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Halloween week! Zurg! Red Bino! Record numbers! WAAAAAHHH!!!

It's been a crazy, crazy week that set records and has been a load of fun for Gaians everywhere. Here's what happened...

Invasion!
The Halloween event started slightly after noon (Pacific Time) on Tuesday, October 31st.

Two energy drink competitors opened up shop across from each other: Johnny Gambino, the sales of whose "Red Bino Energy Drink" afforded him the ability to rebuild him demolished mansion.

The other, Mother of the Zurg people - who have been visiting and scanning Gaia for the past several weeks. She was selling "Zurg Energy Drink", which when consumed, turned Gaians (like myself) into green skinned, giant-headed aliens!

Trick or Treating was happening in the shops AND in Towns, with the MASSIVE Jack tromping around town centers, and roaming randomly around the world map. In exchange for collecting candy, users got special Jack-gear.

In the event forum, Zurg were able to probe Gaians and cows, and Gaians were able to zap Zurg and tip cows. Doing enough of either would also win you some special event items.

Stuff went wrong, as with any event. More than any prior year, our developer team worked hard to open up any bottlenecks that might break the site during the event. While the event was going on (and all throughout the night) they were on hand to tackle problems, speed things up, and disable some features (like Towns) temporarily so that users could use the rest of the site.

I raise a glass to those devs who gave up hours of their personally time to make this one of the most successful Halloween events yet!

Yeah, I knew all that. Tell me something I don't know!
Okay. Here are a few things you didn't know or may not have noticed.

1. All abducted admins have been returned to the Gaia World with no memory of what transpired on the UFOs.

2. There has been no word on the much beloved UFO 09. Maybe we'll hear from him again?

3. I flew one of the UFOs. But which one, I'm not telling!

4. Apparently, the cows appearing in the forums are mooing in some kind of code

5. This has been the biggest Towns event ever. Bandwidth used up by the 2500+ users using Towns accounted for a large percentage of the bandwidth usage that led to event problems eek

6. Overall user participation is up roughly over 125% of last year's Halloween event! (That's not last year's + 25%, it's really 125% more than last year eek )

7. The User's Online record was broken by a whole 19% in the last 2 days alone (from roughly 57,000 to today's roughly 68,000!)

NEW FEATURE ALERT
OKAY! So my feature was being tested all week. It's pretty stable now, but we're still doing some minor testing. NO PROMISES, BUT: I hope to release it next week.

Now, I know I've built up a lot of hype, but now a word of warning and a hint. It's something users have waited a while for, so you'll be excited to hear that it was made.

However - because of the scope of the project, we are releasing Phase One of the project now, and then as time passes, releasing increasingly robust versions of it.

Long story short: It's going to be cool - but it will get cooler with time blaugh

We've already had a ton of in-house Quality Assurance done on the project. Because it affects so many aspects of the site, I had to alter and fix bugs in other parts of the site in order to pass the QA process. The feature itself has graced the hands of numerous programmers, at least one in-house writer, our UI designer (Brunosmad), and has undergone several code audits to ensure that it is done well.

I'm very happy with it, but we're going to continue to test and refine it until its release.

Gaia: Y&T
The way Gaia operates has changed a LOT in the last 6 months alone. Here's a brief glimpse into a lot of the improvements going on in this crazy entertainment-factory:

Yesterday: Before, whenever a feature on Gaia was made, each developer was kind of responsible for figuring out how it looked, worked, and what everything said.

Today: Now, Gaia has a User Interface team that deals with graphics, layout, and text. So developers can focus on writing great code without having to spend time creating a look and feel for the project. And with a single team focusing on keeping the site having a unified feel and appearance, all new features (and old revamped features) will follow the same theme and be much more polished.

Yesterday: Testing a new feature was limited to the devs and mods. The actual process was sketchy at best, and while the features were fun and mostly functional, we're still getting burnt by really old bugs to this day.

Today: Every feature undergoes a rigorous Quality Assurance process which ensures not only that new features are bug-free, but that they're intuitive, not confusing to new users, and actually enhance the site.

All code undergoes a peer-reviewed code audit, wherein the code is checked for best-practices, security, and stability. Bugs are much less likely to sneak in when the application is well designed. We also check to make sure that it won't slow down the site, and that the processes and data processing are speedy and smart.

Finally, each feature has to meet a set of guidelines which ensures that it gives users options (like turning off Daily Chance or Gold Notification) and that it can be quickly disabled if it runs into some major problems (like how we could just switch off Daily Chance when it broke the economy!), along with numerous other criteria to ensure that it is ready to be in the Gaia World.

Yesterday: The site would go down frequently, major instabilities were prominent (can anyone say "Sushi Error"?), and the site couldn't handle a large user load (e.g., event crashes).

