Monday, July 30, 2012

Cuusoo User's Guide: Part 5: Monitoring Activity and the My Page

Welcome to the Unofficial Cuusoo User's Guide.

This is a Part 5 of a short series of articles about Cuusoo for beginners through super users.  It is derived from the presentation I gave at Brick Fiesta earlier this year.

Part 1: What is Cuusoo?
Part 2: Finding Projects
Part 3: Supporting a Project
Part 4: Comments, Reporting, & Feedback
Part 5: Monitoring Activity and the My Page
Part 6: Creating Projects and Verboten Subjects
Part 7: Creating "Successful" Projects



 

Bookmarking Projects

The activity of a bookmarked project will show up in your Activity Feed.  You permanently bookmark any project that you make or that you support.  You may choose to bookmark any other project.

To bookmark a project, click on "Bookmark this Project" on the project page.  The phrase will then change to "Bookmarked".  If you want to unbookmark a project just click on "Bookmarked" again.

There are generally four reasons one would Bookmark a project instead of supporting it.

  • The project is not quite up to snuff but it "could be"

    Many projects post before they are fully ready with statements like, "I will have pictures next week."  Bookmarking these projects will notify you when they are updated, allowing you to postpone your decision to support.

    Also, many people will leave a comment giving a suggestion for a change to a project with the leverage that they will support if their request is fulfilled. 

  • Just curios

    This is a catch all.  Lots of people will keep tabs on projects that are very similar to their own or that they think may break the rules a bit and they want to see how it plays out. 
     
  • The project is too popular!

    Experienced Cuusoo users with a lot of elements in the activity feed will sometimes follow a really good project instead of initially supporting it.  The reason for this is that sometimes a project will really catch people's attention like the Eve Online Ship, the Winchester, or Portal 2 and many people will support the project all at once...which can clog up a users Activity Feed.  If you have done bookmarks instead of a support, then you may "unbookmark" the project and wait for the activity to slow back down. 
     
  • Jumping in at the end

    Remarkably, some people want to be the 10,000 supporter.  Who knows why?  Some are extreme examples of the "project too popular" crowd, others fight over the number.

Following Users

You follow someone by clicking on their "follow" button.  This button is located under the name of the project's creator if you are on a project page.  Alternatively, if you click on someone's avatar or their name it will take you to their profile. A follow button will be located under their avatar and username on the right side of their profile page.

When you follow someone, you will be notified, via your activity feed, of many of the actions they preform in Cuusoo.  These specific activities are noted in the Activity feed section below.

If you want to unfollow someone, then all you need to do is click the "follow" button again, which will have changed into an "unfollow" button.  You can also unfollow someone in the Friends section of the My Page (see below)

The user being "followed" will be notified, via their activity feed, when you follow them, but they will not be notified if you choose to unfollow.

People are generally followed for one of three reasons:
  • They find projects that the follower likes
  • They leave comments that the follower appreciates
  • They create many projects that the follower likes

The My Page

The My Page is where you can monitor projects and creators.  It also happens to be where you initiate and update projects but there will be more on that in the next section.

Activity Feed



The activity feed tells you what is going on with projects and people you are following.  Items that will show up in the feed include:

  • A user has supported a project that you have bookmarked. 
  • A user has posted a message to a project that you have bookmarked.
  • A user has started following you.
  • A project creator adds or deletes an image from a project you have bookmarked.
  • A project creator alters a project you have bookmarked. 
  • A person you are following does any of the above actions.

Friends

The friends section of the My Page gives you access to two lists: Following and Followers

Following is a list of all the people you are following.  This section will also display their avatar and their web page, if they have chosen to post one.  You have the option to unfollow them here.

Followers indicates who is following you.  Like, the following section, this also displays their web page if they have chosen to post one in their profile.


Projects

This is a simple interface allowing for a basic overview of the projects you have some correlation with.  This interface divides these projects into those you have created, those you have supported, and those you have bookmarked.

The interface provides the following details:

  • Title
  • Main image
  • Creator
  • First 100 character
  • Number of Views
  • Number of Comments
  • Number of Bookmars
  • Number of Supporters.
There is also a link to the actual project.

Account Setting

This section lets you set your profile and account settings.

 

Account Tab

Every site with any social aspect has one of these.  This is Cuusoo's.

Under the "Account" tab you have your very basic site support elements:  Avatar, Email address, Username, and Password update.

You also have two social posting options here: Facebook feed and Twitter Feed.  If you set up either of these options then you can automatically post your support activities. When you support a project, if either of these is set, then a check box will show up at the bottom of the support window.  If this box is check when you finish your support, then a default post will be sent to the indicated site. 

If you set the "Auto Post" then this check box will default to being checked.  You are still free to uncheck it to prevent sharing your support activities.

Special Note on Avatars:
You cannot use the Lego logo or any "clever" variation of it as your Avatar.  Cuusoo will delete your avatar if they find that you have done this. 
 

Profile Tab

The profile has the basic elements you expect to find: Name, Gender, Country, & Profession. 

It also has a place to post your twitter, flickr, facebook, website of choice, and Bio.  This tends to be the more interesting elements.
If someone goes to your profile page, they will see the Bio and these links.  If you have created any projects you should heavily leverage these aspects of your Profile.  

