Comments on: Amazon Askville Launches With Dungeons & Dragons Angle http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/ Startup and Technology News Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:24:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: blogflow #17 | Web Produktmanagement http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-2413698 blogflow #17 | Web Produktmanagement Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:25:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-2413698 [...] Amazon hat ein neues Projekt gestartet: Auf askville. (via) [...] [...] Amazon hat ein neues Projekt gestartet: Auf askville. (via) [...]

]]> By: The Republic of Geektronica » Blog Archive » Askville: Like Metafilter, Only Amazonier http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-670386 The Republic of Geektronica » Blog Archive » Askville: Like Metafilter, Only Amazonier Sun, 07 Jan 2007 03:00:01 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-670386 [...] Michael Arrington has the scoop, including a description of what’s different about Askville: [...] [...] Michael Arrington has the scoop, including a description of what’s different about Askville: [...]

]]> By: Andre http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-601303 Andre Tue, 26 Dec 2006 17:16:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-601303 cool!!! cool!!!

]]> By: inside looking out » Introducing the “Web 2.0 Game” http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-543544 inside looking out » Introducing the “Web 2.0 Game” Sat, 16 Dec 2006 17:19:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-543544 [...] NeoPets, AskVille, MySpace, Flickr, YouTube are examples of successful Web 2.0 services that implement good game mechanics. More specifically, they have good reward systems (collections and points), and customization (avatars, personalization, inventory). I’ll refer you to Amy Jo Kim, who has an excellent primer correlating these particular areas of game play mechanics. [...] [...] NeoPets, AskVille, MySpace, Flickr, YouTube are examples of successful Web 2.0 services that implement good game mechanics. More specifically, they have good reward systems (collections and points), and customization (avatars, personalization, inventory). I’ll refer you to Amy Jo Kim, who has an excellent primer correlating these particular areas of game play mechanics. [...]

]]> By: Nicki Brøchner http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-514298 Nicki Brøchner Mon, 11 Dec 2006 21:40:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-514298 Nice idea overall, but I really don't get why it is "US-only" with there mobile phone verification. Some American companies really needs to realize that the internet don't stop at the US borders ;-) Nice idea overall, but I really don’t get why it is “US-only” with there mobile phone verification. Some American companies really needs to realize that the internet don’t stop at the US borders ;-)

]]> By: Infomancy » Making Reference a Game http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-513512 Infomancy » Making Reference a Game Mon, 11 Dec 2006 18:34:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-513512 [...] As reported on TechCrunch, Amazon.com recently rolled out their version of a social question and answer site. The difference is that they made reference work into a game. Askville grants answerers “quest coins” for involvement in the site in addition to “experience points” earned for accurate answers. [...] [...] As reported on TechCrunch, Amazon.com recently rolled out their version of a social question and answer site. The difference is that they made reference work into a game. Askville grants answerers “quest coins” for involvement in the site in addition to “experience points” earned for accurate answers. [...]

]]> By: Jim Greer http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-509073 Jim Greer Sun, 10 Dec 2006 18:17:28 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-509073 Nicely done - we're doing points and levels on Kongregate (http://kongregate.com) as well. Also like Askville, they are currently only for bragging rights but will be more useful soon. We're also going to give moderation powers to high-level users. Nicely done - we’re doing points and levels on Kongregate (http://kongregate.com) as well. Also like Askville, they are currently only for bragging rights but will be more useful soon. We’re also going to give moderation powers to high-level users.

]]> By: David Mackey http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-507353 David Mackey Sun, 10 Dec 2006 05:29:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-507353 I think is a great idea on Amazon's part, especially the incentive portion. Definetly a good way to give Yahoo! an immediate run. Hopefully this will be a Gmail-like situation, where businesses step up their game for greatter consumer benefits. I think is a great idea on Amazon’s part, especially the incentive portion. Definetly a good way to give Yahoo! an immediate run. Hopefully this will be a Gmail-like situation, where businesses step up their game for greatter consumer benefits.

]]> By: Amazon concorre com Yahoo Answers » Web 2.0 Blog » W2BR http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-506362 Amazon concorre com Yahoo Answers » Web 2.0 Blog » W2BR Sat, 09 Dec 2006 23:58:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-506362 [...] [Deu no Techcrunch] [...] [...] [Deu no Techcrunch] [...]

]]> By: Microsoft Weekly Miscellany, December 9, 2006 -- Microsoft News Tracker http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-506193 Microsoft Weekly Miscellany, December 9, 2006 -- Microsoft News Tracker Sat, 09 Dec 2006 22:59:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-506193 [...] Despite the recent demise of Google Answers, Amazon has launched a new question and answer service: Check out Amazon’s newest service, Askville. [...] [...] Despite the recent demise of Google Answers, Amazon has launched a new question and answer service: Check out Amazon’s newest service, Askville. [...]