Today: Today Gaia has a very smart team dedicated to site stability and scalability - ensuring not only that the site can handle a large user load, but that it can handle rapid growth (which we've been noticing!). If you've been on the site for more than a few months, you'll notice that site crashes and MAJOR site glitches are down significantly.

Yesterday: The Battle System would have been promised but lack of resources would mean it wasn't getting built.

Today: I saw a working demo of the Battle System.

Yesterday: Devs would run around like chickens with their heads cut off developing whatever they felt was cool or fun, even if it wasn't necessarily what users wanted most or if there were old broken features.

Today: Goals are set as a group and teams are set to tasks that we all decided will help improve the company. We're spending a couple of months almost exclusively fixing bugs and upgrading features on the site. Hopefully, by the end of that project cycle, the site will be significantly more bug free and enjoyable!

SUMMARY: Basically, Gaia's better in every way. We're growing faster, we're improving the user experience, and most importantly we're listening! We have a team here large enough now that we can fix bugs, finish new features, and then do things you guys have been asking for forever!

Close Encounters of the Fleep Kind
I drank me some Zurg and turned into an alien! Don't worry though, my avi's long, luxurious hair will return when the event is over rofl

(Though I will always keep a can of Zurg Energy Drink close to my heart...)

cherries789
Community Member

Offline

Commented on: Tue Dec 12, 2006 @ 03:48am


	....? huh i never knew that..... exclaim

Commented on: Tue Dec 12, 2006 @ 06:19pm


	love the jornal its so real but i dont no wat the im talkin about but wateva bye emo emo emo emo

flflflflflfklflsjflskjhg
Community Member

Gigglemeister
Community Member

Commented on: Tue Dec 12, 2006 @ 09:53pm


	Doing!

Commented on: Tue Dec 12, 2006 @ 10:17pm


	you freakin suck my jounals betterthan yours!!! evil

Tex Violent Violet
Community Member

DtKnight
Community Member

Commented on: Wed Dec 13, 2006 @ 05:51am


	Well, Fleep is always reliable.

Commented on: Wed Dec 13, 2006 @ 11:50pm


	the cows talk in code dun.dun.dun what if they take over the gaia world omg! hides

roxsand
Community Member

kkgirlneo
Community Member

Commented on: Wed Dec 13, 2006 @ 11:54pm


	o_O

Commented on: Thu Dec 14, 2006 @ 02:21am


	hi monkeys~bye monkeys blaugh

[pepper-mint]
Community Member

Amida Shin Sei
Community Member

Commented on: Thu Dec 14, 2006 @ 01:52pm


	Battle Sy- Battle Sy- Battle... OH MY LORDY LORD~ My dream come true! heart

Commented on: Thu Dec 14, 2006 @ 08:55pm


	Haha, a redirect? That kind of sucks. Your journals are worth more than that. I also have a can of Red Bino i saved up since the products were released, but I can't drink it sad . Merry Christmas guy.

forsakenkae
Community Member

Star Platinum
Community Member

Commented on: Thu Dec 14, 2006 @ 09:25pm


	I wonder how the recent Ad's in Shonen Jump and game magazines (usually closely followed by an Ad for Maple Story) works into the future of Gaia. Two years ago I'd pay about $30 a month to help with buying more servers and improve the way the site handles. Now it seems as though any contribution is really no longer needed....since the payout is no longer a better site with the benefit of a neat little item...but the other way around. This battle system is really the only thing left to interest me in Gaia. If this turns out to be just another silly mini-game after four years of paying into it...that would be most shameful. It's good to know that as a "company" Gaia is getting its act together. Perhaps a bit of work on the actual direction Gaia is going could use a bit of work.

Commented on: Fri Dec 15, 2006 @ 03:16am


	huh???

Lunar_snowfall
Community Member

bn_31440893663419
Community Member

Commented on: Fri Dec 15, 2006 @ 05:42am


	dude too much reading!!!!!!

Commented on: Fri Dec 15, 2006 @ 08:05pm


	Kewl.. biggrin

done for you hacker
Community Member

ValiantCrusader
Community Member

Commented on: Sat Dec 16, 2006 @ 02:22am


	I LIKE YOUR journal but i don't think u should keep it as ...or it doesn't desevrve the spotlight i've seen better

Commented on: Sat Dec 16, 2006 @ 07:06am


	Amazing to read. 3nodding PM me some time? I like talking about cows.

GET IN DA CHOPPAH
Community Member

FrEaK On A LeAsH(SIC)
Community Member

Commented on: Sat Dec 16, 2006 @ 04:04pm


	awseome

Commented on: Sat Dec 16, 2006 @ 11:44pm


	You Suck b***h!

