubble packs. So if you need any of those, please let me know.

Posted by Alemas in Germany, 18 Nov 2011 13:16

THE NEWS SEARCH HAS BEEN FIXED, YAY!!! :D

Posted by Xiaolong in Belgium, 18 Nov 2011 13:53

Hello Huw,

Some descent articles about older sets, design, building techniques, ... would be very interesting.

Posted by fitzyfitz in United Kingdom, 18 Nov 2011 15:03

Presumably it would need to be quite in-depth to be considered descent :o)

Posted by Duchessa in Sweden, 18 Nov 2011 15:47

Huw, I own two copies of a set (1209, a servicepack) that isn't listed. If I want to add it, do I take a great photo of it and sent it to you? :)

Also, if you want a nordic correspondent I might be able to help out. The problem is that Lego sales and such stuff is quite rare in Scandinavia, and english isn't my first language. But on the other hand, bluemoose might vouch for me.

Posted by Thomson & Thompson in Canada, 18 Nov 2011 17:02

@Huw-All right, fair enough.

Posted by cwcsquared in United States, 18 Nov 2011 22:51

So who do we contact if we want to contribute?

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 19 Nov 2011 05:22

@Duchessa, yes please, huw@brickset.com

Posted by jonbuddy in United States, 19 Nov 2011 08:27

There's going to be a part 3?!?!?!!?! Wow Huw you and the guys really do care. :)

Posted by BooMakuta! in United States, 19 Nov 2011 21:29

What about my "delete BrickLists and reviews" comment?

Posted by zeba87 in Italy, 21 Nov 2011 01:40

Why there isn't anymore the US/UK availability field?

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 23 Nov 2011 03:51

^ It's now under the 'Buy' tab.

Commenting has ended on this article.