]]> By: Nick Dynice http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-505265 Nick Dynice Sat, 09 Dec 2006 17:59:28 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-505265 By not letting answerers see the previous answers, they are leveraging one of the principles of James Surowiecki's The Wisdom Of Crowds theory. However, this principle also says that one person may not be right all together, that you may need to pull together several answer contributions to get the best answer. There used to be a site called Kenlet.com that was doing something similar to the currency idea. You could put real cash into it or earn points by answering questions. You could list your expertise in your profile. It looks like someone mentioned this in the Microsoft Q&A post <a href="http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/05/microsoft-qna-enters-crowded-market/#comment-36190" rel="nofollow">comments</a>. By not letting answerers see the previous answers, they are leveraging one of the principles of James Surowiecki’s The Wisdom Of Crowds theory. However, this principle also says that one person may not be right all together, that you may need to pull together several answer contributions to get the best answer. There used to be a site called Kenlet.com that was doing something similar to the currency idea. You could put real cash into it or earn points by answering questions. You could list your expertise in your profile. It looks like someone mentioned this in the Microsoft Q&A post comments.

]]> By: Rick http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-505244 Rick Sat, 09 Dec 2006 17:53:19 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-505244 I was thinking the same thing Michael, that if there were some real value for the questpoints that it would solidify the service. However, I'm not even sure how necessary that really is. For the demographic that will brint he most value to these questions, egopoints are a bigger sell than products. I have a hunch that the aggregate quality of the community is enhanced when there's nothing at stake but community recognition. I was thinking the same thing Michael, that if there were some real value for the questpoints that it would solidify the service. However, I’m not even sure how necessary that really is. For the demographic that will brint he most value to these questions, egopoints are a bigger sell than products. I have a hunch that the aggregate quality of the community is enhanced when there’s nothing at stake but community recognition.

]]> By: Whyte http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-504145 Whyte Sat, 09 Dec 2006 11:39:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-504145 The site seem to be oriented for people in USA. The authentication process with the mobile phone is not necessary IMHO. The site seem to be oriented for people in USA.
The authentication process with the mobile phone is not necessary IMHO.

]]> By: Takashi http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-504030 Takashi Sat, 09 Dec 2006 10:50:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-504030 I think this service is similar hatena question. hatena is called japanese web2.0 company. hatena:http://www.hatena.ne.jp/ hatena question:http://q.hatena.ne.jp/ I think this service is similar hatena question.
hatena is called japanese web2.0 company.

hatena:http://www.hatena.ne.jp/
hatena question:http://q.hatena.ne.jp/

]]> By: Deelip http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503907 Deelip Sat, 09 Dec 2006 09:35:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503907 Isnt that just like a forum? Isnt that just like a forum?

]]> By: Lutz.W http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503842 Lutz.W Sat, 09 Dec 2006 08:48:28 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503842 And let's not forget about Otavo, Michael. If Amazon will tie in their QuestCoins with some real benefits, than this will probably seriously kick Otavo's butt, which pursues the same strategy for some time now -- but the points earned in Otavo's "Quests" are just not meaningful enough, and they lack an infrastructure like Amazon. Really, Otavo should turn their userpoints into sth like a reputation-system, to be able to compete with Askville (what's the expertise of people answering my questions anyway?)... Lutz.W, Techcrush And let’s not forget about Otavo, Michael. If Amazon will tie in their QuestCoins with some real benefits, than this will probably seriously kick Otavo’s butt, which pursues the same strategy for some time now — but the points earned in Otavo’s “Quests” are just not meaningful enough, and they lack an infrastructure like Amazon. Really, Otavo should turn their userpoints into sth like a reputation-system, to be able to compete with Askville (what’s the expertise of people answering my questions anyway?)…
Lutz.W, Techcrush

]]> By: Susan Wu http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503796 Susan Wu Sat, 09 Dec 2006 08:23:43 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503796 The formerly siloed worlds of MMOs and social networks move inexorably closer. And one day, the dominant metaphor for our online behavior will be the virtual world metaphor. The formerly siloed worlds of MMOs and social networks move inexorably closer.

And one day, the dominant metaphor for our online behavior will be the virtual world metaphor.

]]> By: Sarah Meyers http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503576 Sarah Meyers Sat, 09 Dec 2006 06:59:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503576 Amazon's thinking is similar to Second Life as far as creating a currency. I like what you say, Michael, about turning quest coins into Amazon gift certificates. It would be the same as exchanging your Linden dollars for an American Apparel T-shirt in Second Life. Amazon’s thinking is similar to Second Life as far as creating a currency. I like what you say, Michael, about turning quest coins into Amazon gift certificates. It would be the same as exchanging your Linden dollars for an American Apparel T-shirt in Second Life.

