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Gaia Life

A catalog of my experiences as an employee and citizen of Gaia.

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Week Twenty-Six: Special Christmas Gift I said I would write a journal this week... so I will! Even though I'm tired and cranky and full of Christmas beer cheer. You're STILL the Featured Journal? LAME I agree. That's why I'm in the process of writing a feature that will allow users to suggest journals, profiles, and guilds for spotlighting on the landing pages. Up until now, one of the big reasons why those things on the landing pages never changed is that it's a tremendous pain in the a to find new journals, profiles, etc. One of the only reasons I ended up there was that an Admin came up to me one day and said: Admin: "Hey, people like your journal right? I don't really have time to look for another one. Would it be okay if we featured yours?" Fleep: "Durrrrrrr, okay!" So no, I didn't bribe anyone with rare valuables -- it's just that there's never been a good system for that. 2006 in Review I've talked a lot about stuff that's been done in 2006, how it's the dawn of a new era for Gaia, blah blah. Let me just give some of my final thoughts about it... I started working at Gaia on July 5th, and when I got here it was a really cool place, but you could tell that things were disorganized, LOTS of stuff was broken, and people were still running around doing whatever they thought needed to be done. Since then, Gaia's greatly increased its development team and customer-service team, defined processes so that everybody did things the right way, and actually set defined goals for the site. New Features We saw a lot of new releases: Invite System, Daily Chance, Word Bump, Jigsaw, Quest System, Tagging, PM reporting, Topic Voting, Gold Notification, Weekly Comic, Announcement Notification, Standardized Buttons, Newsletters, Going Postal re-release, lots of great new merchandise, Fixes and Upgrades There were also a ton of improvements and fixes throughout the site, some of the more notable including: changing the "Tropicana Kids", updated the ToS and Privacy Policy, lots of server improvements so the site doesn't go down as much, much more stable events (with 90% less mean-ness!), major friends list updates, major Towns updates, simplified password-retrieval interface, fixes to slots and cards, a ton of new items, the most popular Donation Items Monthly Collectibles we've EVER had, and hundreds of other bug fixes around the site! Hidden Awesome We've also made a ton of improvements that aren't visible on the frontend that improve stability of the site, improve the scalability of the site so it can grow without crashing, improve moderator response time, anti-botting, etc. And that's just the stuff that's been released. We're sitting on top of a ton of other releases that are in development and are either ready to be released, or will be released in the near future: Tattoos, Battle System, new moderator system, rewrites of some major site features, a redesign of the entire site, etc. And this was all within the last 6 months. Going Forward So Gaia has been growing even until this last month. Now we are a much better team than we were when I first came on board in every way imaginable. We have a stronger development team with better processes and tools. We have a strong customer/member support team with better processes and tools. We have teams that decide what the best MCs and item releases are going to be. We have a strong art team, people who manage site events, people who will organize cons, people who write content for the site, people who work on the user-interface (FINALLY!). So these first 6 months have just been the tip of the iceberg in terms of us making Gaia fun and stable. You're likely to see an explosion of major improvements forthcoming in 2007 -- some so exciting that it's violently depressing that I can't tell you what they're all going to be... yet. 2006 Sign-Off I wanted to write more, but I've got work to do rofl** I had a lot of fun in 2006, and I hope I see you all again in 2007 and onward. Happy New Year!

Posted by: Fleep Fri Dec 29, 2006 @ 10:26pm

Gaia Isn't Being Money Hungry

User Comments: [108] Viewing page 2 of 3 · Goto Page: « 1 2 3 » [add]

Trust.Turns.To.Hate
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Commented on: Mon Jan 01, 2007 @ 09:34am


	Tell me about it. stressed Gaia sucked when I first joined. I'm so glad about all of the improvements. Awesome journal entry!

Commented on: Mon Jan 01, 2007 @ 02:29pm


	Happy New Years Fleep!

MS-tan
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Hydro
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Commented on: Mon Jan 01, 2007 @ 06:21pm


	cheese_whine Happy New Year. cheese_whine How Dare You Put That Picture of a Wii. crying (I'm saving for one desperately.) Looking forward to another year with Gaia, and congrats, you're close to your 6-month mark with the crazy....well, what words do you use to describe Gaia? blaugh

Commented on: Mon Jan 01, 2007 @ 10:29pm


	While you're working on a program to update all that, could you tack on one that will automatically update the newest store item on the main World page? It's just a pet-peeve, but seeing that blue aerobic's step gets me every time. XD Thanks for your hard work, Fleep! <3

NinePoes
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Lord Foxwolf
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Commented on: Mon Jan 01, 2007 @ 10:33pm


	Interesting journal, but it doesn't really address Lycan issues.

