A Proposal for Revamping the Stars

Discussion about the Geocaching Australia web site

Should we change the colours of the stars to the scheme outlined in this post?

Yes. The new system is more comprehensive.
8
16%
No. I like my 5 shiny red stars and want to keep them as is.
4
8%
No. I will propose an alternative system.
6
12%
Do as you will. I don't care either way.
31
63%
 
Total votes: 49

dak's Emu Mob
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A Proposal for Revamping the Stars

Post by dak's Emu Mob » 26 November 07 5:59 pm

G'day All,
<p>
It became clear from the discussion in this thread that the current scheme for indicating the number of cache finds by allocating stars is not comprehensive enough for the current crop of cachers.
<p>
So, here is my proposal for extending the stars system beyond the current 4000 finds limit. The main problem is that we are limited to a maximum of five stars to represent any number. As such, it is not practical to represent all numbers in increments of 50 finds. So, I have used a sliding scale of increments: the higher the number of finds, the fewer increments in the numbers. That is, the increments are 50 finds up to 1000 finds; the increments are 100 finds up to 5000 finds; the increments are 500 finds up to 10000 finds; and the increments are 1000 finds from that point onward. I have depicted all increments up to 10000 finds in the tables below. I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what further totals would look like. As it stands, the system is good for totals up to 57000! :shock: 58000 would require six stars, so perhaps the star nursery could be pressed into service. It's hard to imagine anyone in Australia logging 58000 finds! It's unlikely to happen in my lifetime, anyway. :lol:
<p>
I have chosen three basic colours: <font color="red"><b>Red</b></font> represents 'one'. A plain red star represents 100 finds. A shooting red star represents 1000 finds. <font color="blue"><b>Blue</b></font> represents 'two'. A plain blue star represents 200 finds. A shooting blue star represents 2000 finds. <font color="green"><b>Green</b></font> represents 'five'. A plain green star represents 500 finds. A shooting green star represents 5000 finds. I had to create a new colour for 10000 finds, which <i>should</i> be some variation of red, according to the above philosophy. I chose a yellow shooting star for 10000. I have also chosen a shooting star for 20000 and 50000 finds, but that is largely academic at this stage.
<p>
nobodyZ wrote:As long as it doesn't affect my stars,
I don't care if I find 1000 or more,
I like my 5 shiny red stars and want to keep them as is.
<p>
If the scheme below is accepted, then I'm afraid your '5 shiny red stars' would be replaced by a shiny green star. I suppose no system will be universally accepted or liked. Anyhow, I'm just floating the idea for comment. I have attached a poll to the thread so people can vote. Of course, anyone else is free to propose a different system that is better or more comprehensive than the current scheme or this proposed scheme.
<p>
I must admit that it looks a bit 'blue' for my liking. It might be a bit more aesthetically pleasing if I swapped the red and blue colours. This didn't occur to me until I saw the finished product; perhaps I should have looked more closely during the development stage. Then again, you don't usually see the whole set in a single place.
<p>
Cheers,
<p>
dak
<p>
<hrule>
<p>
<table border="1">
<tr>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>50+ Caches</td>
<td>100+ Caches</td>
<td>150+ Caches</td>
<td>200+ Caches</td>
<td>250+ Caches</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>300+ Caches</td>
<td>350+ Caches</td>
<td>400+ Caches</td>
<td>450+ Caches</td>
<td>500+ Caches</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>550+ Caches</td>
<td>600+ Caches</td>
<td>650+ Caches</td>
<td>700+ Caches</td>
<td>750+ Caches</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>800+ Caches</td>
<td>850+ Caches</td>
<td>900+ Caches</td>
<td>950+ Caches</td>
<td>1000+ Caches</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
From now on, we show stars in increments of 100 only.
<p>
<table border="1">
<tr>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1100+ Caches</td>
<td>1200+ Caches</td>
<td>1300+ Caches</td>
<td>1400+ Caches</td>
<td>1500+ Caches</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1600+ Caches</td>
<td>1700+ Caches</td>
<td>1800+ Caches</td>
<td>1900+ Caches</td>
<td>2000+ Caches</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2100+ Caches</td>
<td>2200+ Caches</td>
<td>2300+ Caches</td>
<td>2400+ Caches</td>
<td>2500+ Caches</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2600+ Caches</td>
<td>2700+ Caches</td>
<td>2800+ Caches</td>
<td>2900+ Caches</td>
<td>3000+ Caches</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3100+ Caches</td>
<td>3200+ Caches</td>
<td>3300+ Caches</td>
<td>3400+ Caches</td>
<td>3500+ Caches</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3600+ Caches</td>
<td>3700+ Caches</td>
<td>3800+ Caches</td>
<td>3900+ Caches</td>
<td>4000+ Caches</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4100+ Caches</td>
<td>4200+ Caches</td>
<td>4300+ Caches</td>
<td>4400+ Caches</td>
<td>4500+ Caches</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4600+ Caches</td>
<td>4700+ Caches</td>
<td>4800+ Caches</td>
<td>4900+ Caches</td>
<td>5000+ Caches</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
From now on, we show stars in increments of 500 only. The justification being that once you reach these lofty heights, the 100s will be spinning past more quickly.
<p>
<table border="1">
<tr>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5500+ Caches</td>
<td>6000+ Caches</td>
<td>6500+ Caches</td>
<td>7000+ Caches</td>
<td>7500+ Caches</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8000+ Caches</td>
<td>8500+ Caches</td>
<td>9000+ Caches</td>
<td>9500+ Caches</td>
<td>10000+ Caches</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td colspan="2"><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
<td colspan="2"><img src="http://users.bigpond.net.au/emuit/forum ... .gif"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">20000+ Caches</td>
<td colspan="2">50000+ Caches</td>
<td colspan="2">57000+ Caches</td>
</tr>
</table>