Statical
Community Member

WhatYouFear
Community Member

Commented on: Sun Dec 17, 2006 @ 03:36am


	<3

Commented on: Sun Dec 17, 2006 @ 07:15am


	wow VERY long...

cookiebuzz
Community Member

dinoWHAUR
Community Member

Commented on: Sun Dec 17, 2006 @ 03:36pm


	wasssupppp fleepizzle bizzle!

Commented on: Mon Dec 18, 2006 @ 08:30am


	Man I wish The Battle System was up and running I think that would be sweet.! Hey we can use a little more fun than just picking some flours and papers besides if I wanted to do yard work ... shoot I can do that by going out side...Well at least thats what my wife tell me anyway mrgreen

Lt.Bandaid
Community Member

X Flame
Community Member

Commented on: Mon Dec 18, 2006 @ 12:18pm


	Okay, im waiting for the battle system, but first: how does everyone get weapons?!? crying confused

Commented on: Mon Dec 18, 2006 @ 11:41pm


	good journal ling but cool lol

Forda
Community Member

KyubiTeh3moWolf
Community Member

Commented on: Tue Dec 19, 2006 @ 01:11am


	i dont like this...

Commented on: Tue Dec 19, 2006 @ 09:19am


	I shall be READY! ninja

MistyMercury
Community Member

specter3432007
Community Member

Commented on: Tue Dec 19, 2006 @ 03:20pm


	NICE JOURNAL DUDE MAN rofl dramallama cheese_whine

Commented on: Tue Dec 19, 2006 @ 10:46pm


	Definatly getting ready. domokun

M A Z Z
Community Member

Resentful Rose
Community Member

Commented on: Wed Dec 20, 2006 @ 02:58pm


	I get gold posting on your journal.. <33

Commented on: Wed Dec 20, 2006 @ 03:39pm


	Gaian addict here. heart blaugh Is that really your hair?..if yes i heart you. xp

X_Yazoo_Girl
Community Member

Im _so _Hot
Community Member

Commented on: Wed Dec 20, 2006 @ 07:24pm


	cool biggrin

Commented on: Wed Dec 20, 2006 @ 09:07pm


	cool

SupremiumDope
Community Member

Sebastian Kierrn
Community Member

Commented on: Wed Dec 20, 2006 @ 09:26pm


	Ya know, I enjoyed the sushi error. Always made me laugh. Also got the chicken error, some german food, and some other types. Quite entertaining, even if they were a nuisance.

Commented on: Wed Dec 20, 2006 @ 10:17pm


	yea this is iight confused

jaii122
Community Member

Tayuka
Community Member

Commented on: Thu Dec 21, 2006 @ 04:30am


	surprised domokun

Commented on: Thu Dec 21, 2006 @ 09:07am


	$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Bluezor
Community Member

kitkatkayci
Community Member

Commented on: Thu Dec 21, 2006 @ 03:32pm


	Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Commented on: Fri Dec 22, 2006 @ 03:27am


	ur ugly. sorry i had to. exclaim

soaring soul8
Community Member

~Cleo-Wild~
Community Member

Commented on: Sat Dec 23, 2006 @ 12:02am


	heart

Commented on: Sat Dec 23, 2006 @ 05:57am


	dude... ur awesome... but doesn't it get boring when u write that long?!?! confused i'd never write that much... crying actually i only write it in like once a week... sweatdrop

the google god
Community Member

ChocolateoOoCappucino
Community Member

Commented on: Sat Dec 23, 2006 @ 10:49am


	Sooo many words so little time gonk

Commented on: Sat Dec 23, 2006 @ 10:46pm


	ok

devisdesire
Community Member

LeeSeulGi
Community Member

Commented on: Sun Dec 24, 2006 @ 04:29am


	nice ((gag me)) stare

Commented on: Sun Dec 24, 2006 @ 04:31am


	Wow...amazing.

William Greywind
Community Member

alex282282734
Community Member

Commented on: Sun Dec 24, 2006 @ 06:10am


	i love your journal

Commented on: Sun Dec 24, 2006 @ 07:45am


	Arn't you kind of repeating what the admins said?

starmeow
Community Member

yreto
Community Member

Commented on: Sun Dec 24, 2006 @ 02:26pm


	domokun give him the boot now!!! domokun

Commented on: Sun Dec 24, 2006 @ 06:35pm


	eek

do_you_remember
Community Member

Sweet Remedies
Community Member

Commented on: Sun Dec 24, 2006 @ 10:06pm


	you're good!

Commented on: Mon Dec 25, 2006 @ 04:59pm


	wow!! eek u must have a lot of time on your hands

cheesefries101
Community Member

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