Commented on: Tue Jan 02, 2007 @ 01:39am


	Glad your there cracking the whip! twisted you know as much as you surf journals you ought to know at least one cool one or two or 5 thousand. and you know mine aint to emo.

Scandi the Vampire
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~7madeliene7~
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Commented on: Tue Jan 02, 2007 @ 02:21am


	wowweee...lol alot of talkin u did how many hours did it take u? lol

Commented on: Tue Jan 02, 2007 @ 02:47am


	Tattoos? surprised Nifty! I can't wait to see what you guys come up with.

rubymew
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TaxiUn.dies
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Commented on: Tue Jan 02, 2007 @ 04:03am


	eek

Commented on: Tue Jan 02, 2007 @ 04:21am


	Can't wait til' 07' !

PixelShank
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Dramatic Mistress
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Commented on: Tue Jan 02, 2007 @ 04:36am


	I hope the new layout you all are developing is more.. Um.. organized?

Commented on: Tue Jan 02, 2007 @ 05:57am


	cool journal

Skateboarder from Mars
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s w y t h
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Commented on: Tue Jan 02, 2007 @ 06:45am


	Happy New Year! Definitely a kudos for Gaia admins all around for this year smile Eventhough its not noticeable I really love how the Gaia admins have beefed up Network Administration! Ever since I started Gaia, and whenever Gaia would go down, my boyfriend would hang over my back and mutter about Clustering, Failover and you-know-whatsis. (God, hanging out with Linux people make my head ache sometimes) This is a definite improvement. I also love how Gaia's admins are now more responsive to the users! As well as the great planning being done each and every month. Great job, Gaia admins. You all deserve a pat on the back!

Commented on: Tue Jan 02, 2007 @ 07:39am


	Happy New Year! It's scary how fast Gaia changes lately. haha I joined right before the big layout change and since then, it's been almost all uphill. I enjoy all this new stuff despite myself. I'm dissapointed if the anouncemnet button isn't lit when I log in. :+))

fgidhfgihedgfuyr746726578
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BatChic
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Commented on: Tue Jan 02, 2007 @ 10:01am


	A Poetic Comment for Gaia Life, post #6900657 How damm lucky we Gaians be To have Fleep's featured journal for us folks to see Fleep predicts and relates on tech updates on Gaia And adds insane pic linkage Yazzz~ He's my kinda guya Yet how humble and caring is this fellow named Fleep As he takes time to journal erstwhile foregoing sleep He writes about Gaian fixes and upgrades with his eyes all a-gleam And gives us heads up on the new user-interface development team~ wink Yes, darnnit~ how damm lucky we Gaians be To have Fleep's featured journal for us all to see. Kudos! BatChic mrgreen "no~ the World of Gaia is not flat"

Commented on: Tue Jan 02, 2007 @ 02:20pm


	an interesting point of view. i like it

Lunalady
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carlitoscarrero
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Commented on: Tue Jan 02, 2007 @ 05:41pm


	wow

Commented on: Tue Jan 02, 2007 @ 07:09pm


	Ummmm....all the stuff you've been doing is great.....but...could you fix gifting? sweatdrop

Lysine
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toadhunter
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Commented on: Tue Jan 02, 2007 @ 07:36pm


	good recap on things

Commented on: Tue Jan 02, 2007 @ 08:04pm


	Hi fleeeeeeeeeeeep xd

yukkyu
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frenchgurl89
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Commented on: Tue Jan 02, 2007 @ 09:34pm


	wow! heart Gaia went threw alot! heart Just for us, too.

Commented on: Tue Jan 02, 2007 @ 10:13pm


	Happy new year Fleep! Here's hoping that 2007 will prove to be even better!

Necroletariat
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Queens Guards
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Commented on: Tue Jan 02, 2007 @ 10:42pm


	Totally awesome x3 i cant wait to see the next things you guys come up with~ or finish! Happy newyears for you and everyone else!

Commented on: Wed Jan 03, 2007 @ 12:37am


	Awesome! xd "... So exciting that it's violently depressing that I can't tell you what they're all going to be..." ninja Come on, you can give us a hint!

