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Theme Park Critic FAQ

Contents:

1. General Questions.

   1.1.0. What will get my post deleted and/or get me banned?
   1.2.0. I don't see my favorite park or ride, what gives?
   1.3.0. Can I use your pictures for "x"?
   1.4.0. How do I add smilies to my posts?
      1.4.1. Where can I use smilies at?
   1.5.0. I signed up for your free Newsletter, where is it?
   1.6.0. Is "x" ride open yet, when does "x" park open?
   1.7.0. Can I add a link to my site on your's?
   1.7.0. Why don't you add ride statistics to your rides pages?

2. Account Questions.

   2.1.0. Why does TPC require an account?
      2.1.1. Why do I need to give you my email address in order to register?
   2.2.0. What is my User Tag?
      2.2.1. How do I get a better tag?
      2.2.2. What are the User Tag levels?
   2.3.0. What is an Avatar?
      2.3.1. Who can get an avatar?
      2.3.2. How do I get my Avatar online?

3. Review Questions.

   3.1.0. How should I write my review?
   3.2.0. What about bogus or unfair reviews?
      3.2.1. How should I report reviews that are bogus or seem unfair?
   3.3.0. How do I comment on a review?
   3.4.0. Can I update my review after I post it?
   3.5.0. Why don't you post reviews?
   3.6.0. What if I like/dislike a review?

4. Message Board.

   4.1.0. Can I create a signature so I don't have to type it everytime?
   4.2.0. What are the Message Board posting guidelines?

5. Ranking Questions.

   5.1.0. How are the Top 25 rides determined?
   5.2.0. How are the Top 25 parks determined?
   5.3.0. What is the TPC Rank shown in user profiles?
   5.4.0. What is the "Score" shown in the Stats area of the site?
   5.5.0. How can I improve my favorite rides ranking?

6. Site Information.

   6.1.0. Who wrote this thing anyways?
   6.2.0. Why did you write TPC?
   6.3.0. What types of technology does TPC use?
   6.4.0. How many of "x" does TPC have?






1.0.0. General Questions.
1.1.0. What will get my post deleted and/or get me banned?.

  • You have the right to only ONE posting account, TPC has several things in place to detect mutiple accounts, if you're caught, the accounts are banned and closed, this is a zero tolerance policy and not arguable. DO NOT POST WHILE BANNED, PERIOD.

  • No warez, MP3, no cracks, CD keys, Emulation ROMs, etc etc.

  • Posting Porn - should be obvious why this isn't allowed.

  • Goodbye Posts - will be deleted and if reposted your account banned, hey you're wanting to leave the site, let us help you.

  • Bandwidth Leaching - Don't post other sites images within the content of the site. Either upload the image to your own personal server or use a HTML hyperlink.

  • Don't be a the resident jerk. Trolling, fake news, insulting other members, spamming, don't be the one everyone wants to avoid. If you really need attention, go find some good coaster news, people will like you more and you won't spend your time here fighting off wave after wave of attacks.

  • Suicide/Threat Posts - anything relating to harming oneself, or another will be deleted and the person banned. If you have issues of this level go get help.

 1.2.0. I don't see my favorite park or ride, what gives?.

Chances are I have not added because I didn't know about it. The parks that are listed currently are typically some of the more popular parks in the nation. If you want your park added please post a note in the "Park Requests" forum. I will be adding more international parks soon, I'm in the process of deciding how best to do the display, or if indeed I'm going to make a display change.

1.3.0. Can I use your pictures for "x"?.

Any picture with a http://www.themeparkcritic.com tag may be used for nonprofit reasons as long as the tag is left intact. I of course would appreciate a credit listed along with the picture, but it is not required.

 1.4.0. How do I add smilies to my posts?.

You can add smilies which are premade by using different symbols.. below is a list of all current smilies on the site.

Smiley :)
Grin :D
Rolling on the Floor Lauging ROFL
Angry >:(
Cool 8)
Ermmm :/
Sad :(
Stick Out Tounge :P
Crazy :crazy:
Wink ;)
Shocked :shocked:
Angel o:)
Laugh Out Loud LOL
Paranoid :paranoid:
Roll Eyes :rolleyes:
Crying :cry:
Beer :beer:
Buck Teeth :buck:
Critic :critic:
Devil :devil:
Dork :dork:
On Fire :fire:
King :king:
Laser Gun :laser:
LOL 2 :lol2:
Puke :puke:
Snore :snore:
Spam :spam:
Machine Gun :shoot:
No, No :nono:
On To Me :ontome:
Uh Oh :uhoh:
Up To Something :upto:
With Stupid :withstupid:
Thumbs Up :thumbsup:
Trophy :trophy:
Wave :wave:
Jaw Dropper :jawdrop:

1.4.1. Where can I use smilies at?.

You can use smilies in several places throughout the site, currently you can use them in Ride Reviews, Message Board Posts and review comments.

