Changes to Review Day?

Looking over many of the Review Days stretching back to 2010, there always seems to be a pattern: two teams fight for first with two teams fighting for third from far behind. Obviously, this isn't ideal! I have no doubt that it depresses reviewing turnout from the two lagging teams.

So with that in mind, and with a focus toward increasing the number of reviews, let's make some changes before we get to the May 26 Review Day.

Definite proposal

First, let's reduce the number of teams from 4 to 2.

Second, I think more notice is needed. Review Day wasn't announced for April until the day before practically. From now on, certain items (such as the countdown) will automatically kick into action without any human intervention.


Other proposals?

Another possible idea is to give each Review Day its own theme, although I can easily see that becoming boring (although it may work every now and then). Or, get rid of the Review Teams altogether.

In any case, feel free to toss more ideas out there or to comment on the ones above! I want to make the May 26 Review Day huge.

For reducing the number of teams to two, it'll be likely that one team will be far ahead and the other lagging behind, same as the situation with four, but minus the two in the middle. Worth testing though.

The countdown is a good idea.

Giving each team it's own theme eliminates the competition aspect a little - say there's more short stories than poetry, when one team finishes off with poetry, they are left with nothing else to do (less reviews as well).

Not sure what you plan with getting rid of the teams... individual competition? But I think we should keep the teams, it's nice having a sense of a community with everyone cheering each other on.


This idea has some obvious issues, but if there's a way to make teams permanent for every Review Day... BUT THE ISSUES

NONONONONO.

Don't get rid of the teams. Dx

I like the idea of splitting into two teams, not four. I like that a lot.

A suggestion: Can we perhaps get into our teams and plot a few days before the actual Review day? Two days isn't really enough to a.) come up with a witty name and leader and B.) hatch a game plan. Right?

Just an idea.

I definitely agree that more notice would help. I think it was the January Review Day that had a few days notice and was pretty successful. The last couple have snuck up on us.

I like the teams. I think they get people going for a competition. I also like how they're random and change every month so there's less bias. Only 2 teams doesn't seem like it would be very competitive, though. Perhaps 3?

I think it might help to link to helpful review tips and keep the focus on quality as well as quantity. Most people have posted good reviews but there seem to be some bad seeds. This might also help newer members grow confident in their skills and post better reviews.

Themes could be fun, but I also like being able to pick our names and stuff. I think it's worth a try, depending on what you have in mind.

Yes! Two teams are better! Much, much!

I really, really, really like the idea of having themes. It's something that could excite everyone! I mean, a few days before the Review Day, the teams can make their banners, prepare paraphernalia and such.

Another idea originally conceived by GeeLyria is to record one's RD reviews. A separate record. Maybe there'll be a space in their profile where everyone can see one's number of RD reviews. Reviewers could also earn titles, like Review Day Hero or something.

Okay! Here are my thoughts, for what tiny bit they are worth.

1. Teams

I like teams, and I think they are fun. My team also lost last time, and I can definitely safely say being behind probably discouraged reviewing from all of us. That being the case, Karzkin started setting goals for the team to reach, and we met most of them. That kept us going for a good while. What if review teams could set their own team goals?

Pros- Encourages teams that are losing to review more, allows for four teams to stay, requires no actual coding or changing to the website.

Cons- None, really. Even if it's not something we actually implement, I encourage every team to do this next review day!

2. More notice!

I definitely agree that there should be more notice. I also like the idea of being able to join a team awhile before review day. Not too long before, though, because the excitement of joining a team can wear off if it is too far in advance. That's at least how I feel.

Pros- Reviewers are more prepared for review day and can plan it into their schedule. Teams can get to gather and discuss more ahead of time.

Cons- There's a chance the thrill of joining a team could peter out if it's too far ahead of review day.

3. Two Instead of Four

I'm not fond of change, so I'm not sure how I feel about this idea. It's definitely worth a shot to see how it works out. It's not like we can't ever go back to four teams ever ever ever again. If we get more reviews off of two teams, then great! If not, we might have to look at something else being the issue.

Pros- It's always good to try something new, it might increase reviews,

Cons- Communities would be larger, which could also be seen as a pro, but it also tends to less comradeship, however a larger reviewing force has the potential to equalize the playing field, encouraging more people to review.

