•  
  • metagnome
  • Level: 26 (87%) 
  • Rank: Cyber-Lip
  • Member since: Jul 23, 2003
  • Last online: 11/14/09 5:14 am PT
  • My Emblems:
    • Rank: Registered Member
    • Popular
    • Readers' Choice 2007 Chooser
    • Player's Ball
    • Virtually There: E3 2007 Microsoft Conference.
    • Technosaprotroph
    • Pin-up Girl
    • I voted
    • Rank: Registered Member
    • Popular
    • Good Taste
    • Tagger Dabbler
    • Virtually There: E3 2006 Sony Conference
    • E3 Monster
    • Boss Murder Witness
    • Tokyo Game Show 2006
    • I voted
    • Pin-up Girl
    • Technosaprotroph
    • Virtually There: E3 2007 Microsoft Conference.
    • Player's Ball
    • Readers' Choice 2007 Chooser
     
     
    Close

My Friends

My Recent Ratings

Title Score
WarioWare: Smooth Moves 8.1
Darwinia 8.5
24Jul 07

TopSpot, something new for Gamespot

I noticed a while ago that a lot of people seem to enjoy posting their opinions on the top x games of some type, and a number of Soapbox articles on just such topics were posted a couple of months back. I got to thinking that it would be kind of cool if one of the things in a user profile was a page showing your own personal top five lists on platforms, genres, greatest games of al time, and so on. Following fairly hot on the heels of this thought was another one that culminated in a couple of weeks' effort in my spare time and my first Firefox add-on: TopSpot.

For those of you who can't be bothered clicking on the link yet, let me explain. TopSpot is an add-on for Firefox (sorry IE users) that adds the functionality to add Top 5 lists to your user profile, and view Top 5 lists that other users have created. To give you some idea of what to expect, check out the screenshot below (thanks to weemadando for testing it out for me):

quick demo

On any user's profile page, you'll see a new tab called TopSpot, click on it and you'll see the new functionality this add-on provided. On other people's profiles, you'll see a list of all the top 5's that the user has created, and just click on the top 5 title to see the full list and reasons. On your own profile page you'll get an add/edit button that allows you to add your own lists, and if there's a Top 5 category missing then I can add it in, no trouble.

So, if you're interested head over to http://topspot.metagnome.net and download the add-on, that's all you need to do. TopSpot will figure out your username based on your GameSpot username when you start using it, so there's no signing up or anything. There are a couple of things you should be aware of before you start adding games, so check the help page, but it's fairly straightforward.

If it turns out that people want to use it, I was thinking of adding some stats on the TopSpot home page about most popular overall games, that kind of stuff.

Anyways, that's pretty much it, I'm not terribly good at shameless self-promotion

  • Posted Jul 24, 2007 3:00 am PT
  • Category: Editorial
  • 54 Comments

54 Comments

  • 3pwood_Lives

    Posted Jul 24, 2007 6:47 am PT

    This is great. I just installed it and I already like the functionality. Plus, who doesn't like lists?

  • StricerOokami

    Posted Jul 24, 2007 6:52 am PT

    Certainly is a nice addition to user pages,great integration with the tabs

  • Santas_Hitman

    Posted Jul 24, 2007 7:05 am PT

    This is slick. Very nice job. Thank you!

  • metagnome

    Posted Jul 24, 2007 7:59 am PT

    just to inspire you all with confidence, there was slight problem with games in the 'adventure' genre (ie they were causing lists to not be displayed). I noticed this when checking out 3pwood_Lives action/adventure list. Fear not, for it is now fixed

  • thejayman68

    Posted Jul 24, 2007 8:56 am PT

    Very nice. Thanks.

  • DarkSan00

    Posted Jul 24, 2007 9:04 am PT

    it's nice!

  • soroush7

    Posted Jul 24, 2007 9:20 am PT

    Yeah i like the idea.

  • MogFromLeipzig

    Posted Jul 24, 2007 9:39 am PT

    Wow! I would have no idea how to do it!
    Unfortunately I'm not using Firefox but still: Respect for your programming skills!

  • pigfish2

    Posted Jul 24, 2007 9:44 am PT

    i can't download it because it says the page cannot be found when i press download

  • dotdarkcloud

    Posted Jul 24, 2007 10:40 am PT

    Very Cool

  • NanoElite666

    Posted Jul 24, 2007 11:18 am PT

    Great idea.

  • JaMeS4418

    Posted Jul 24, 2007 11:45 am PT

    Cool idea, I need firefox

  • hokies1313

    Posted Jul 24, 2007 11:55 am PT

    Awesome idea, great job.

  • vidplayer8

    Posted Jul 24, 2007 12:04 pm PT

    its a really cool idea.

  • kylepadd

    Posted Jul 24, 2007 1:09 pm PT

    Everyone has already said it, but this is an awesome idea. It is always nice to see someone come up with a great idea, plan it out, and make it happen. Congratulations on a truly innovative feature. Now if I only had firefox!

  • Strider316

    Posted Jul 24, 2007 1:33 pm PT

    This is sick! Thannks

  • guitarherolover

    Posted Jul 24, 2007 10:08 pm PT

    It's cool!

  • mjk_1

    Posted Jul 24, 2007 10:52 pm PT

    When did you get this idea? I made a thread about something exactly like this in the Site Enhancements forum.
    http://www.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=25776004

  • metagnome

    Posted Jul 25, 2007 1:52 am PT

    it was pretty much after weemadando wrote a series of top 5 lists for the soapbox. Like I said, people like lists, so it pretty much follows that some way to collate said lists would be nice to have

  • byronman91

    Posted Jul 25, 2007 3:05 am PT

    I've already made a list, you made it way too easy sir!