Cuusoo of the Day: Mechanical Logic Brick Sorter, with Style

Pick of the Day

Brick-Sorting Excavator
by Ifitzgibbon


I have never included a video before, but you gotta see this:


It is a totally mechanical-logic brick sorter.  BRILLIANT.  I question that Lego would produce something so complicated.  But this is..is...is...unwordly.  


Notables

Cuusoo of the Day: Plymouth and the Snake Boss

Just a quick note, I think it is really lame when people use Tag spam (putting inaccurate tags on a project to show up on searches of popular tags).  If a projects uses this method, then I won't post it here, regardless of how good it is.

Pick of the Day

Plymouth HEMI 'Cuda 1970 Convertible (22-wide)
by Mopar


When I saw the small scale picture of this, I thought it was a model of a car.  This is crazy impressive detailing on this car.  Additionally, the hood, doors, and trunk open.  The open hood reveals some nice motor elements.  Not sure Lego would produce a set with so very many parts but who knows?

Honorable Mention

Ninjago final boss idea
by Kadasbence


Really nice, organic look with this set.  Clever use of the snake head and Jabba element, although I think this would look great without Jabba's booty anyway.

Some aspects of it do look a little frail, structurally.

Notables

Cuusoo of the Week:The Fighter, The Garbage Truck, and the Polar Cruiser

Pick of the Week

Desktop Series: Fighters
by Rongyiren


I love it when Cuusoo users make my job easy, and Rongyiren certainly did it this time.  Just look at that pic. Do I need to say anything more?  I will but it is redundant.

This project currently has two sets.  They are very colorful with smooth lines and dynamic builds.  They have an ever so slightly Chibi style which makes them feel larger than life with what I image is a crazy "swoosh factor". The tail fins are genius.  The clouds are a spectacular touch.

On top of all that Rongyiren has great presentation, the project has a distinct concept (desktop art), and to top it all off, its IP independent.

This is a great example of a great Cuusoo project.

Show your extra support and help get the word out by voting it up on Reddit here.

 

Second Place

PF Garbage truck
by Cj6jo3xjp6


This is an engineering marvel, an artistic masterpiece, and all around awesome.  On top of all that, it is a very unique build...not just another Technic crane!  This would however cost a fortune with all the motors, pneumatics, and linear actuators it uses.   

You must also see the video to fully appreciate it. It actually scoops up Lego into its container...Brilliant!

Show your extra support and help get the word out by voting it up on Reddit here.

 

Third Place

Polar Cruiser
by Sebeus


This build is beautiful, functional, and unique.  It has everything one could want in an Actual Lego set, except of course a minifig ;).

This set could pretty much roll out as is and I know a lot of people would be happy with it.  I do imagine that if this set were to make it to 10k that the bionicle elements would be swapped out with something a little more brickish, but, personally I like it as is.

The qualities of this set remind me of the Ambulance, a set that is quietly noble on Cuusoo.


Honorable Mentions


Second Look

RESEARCH LAB SUBMARINE (Modular with interiors)
by Grusso


Grusso has relaunched this submarine with style!  Its huge, yeah, but it has a right to be.  It has 5 separate compartments, each lovingly detailed.  The side of each compartment opens up to allow you a full view of what is going on.  There is even a submarine INSIDE the submarine!  Check it out,  you won't be disappointed.

Show your extra support and help get the word out by voting it up on Reddit here.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Cuusoo of the Day: Desktop Fighters and Party Barges

Pick of the Day

Desktop Series: Fighters
by Rongyiren


I love it when Cuusoo users make my job easy, and Rongyiren certainly did it this time.  Just look at that pic. Do I need to say anything more?  I will but its redundant.

This project currently has two sets.  They are very colorful with smooth lines and dynamic builds.  They have an ever so slightly Chibi style which makes them feel larger than life with what I image is a crazy "swoosh factor". The tail fins are genius.  The clouds are a spectacular touch.

On top of all that Rongyiren has great presentation, the project has a distinct concept (desktop art), and to top it all off, its IP independent.

This is a great example of a great Cuusoo project.

Make sure to check out Rongyiren's other projects while you are at it. 


Honorable Mention

Party Barge
by Weaselbuilds


Party Barges are becoming a more and more common site it seems.  Weaselbuilds has created an excellent representation and I don't know that anyone else ever has before (at least on Cuusoo that is).

I do think this set could use a bit more color, and the figs should probably be in swimsuits.  Otherwise very strong project.


Notables   




Second Look

Manga Police Craft
by Kaitimar

This is a very unique build with some great techniques and coloring.  Project does not say much...but it doesn't really need to.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Cuusoo of the day: Giant Robot and Teenage Turtles

 This is one of those really hard days for me, where there are a lot of decent projects, all very different.  Nothing stands out really strong above the others and they are two different to compare well..oh well.  Here we go.


Pick of the Day

Harix Repair Facility
by Stacalkas


Like many of my picks, this is certainly not the most popular project of the day.  So far it has 1/3 the support of others that came out, but I don't base my picks on the projects that will get the most support.

This is the most well developed project that came out today. Its a great basic concept too: Giant Robot with Support scaffolding! Its creative and fun, but it is a bit to large for many reasons.  For one...this will take up a lot of space, it will dominate whatever area it is in.  Second it will be way to expensive for the value.

I think Stacalkas would be much more successful if they redesigned this set at no more than 3/4ths the current scale.  There should also be some more variations in the scaffolding.   


Honorable Mention

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
by Arturito


This project is only the minifigs, but they are pretty great. 



 Notables