ian-and-penny
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Post by ian-and-penny » 26 November 07 6:45 pm

I like the idea, it has merit. Although I think it may be a little difficult to limit the stars to only three colours.

If you were to take 10 colours (for example the resistive colour code) where
Black = 0
Brown = 1
Red = 2
Orange = 3
Yellow = 4
Green = 5
Blue = 6
Violet = 7
Grey (Silver) = 8
White = 9

Maybe perhaps also chosing brighter colours than Brown & Black, maybe Gold = 1 White = 0 & Cyan = 9

Then expanding on the theme, digits 100 1000 etc could be shooting stars.

Then any combination of numbers would be possible. Of course for simplicity the stars should/could be limited to multiples of 5 0r 10.

So (without the fancy table formatting,)
1 = Gold Star
5 = Green Star
10 = Gold Star + White star
50 = Green Star + White star
90 = Cyan + White
100 = Shooting Gold White White
670 = Shooting Blue + Violet + White
1000 = Shooting Gold + 2 Shooting White + white
1090 = Shooting Gold, shooting White, cyan, white (my count, I think)
4000 = Shooting yellow, 2 shooting white, white

Etc etc

Regards

Ian

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Post by caughtatwork » 26 November 07 7:38 pm

Is there a need to have any stars at all?

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Papa Bear_Left
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Post by Papa Bear_Left » 26 November 07 7:46 pm

caughtatwork wrote:Is there a need to have any stars at all?
I'm a text-oriented type and I've read the number well before I see the stars, let alone decode the stars.
I don't mind there being a star system for those whose perceptions work differently, but I don't care what the system is.

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Mr Router
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Post by Mr Router » 26 November 07 7:53 pm

caughtatwork wrote:Is there a need to have any stars at all?
For the first time in a while I'm with you :shock:

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Cached
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Post by Cached » 26 November 07 8:28 pm

In general, I like Daks proposal. It's just like roman numerals!

However, I'd like to see the flying star replaced with something else, as it almost appears you go backwards when you hit 1000. If you're not familiar with the scheme, 100 looks a lot like 1000.

Here's another alternative - I've pinched Daks graphics. The logic is that flying is "and a half". So If red is 500, then flying red is 500 + 250 = 750.

I've also spread them more- i think the stars change too often.