 1.5.0. I signed up for your free Newsletter, where is it?.

I havn't started producing the newsletter yet, but if you do wish to receive the letter should it ever come out you can make the selection under the "Account" option on the main page. Emails are not given out, sold, or even shown on the website should you wish to recieve the Newsletter.

 1.6.0. Is "x" ride open yet, when does "x" park open?.

While I do read quite abit about coasters I don't always have the most up to date information. If your trying to get more info about a parks opening or closing times you can view the Parks page and click on "Homepage" link, it should take you directly there. The best place for info on ride openings is on the Message Board since people from all over the country visit there and you'll most likely find someone near that park. I'll try and help if I can, but most times I simply refer Critics back to the Message Boards.

 1.7.0. Can I add a link to my site on your's?.

Sure, you can actually visit my links page and fill in the small form on the right border. I check to make sure all the links supplied work correctly and go to sites relating to theme parks, and if so open them up for others to see. Also if you have something cool you'd like to share let me know and I may add it to the front page news.

 1.7.0. Why don't you add ride statistics to your rides pages?.

This is one of the more popular questions. I don't list ride statistics because frankly Roller Coaster Database already has every stat you could possibly want. One of the things I strive for site wise is to give users something a bit different than they've seen everywhere else, and if I can't do something better than whats out there, I won't do it.

2.0.0. Account Questions.
2.1.0. Why does TPC require an account?.

TPC is a dynamic site that supports hundrends of users. To make sure every person only enters one review per ride an account system is used to keep track of a person's identity. TPC is one of the most lax sites in the form of information required though, we only ask for a Login name and Password of your choice, all other information is optional.

 2.1.1. Why do I need to give you my email address in order to register?.

Due to problems I've had with users in the past it's now neccesary to verify each user that signs up. The address is NEVER given out to anyone outside of the site, and is not made available with in the site pages. I do not sell, exhange, or make available any users information without their explict permission.

 2.2.0. What is my User Tag?.

A user tag could also be considered your level. As you become a more and more active member of TPC your User Tag gains in recoginition. Since TPC seeks to reward active members on the site the higher the level the more recognition.

 2.2.1. How do I get a better tag?.

To upgrade your tag I count your message board posts, review comments, and reviews. As you post more and more items your user tag changes.

 2.2.2. What are the User Tag levels?.

Posts User Tag
0 New Member
1 - 14 Aspiring Critic
15-49 Coaster Critic
50-99 Senior Critic
100-249 Bronze Critic
250-499 Silver Critic
500-999 Gold Critic
> 1000 Plantinum Critic/Custom Tag

2.3.0. What is an Avatar?.

An avatar is an icon or picture you wish to associate with your account. The icon will be displayed with your message board posts as well as your short Tag Line. The requirements are as follows:

Must be less than 75 x 75
Must be Gif (not animated)
Must be purty
Image size has to be < 10k
Transparency is ok, and recommended.

Tagline Rules:

Not sure of length, keep it short.
No profanity (duh)

 2.3.1. Who can get an avatar?.

Right now anyone can get an avatar, but in the future there may be requirements on number of posts, reviews, user level etc. Right now they're FREE FREE FREE!

 2.3.2. How do I get my Avatar online?.

Simply make your image and email it to me as an attachment, i'll post it to your account as soon as I can get time.
3.0.0. Review Questions.
3.1.0. How should I write my review?.

Reviews are typically as unique as the user. I only ask that you keep in mind that younger folks visit the site and that you be fair in your assements. Giving a ride a "1" or a "10" rating with no explantion is typically frowned upon and usually results in a barrage of user comments.

 3.2.0. What about bogus or unfair reviews?.

This is one of the biggest concerns that I get from users. It's often difficult to determine if someone is simply posting a review to hurt a rides rating or if they sincecerly feel that way about a ride. From time to time I will remove ride reviews that don't seem to align with the general publics view "IF" they do not post comments with the review to explain they're position. If a ride is given a poor review, but backed up with reasons why the Critic felt that way,the review cannot resonably be removed. If you disagree you can always comment on the review given by the user.

 3.2.1. How should I report reviews that are bogus or seem unfair?.

You should go to the review in question and click on the "Review Complaint" link showing in the box just above the review text. The moderators will then be notified of the problem and can make a decision on what to do about the content. Please note, a complaint doesn't mean that a review will be removed, only looked at.

 3.3.0. How do I comment on a review?.

You can comment on a review by clicking the tab "Comments" on the bottom of every review.

 3.4.0. Can I update my review after I post it?.

Sure, go the the Ride's review page and scroll to the bottom, you should see your review already entered in the update box. Make your changes and click update and your review will be updated.

 3.5.0. Why don't you post reviews?.

I've actually debated on it. I get weary of offering input on specific rides since I don't want the reviews submitted to be changed or weighed differently because I do or don't like a ride. I do have a Top 10 rides list that I keep updated, and that should give you an idea of the types of rides I do like. Perhaps one day I'll add reviews, for now though I like the site rankings of the causal vistor.

 3.6.0. What if I like/dislike a review?.

You can help other vistors find the good and bad reviews by clicking on the "Rate This Review" tab for each review. You should mark the reviews you find most helpful as "Good" and those that are the least helpful as "Bad". A good review can be classified as a review with a good deal of information about the ride and they critic's thoughts regarding the ride. Keep in mind you don't have to agree with the review only take notice of it's merit in giving other users feedback.
4.0.0. Message Board.
4.1.0. Can I create a signature so I don't have to type it everytime?.

Sure can, go to your account options on the top of the message board or main page and you can fill in the "Signature" box toward the bottom of your account. This will automatically show up in the message box when you go to post a message.

 4.2.0. What are the Message Board posting guidelines?.

TPC expects all users to treat one another with respect. The only forum in which flaming/trolling/etc are permitted is the Forum of Namelessness. All other forums are considered safe zones for all users of the site.

5.0.0. Ranking Questions.
5.1.0. How are the Top 25 rides determined?.

The Top 25 rides are detemined by the average of all reviews posted after a ride has more than 10 reviews. The average is a weighted average simular to olympic scoring where a certian percentage of the highest and lowest reviews are thrown out. This helps reduce the affect one person can have on the overal score of a ride and seeks to make the reviews more fair.

 5.2.0. How are the Top 25 parks determined?.

Actually there computed in a simular manor as the Top 25 rides. The average of all reviews for a park after a park has more than 25 reviews. The highest and lowest scores are removed in the same manner the rides rankings are determined.

 5.3.0. What is the TPC Rank shown in user profiles?.

TPC Rank is the actual position overall of the ride compared to every ride on the site. A ride with a TPC Rank of #21 for instance could be considered the 21st highest rated ride on the site.

5.4.0. What is the "Score" shown in the Stats area of the site?.

Score is determined by how many people list a ride in their top 10 list. For every person that lists a ride as #1 in their list, the ride is awarded 10 points. The number is decreased for every top ten position up to ten, so a ride in someone top 10 list as #10 only gets one point. All the points for the ride are added up and then devided by total number of Top 10 lists. This determines the score of the ride. It determines the popularity of a ride according to Critic's Top 10 lists.

 5.5.0. How can I improve my favorite rides ranking?.

Well if it's indeed your favorite ride, make sure and add it to your Top 10 list since it will affect the "Score" of the ride. Make sure you also write a review and explain why you like the ride, you might sway some people with your comments. In the end though, the rides ranking rests in the hands of the masses. If the majority of people dislike or like a ride, most likely if your in the other corner, there isn't much you can do except sing it's praises and hope to pick up some followers.
6.0.0. Site Information.
6.1.0. Who wrote this thing anyways?.

I did of course. My name is Mark Hansen and currently I'm an Internet Development Manager for a company in Tampa, FL. I began writing Active Sever Pages a few years ago and started this site taking advantage of the different technolgies I've used or want to learn about. The site is as much a learning tool as a hobby. The fact that I love roller coasters just makes it that much more fun to work on.

 6.2.0. Why did you write TPC?.

Theme Park Critic is actually the extension of a site I ran back in college called "The Walt Disney Ride Guide" Of course back then the site was static and reviews were posted by hand, which of course was far from efficent. The site is more of a hobby and a way of testing new ideas that pertain to my career as a developer and manager.

6.3.0. What types of technology does TPC use?.

Theme Park Critic is a site primarly based on Active Server Pages, a technology of Microsoft. Along with ASP, the site takes advantage of Stored SQL Procedures, custom written ActiveX dll's and lots of fancy JavaScripting.

 6.4.0. How many of "x" does TPC have?.

You can find out more about TPC's statistics by clicking "About" on the home page of the site. It will provide you with information such as how many users, reviews, message board posts, etc the site contains. The site is dynamic and ever growing, and as time goes on the posts grow with the user base.




























 
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