]]> By: Michael Arrington http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503458 Michael Arrington Sat, 09 Dec 2006 06:17:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503458 I was traveling yesterday and today and didn't have a ton of time to really think about askville before writing. I've been playing around with it tonight some more. This thing has a chance at being incredibly popular based on the quest coin stuff. It all depends on how liquid the virtual currency is....It would be cool to have the ability to turn it into an amazon gift certificate, for example, which is probably the closest Amazon will come to making it have a cash equivalent. If they allow transfers of quest coins as they've said they will, people could theoretically start using it as a real currency for other things, as well. I was traveling yesterday and today and didn’t have a ton of time to really think about askville before writing. I’ve been playing around with it tonight some more. This thing has a chance at being incredibly popular based on the quest coin stuff. It all depends on how liquid the virtual currency is….It would be cool to have the ability to turn it into an amazon gift certificate, for example, which is probably the closest Amazon will come to making it have a cash equivalent. If they allow transfers of quest coins as they’ve said they will, people could theoretically start using it as a real currency for other things, as well.

]]> By: Rick http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503292 Rick Sat, 09 Dec 2006 05:17:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503292 Jamsterson, I'm really impressed with grupthink as well. Not the exact same thing of course, but it has attributes that are potentially quite a bit more impressive. I'm gonna be sure to look at it a whole lot closer tomorrow. Jamsterson, I’m really impressed with grupthink as well. Not the exact same thing of course, but it has attributes that are potentially quite a bit more impressive. I’m gonna be sure to look at it a whole lot closer tomorrow.

]]> By: Grant http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503259 Grant Sat, 09 Dec 2006 04:59:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503259 Indeed smart: tie real goods with intangible Q&A! Smart indeed. Why is Yahoo always one step behind everybody on everything? With the launch of Google checkout, I wonder whether Google answers get some inspiration out of Amazon! Indeed smart: tie real goods with intangible Q&A! Smart indeed. Why is Yahoo always one step behind everybody on everything? With the launch of Google checkout, I wonder whether Google answers get some inspiration out of Amazon!

]]> By: Jamsterson http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503248 Jamsterson Sat, 09 Dec 2006 04:54:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503248 Rick - you're absolutely right. We're watching the community develop over on http://www.grupthink.com and the evolution is fascinating to watch. A handful of users are acquiring points like mad, but the only way they're being so successful is by contributing quality content that really adds to the topic being discussed. Reward quality! Rick - you’re absolutely right. We’re watching the community develop over on http://www.grupthink.com and the evolution is fascinating to watch. A handful of users are acquiring points like mad, but the only way they’re being so successful is by contributing quality content that really adds to the topic being discussed. Reward quality!

]]> By: Rick http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503137 Rick Sat, 09 Dec 2006 04:21:55 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503137 I gave this a shot and it was actually pretty fun. In addition to the usual joy of getting to hear yourself talk, as it were, the whole level thing was stoking the fire of competition in my belly. The competition angle could possibly keep this service more serious. Answering questions is a total ego trip for the user and now that I think about it, I can't think of one user-generated content site that is this open and at the same time not cluttered up with spam and useless nonsense that doesn't pit the egos of folks against one another(digg, wikipedia, etc) Today's lesson? If you're going to have user-generated content and don't want to have to actively moderate it, make it a pissing contest and things will sort themselves out. Seriously! I gave this a shot and it was actually pretty fun. In addition to the usual joy of getting to hear yourself talk, as it were, the whole level thing was stoking the fire of competition in my belly.

The competition angle could possibly keep this service more serious.

Answering questions is a total ego trip for the user and now that I think about it, I can’t think of one user-generated content site that is this open and at the same time not cluttered up with spam and useless nonsense that doesn’t pit the egos of folks against one another(digg, wikipedia, etc)

Today’s lesson? If you’re going to have user-generated content and don’t want to have to actively moderate it, make it a pissing contest and things will sort themselves out. Seriously!

]]> By: Pankaj http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503104 Pankaj Sat, 09 Dec 2006 04:06:51 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503104 Good idea. Specially the points accumulation and all. Incentive is very important in community participation. I think Amazon has hit the target right on! Good idea. Specially the points accumulation and all. Incentive is very important in community participation. I think Amazon has hit the target right on!

]]> By: David P. http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503091 David P. Sat, 09 Dec 2006 03:54:59 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/08/amazon-askville-launches-with-dungeons-dragons-angle/#comment-503091 John - Other than the sites both having similar names i wouldn't say the logos look "awfully" similar. John - Other than the sites both having similar names i wouldn’t say the logos look “awfully” similar.

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