My opinion which does not count for much is.

I think it would be better if it was so that the pic can be put on during review day.

Because none of the leaders got there pic in at the right time.

I also agree with Shino.

I just would like to say that we should not cut up the teams at all 4 is the best.

So, I guess I'll put in my opinion.

As for splitting up the teams, I do agree with some of the people above me, it would most likely end up being uneven and one team will drag behind. Maybe three teams will be better than two or four, so there is still more than one spot to chase after, and you won't be the loser if you weren't the winner.

I think we need earlier notifications. A week would be awesome, and maybe four days before the event, start letting people sort into the teams. This allows for people like me to get a good picture up and a great banner on the wall.

Having more time will allow us to get more, well everything in order. My team, by courtesy of AlfredSymon, was able to get some fun, interactive review day goals up, but it didn't seem enough. Not only that, but I was not able to make a banner for our team, and I found a picture, but I couldn't send it to AlfredSymon soon enough.

I really think that you should allow more time to prepare for Review Day.

Themes: That would be nice, although I don't really know what they would do to improve on the teams. In fact, I think that they might hinder the wide variety of team names and variations.

I have an idea, and this may sound farfetched, but it might be worth it. Instead of making Review Day just a day for revieiwing (because I already know a lot of people who don't review because they don't like Review Day) make it a weeked of certain different festivals, all ending with Review Day. For one, it will make Review Day more popular, with more publicizing, and it will entice the people who don't really like the concept of Review Day or the blandness of Review Day to go out and review. It would take a lot of careful planning, but there are many people (Me included) who would do that.

That's just my thoughts.

Personally I like the number of teams, my opinion in the matter is that the distribution of the members is not even, I myself always do a LOT of reviews on Review day, as you may have noticed, if I was on yellow I would have done just as many, but it seems that these lower teams always seem to get the brunt of the members (I've been on the winning teams for the past 3 review days - coincidence? I think not).

So . . . Maybe more randomization! I don't know, i'd bet though, that you give me, Aquest, Nite, and a couple others a full review day on Team Yellow and we'd win. . . . But the thing is we're never on team yellow or blue. . . . It doesn't seem quite . . . random.

I think the 'more notice' part IS a good idea though.

I have an idea, and this may sound farfetched, but it might be worth it. Instead of making Review Day just a day for revieiwing (because I already know a lot of people who don't review because they don't like Review Day) make it a weeked of certain different festivals, all ending with Review Day. For one, it will make Review Day more popular, with more publicizing, and it will entice the people who don't really like the concept of Review Day or the blandness of Review Day to go out and review. It would take a lot of careful planning, but there are many people (Me included) who would do that.

Basically YWS week monthly instead of yearly?

Incentive.

I'm not big on review day myself. I prefer to get around to reviewing on my own time. Also, I'd much rather make one long and detailed review than race around and write 40 bad ones in one day just so I can win on a team (I've actually seen reviews on here that just say things like "this is really..." and then the word 'really' is spammed for about 80 lines "... good!". Review day does not help this problem.)

So, this post doesn't really apply to me as much as it applies to "the masses" but how about some incentive?

I don't know much of what YWS has got going on regarding prizes for Review Day so either there aren't any or they just aren't publicised enough. Either way, that should change.

What if, at the end of review day, the members from the team who score the most get extra points on their YWS account? Or maybe at the end of a year the team with the most wins gets some sort of glory page on the website? I don't know. No judgments in a brainstorm.

As for the randomisation teams, yeah, I don't think they're that good in terms of making an equal playing field. Most of the time, al the big reviewers such as Hannah and PenguinAttack end up on the same team and absolutely wipe out the competition.
It may take a bit of time to code, but maybe changing the randomisation based on how many reviews stars someone has as those with more tend to review more. This change would distribiute higher star-levels throughout the teams such as by not putting another high star level into a team until all the other teams have the same amout as that one.
Or if possible, look at the data on the weekly leaderboards and for those on it that join a team, distribute those people evenly among the teams rather than have the top 4 reviewers all on the one team. This will also incourage those who review less to step up their game, knowing that they can't rely on an army of big reviewers to carry their team to victory.

Oooooh! I like the idea of a monthly YWS'estival. Good thinking.