Image 50
Image 100
Image 150
Image 200
Image 300
Image 500
Image 750
Image 1000 (forget it's shooting - it's not supposed to be...)

Then to double stars:

ImageImageImage 1250
ImageImage 1500
ImageImage 1750
ImageImage 2000 (again, they're yellow - not flying yellow)
Image ImageImage 2500
ImageImageImage 3000
ImageImageImageImage 4000

At 5000, I suggest a bigger yellow star, and then repeat roughly the pattern above

So 5000 - BB (big blue)
5500 - BB R
6000 - BB Y
6500 - BB Y R
7000 - BB Y Y
7500 - BB Y Y R
8000 - BB Y Y Y
8500 - BB Y Y Y R
9000 - BB Y Y Y Y
10000 - BG (big green)
(pattern repeats)
20000 - BR (big red)
(pattern repeats)
30000 - BY (big yellow)
(pattern repeats)
40000 - constellation.

Thoughts?

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Alansee
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Post by Alansee » 26 November 07 9:16 pm

I don't mind what system is used, or even if we don't have stars. I am just happy to view whatever people who put in the work on it come up with.

However, if we ARE to have stars, I suggest that we do away with the 50's.

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tronador
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Post by tronador » 26 November 07 9:41 pm

Alansee wrote: However, if we ARE to have stars, I suggest that we do away with the 50's.
Why? For some cachers it takes a long time to notch up 50. All cachers should be recognised not just those with high stats

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Post by zactyl » 27 November 07 2:10 am

Mr Router wrote:
caughtatwork wrote:Is there a need to have any stars at all?
For the first time in a while I'm with you :shock:
Agreed.

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Post by swampgecko » 27 November 07 5:45 am

Mr Router wrote:
caughtatwork wrote:Is there a need to have any stars at all?
For the first time in a while I'm with you :shock:
I hate to admit it but I agree with Dick on this....

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Post by dak's Emu Mob » 27 November 07 6:42 am

Thanks for the feedback.

I like Cached's system also, although I'd like to see it with big stars. They would have to be wider as well as taller, and we sould run out of screen real estate pretty soon. There are only 95 horizontal and 25 vertical pixels to play with.

As to the shooting stars, they represent an order of magnitude: a red star is 100, while a shooting red star is 1000; a blue star is 200, while a shooting blue star is 2000; and so on.

On the other hand, there seems to be an argument for no stars, and, it could save the administrators some headaches. Now that I think about it, I find I'm like Bear_Left in that I read the text before I interpret the stars.

More feedback is necessary, but it's looking like a good chunk of people don't care. Eliminating the stars might actually be the best option, in favour of just a textual statement.

Cheers,

dak

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Post by Bewilderbeest » 27 November 07 8:03 am

tronador wrote:
Alansee wrote: However, if we ARE to have stars, I suggest that we do away with the 50's.
Why? For some cachers it takes a long time to notch up 50. All cachers should be recognised not just those with high stats
I agree with Tronador, if we are going to have stars keep the 50s up to 500 - when you're starting out these small milestones are significant.

But I'll leave it to others to decide whether or not we have stars.

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Post by Sunshine Toledo » 27 November 07 9:17 am

Whatever we use it has to be simply understood so that you don't have to spend minutes trying to work out its value. Otherwise you get the "I don't think we need them at all" kind of thought about them as they are too complicated. If it is too difficult to work out an easy system using only 4/5 stars, are we restricted to just one line of them? Maybe up to 2 rows therefore we can go up to 8 or 10 stars to show their value.

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Post by Geof » 27 November 07 9:35 am

Papa Bear_Left wrote:
caughtatwork wrote:Is there a need to have any stars at all?
I'm a text-oriented type and I've read the number well before I see the stars, let alone decode the stars.
I don't mind there being a star system for those whose perceptions work differently, but I don't care what the system is.
I do agree a set of straight forward digits would do the job a lot more clearly and could easly represent caches down to 1 or up to how ever many. No need to generate new icons eather :) You could play with font colours as various mile stones are passed.
If I had the option I'd go digits rather than stars. :)

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