Looking for an identity.
Being able to show off your quest badges is fun, so we decided to take badges a step further and create “Identity badges.”
Identity badges will allow you to tell the community a little more about yourself…
Things you’re a fan of, what hobbies you have, your occupation, your favorite pastimes (besides board games!), your interests, personality traits, things you’re proud of, and the list could go on and on.
We could make educated guesses about what identity badges we should create, but we figured why not just ask what YOU want. Let the identity badges begin!
p.s. Check your “purchased badges” because we gave each of you a “beta 1.0 tester” badge as a small token of appreciation!
This is a distraction from the games and the info on the site, but once all that is sorted, please add this kind of stuff!
I like them. They help distinguish each gamer a bit. I would love to see more of them.
As neat as these would be, I’d like to see more games be added first. As it is right now I can only include about 2/3rds of my collection or wish list. And I’ve only been a gamer for around three years so my games aren’t old.
That said, I also realize that this is a beta version for testing things out so…
For starting these out I’d stay fairly broad in scope with the badges to maximize their attractiveness. So things like:
Home country,
Favourite game genre,
“I play with xxx colour”,
Family related (game with spouse, kids, etc.),
Sport fan (football, baseball, hockey, soccer, etc.),
“I work (at a desk, with my hands, for myself, in many places, etc.),
“I organize gaming groups”,
Game pieces (as given by Jay Atkinsin).
I think that by keeping them from being too specific at this early stage in the site’s development allows them to go farther and see more widespread use.
I’d like to see:
Game Designer
Published Game Designer
Self-Published Game Designer
FLGS Supporter
FLGS Owner
FLGS Employee
Game Industry Professional
Game Industry Veteran
Icons that claim the color you play:
I play Yellow
I play Red
I play Green
etc.
I don’t think it will ever quite copy the BGG system, because there you can design your own badge and sell it for geek gold. I doubt that will ever happen here, because they should strive for a consistent look.
I think they could break away from BGG by allowing more badges to be on display, then what they allow.
Also, there already are badges for the questing system of this site that helps differentiate themselves from BGG.
I agree with Macabee. Religion/politics badges should wait until the site exists some more time just not to frighten newbies and/or attract trolls.
And I think the badge system here should not just mirror the BGG microbadge system… Looking at the current proposals I’m afraid it may become just a copy of that solution. I’d suggest to stick with game-related content only.
BTW Why is there a 5th brag slot that cannot be used? I think this was asked once before… but I don’t remember an answer.
… and, yeah, Macabee is right about religion… but it will come up. There’s a reason some of the “darker” games get a lower score with no reviews to substantiate… just saying. I liked Alien Nation, but understand the sentiment.
Start off with game related ones, I’d say. I’d also say stay away from Religious and Political ones, at least for a while. Seeing that stuff can alienate new visitors.
I agree with Jay… you could go on an on…
… I like the idea of Organization (Graphic Designer, Writer, Lawyer,etc.), College/University (Go Ducks!), Religious Affiliation or lack thereof (atheists need love too), Game pieces or specific game worship is a religion unto itself (Agricola, Arkham Horror badges, etc.). Sport Teams (Raiders, Dodgers, etc.) are definitely a way people define themselves. Hobbies is a real HUGE area (not sure where you start, but I like hiking and the outdoors… while my friends wouldn’t mind breathing the same air day after day in a room playing games). Characters from comics… but also movies, books, and real, live famous people (RIP Steve Jobs) would all be good.
Can I get an HP Lovecraft badge?
I could make a list that goes on forever:-) Andrew’s post covers a good chunk of it.
Badges for occupations (electrical engineer, software engineer, nurse, doctors)
Religious affinity
College/University
Sport team fans
Game pieces (Meeples, army men, Fantasy flight figures, chess, etc.)
Leaderboard badges (top 10 that change with rank and category)
Comic book characters for the extra geek in you
Room to put badges below our avatar:-)
I would like to see a collection of badges:
Game Companies
Specific Games
Other Cons
Something to signify a genre preference (Strategy/Economic/Cooperative etc.)
Nerd pride represent! Gencon badge huzzah! I should probably get the Norway badge for my fam.