But shouldn't such significant reorganisation like this be announced / documented
somewhere? It seems a bit strange that there are recent admin posts about transparency
and communication yet things like this go apparently uncommunicated.
Also why does it have such a strange structure?
For example, these sets go in a named directory structure inside Sets / Games
/ ...
There is only one Star Wars game, one Harry Potter game, one City game, etc but
they get their own directory/folder whereas the Atlantis game doesn't get
a themed folder?
Then for some reason Chess (and a few others) is treated in a completely different
way
These go into the Sets / Theme Name / Games rather than Sets / Games / Theme
Name
Is there some reason that chess does not go into the Sets / Games structure?
That is, their theme trumps being a game in the catalogue structure, whereas
for other themes they are a game first, theme second.
But shouldn't such significant reorganisation like this be announced / documented
somewhere? It seems a bit strange that there are recent admin posts about transparency
and communication yet things like this go apparently uncommunicated.
I've seen several messages in the forum about this over the past year. I
realize that not everyone has time to read everything here, but they definitely
did announce it.
But shouldn't such significant reorganisation like this be announced / documented
somewhere? It seems a bit strange that there are recent admin posts about transparency
and communication yet things like this go apparently uncommunicated.
I've seen several messages in the forum about this over the past year. I
realize that not everyone has time to read everything here, but they definitely
did announce it.
This is partly why communication is important. It shouldn't be through a
game of chinese whispers that something like this is announced.
I searched the forum for "game", "games" and "gear" before posting but couldn't
see a recent announcement. I know there have been musings about it should change
and it might change and it will change for a while.
And I am still at a loss as to the structure, why both Sets/Game/Theme and Sets/Theme/Game
exist.
But shouldn't such significant reorganisation like this be announced / documented
somewhere? It seems a bit strange that there are recent admin posts about transparency
and communication yet things like this go apparently uncommunicated.
It has been talked about, mentioned, and announced multiple times over the past
two years. They were originally supposed to be moved in April of this year and
were being actively discussed in the forum by former admin StormChaser prior
to that. However, the moves had to be postponed due to some coding work that
needed to be done on BrickLink's end, and I took over the project after StormChaser's
departure. The movements were then announced in the last catalog newsletter sent
out in September discussing the changes that would take place in the catalog
on November 1. That newsletter pointed to a page on the site that documented
all of these changes: https://www.bricklink.com/help.asp?helpID=2509
The latest newsletter released today announced that the changes to the games
had been implemented. The reason the announcement was not been made here in the
forum by myself is that I am waiting for two things: (1) a bug to be fixed where
some games that were originally switched over to sets did not get original box
entries added to them, and (2) team feedback on the work that I did. I have heard
nothing back from anyone concerning either of these points, so the project is
actually still "IN PROGRESS" according to me.
Also why does it have such a strange structure?
For example, these sets go in a named directory structure inside Sets / Games
/ ...
The reason those sets get extended descriptors is two-fold: (1) they are labeled
with additional trade dressage concerning a specific licensed theme or other
LEGO theme, and (2) the extended descriptors allow the sets to be found through
category searches for these themes. But all of these sets fall under the LEGO
Games main theme that was active during this period of time.
other games from a named theme don't get a directory such as
This one is actually not part of the Atlantis theme. It has no additional trade
dressage that relates it in any way to the Atlantis theme, so it does not get
extended descriptors.
There is only one Star Wars game, one Harry Potter game, one City game, etc but
they get their own directory/folder whereas the Atlantis game doesn't get
a themed folder?
Fully discussed above.
Then for some reason Chess (and a few others) is treated in a completely different
way
These go into the Sets / Theme Name / Games rather than Sets / Games / Theme
Name
The chess sets were trade dressed according to major other themed lines that
were out at the times they were released and are not part of the LEGO Games theme.
In these cases, the "Games" extended descriptor is used to allow category searching
of all games that are in the sets item type.
Is there some reason that chess does not go into the Sets / Games structure?
That is, their theme trumps being a game in the catalogue structure, whereas
for other themes they are a game first, theme second.
Explained above.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
But shouldn't such significant reorganisation like this be announced / documented
somewhere? It seems a bit strange that there are recent admin posts about transparency
and communication yet things like this go apparently uncommunicated.
It has been talked about, mentioned, and announced multiple times over the past
two years. They were originally supposed to be moved in April of this year and
were being actively discussed in the forum by former admin StormChaser prior
to that. However, the moves had to be postponed due to some coding work that
needed to be done on BrickLink's end, and I took over the project after StormChaser's
departure. The movements were then announced in the last catalog newsletter sent
out in September discussing the changes that would take place in the catalog
on November 1. That newsletter pointed to a page on the site that documented
all of these changes: https://www.bricklink.com/help.asp?helpID=2509
The latest newsletter released today announced that the changes to the games
had been implemented. The reason the announcement was not been made here in the
forum by myself is that I am waiting for two things: (1) a bug to be fixed where
some games that were originally switched over to sets did not get original box
entries added to them, and (2) team feedback on the work that I did. I have heard
nothing back from anyone concerning either of these points, so the project is
actually still "IN PROGRESS" according to me.
Also why does it have such a strange structure?
For example, these sets go in a named directory structure inside Sets / Games
/ ...
The reason those sets get extended descriptors is two-fold: (1) they are labeled
with additional trade dressage concerning a specific licensed theme or other
LEGO theme, and (2) the extended descriptors allow the sets to be found through
category searches for these themes. But all of these sets fall under the LEGO
Games main theme that was active during this period of time.
other games from a named theme don't get a directory such as
This one is actually not part of the Atlantis theme. It has no additional trade
dressage that relates it in any way to the Atlantis theme, so it does not get
extended descriptors.
There is only one Star Wars game, one Harry Potter game, one City game, etc but
they get their own directory/folder whereas the Atlantis game doesn't get
a themed folder?
Fully discussed above.
Then for some reason Chess (and a few others) is treated in a completely different
way
These go into the Sets / Theme Name / Games rather than Sets / Games / Theme
Name
The chess sets were trade dressed according to major other themed lines that
were out at the times they were released and are not part of the LEGO Games theme.
In these cases, the "Games" extended descriptor is used to allow category searching
of all games that are in the sets item type.
Is there some reason that chess does not go into the Sets / Games structure?
That is, their theme trumps being a game in the catalogue structure, whereas
for other themes they are a game first, theme second.
Explained above.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Cheers,
Randy
Thanks for the detailed explanation. It all makes sense when explained. I wonder
if this type of explanation should go somewhere (not sure where) as no doubt
others in future will wonder why games are spread around like this.
I had never picked up on Atlantis Treasure (game) not being Atlantis (theme),
I guess as they overlapped and had some similarity such as the golden emperor.
But now I look again and the logo is not even the same!
Thanks for the detailed explanation. It all makes sense when explained. I wonder
if this type of explanation should go somewhere (not sure where) as no doubt
others in future will wonder why games are spread around like this.
It's my pleasure to help others understand the intricacies of the catalog
that we have to deal with. The catalog is very complex when viewed from the inside,
and there are many things to consider with every change and decision. Having
all of that knowledge written down somewhere might help some, but it would take
a lot of time on our parts to get everything in writing. I think part of the
reason of having us admins is that we are here to communicate that knowledge
when necessary. Having said all that, threads in the "Catalog" topic are saved
indefinitely now, so the information in this thread will always be here in the
forums if we need to refer to it in the future. Or I will just write it all again
having forgot that I had written it before!
United Kingdom, England
France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
USA, Illinois