Dignity of Wrath
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beccamon
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Commented on: Wed Jan 03, 2007 @ 01:50am


	You know... you guys are evil, making Gaia so damn addicting. xd Wow, you did do a lot over 2006. I can't wait to see what's next. 3nodding

Commented on: Wed Jan 03, 2007 @ 05:51am


	HAHA! And people thought that the staff was being, a bunch of lazy burgers. xd I'am quite impressed to see that much done, during that short amount of time. biggrin Makes me proud, and appreciated that I get to be able to play, at such a neat site. Thank you, Gaia Staff! xd Anyhow, I wish you good luck, for 2007! I bet it will be an even better year than the last! 3nodding I also can't wait, for the new features, but do take your time on developing them. I also would like to wish you a, Happy New Year, too! biggrin

TeddyLovingBear
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XDvandalJake
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Commented on: Wed Jan 03, 2007 @ 06:47am


	you rock Fleep, I had a feeling everything was getting along better in the last year, but I didn't realize it until you finally said something. Thanks for rocking gaia into 2007.

Commented on: Wed Jan 03, 2007 @ 12:02pm


	Keep up with the good entries Fleep!

Annaki
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Puddum
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Commented on: Wed Jan 03, 2007 @ 04:12pm


	So who organizes cons? (In other words, who do I talk to to get the Gaia team over to New York/the East Coast?)

Commented on: Wed Jan 03, 2007 @ 05:10pm


	i just start gaia, but it seems pretty cool i wanna see what u guys come up with cool

x_Anger Is A Gift_x
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Sweetaznbebe
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Commented on: Wed Jan 03, 2007 @ 08:57pm


	happy new year.. and wow your still on the featured journal =O

Commented on: Wed Jan 03, 2007 @ 09:51pm


	^_^ I'm really excited about 2007! I wonder what you guys will come up with! heart

Fishy Demon
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Mizuko_Arashimoto
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Commented on: Thu Jan 04, 2007 @ 01:04pm


	I'm really looking forward to the stuff coming this year, and in the next couple months. 3nodding Crosses fingers for tats >_> Oh, and Happy New Year Fleep! And all the admins and devs too! ^_^

Commented on: Thu Jan 04, 2007 @ 02:58pm


	domokun Gotta love the updates. I was a user pre-2006..and it was scary. ;-; But now..I had heard rumors that Gaia was better..so I logged back and whoa, no kidding. Great job, I love Gaia all the more now.

Ellyrock
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Top 44
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Commented on: Thu Jan 04, 2007 @ 07:39pm


	Wow I can't wait Til the new features etceteree etceteree x33 I wish you al he luck in 2k7 ;DD

Commented on: Fri Jan 05, 2007 @ 01:37am


	I want to have your babies. eek

Ichigopie
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[.Waffle.Warrior.]
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Commented on: Fri Jan 05, 2007 @ 03:09pm


	Very Nice Fleep

Commented on: Fri Jan 05, 2007 @ 06:00pm


	cool, you have so many posts i dont know how i would have gotton so many without starting to post nonsense

Demon~Shadow666
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Sir Vix
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Commented on: Fri Jan 05, 2007 @ 06:12pm


	Boo, only two picture referances this time.

Commented on: Fri Jan 05, 2007 @ 06:28pm


	HAPPY NEW YEAR

zadrad
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bishop on speed dial
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Commented on: Fri Jan 05, 2007 @ 08:36pm


	Hey nice journal. I ike the link out to the pictures. Truth is spoken here!

Commented on: Fri Jan 05, 2007 @ 09:48pm


	Happy late New Years

Angelic Beat
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a lady of the manor
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Commented on: Fri Jan 05, 2007 @ 10:51pm


	Interesting journal.

Commented on: Fri Jan 05, 2007 @ 10:55pm


	Yeah nice journal! heart

deslan
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maggie may94
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Commented on: Sat Jan 06, 2007 @ 02:42am


	lameoooooooooooooooooo lameoooooooo lameoooooooo times 5498484943546546489479465156

Commented on: Sat Jan 06, 2007 @ 09:49am


	Happy New Year Fleep! domokun

Hey IBC RootBeer
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Wraen
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Commented on: Sat Jan 06, 2007 @ 02:14pm


	i hope the 'rewrite of major features' includes the OMGift Event System smile

Commented on: Sat Jan 06, 2007 @ 05:38pm


	Lol.

[.Autumns End.]
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ace-angel
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Commented on: Sat Jan 06, 2007 @ 08:02pm


	WOw it's amazing that I haven't noticed this until now! and no i'm not a noob! rofl

Commented on: Sat Jan 06, 2007 @ 09:41pm


	austerria there is no such thing as too drunk

The Achocolypse
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