Weekly Poll: Skinning Groups
Tuesday, June 3, 2008 by Zoomba | Discussion: WinCustomize News
This week's poll is about a potential feature that's being debated internally for the next major update to WinCustomize. Since we're gearing up for the GUI Champs, and a major feature of the competition has always been forming skinning teams, we wanted to know if something like that would be a good addition to WinCustomize proper.
Should WinCustomize add a "Group" feature to allow skinners to affiliate themselves with one another, and to work together and post skins under a team label?
Vote in the poll. And share how you'd like such a system to work in the comments below.
Reply #22 Tuesday, June 3, 2008 6:43 PM
I can confirm that

Reply #25 Tuesday, June 3, 2008 7:07 PM
I'm for all of that....except with the size-limit....that'd need to be open-ended for the Community Skin suites of such scale as Heavy Equipment....![]()
Reply #26 Tuesday, June 3, 2008 7:30 PM
Reply #27 Wednesday, June 4, 2008 1:44 AM
Reply #28 Wednesday, June 4, 2008 7:37 AM
Frankly, I'd expect it would be more than just a few Tycus......but if the site's gonna provide the storage/communication space as well as coding to make it all work it should be compensated. I see it as another incentive item that can be added to the membership program.
It wouldn't mean that you and some friend skinners couldn't set up shop at DA and work together and then submit skins under one name/user ID
Reply #29 Wednesday, June 4, 2008 8:24 AM
Reply #30 Wednesday, June 4, 2008 9:22 AM
Reply #31 Wednesday, June 4, 2008 9:22 AM
It depends on what the goal of setting up teams is. I do not see anything in the initial post that implies that this was being done to add incentive for users to subscribe. If it is to encourage community type projects or collaborations, than requiring WC membership may not be the best idea.
Besides, they already provide "storage and communication space" so that it can be done already without the teams feature. You have the forums, IRC and private messaging for communication, and a graphics section is already in the gallery. Accts can be made as often as desired and the avatar can become the logo. All of this is currently available to non-subscribers.
Reply #32 Wednesday, June 4, 2008 11:02 AM
But if WC was requiring all members to join a team then it is the root of the problem.
Reply #33 Wednesday, June 4, 2008 11:28 AM
Reply #34 Wednesday, June 4, 2008 12:08 PM
Great discussion so far and good ideas!
To clarify a few points...
- Special Privileges
There will be no real privileges for being on a team. It's not like your work will get past moderation any quicker, or you'll get special forum powers. - Requiring Subscriptions
Since we're primarily going to be extending free services (uploads, personal pages etc). A subscription will not be required. However, we could at a future point offer some sort of premium version of the service for skinning studios such as MaxStyles or Pixtudio (just as examples). But that would be something separate and much further down the line. - Requiring Users Join Teams
Nope, this will be 100% voluntary.
The idea is to provide organizational tools to users to help encourage teamwork and coopration. Yes, everything that could be done in the team system could be done manually through existing site features, but it isn't necessarily easy. Features like this are about removing barriers and to make the process easier for skinners.
Personally, I want WC to start providing tools and services to skinners beyond simply hosting the skins for download. Anyone can host a gallery, but we should be doing everything we can to encourage and help skinners do what they do.
Reply #35 Wednesday, June 4, 2008 12:22 PM
Reply #36 Wednesday, June 4, 2008 12:46 PM
It is interesting that this online community does seem to parallel the real world.
 Reply #37 Wednesday, June 4, 2008 3:39 PM
In that case it would be a good thing. I was just responding to a couple of posts that mentioned the idea of making it a requirement.
To clarify a few points...
Special PrivilegesThere will be no real privileges for being on a team. It's not like your work will get past moderation any quicker, or you'll get special forum powers.
Requiring SubscriptionsSince we're primarily going to be extending free services (uploads, personal pages etc). A subscription will not be required. However, we could at a future point offer some sort of premium version of the service for skinning studios such as MaxStyles or Pixtudio (just as examples). But that would be something separate and much further down the line.
Requiring Users Join TeamsNope, this will be 100% voluntary.
The idea is to provide organizational tools to users to help encourage teamwork and coopration. Yes, everything that could be done in the team system could be done manually through existing site features, but it isn't necessarily easy. Features like this are about removing barriers and to make the process easier for skinners.
Personally, I want WC to start providing tools and services to skinners beyond simply hosting the skins for download. Anyone can host a gallery, but we should be doing everything we can to encourage and help skinners do what they do.
This all sounds great
Reply #38 Wednesday, June 4, 2008 3:59 PM
I would hope teams would all start at citizen level like any other collaborative effort.
Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.
Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:
- Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums and downloading skins.
- Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
- Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
- It's simple, and FREE!








Reply #21 Tuesday, June 3, 2008 6:23 PM
Things I'd like to see: