1. We have an auth system so only members can use the programs. Thus it gives people an incentive to register. I want programmers to start using the auth properly - it will raise activity. Let me elaborate on our auth setup a bit.

For each program you generate a unique key. You're able to toggle the auth settings from a control panel on our website that instantly updates (so you can change the parameters of the auth without forcing anyone to re-download the program). You can set a range of different parameters, including:

  • Minimum posts - user needs (x) posts to run program.
  • Last post - user's last post must be within the last (x) days to run the program.
  • Member for (x) days
  • Trial - usergroup (x) can only run for (y) times.

So for instance, if we set the last post parameter to 3, it will mean the user has to post once every three days to use the program. If we configure public users to only be able to trial the program 5 times, it will mean that once they've finished the trial, they'll have to post and reach UGB (or whatever) to continue using the bot. If we decide to update the requirements to 10 posts to use that program, it will mean they'll have to log on to the site and start posting.

The whole incentive for this auth setup was to develop a system that allows us to focus on user activity. Now, granted, we haven't even remotely used it to the best of our ability so far. However, these last couple of weeks I, and a couple of the other programmers have been working on a range of programs that should generate a lot of interest in the Gaia community. These programs should receive a decent amount of attention, and we'll be able to tweak the auth configuration in such a way that activity should increase quite a bit.

That's the direction we're taking LG down - a strong emphasis on quality programs and quality content.

2. I'll probably change this back to auto promote users in the near future. Bronze UG was never meant to be that special. Honestly, the only reason I created it was due to the fact that at the time we were hosted on a shared server, and our host kept suspending us for having publicly available 'hacks'.

---------- Post added at 08:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:14 AM ----------

Oh, I should probably add that the programs we have coming out should inject a bit of life in to the LG economy again.