  • -oG-ShAdY

    Posted Jul 25, 2007 7:59 am PT

    Do you think you could find/create an add-on for IE?

  • lafigueroa

    Posted Jul 25, 2007 9:04 am PT

    Wiw, prettty cool idea. To bad I'm stuck with IE

  • expert-yeti

    Posted Jul 25, 2007 9:34 am PT

    what is Firefox?

  • Adam_the_Nerd

    Posted Jul 25, 2007 9:41 am PT

    cool featire

  • bansheerpg

    Posted Jul 25, 2007 10:17 am PT

    I can't wait to try it! I'm actually re-installing Firefox right now!

  • hokies1313

    Posted Jul 25, 2007 11:21 am PT

    Just a few questions/ comments: I finished my first Top 5 list yesterday and I've been thinking some things over. Do you plan to allow for user created categories instead of just set Top 5 PC or Top 5 Adventure, such as Top 5 games in such and such franchise or whatever the creator might think of?

    And what about comments or a poll like thing to have one's friends interact with your Top 5, such as a poll that would have people submit their own ranks for the 5 games you picked, or would allow them to leave their thoughts on your top 5?

    Really love it, thank you for creating this add-on.

  • weemadando

    Posted Jul 25, 2007 2:01 pm PT

    Hurrah for Metagnome. I've gotta keep working on my lists.

  • nghtcrwlr821

    Posted Jul 25, 2007 3:22 pm PT

    I love the screenshot saying that John Wo, Fable 2, Bioshock, and Call of Duty 4 are all the best games to get on the PS2.

  • doomsdaydave11

    Posted Jul 25, 2007 3:38 pm PT

    i'm impressed

  • Laughlin_12

    Posted Jul 25, 2007 3:46 pm PT

    Awesome, but I need Firefox.

  • MacPhisto1

    Posted Jul 25, 2007 3:54 pm PT

    Made a DS Top 5. Very cool!

  • metagnome

    Posted Jul 25, 2007 3:56 pm PT

    To all those saying "but I wish I had Firefox", sorry. For what it's worth, Firefox is free, but I can appreciate not wanting to switch browsers just for a single add-on. In terms of getting it working for IE, I'd have to look into it, because I have no experience with IE development

  • cmikaiti

    Posted Jul 25, 2007 4:13 pm PT

    Wonderful product and I am in full support of you NOT porting this to IE. User created content and IE don't get along and the more people you convince to switch to "open" browsers will only make the world better in the end. Sorry for the rant, and once again, You've performed a wonderful service for the GameSpot Community. Thank you.

  • smithguy1234

    Posted Jul 25, 2007 6:38 pm PT

    I uploaded it but I can't figure out how to work it. It wont let me add anything. Could you help?

  • metagnome

    Posted Jul 25, 2007 8:51 pm PT

    smithguy1234: Well, assuming you've read the 'quick tour' and 'bucket' part of the help section on the site (http://topspot.metagnome.net/Help.aspx#quickTour), it really depends on exactly what the problem is. It's probably easiest to just send me an email, the address is on the topspot stie

  • Adam_the_Nerd

    Posted Jul 25, 2007 9:11 pm PT

    Keep it on Firefox Metagnome. so you can work on it and focus more energy and talent there. Is this Virus Free? I'm a long time firefox user (beta) and a lot of add-on's i have used contain malicious software.

    Is it a clean download?

  • metagnome

    Posted Jul 25, 2007 10:45 pm PT

    Adam_the_Nerd: it's totally clean. It only reads and writes information gamespot pages, and the only information it stores on the server is what you put in your top 5 lists

  • jorranvv

    Posted Jul 26, 2007 12:10 am PT

    downloaded,thanx good idea!

  • totalgridlock

    Posted Jul 26, 2007 1:00 am PT

    Oh, this is fantastic

    I'm a sucker for lists and you've just made it so much easier to fill Gamespot with my over-inflated and slightly skewed opinions...

    I definitely think you should keep it on FF too. Open software is a blessing.

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Jul 26, 2007 2:17 am PT

    Cool invention!

  • futagoza

    Posted Jul 26, 2007 5:16 am PT

    This is amazing really! Just what gamespot lacked. Looking forward to see what future updates will have in store.

    How come you decided on top 5 instead of top 10 btw?

  • metagnome

    Posted Jul 26, 2007 7:59 am PT

    A few reasons. Firstly, it's a bit of a nod to the book/movie High Fidelity where they keep naming musical top fives. Secondly, it's easier to be sure about whether a game should be in your top 5 or not, with top tens I tend to get a bit more indecisive, so hopefully this way only people's very favourite games will make the lists. Finally, it quicker and easier for other people to read.

  • LordMaceX

    Posted Jul 26, 2007 2:11 pm PT

    Great Job Metagnome.

    Very good idea, im sure I will find it useful maybe even Gamespot will catch on and add it to the site

  • dotdarkcloud

    Posted Jul 26, 2007 2:50 pm PT

    Is it possible to modify a list after you create it?

  • Adam_the_Nerd

    Posted Jul 26, 2007 3:39 pm PT

    OK I got it and it totally rules!

  • metagnome

    Posted Jul 26, 2007 4:09 pm PT

    dotdarkcloud: yeah, go in to add/edit, and select the list you want in the same way as if you were adding a list. It should automatically load up the information you've already entered for that list

  • halofreak3487

    Posted Jul 26, 2007 4:26 pm PT

    this is really cool.

  • broke812

    Posted Jul 26, 2007 4:56 pm PT

    good job...too bad i don't like firefox

  • Spartan1017

    Posted Jul 26, 2007 5:26 pm PT

    very cool

My Recent Ratings

Title Score
WarioWare: Smooth Moves 8.1
Darwinia 8.5
advertisement