Placement tracking challenges Forum Topic

Jul 22, 2008 8:36pm StevenG 254 posts	Sorry for the repost on this feature, but would like to see as much feedback on this idea as possible. My sense is that the spirit of Gyminee is one of healthy but supportive competition. It seems a shame to let the camaraderie of a shared goal dissipate with a single winner. Providing the ability for a challenge owner to select a winner-take-all type challenge or a placement-challenge that stays open until all competitors cross the finish line, much like a marathon, would help maintain motivation. A further refinement would be to display time difference between the first to cross the “finish” line and your own completion.

Jul 22, 2008 10:49pm GimpyGranny 616 posts ...	a placement-challenge that stays open until all competitors cross the finish line, much like a marathon, would help maintain motivation. I sure like that idea. As long as it’s open as long as needed. I can’t bike fast nor for miles at one time, I also can’t walk fast nor for long distances at a time (example, my goal right now is to walk .25 mile on the treadmill. Yes, 1/4 of a mile to start). If a challenge were for biking, since it would be until completion, all types of bikes should be allowed (stationary or road bike). Motivation would be knowing that when you finish (not IF you make a set time limit and are first), you will earn an award even if it’s called an “Award of Completion” or something.

Jul 22, 2008 11:38pm JuryDuty 630 posts Contributor	You know, that’s a really good idea. I entered a biking competition this week that was fun, then someone joined and in the first day biked about 5x farther than any of us had all week! It was pretty awesome, but it did pretty much “end” the competition. I think more people might have felt the continued push to compete had there been a second or third place prize.

Jul 23, 2008 8:18am sawolf01 264 posts Contributor	great idea. could have gold, silver, bronze icons as rewards?

Jul 23, 2008 10:42am StevenG 254 posts	Gimpy Granny I sure like your attitude. Don’t the Marines have a rule “leave no man/woman behind?” Always thought it was a class act when the other competitors hung out to cheer on the others at the finish line. :)

Jul 23, 2008 10:52am JuryDuty 630 posts Contributor	(If a challenge were for biking, since it would be until completion, all types of bikes should be allowed, stationary or road bike.) Or at the very least, it would be nice if the challenge creator could select which exercises would qualify for their challenge.

Jul 23, 2008 12:37pm GimpyGranny 616 posts ...	Always thought it was a class act when the other competitors hung out to cheer on the others at the finish line. :) Yes, it’s heartwarming to see, whether in real life or movies. Every time Cool Runnings is on TV I watch it. Even though it’s mostly a comedy and I know the ending, in the end when the competitors (and spectators) cheer them on, it always brings tears to my eyes. <g> Or at the very least, it would be nice if the challenge creator could select which exercises would qualify for their challenge. Yes, that would be a good idea. could have gold, silver, bronze icons as rewards? I think that’s a great idea. I wondered why that idea wasn’t implemented. I entered a biking competition this week that was fun, then someone joined and in the first day biked about 5x farther than any of us had all week! It was pretty awesome, but it did pretty much “end” the competition. That’s where “Levels” of Challenges would come in handy. Say it’s a bike distance – timed challenge. There could be “Level 1”. The top oh…5 placements could then enter “Level 2”. Meanwhile people could try Level 1 again. The top 5 of “Level 2” could then go on to “Level 3”, etc. I hope you all can figure out what I’m trying to get out of my mind into words. lol “Levels” could work for other Challenges too, timed, not timed, etc. but not all Challenges would have to have “Levels”.

Jul 23, 2008 1:35pm stephenb 1260 posts Staff	Great suggestions, and I don’t mean to give just a blanket answer, but we definitely plan to improve challenges over time. We feel that the initial offering covers the “basics”, and when we feel that everything is working well and is growing in popularity, we will continue to refine and add other cool stuff. (Sorry if people were disappointed by the lack of strength-training challenges, those are a little bit tougher to code up, but they’re on the ever-growing list)

Aug 25, 2008 2:36pm StevenG 254 posts	StephenB, any idea when you will be working on refining the challenges? Still seeing challenges end when they haven’t and I think placement based challenges would help with this.

Aug 25, 2008 5:58pm GimpyGranny 616 posts ...	I think placement based challenges would be fun and motivating, and a lot more people would join those type of challenges. I think a lot of people don’t join the challenges because they think they can’t come in first, and if you’re not first, you don’t get any recognition for your hard work.

Sep 16, 2008 11:27am StevenG 254 posts	Hey Gyminee team! Any update on the challenge refinements you have mentioned. Placement-based/marathon finishes are really something that I feel is key to motivating everyone taking part in a challenge and promotes stronger community.

Sep 17, 2008 2:32pm stephenb 1260 posts Staff	@StevenG: It’s towards the top of our priority list at this point. I can’t give a timeframe on it, but not too much longer :-)

Sep 18, 2008 2:12am StevenG 254 posts	StephenB, what is the likelihood we will be able to go into existing challenges and change the placement/finish style? Thanks!

Sep 24, 2008 12:19pm stephenb 1260 posts Staff	@StevenG: When the new challenge styles are added, it would more than likely not impact existing challenges, but be another challenge type that you could select from for future challenges.

Sep 25, 2008 8:40pm CountDrakeula 36 posts	Another Challenge Feature Request here – Is it possible to add the “start date” to the browse challenges view? The end date is obviously useful, but it would be nice to see if you’re getting in at the beginning, middle or near the end of a challenge before clicking in to see the details.

Sep 27, 2008 10:02pm stephenb 1260 posts Staff	Is it possible to add the “start date” to the browse challenges view? Good idea. Just so everyone knows, you can see when the challenge started on the actual challenge page, but it would also be nice to be able to see this from the browsing page also. I will add a ticket for this.